Albert King’s cat-scalding tone and howling dinosaur bends are among the most recognizable sounds in electric blues. Recognizable not only in the wealth of excellent recordings King left behind when he died on Dec. 21, 1992, but in those by his famed disciples Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Michael Bloomfield, Warren Haynes and Joe Walsh.

Wilco is a rock and roll rarity — a great band that reinvented its sound and became even better. And guitars, including an armada of vintage and Custom Shop SGs and Les Pauls, were an essential part of that transformation.

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning” from the musical Oklahoma is irrelevant to most guitar aficionados. At least it was until this Tuesday, when James Taylor’s Other Covers became available.

Rory Gallagher never held back. His live performances and best-known songs —“Big Guns,” “A Million Miles Away,” “Tattoo’d Lady” — were all about untamed energy and raw expression.

Michael Bloomfield may not have achieved the commercial success he deserved, but for many of us that little detail doesn’t dampen the enjoyment of listening to his guitar playing.

With his dry-mouthed howl, rippling pentatonic licks and gut-bucket sound, Samuel “Lightnin’” Hopkins rose out of the Houston ghetto — where, as a boy, he used to guide Blind Lemon Jefferson — to become one of the most revered figures in Texas blues.

Forty years ago Robin Trower discovered enlightenment. Its name was Jimi Hendrix. Trower was already a notable guitarist in the British blues-rock scene and a huge fan of blues guitar innovator Albert King, who also influenced Hendrix. As a member of Procol Harum, Trower contributed to the moody 1967 hit “Conquistador,” which remains a staple of classic rock radio. But Hendrix’s debut album Are You Experienced? arrived that same year, and Trower — like virtually every other guitarist who heard Jimi — started to question his own, more traditional playing.

For me John Fogerty is Creedence Clearwater Revival. His voice, the sound of his guitar, the way he pulled everything together in the band. That’s how I see CCR.

This time out of the box, Gibson Tone Tips is going to live up to its name very precisely by giving you a simple and direct tip that can instantly improve your tone, in certain circumstances. And in doing so, I’m going to lean on the expertise of one Mike Zaite, the man behind respected boutique amp company Dr Z. While talking with Zaite some time ago he passed this great little fixer-upper tip along to me, and it’s too good not to share.

The Doors made a huge name for themselves in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s by continually releasing smash hits. Besides the flamboyant style of lead singer Jim Morrison, a lot of the band’s notoriety came from its musical chops.