Indholdsfortegnelse for January 2020 i Guitar World

TEN YEARS GONE: We were just about to plan a year-end edition of GW when we realized, “Wait a minute — the decade is ending!” On that note, I hereby present our first (at least my first) “end of the decade” extravaganza. Right off the bat, please note that there are four different “alternate” January 2020 GW covers out there — Tosin Abasi, Gary Clark Jr., Nita Strauss and Mark Tremonti — plus a nifty subscriber-only cover, all of which were designed by our very own Mixie von Bormann. Second, I want to send out a gigantic thank-you to everyone who took part in our “Guitarists of the Decade” committee: the thousands of readers who voted in our online poll, plus the current GW editorial staff, former GW editors and…

• GUITARS 1997 Gibson Les Paul Elegant, 1999 Gibson Les Paul Custom, Fender Custom Shop ‘59 Reissue Telecaster and ‘59 Reissue Stratocaster, Martin D-41, Taylor 814ce (Johnson); Schecter Michael Anthony Signature bass (Anthony) • AMP David Bray Vic Johnson signature 4550, Marshall 100-watt, Matchless, Fender Custom Shop ‘59 Bassman (Johnson); Ampeg B-50R Rocket (Anthony) • EFFECTS DigiTech Whammy, DigiTech Whammy Ricochet, RMC Real McCoy Teese Wah, Dunlop 535Q Cry Baby Multi-Wah, Xotic RC Booster (Johnson)…

“THE JOY OF TACKLING SOME NEW TECHNIQUE OR STYLE ISSOMETHING THAT NEVER GETSOLD.WHENYOU FINALLYGETIT, IT’SLIKE AMAGICTRICK’’ MARK TREMONTI WE KNOW, WE KNOW— you’re sick of polls. And they’re all rigged anyway, right? Wrong! In fact, we take them pretty damn seriously, and, well, this one is particularly important. Maybe the most important GW poll ever. Because we’re not only poised at the end of another year, but also the end of a decade. With that in mind, GW put out the call to find out who you — our readers — consider the “Guitarist of the Decade,” and we received a lot of responses. Hundreds of them. Thousands of them. Tens of thousands of them. Dozens of thousands of them. Seriously. All told, it was nearly 50,000 votes! Of course,…

DURING MOST PREVIOUS decades, significant shifts took place in the guitar manufacturing industry that both defined an era and established new directions for the future. For example, the Thirties are remembered as a “Golden Era” for acoustic guitars (particularly Martins and Gibsons) as well as for the introduction of the first electric guitars. The Fifties are known for the commercial birth of the solid-body electric, and the Seventies are known for the decline of major players like Fender and Gibson and the rise of Japanese imports like Ibanez and Takamine. The Eighties are remembered for the dominance of Super Strats and hot-rodded high-gain amps, while the Nineties saw a retro-inspired resurgence of quirky Sixties designs like Jazzmasters and imported “pawn shop prizes” along with the rise of boutique guitars, amps…

STREET PRICE: $1,899.95 MANUFACTURER: Dream Studio Guitars, dreamstudioguitars.com The Baccara sports custom shop wax potted Seymour Duncan Seth Lover humbuckers sound rich on their own, and are wired for out-of-phase tones when both pickups are engaged. The Bigsby B-30 vibrato adds springier playability and stays remarkably in tune, even with aggressive wiggling. THE BOTTOM LINE: The Baccara is impressive for combining stylish flair with massive tone. Featuring premium components, a pro setup and rock-solid construction, the Baccara is not your typical semi-hollow guitar, but an electrifying alternative.…

CONTINUING OUR LOOK at interesting, effective ways in which songwriters have borrowed a chord from a major key’s parallel minor, such as the often-used “IV - iv - I” (four major, to four minor, to one major) move we looked at last time, I’d now like to reference additional examples of this practice from a few well known songs that beautifully illustrate some less common but equally appealing chord-borrowing options and variations. At the end of each verse in “Nowhere Man” by the Beatles, which is in the key of E major, guitarist and songwriter John Lennon moves to the four minor (iv) chord, Am, before going back to the one (I), E. But instead of approaching the four minor from the four major (IV), A, Lennon opted to F…

IN THIS LESSON, I’d like to focus on the picking techniques used in the Django Reinhardt style of guitar playing, also often referred to as gypsy jazz. There’s a relationship between this picking style and instruments that pre-date the guitar by many years, such as the oud. My musical cohort, Josh Kaye, plays the oud as well as guitar in our duet and ensemble performances. The oud is an 11-string unfretted instrument, similar to the lute, with five double courses (pairs of strings, like those on a 12-string guitar) and one single course (string) on the bottom. The traditional tuning of the oud is, low to high, D, G, A, D, G, C. The similarity in picking technique to that of gypsy jazz is that most notes are picked with…

Up the Irons! Thanks so much for the bigass Iron Maiden feature [December 2019]! They’ve been my favorite band since the early Eighties. Keep up the great work. —Kevin Keeton Loved the December issue’s focus on Iron Maiden and other artists’ input. What, no “Clairvoyant”? What an intro! All good. —Don Bouchie Johnson Is the Master What a terrific article on Danny Johnson [November 2019]. He has long been an unsung and under-the-radar guitar hero to so many of us. Having been a fan since first hearing Derringer Live!, it was awesome to finally see him get some long-overdue recognition. I’ve had the opportunity to see him live numerous times throughout the years, and he’s always mesmerizing — one of the best guitar players I’ve ever seen live. Thank you…

1 “Symbolic” Death Seconds after hearing the opening riff for the first time, I knew this album was going to be killer. It’s a classic, a true masterpiece, and I love everything about it! 2 “As Your Casket Closes” Ghoul A perfect blend of thrash, death and grind. I love the riffs and vocals, and the buildup in the bridge and its climax are cool. 3 “Bitch” Toxic Holocaust Well-developed thrash/crossover, combined with modern aspects but with respect and love for the past. This song makes me feel bad-ass while listening to it and walking down the street. 4 “Silvera” Gojira The riffs are aggressive, and the melodic tapping parts are a perfect counterweight to the heaviness. I also really like the lyrics. “If you change…

What influenced you to pick up a guitar? It was a combination of my love for the Beatles — the singles were coming out in real time for me, because I was born in ’62 — and my uncle Peter, who was a multi-instrumentalist. When he showed up he would bring his instruments, and then when I was around four, I asked him to show me some chords and I started to pick out some tunes by ear. What was the first guitar you owned? It was a flamenco guitar, because I was into Paco de Lucia as a kid. It wasn’t a super-fancy flamenco guitar, but it was pretty nice. That carried me through to my first electric, an SG I got when I was about 12. My mom…

“...I ALWAYS FIND THAT I DON'T GET MORE TIRED AS THE TOUR GOES ON-I GET STRONGER, SINCE MY MUSCLES ADJUST AND IT GETS EASIER”CHRIS CAFFERY POP QUIZ, HOTSHOT: Which group has played to more people in North America over the past decade than any other rock act? Most music business observers would likely answer U2 or Metallica, maybe the Stones or the Dave Matthews Band. According to industry trade publication Pollstar, however, the top rock draw in the U.S. during the second decade of the 21st century is a band that tours just seven weeks each year. From every mid November through late December, though, Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) perform to approximately a million fans, selling out arenas from coast to coast with a Yuletide-themed show that mixes rock, classical and…

LIST PRICE: $306.99 MANUFACTURER: Fishman, fishman.com The hexaphonic pickup and controller are installed via non-invasive brackets, with magnetic surfaces to hold the pickup and controller in place. The TriplePlay Connect app is a free download that provides a comprehensive selection of instrument sounds and effects. You can play along with drum, bass and instrument loops and make multi-track recordings via the software. Additional loops are available as in-app purchases, and TriplePlay Wireless MIDI owners can also access the app via an in-app purchase. THE BOTTOM LINE For guitarists who have always wanted to explore the capabilities of controlling new sounds with their guitars but were confused by guitar synth systems, Fishman’s TriplePlay Connect offers the most affordable and easy-to-use solution available.…

BACK IN THE late Seventies, the control covers of Ibanez’s flagship models featured the inscription, “Built by the proud craftsmen of Ibanez Japan.” The statement was as bold as it was true, but that attitude has always remained strong with the builders at Ibanez Japan, even though that message no longer appears on their guitars. Some of the finest examples of this are the company’s Prestige line instruments. The new MSM100 model is a direct descendent of Ibanez’s AZ Prestige models, developed in collaboration with Italian guitarist Marco Sfogli and featuring several custom enhancements. FEATURES With its asymmetric double cutaway alder body, dual humbuckers and a tremolo bridge, the Ibanez MSM100 falls neatly into the popular “Super Strat” category, but it has so many outstanding upgrades that it should be…

AS DISCUSSED LAST month, string bending and vibrato techniques provide essential expressiveness to all blues and blues-rock guitar solos. Techniques such as these allow one to emulate the sound of the human voice, which serves to broaden the emotional content and impact of the lines you play. Legendary players like B.B. King, Albert King, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Leslie West and Stevie Ray Vaughan all mastered string bending and vibrato techniques and made them integral elements of their signature playing styles. Our point of focus last month was the E minor pentatonic scale (E, G, A, B, D), and we examined bending each note, starting with the open low E string, in differing increments from a half step to a whole step to one and a half steps and beyond.…

“HEAD CUTTIN’ DUEL” Steve Vai & Ry Cooder THIS MUSICAL-THEATRICAL STREETFIGHT that served as the climax to the 1986 movie Crossroads is an entertaining showcase of flashy electric guitar shred virtuosity. Steve Vai, who in the film plays the character Jack Butler, performed all the parts labeled Gtr. 1 in our transcription, which you’ll notice alternate between drop-D and standard tuning throughout the “battle,” so in order to play along you’ll need to retune accordingly, or conveniently use an EVH D-Tuna or Ibanez Downshifter D Tuner, if your instrument is equipped with either device. Vai’s phrases offer an excellent study in essential rock and metal lead playing techniques and stylistic elements, such as string bending and raking, finger vibrato, legato phrasing, alternate picking and gut-wrenching whammy-bar portamentos. The Gtr. 2…

Jeff Becker AGE: 55 HOMETOWN: Columbus, OH GUITARS: Gibson Les Paul, Fender Strat, PRS, Danelectro, Supro, Dean Cadillac, D’Angelico SONGS I’VE BEEN PLAYING: Led Zeppelin “Black Dog,” Guns N’ Roses “Welcome to the Jungle,” Black Label Society “Stillborn,” Pearl Jam “Even Flow,” Soundgarden “Spoonman” GEAR I MOST WANT: Blackstar Artisan Series amp, Taylor acoustic, EarthQuaker Devices Organizer Keith Calmes AGE: 52 HOMETOWN: Ocean Grove, NJ GUITARS: Kris Barnett Classical, La Patrie (Godin) Electric Classical, Blake Wright Electric, Jim Worland Harp Guitar SONGS I’VE BEEN PLAYING: Jean-Maurice Mourat “Suite Latino,” Gene Vincent “Race with the Devil,” The Ventures “Walk Don’t Run ’64” GEAR I MOST WANT: Boss Volume Pedal 500H, Fender Showman Roger Owens AGE: 34 HOMETOWN: Maryville, TN GUITARS: Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro, Epiphone EJ200SCE SONGS I’VE BEEN PLAYING:…

IT’S BEEN ALMOST 50 YEARS SINCE MICHAEL SCHENKER MADE HIS recording debut at age 16 on the Scorpions’ debut album, 1972’s Lonesome Crow. From the start it was obvious he was at playing a level that was well beyond many of his contemporaries. This little detail was noticed by U.K. rockers UFO, who poached Schenker from the Scorpions in 1974 after witnessing his chops first-hand. Their first album together, Phenomenon, was a game-changer for UFO in terms of their commercial appeal. Schenker had everything — the guitar-hero image, the chops and the iconic Gibson Flying V. Fame didn’t sit well with him, however, and he developed a reputation for unreliability and unpredictability. He left UFO in 1978 ahead of the release of 1979’s Strangers in the Night, an oft-cited contender…

HIS NAME MIGHT not ring many bells, but as a musician and producer, Alain Johannes has a long and storied list of alt-music credentials, including Queens of the Stone Age, Them Crooked Vultures, PJ Harvey and Chris Cornell — among many others. He already has a pretty slick offset signature guitar from Dream Studio called the Sparkler, but this time around, he had yearned for a beloved Epiphone Casino that had been stolen from him while he was onstage with his band Eleven. Luckily for him, Dream Studio Guitars replicated the specs of a 1965 Casino and added some custom tweaks to build the Baccara, the newest signature instrument for Alain Johannes — which is hands-down one of my favorite semi-hollow guitar designs. FEATURES For the most part, the Baccara…

STREET PRICES: DDR, $179; Fuzz Bender, $149 MANUFACTURER: Keeley Electronics, robertkeeley.com The Fuzz Bender’s bias knob and active bass and treble EQ allow you to dial in any range of fuzz effects you like. The DDR’s delay/ reverb section provides either analog/digital delay effects up to 1.2 seconds, or spring/plate reverb effects. THE BOTTOM LINE The Keeley Fuzz Bender will likely end most guitarists’ search for the perfect fuzz pedal, while the DDR is for players looking for great overdrive, delay and reverb effects but who don’t want to deal with a pedalboard.…

STREET PRICE: $2,499.99 MANUFACTURER: Ibanez, Ibanez.com The S-Tech Wood single-piece roasted maple neck features 24 stainless steel frets and luminescent Luminlay side dots. DiMarzio Air Norton (neck) and The Tone Zone (bridge) humbucking pickups deliver stellar tones, with full body and detailed nuances. THE BOTTOM LINE The Ibanez MSM100 is ideal both for pro guitarists looking for an exceptionally expressive instrument and for players who want an instrument that brings out the best of their capabilities.…

IN THIS LESSON, I’d like to continue talking about numbers and sequencing approaches in regard to creating improvised lines. It’s not “math rock” per se, but rather “normal” guitar playing with an approach that allows one to explore phrases that can move decisively away from scalar-type lines, wherein you can utilize more interesting and unexpected rhythms that will surprise you, your friends and anyone who listens to your music. A very easy way to dive into this concept is to select a series of numbers, and each collection of notes will be made up of those sequential numbers. For example, you can use a phone number as the basis for structuring a series of melodic phrases. If the first number is 5, the first phrase will be five notes long;…

SOMETIMES SOMETHING THAT seems simple isn’t as simple as it seems. A good example is the guitar tracks on Steve Miller’s “Jet Airliner,” which sound like an electric guitar plugged straight into an amp playing a progression of three open chords, some octave overdubs on a melodic “Crossroads”-style line, and a handful of overdriven rhythm guitar accents. But anyone who has paid close attention to the recording while trying to learn the song or duplicate the tones has likely found those tasks more elusive than they initially imagined. Miller recorded “Jet Airliner” at CBS Studios in San Francisco. His main rig was a circa-1975-76 Ibanez Artist 2663TC (later renamed the Iceman IC210) plugged into the studio’s Fender Super Reverb amp (most likely a mid-Sixties blackface version). For overdubs he used…

GUITAR: 1975-76 Ibanez Artist 2663TC with Triple-Coil pickup (setting 3 for main rhythm part, settings 1 and 3 for overdubs), Master Volume: 10, Master Tone: 10. AMP: (main rhythm track) c. 1964-67 Fender Super Reverb (Vibrato channel, Input 1, Bright: On, Volume: 4, Treble: 8, Middle: 3, Bass: 3, Reverb: 0, Speed: 0, Intensity: 0) with four Jensen C10R 10-inch speakers; (overdubs) c. 1964-67 Fender Champ (Input 1, Volume: 9, Treble: 10, Bass: 10) with 8-inch CTS speaker EFFECTS : none STRINGS/TUNING: Fender F-150 Rock ’N Roll Light .010, .013, .015, .026, .032, .038/ Standard, capo at third fret (or possibly second fret and pitch raised with tape recorder’s varispeed)…