Indholdsfortegnelse for August 2016 i Guitarist

Last night I ventured backstage at Colston Hall in Bristol to chat with blues-rock’s man of the hour Joe Bonamassa, who was in town on his British Blues Explosion tour. Joe is a prolific guitar collector and something he said was so relevant to this issue’s theme of buying and selling that I thought I’d share it with you here, as we go to press. “Everybody who buys a guitar for a £1,000 and sells it for £1,200 thinks, ‘I’m a guitar dealer.’ But you cannot look at buying a guitar as an instrument as ‘what’s it worth’,” Joe argued. “People try to sell me stuff all the time, and I’m buying two or three things a week now. And the best tip I can suggest is that – especially…

GRETSCH G5420T ELECTROMATIC HOLLOW BODY SINGLE-CUT W/ BIGSBY £709 WHAT IS IT? Mid-priced, updated version of the classic 6120 single-cut with chrome hardware GRETSCH G5422TG ELECTROMATIC HOLLOW BODY DOUBLE-CUT W/ BIGSBY £809 WHAT IS IT? Mid-priced, updated version of the classic 6120 double-cut with gold hardware It’s been quite a year for Gretsch, and although we’re only half way through 2016, we’ve already seen the launch of the highly affordable Indonesian-made Streamliners and a significant makeover and reorganisation of the high-end Japanese Professional Collection. Now, Gretsch has turned its attention to its Korean-made Electromatics, specifically the Hollow Body models. The Electromatic name itself dates right back to the 1940s, and was also used on a Japan-only range in the late 80s. We know it best in its current form, however,…

Joanne Shaw Taylor 14 October to 5 November Various UK venues Following a summer in the US, the British blues-rock artist will return to her home country for an extensive run in support of Wild, her Kevin Shirley-produced fifth album, which is due for release on 30 September. And there’s a strong feeling that Wild could raise the bar for her, especially with the Joe Bonamassa collaborator backing her corner, and eager to sing her praises, too. After completing tracking at Grand Victor Sound Studios in Nashville, Shirley hit Facebook to make his feelings clear: “Ladies and gents, here is your next blues superstar” he wrote. “We finished her album in Nashville, and it’s brilliant!” It will be the first release on Shaw Taylor’s own Axehouse Music label, and Shirley…

1 Fender Deluxe series £679 to £889 Following in the wake of the American Elite line’s Noiseless pickups, the Mexican-made Deluxes receive them across an updated nine-model range of Strat (HSS and traditional) and Tele (Nashville and Thinline), with Precision, Jazz and Dimension basses (four- and five-string iterations for the latter two models). That’s not the only update. The locking tuners for quicker string changing, S-1 switching and the contoured neck heel of the Elites have also found their way to specific models in this series. The Deluxe Nashville Tele (£679) – pictured in Daphne Blue – features a Vintage Noiseless Star pickup in the middle position with five-way Strat-o-Tone pickup switching for added versatility. www.fender.com 2 Boss Waza Craft CE-2W £189 Some discontinued Boss stompboxes are lusted after by…

GAS EXPLOSION I wish to complain in the strongest possible terms about your nonchalant encouragement of Gear Acquisition Syndrome (GAS). Being originally a member of the low-frequency fraternity, my relationship with your magazine actually began in the prehistoric era of Bassist magazine, and has evolved with your merger with that publication and subsequent journey from strength to strength. My GAS has got worse every year, and now I have such bad GAS that it sometimes even threatens my marriage! Almost all of the guitars and amps I have bought have been your fault, including the latest and highest-end six-string I have ever treated myself to, a PRS S2 Standard Singlecut Satin in the same sumptuous Tobacco Burst you featured in issue 402. What a corker. In fact, such is your…

“We juxtapose light banter in-between dark and emotional songs, to help people connect and get them to feel I’m just a normal person. People don’t expect me to be funny; they just think I’m this big brooding guy” What was your first gig and how did it go? “I had been playing guitar for about six months and joined this shitty band, and we played a place called Club Mayfair, which isn’t there any more. It was a punk-rock club and it was super-primitive, but I was nervous as hell getting up there. I think I knew about three chords back then, but, all things considered, it went pretty well!” What’s on your rider? “Oh, we keep things pretty minimal – we have almonds, walnuts, fruit, granola bars, sparkling water,…

One hour east of Los Angeles, splayed out in the dusty foothills of California’s arid Inland Empire, sits the city of Riverside, a modest burgh of just over a quarter of a million. Though the sun generously pours warm golden rays down the main drag, the only sign of life is a noisy stream of gaily attired guests filing into a downtown hotel for a wedding reception. One block over, the marquee above the Fox Performing Arts Center announces tonight’s entertainment – The Rides, the blues-rock supergroup formed by Stephen Stills, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and keyboardist Barry Goldberg. Their 2013 debut, Can’t Get Enough, clawed its way into Billboard’s Top 40 behind a pounding fusion of 70s hard rock and smouldering electric blues. Tonight’s show marks the final date in…

What was the first guitar you ever lusted after in a shop window? “I grew up in my father’s music store, so I probably lusted after everything at one point or another. My first ‘it will be mine’ memory was for a bright red Fender Strat – would have been a mid-to-late 80s Japanese one. I’m pretty sure I did actually buy it, but I can’t have had it for long as I have no recollection of actually using it!” What are the most frequent questions that customers ask about guitars? “Why is ‘Guitar X’ 10 times the price of ‘Guitar Y’ and is it worth it? I spend a lot of time discussing the law of diminishing returns! And, to be honest, it all boils down to playing it…

Buy Cheap, Buy Twice? Acoustic wizard Stuart Ryan argues that saving up for the guitar you really want can, in some ways, be more economical than accepting second-best. “Many years ago, I found myself in Ivor Mairants playing the most beautiful small-bodied Martin I’d ever come across,” he says. “At the time I was young and broke, but needed a good acoustic. It was a toss-up between the Martin and a used Moridaire [Morris] for £500. Of course, I did the safe thing and bought the Morris, with some slight regret. However, I only kept that guitar for about three years, sold it and then began a long hunt for a small-bodied guitar that would probably never have been necessary if I’d have bought the Martin. Sometimes, spending that bit…

Many people might be put off either buying or selling a guitar or amplifier at auction, fearing that the process may be too complex or even a little bit hit or miss. But those who take the plunge have found there are bargains to be had – and, if you’re selling, you’re often likely to get more for an instrument than you would in a straightforward part-exchange with a retailer or small ad in a newspaper. It’s all a question of finding the right buyer for whatever it is you have to sell, and the auction house provides a perfect meeting point for collectors and enthusiasts on both sides of the fence. So, as a guide to the whole process, we visited Gardiner Houlgate auction rooms in Corsham, Wiltshire and…

In 1982, Fender was only too aware of the effect that the sudden rash of unauthorised Strat copies was having on its profits and so the Squier range was introduced to form a sort of counter-attack on brands such as Tokai, whose near-as-dammit lookalikes were rapidly gaining popularity. Shifting the site of manufacture from the US to Japan meant that the Squiers could retail at extremely competitive prices, but initially the quality of the JV Series – so called because of the JV prefix to the early Squiers’ serial numbers – was absolutely staggering. The very first Squiers, which are now very heavily sought after by collectors, had a large Fender logo on the headstock, but it wasn’t long before Fender realised that this meant that there was very little…

“I’m amazed at the quality of sound that Martin has been able to pack into an instrument at this price point” Writer DAVID MEAD Deputy Editor, Guitarist David Mead bonds with the Martin 00X1AE in the third part of this longterm test and attempts to record a piece direct to his computer using the guitar’s onboard Fishman Sonitone USB The story so far with this little Martin 00 is that it’s one of the company’s eco-friendly models in that, apart from its spruce top, it’s made from high pressure laminates with a Richlite fingerboard (basically a mix of resin and paper pulp). As such, it retails at a very modest £559 and comes complete with a Fishman Sonitone pickup system, which has been fitted with a mini USB output alongside…

Still Got It Tough, intelligent and frank, Stephen Stills has always been a massive hero to us at the mag. Hear him trading insights about blues guitar with KWS on p62 Farewell To A Hero We were saddened to learn of the passing of Elvis guitar legend Scotty Moore this month. Join us to remember his life in music on p52 Buy, buy – sell, sell! We should probably spend the money on lessons, but the allure of another guitar is irrepressible. Find out how to wheel and deal wisely p68…

MESA ENGINEERING JP-2C HEAD £2,950 WHAT IS IT? A modern, stripped-down (tonally-speaking) take on the legendary Mark IIC+, and Mesa’s first proper signature product Now in its Mark Five incarnation, the modern Boogie is a three-channel multi-mode monster, bristling with knobs, switches and LEDs that control an almost endless list of functions. However, there’s still a hardcore following for the earlier, simpler versions, which remain highly usable today because of their exceptional build quality. Out of all these, the final revision of the Mark II – the Mark IIC+ – is the most coveted, with clean examples selling way above their original retail price. Most of the Mark IIC+’s reputation is down to one person, Dream Theater’s John Petrucci, who has been one of Mesa’s biggest ambassadors for over three…

Guitarist was saddened to hear of the passing of former Wings guitarist Henry McCullough, age 72, on 14 June. His live agent, Nigel Martyn, revealed he had suffered a heart attack four years ago and struggled with poor health ever since. The Northern Irish musician’s career spread further than joining the second line-up of Paul McCartney’s band in 1972; he also played on the ex-Beatle’s solo Bond theme Live And Let Die, was part of The Grease Band with Joe Cocker at Woodstock (also playing on Cocker’s With A Little Help From My Friends breakthrough album), and his credits also include work with Marianne Faithfull and Donovan. In addition, he released a 1975 solo album, Mind Your Own Business!. “He was a pleasure to work with,” said Paul McCartney in…

“2016 is the year where it’s never been more difficult to become successful. But this is no time to give up – make use of current resources and move forward!” ELLIOTT RANDALL I ended last month’s column with this quote: “Last seen, first hired.” That was a segue, my idea being to draw you in with that food for thought, then continue on with it for this month’s instalment. “Where is he going with this?” you might ask. I’ll tell you – this one is about moving forward. As you know, the way I see it, there are four major different guitarist groups: 1. Those who play strictly for their own pleasure and enjoyment – usually at home; 2. The ‘Weekend Warrior’, playing with a band or two, often in…

“I always tell guitar players that they should learn to play with others. You can only get so far sitting in your bedroom” 1 What was your first guitar and when did you get it? “That’s a very difficult question to answer, because I played guitar for 18 months without actually owning one. The first guitar that my folks bought for me was a very cheap Spanish guitar, which they paid about £3.10s for, but they soon realised I was getting on quite well teaching myself to play. So, at Christmas in 1958 they bought me a secondhand Höfner President and that was a revelation, because here was a guitar that had a reasonable action and that was easy to play. Up until then, guitars were really cheap things that…

In 1954, on a balmy July evening in a small studio in Memphis, Tennessee, three men were taking a break from an uneventful recording session, when they started fooling around with a simple blues. The producer heard something he liked and asked the boys to start again so he could capture it on tape. The next few minutes saw the waxing of one of the most influential records of all time. The studio was Sun Records. The producer was Sam Phillips. The song was That’s All Right. And the trio was fronted by a young, unknown singer named Elvis Presley, backed by bassist Bill Black and guitarist Scotty Moore. The sound they created was brand new: a fusion of white country music and black rhythm ’n’ blues – and it…

“I’ve got a ton of guitars on this tour. I haven’t counted them all but I’m changing guitars on almost every song,” Kenny explains. “In this band, it’s all about versatility and getting different sounds on every song. I have lots of Strats, like my ’59, my ’58 and my ’61 out here, and I have a lot of incredible Custom Shop Strats. I’m using a Les Paul on a few songs. “My pedalboard has a Custom Audio Electronics wah pedal, a hand-wired TS808 Tube Screamer, a King Of Tone pedal by the Analog Man, an Analog Man Bi-Chorus pedal and I’ve got this really awesome Uni-Vibe pedal that my guitar tech makes. It’s a smaller, very faithful replication of the Uni-Vibe, but he calls it the [Shin-ei] Vibe-Bro. I…

“The last few minutes are when bidding reaches its peak so you want as many potential buyers to be online when that happens” The Secret To Selling Is Buying If you’re the kind of player who likes to switch guitars fairly often, it may benefit you to stick to classic models from major makers that hold their value. Then, the next time you get bored and fancy a change, you can be confident in being able to sell that guitar quickly and at a decent resale price. Guitarists are notoriously conservative and, while quirky, obscure and budget guitars can be great value as player’s instruments, they don’t hold their value so well and so, alas, aren’t surefire bargaining chips for that next purchase. Keep The Candy Don’t underestimate the value…

Early Model The first cut is the deepest, recalls our editor Jamie Dickson “The first electric guitar I ever bought was a Charvel Model 7. I bought it from a friend, Dan Hawkins, who would later find fame in The Darkness alongside his flamboyant brother, Justin. For those who don’t remember it, the Model 7 was a bit of a strange beast: an ash-bodied Telecaster-style guitar with all the ‘wrong’ features, such as an ultra-skinny neck better suited to supporting an ice-lolly than the guitar’s pointy headstock. It was a T-style guitar for the shred generation, but didn’t quite look the part for the grunge-rock that Dan was into at the time, so he sold it to me for £120. “The night I took it home, I can remember staring…

It’s June 1967 at the Monterey County Fairgrounds in California and Jimi Hendrix has just given an pyromaniacal performance that will change the face of rock guitar forever. Those in attendance weren’t quite sure what they’d just heard… But back in 2016 and the folks at Keeley reckon they’ve nailed it with the Rotary Fuzz Vibe unit. Take a generous helping of fuzz, add a soupçon of modulation and blend with some good vibrations, season with octave shift and wah, and stand well back. Add lighter fluid and a Fender Strat to taste and turn to p114 for the lowdown on some serious voodoo. Meanwhile, Electro-Harmonix invites you to join the Rotary Club by cramming the seductive charms of a Leslie cabinet into a dainty little footpedal with the Lester…

This issue, we’re headed in the direction of Sevenoaks in Kent for a guided tour around Rotosound’s string factory. The company first started producing strings way back in the 1950s and these days makes strings for just about every plucked or bowed instrument you can name. Our guide is Jason How, son of the late company founder James, who now presides as chairman and CEO over the business. The list of artists who have used Rotosound strings over the years reads like a history of rock guitar: Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters, Brian May, Pete Townshend and The Edge stand in line with bass legends Jaco Pastorius and John Entwistle, many of whom have their photographs proudly displayed on Rotosound’s office walls. One picture, however, catches our eye, that of Jimi…

Expert Panel Jamie Dickson Guitarist editor Jamie is as happy with steel wool in his hand as he is with Steely Dan in his headphones, and loves vintage-gear restoration and ambitious signal chains. Dave Burrluck Guitarist’s assiduous reviews editor is also the author of numerous guitar books. Very handy with a fret file and indeed any aspect of a finely fettled six-string. Mick Taylor Ex-editor of Guitarist, Mick has wielded Allen keys, screwdrivers and sandpaper from an early age; he also has a worrying obsession with pedalboards. Neville Marten Edited Guitarist for 13 years, after working for both Fender and Gibson as a repairer. From desirable Les Pauls to dream Strats, he’s owned and worked on the lot. Nick Guppy Guitarist’s amplifier specialist has built up a wealth of experience…

If someone mentions a classic 1940s Gibson acoustic, the first model your mind flags up is the J-45. But the Southern Jumbo hails from the same period and, despite going through quite a few design changes over the years, is a model that is still with us today. Classic period Southern Jumbos reach some quite dizzying prices on the vintage market – $12,000 is not uncommon for one in absolutely mint condition – and to this end Gibson recently revisited the model in its excellent New Vintage range. Essentially a large-bodied slope-shouldered dreadnought, the Southern Jumbo featured a rosewood back and sides to begin with, this being changed to mahogany a little later on. Some early models were made without a truss rod, too, but the standard became set with…

Electrics Brawley A-122 Threat, HSS pickups, Wilkinson trem, 22 frets, orange transparent flame top, never gigged, hard case. £319 ono. Call 07814 673382 Burns Anniversary Marvin. Original neck pocket not bolt-on. VGC just a small chip in lacquer on neck. £750. Collect only. Call 07968 342292. Email worrall695@hotmail.com Epiphone Limited 50th Anniversary “1961” Casino TD (Reissue). Stunning, in Royal Tan. Certificate of authenticity. £795. Call 07591 910927 or email tzrmart@gmail.com Fender AVRI ’59 Stratocaster Three-Tone Sunburst, slab rosewood ’board, 7.25” radius, five-way switch, OHSC, all tags, unopened case candy. Bargain £995. Call Rob on 07858 422812 or 01773 599523. Email robertbartlett704@btinternet.com Derby area Fender 2002 Clapton Signature Strat 7 Up Green, Fender Lace Sensors fitted. Excellent condition no case. £799. Email keithwpurnell@btinternet.com for photos or call 02392 468532 Fender Custom…

FENDER DELUXE SERIES ROADHOUSE STRATOCASTER £679 WHAT IS IT? An affordable Strat with features even Eric Johnson would love… FENDER DELUXE SERIES NASHVILLE TELECASTER £679 WHAT IS IT? A reboot of Fender’s cult Tele/Strat hybrid New for 2016, Fender has shown the spec sheets of its popular Mexican-built Deluxe Series Roadhouse Stratocaster and Nashville Telecaster models some love to create a pair of reboots that come seriously well appointed. Getting straight down to business – aside from obvious differences such as the Roadhouse’s two-point vibrato unit and the Nashville’s six-saddle hardtail bridge – the upgraded models both feature alder bodies, sprayed in flawless gloss polyester, and bolt-on maple necks, with the option of maple and rosewood fingerboards, finished with a satin polyurethane. Keep sniffing around and you’ll find other shared…

Roland’s Blues Cube amp has its most significant convert yet with the news Robben Ford has collaborated with the company on a new Tone Capsule based on his signature sounds. The modification circuit is easily installed into the Roland’s Artist, Stage and Tour Blues Cubes and follows the release of bluesman Kirk Fletcher’s Tone Capsule earlier this year. The fine-tuning of the BC TC-RF’s development took place while Robben was on the road in the United States. He used his vintage 1960 Telecaster and Les Paul through the Blues Cube amps at concert volumes to tweak the Capsule’s voicing to his tastes, looking carefully at attack characteristics, tonal balance and response to his favoured overdrive pedals. “I like to hear just a straight sound, a very true sound,” says Ford,…

I’ve definitely finished buying guitars now. I’ve got everything I need, so I’m not buying any more. Honest. Ask my wife, I don’t have a problem… The fact that I’ve had to force myself off eBay to write this column because I’ve developed a small obsession with the idea of an old Gibson 345 with a trem means nothing, it’s purely academic. The more astute among you will have spotted that all the above is a clear lie. One that most of us tell ourselves on some level with alarming regularity, and on a subject for which there should be some sort of 12-step recovery programme. One of the biggest bonuses of practising hard is that, eventually, you may be able to play guitar for a living, and instantly your…

THICK TONE? I was lucky enough to attend the recent Santana show in London, and Carlos was playing a flashy goldtop PRS for most of the two-and-a-half hours or so, which seemed to be covered in real gold leaf sealed with a thick varnish – at least that was my impression from the screens. I did think, however, that he struggled with sustain, and a backup PRS (red top, presumably maple?) that made a brief appearance seemed to have a more sparkly sound. Is that a realistic observation, and what are possible perils of bling guitar finishes in regards to playability and sound? Love the magazine – one of my monthly highlights! Many thanks and best regards, Max Brode, via email Interesting observations, writes gear editor Dave Burrluck, but we…

Anew album from renowned fretboard incendiary Paul Gilbert is always an event, and his latest release, I Can Destroy, is no exception. From the opening track, Everybody Use Your Goddamn Turn Signal, you know you’re in for the usual adroit blend of humour and stunning six-string agility. For the past 18 months or so, Paul has relaxed his gig schedule, choosing to spend time with his young family. But this hasn’t meant that he has put his guitar to one side – far from it. He remains an enthusiastic online teacher with an impressive roster of students, eager to enhance their technique with wise words from an acknowledged master. We begin our conversation by reminiscing about how rock music has changed over the years… Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow “I would…

Gibson’s Spirit first appeared in the company’s catalogue in 1982 and was available in two configurations: the single-pickup version pictured here and a double-humbucker edition dubbed Spirit II. Sporting an asymmetrical double-cutaway, the Spirit shares certain design characteristics with the arguably more illustrious double-cut Les Paul Junior, featuring a carved top, a stop tailpiece, Gibson’s 24.75-inch scale length and an unbound rosewood ’board. In tune with the times, the original creme humbucker was high output, fed through the single tone and volume barrel knobs, with a control cavity accessed via the instrument’s rear. The combination bridge/tailpiece had independent intonation adjustment for each string and the body furniture was finished off with a celluloid pickguard. If you can find one today, you'll be rewarded with a solid, no-nonsense playing experience from…

1 Disclose Every Possible Defect And Detail “When selling guitars online, always be as thorough as possible. It’s far better for potential buyers to know all the details about an instrument than to be disappointed upon receipt. Small issues like scratches, blemishes or scratchy pots are rarely deal-breakers if it’s the right guitar. In cases where you may be unsure about something, then be honest that you’re uncertain.” 2 Describe The Essentials “When describing a guitar for potential buyers, always cover these key points: condition and originality, weight, the feel of the neck profile, and current action and setup. Include what you know about the guitar’s history. Are you the original owner? And has anything changed since you’ve had it?” 3 Take Pictures Near A Window “The most important part…

Silvertone’s 1457 model guitar and Amp-In-The Case was originally available in the Sears Roebuck catalogue between 1964 and 1966 and cost around $50. Both amp and guitar were designed by Nathan Daniel, and, if you’re thinking that the lipstick pickups and overall design vibe look familiar, then it should come as no surprise that Daniel was the mastermind behind Danelectro. The guitar has a hollow body with a centre block under the bridge and stacked volume and tone controls for each pickup mounted on the top. The guitar’s nut is made from aluminium and, it’s said, forms an essential part of the inherent ‘Dano sound’. At the back of the guitar there is height adjustment for the pickups via some screws and there is also a neck tilt adjustment similar…

“There are things that I love about those [classic] guitars, but also things I want to change… I like a different symmetry” “Hey, it’s been a while,” says John Page as he shakes our hand. It certainly has. We’re both older and greyer, but there’s no doubt that John’s passion for the electric guitar has continued to flourish. However, that wasn’t always the case… In 1998, after 20 years at Fender, John Page left the company but stayed in California to set up the Fender Museum Of Music And The Arts creating a “museum, education, performance and recording facility in Corona, California for kids”. John picks up the story: “After I left Fender, I’d lost all my passion for guitars: that corporate element kinda sucked it out of me,” he…

Writer DARRAN CHARLES Guitarist, Godsticks This month, Godsticks singer and guitarist Darran Charles reflects on his decision to ditch his carefully constructed pedalboard in favour of the new Fractal Audio Systems FX8 I think it’s a rite of passage for guitarists to go through three different GAS stages: Guitar GAS, Amp GAS and Pedal GAS. The latter is usually the more financially preferable and it’s fairly easy (and fun) to search through the classified sections of guitar forums to get your next fix. My own pedal phase culminated in a shameful ’board that featured no less than five different drive pedals. And that was ’board one of two… In these columns, I continually refer to the lack of time support bands get to set up and sound-check, but it has…

Q I’m thinking about buying a Stratocaster in the future and my heart desires a 60s Fiesta Red original, but I’ll NEVER afford one! So, I’m thinking of either buying a Classic Player Strat and painting it Fiesta Red, or buying an American Standard and replacing the pickups to more of a 60s vibe. What I should do? Jamie Fry (age 12), via email A You should raise those expectations, Jamie! It might seem impossible now, but once you’ve aced your exams and secured a great job, a Strat may not be as unobtainable as you think. However, you’ve got a lot of fun to come before then, so let’s not get too serious… The Classic Player and the American Standard have the two-point bridge, which is different from the…

Getting In Shape Dif ficulty 10 mins per example Tutor: Richard Barrett | Gear used: Knaggs SSC, Ibanez Tube Screamer, 633 Engineering Custom 36 EVEN IF you are fully aware of all five shapes of the minor pentatonic scale, there’s always a new phrase or way of negotiating your way across the fretboard that comes as a surprise. I suppose that’s one of the things that keeps us hooked, even after decades of playing. This month, I’ve opted to demonstrate each of these five shapes in the context of an isolated phrase. Although they are best seen as part of a wider network covering the whole fretboard, it’s sometimes useful to concentrate solely on the areas and shapes we might subconsciously avoid when improvising. By developing a few stock…