Innehållsförteckning för March 2018 från Total Guitar

This issue we’ve got a thirst for gear, starting with our cover feature. Here at TG, we’re strong believers in trying to wring every last bit of value out of the gear you own, so this month we’re taking a look at some different kinds of lessons: how to use your gear to its full potential. So many products do so many things these days that it’s easy to overlook some of the hidden features of your kit, plus there are many things you can do easily and cheaply (or for free!) to your guitars to make sure they play and sound their best. Elsewhere, the gear coverage continues, as some of Team TG jetted off to this year’s NAMM show to bring you our highlights. Narrowing down thousands of…

TOUR THE WAY OF THE TIGER Myles Kennedy’s solo album has been in the works for so long we were beginning to think the debut from the Alter Bridge frontman and Slash collaborator would never surface. But Year Of The Tiger (reviewed on p16) is finally coming and there’s a UK acoustic tour to celebrate not just the album, but his whole back catalogue. “What I plan to do for the acoustic set on this tour is to touch on the last two decades of my recording career,” Myles reveals to us. “Besides the fact that I’ll be playing songs from my solo record, I’ll also be performing stripped-down acoustic arrangements of songs that I wrote with the Mayfield Four, Alter Bridge and Slash & The Conspirators. I also might…

1 “This guitar was made in the Ibanez Custom Shop in the USA, which is based in Los Angeles. They’re basically a group of luthiers who work for Ibanez to specifically build artists’ guitars specific to their needs. This is the second guitar they’ve built for me, which I’m very grateful for because it’s pretty amazing. And I’m about to tell you why… 2 “It’s based on the RGD seven-string model: it’s 685mm (27") scale length, thru-neck construction, five-piece neck; an alder body with a maple top and flame maple finish – a trans green and black.” 3 “The locking machine heads are pretty awesome. You feed the string in, tighten it, tune it and then it cuts the string for you. It’s the ultimate lazy man’s tuning peg. And…

LINE 6 HELIX HX Before NAMM kicked off, TG took a drive over to Calabasas near California’s San Fernando Valley to Line 6’s headquarters. As well as seeing the treasure trove of classic amps the company uses for modelling tone, we got a closer look at the latest addition to its Helix family. The HX is essentially its little brother without the amp modelling functions, so it allows more players to get involved in its incredible effects capabilities at a more accessible price. In addition to 100 Helix effects, there are legacy effects from the company’s history – including the classic DL-4 delay. PRS MT-15 When boutique amp-collecting tonehound Mark Tremonti revealed to us 18 months ago that he’d tracked most of Alter Bridge’s The Last Hero album with a…

Metal’s long and rich history started in the late 60s when bands like Black Sabbath played blues-tinged riffs with heavily-distorted guitar tones. They developed the sound by adding darker note choices and a new style was born, driven forward by bands like Judas Priest, UFO and The Scorpions. By the early 80s a New Wave Of British Heavy Metal produced bands like Motörhead, Iron Maiden and Diamond Head who infused punk’s energy with metal’s heaviness. These bands influenced giants like Metallica and Pantera, who in turn influenced today’s metal bands such as Bullet For My Valentine and Avenged Sevenfold. This jam track is a throwback to the classic sounds of Sabbath, Priest and Maiden. Because it can be used in so many situations, the minor pentatonic scale can be a…

Keith Richards knows a thing or two about playing rhythm guitar. It’s not all about stage-strutting rock ’n’ roll anthems either; this song demonstrates a more sensitive side to his technique. Although he famously prefers open G tuning, Keith recorded Angie in standard tuning – so it’ll be easy to assimilate some of the ideas here into your playing. It’s Keith’s use of ‘sus’ chords that creates the trademark Stones sound. A sus chord has its 3rd interval note (this is the note that makes a chord sound either major or minor) ‘suspended’ and replaced by another note (either a 4th or a 2nd). However, you don’t need to get too bogged down in theory in order to use these chords – just let your ears be the judge. Keith…

“I DON’T PLAY ENOUGH CLASSICAL GUITAR, BUT IT’S ONE OF MY FAVOURITE INSTRUMENTS” DIFFERENT FOLK Josienne Clarke & Ben Walker transcend on new album The lineage of folk music in the UK is special, and duo Josienne Clark and Ben Walker have proved to be one of the greatest recent additions. They’re confirming their ambitions stretch beyond one genre on Seedlings All, their first album consisting of only their own compositions. “We’ve never set out to make non-original material,” guitarist Ben tells us. “It depends on what we’re doing and what works. There were covers we could have put on, but they didn’t really fit with Josie’s narrative for the rest of the album. I think it’s important to have a theme running throughout, rather than just have 12 songs…

Taken from Metallica’s classic 1991 self-titled Black Album, The Unforgiven also appears in Rockschool’s Grade 1 syllabus. The part you’ll be learning in this lesson is a simplified arrangement of the lead guitar and vocal melodies early in the song. You can use a pick, pick and fingers, or pure fingerstyle; each technique gives a different tone – so choose whichever sounds best to you. The rhythm of the melody has some complications between bars 5 and 12 but if you can get bar 5 down, the rest should start to fall in to place. You’re probably used to counting to four in time with music. Well, in bar 5, there are no notes on beat 1, two notes one after the other on beat 2, one note on beat…

It wasn’t long ago that Les Paul Studios were the most affordable line in the range, giving guitarists that classic mahogany body/maple cap and double humbucker tone without any need for re-mortgaging their homes. Now with this year’s models creeping up to the £1,300 mark, it’s the revamped Tribute series that is now serving those in pursuit of quality, American-made instruments on a more wallet-friendly budget. At first glance, not a whole lot seems different compared to the older Standards although the cut of the body feels marginally thinner. Unlike the Les Paul Faded, which sits at a similar entry-level Gibson price point, this guitar has no weight relief whatsoever – effectively paying ‘tribute’ to the chunky blocks of wood that the brand built its name on, though in this…

We love guitars. A lot. We wouldn’t be here otherwise, but sometimes in the acoustic world, things can feel a little… traditional and predictable. Or maybe not, actually, as new products at NAMM last month (see p44) suggest there’s still plenty of innovation afoot, and then there’s this… something very different from the usual spruce tops and rootsy satin finishes. But is it more stunner than strummer? Well, let’s take those looks in first. This is the acoustic offshoot of a classic Gretsch electric model; the original White Penguin combines the gold bling of its Falcon model with the slimmer shape of the Duo Jet. But in its acoustic form this bird is a Rancher Parlor model. The gold binding, hardware and that ‘hello there!’ headstock will turn some people…

The Green Russian Big Muff Pi, that was produced in the early 1990s by EHX’s sister company Sovtek, is widely credited with turning around the fortunes of the then-ailing company. The legend goes that the units were housed in materials taken from scrapped Russian tanks and they were legendary for switch faults and the lack of power jacks. Nevertheless, the Green Russian Big Muff Pi came to be highly prized for a generation of players who were looking for an alternative to the thinner, brighter NYC Muff fuzz sound. In standard tuning, these coveted fuzzes deliver robust highs and fat bass, while in drop tunings they’re instant stoner and doom riff machines. So do these modern reissues deliver on that formula? Let’s take a look and find out... EarthQuaker Devices…

CHRIS BIRD Stricken with a fear of contracting a chronic GAS affliction, TG’s Birdman decided to stay well away from this year’s NAMM show, preferring instead to sit on his perch in the UK and hone his Eddie Van Halen chops. You can do the same. Just turn to p66 for our not-so-evil tab of Runnin’ With The Devil. MICHAEL ASTLEY-BROWN It was all sun, sea and single coils for Mike this month as he accompanied Stu and Rob on an epic NAMM quest to see and hear all the new gear that’s due to land this year. His highlight? Probably Mark Tremonti’s game-changing PRS MT 15 head, which brings boutique high-gain tones down to a sub-£500 price point. Woo hoo! ROB LAING Rob was writing this issue’s new gear…

After last month’s primer on the notes of the stave, this time we’re throwing you in at the deep end with four music reading exercises. And with no tab to assist you, this may be quite a challenge. Still, the best way to get to grips with reading music is to just have a go – there aren’t really any shortcuts. We’ve provided the information you need to get started; begin by familiarising yourself with the notes on the fretboard and how they correspond to the musical stave. If you’re struggling, take a listen to the audio tracks on the TG CD to guide you. WHAT YOU WILL LEARN Learn the notes on the stave Learn the notes on the freboard Four music reading exercises 1 NOTES ON THE STAVE…

1 JESSEE HORAN, 37, MELBOURNE “It was really great to get the mindset behind the songwriting. The scales were amazing, but for me it’s more about how you go about coming up with that kind of stuff. Even if you learn the riffs, you don’t get the full perspective, so understanding Bill’s train of thought up-close like this was really helpful. I want to write more abstract stuff and I’ve always wondered where the hell he came up with it.” Favourite Mastodon song: Blood And Thunder 2 BLAKE KENRICK, 34, LONDON “Those exercises were really good, I like that discordant diminished sound and it was good to hear how Bill embellishes those with nicer sounds, to get the good and bad-sounding riffs… there’s dark and heavy, but you don’t want…

ELECTRIC GUITAR 01 SET YOUR INTONATION Intonation is the term used to describe how in tune your guitar is across its scale length. It needs to be set right, or your tuning won’t be consistent at different positions on the neck. To set your intonation yourself, string up with a fresh but stable set of strings. Play a harmonic at the 12th fret, then fret the note at the 12th fret. If your tuner reads the fretted note as sharp you need to move that string’s saddle away from the neck (flattening the tuning), and if it reads flat move the saddle toward the neck (sharpening the tuning). On a Strat this is adjusted with a screwdriver at the back of the bridge, but the same principle applies to tune-o-matic…

As one of the most innovative rock guitarists of all time, EVH’s arsenal of licks exploded the sonic possibilities of the instrument in the late 70s. The guitar part is a single take recording and combines great rhythm guitar work with impressive-sounding lead fills. The only overdubs are two short, melodic guitar solos. By Van Halen standards it is fairly easy to play, however, there are some harmonic runs, trills and the picking for the solos to challenge you. The key things that set this performance apart are the tone, timing and feel – EVH is a master of making everything sound relaxed. The original recording was done with the guitar de-tuned by a semitone. We’ve stayed in standard tuning. CHORDS The shapes played in the riffs are notated as…

Though Howlin’ Wolf and Hubert Sumlin did record separately on occasion, a great deal of their recorded legacy is as bandmates. Hubert Sumlin was a ‘hired hand’, though he recorded with Wolf from the mid-1950s right up to Wolf’s death in 1976. Sumlin handled the main guitar parts on classics like Dust My Broom as Wolf moved on to harmonica – though he was well respected as a slide guitarist. For accurate pitching, simply position your slide directly over the frets instead of just behind. And, if you use your third or fourth finger for your slide, you can carefully mute behind your slide to avoid strange noises from the unused part of the string. Many slide players favour open tunings because these enable you to move chords and melodic…

“IT SURPRISES PEOPLE WHEN WE SAY, ‘WE’RE GOING CRAZY ABOUT THIS NEW JUSTIN BIEBER TRACK!’ BUT WE’RE AWARE THAT WE CAN’T DO A JUSTIN BIEBER TRACK...” You might have been sleeping on Turin Brakes over the 15 years since their Top 5 single Painkiller (Summer Rain) hit the charts, but the band certainly haven’t been resting on their laurels. The four-piece – which began as duo Olly Knights and Gale Paridjanian – have been quietly active ever since, releasing an album every two years since 2001, touring worldwide and signing a new deal with Cooking Vinyl in 2010. Their eighth album, The Invisible Storm, which came out in January, sees the band stick to their stripped-back, indie-pop-rock sound while exploring themes beyond the personal. “Things have been a bit weird…

Welcome to the GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome*) Station! Every issue, TG scours the market for the hottest new gear and brings you transparent reviews that you can trust. From the smallest of accessories that make your life easier, to big investments such as brand new guitars, amps and effects pedals – if it’s worth your attention, you’ll find it here! HOW WE TEST CURATION Our product selection is driven by our love of gear. We select the most exciting products on the market every month to bring you opinions you can trust. FACE-VALUE REVIEWS We’re not gear snobs here at Total Guitar. We judge it on whether it looks good, sounds good and plays well – not by the name on the headstock. NO SNAKE OIL You won’t find us…

EPIPHONE LES PAUL TRIBUTE PLUS £679 With Gibson USA ’57 Classic pickups and a premium hardcase, one wonders how the top line of Les Pauls compare to Gibson’s affordable instruments. PRS SE 245 £495 Offering superb money for value at virtually half the price of the Tribute, this year’s all-new PRS SE 245 might not be American-made but it remains an equally tantalising proposition. LTD EC-1000 £884 Not only boasting a convincing and winning combination of gold hardware on a black finish, the EC-1000 Duncan also offers locking tuners and Seymour Duncan pickups.…

Those aspiring to kill the next-door neighbour’s lawn by the malevolent force of their playing alone would do well to speak to their local dealer about Schecter’s Demon-6. Updated with fresh set of Schecter active humbuckers and a super-smooth wenge fretboard for 2018, the Demon-6 is a mean-looking S-style that’s built for shredding and all kinds of high-gain devilry – and it’s also available as a seven-string for an extra £22. It’s one of the most powerful and playable instruments on the market at this price, but does Schecter’s retooling of the Demon-6 go far enough? Aesthetically, there’s not much between the Demon-6 of yore and the updated model. The body is similarly carved from basswood, with a flame-maple top, heavily countered with neat sculpting on both bass and treble…

The first song I learned to play... I’m Looking Through You – The Beatles “Emily [Kokal, vocals/guitarist] and I both learned I’m Looking Through You. We learned to play it together and sing the harmonies. After that the second song I learned was Creep by Radiohead. I love that song so much – it’s an incredible pop song, which can be a really hard thing to write.” The song I remember covering in my first band... Ashes To Ashes – David Bowie “Warpaint was my first band, so the first song that I ever fully covered was Ashes To Ashes. It’s one of the favourite recordings that we’ve ever done, actually. We also covered My Guy [by Mary Wells – written and produced by Smokey Robinson] in the song Billie…

The volume pedal might be the most underused and underrated tool for your pedalboard. Here are five ways you can put it to great use: 1 BOOST Simple and effective for adding a boost level that your can bring in and out as you wish – and unlike a standard boost it can be taken in and out gradually for added expression. 2 SWELLS A volume pedal can control the attack of your playing and can be used for an ambient violin swell effect on notes or chords. Start with the volume down (expression pedal up) press your foot down at the tail-end of the note of the chord you are playing. You can add resonance with a reverb pedal too. 3 DELAY Place the volume in front of your…

Eddie is most associated with his self-built ‘Frankenstrat’ guitar – essentially a Stratocaster with a bridge humbucker and locking vibrato. In the studio a Marshall amp was set flat out and combined with a Variac device that changed the amount of voltage running into the amp to provide Eddie’s classic ‘brown’ overdrive sound. We recommend setting the highest gain sound you’ll need from your amp, then backing off your guitar’s volume to produce cleaner tones. Dial in plenty of reverb for ambience and a delay set to around 316ms.…

What is tab? Tab is short for tablature, a notational system used to give detailed information as to where notes should be played on the fretboard. Tab appears underneath conventional music notation as six horizontal lines that represent the strings of the guitar, from the sixth (thick) string at the bottom to the first (thin) string at the top. On these lines, numbers represent which frets you place your fingers. For example, an A note on the 2nd fret, third string, will be shown as a number ‘2’ on the third line down on the tab. Unfretted strings are shown with a ‘0’. The key and time signatures are shown in the notation. TG also includes a timestamp to tell you where in the original track you’ll find each example…

1 ROADIE 2 This handy robot tuner is now in its second incarnation – the device analyses the vibrations from a picked string to know its current pitch, then the motor rotates the peg until it’s completely in tune. The whole process takes just 30 seconds and can be used to quickly switch between open tunings via 20 presets accessed using the onboard OLED screen and knobs. It even keeps track of tuning stats and each string’s quality, so you know when to change them out. It can help with restringing too! (£114, roadietuner.com) 2 ON-STAGE SPRING-UP LOCKING GUITAR STAND There’s not much innovation to be had when it comes to guitar stands, right? Let On-Stage prove you wrong with its nifty locking design, which secures your guitar in place…

First introduced in 2014 and now standard across this year’s range, these frets benefit from a process where the fretwire is exposed to extreme cold temperatures around -300° Fahrenheit, using liquid nitrogen to increase resistance to bacteria, rust and general wear and tear. The concept was developed by NASA and used in the airline and automobile industries – and is known to make metals stronger without being any harder or affecting their feel. Heavy-duty testing from Gibson revealed that after 277,000 string bends, standard frets wore down four times faster at 0.2mm compared to the cryogenic’s 0.05mm. According to Gibson: “This means that your guitar will almost certainly never need a fret job (unless you plan to live for several centuries).”…