Guitar & Bass 2015-11

V I N TAGE T ROU BLE
LA quartets guitar and bass-playing

TELE WOR KSHOP
How to add a Bigsby vibrato and
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NOVEMBER 2015 Vol 27 No 02 4.99
1950s Les Paul Goldtops

under the microscope
INTERVIEWED
John Etheridge
Willie Watson
Alexi Laiho
SPECIAL FEATURE
PAUL
McCARTNEY
Pauls Beatles-era guitar
playing proled
11
REVIEWED
9 771755 338236
Patrick James Eggle Godin

Vigier Eventide JHS Pedals NOV 2015
Vol 27 No 02
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D I Y | I N T E RV I E W S | T E C H N I Q U E | R E V I E W S
For years I was frustrated because my
band is really loud, in order to compete
at that volume... all other amps would
just fall apart. The Ashdown didnt. I can
turn it up to compete with those guys
and still have the tone stay together.
1DWH0HQGHO
FOO FIGHTERS
Ashdown allows
me to create a
sound that I just
cant achieve with The look, the tone, it
other amps. was everything I wanted
from a bass rig & more. Its great
6KDYR to feel part of a family company
something you dont see a lot of these
2GDGMLDQ days. I will never use another amp.
SYSTEM OF A DOWN
5RVV
0DF'RQDOG
THE 1975
It took me forever to dial in

where I could nd a bass head
I could really love. The minute I
plunged into the Ashdown, set
I was always searching for that big warm natural sound that everything to about 12 noon, I was
wasnt very complicated. The rst time I saw Pino Palladino like... thats how I hear bass.
playing one I was like, whatever that guys playing...
thats what Im having. 1LFN+DUPHU
DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE
%ULDQ5D\SIR PAUL MCCARTNEY
WWW.ASHDOWNMUSIC.COM
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Pauls guitar
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Its no exaggeration to state that millions
Contributors Steve Bailey, Rick Batey, Sid Bishop,
of words have been penned about Paul
Simon Bradley, Alan Clayson, Neil Crossley, Rod
Fogg, Michael Heatley, Dave Hunter, Jo Johnson, McCartneys contribution to popular music.
Marcus Leadley, Gareth Morgan, Lars Mullen, Andy One half of the greatest and most inuential
Price, Huw Price, Richard Purvis songwriting partnership in pop history, a
Instrument Photography Eleanor Jane vocalist who could take on tender ballads
Publisher Simon Lewis and rip-roaring rockers with equal ease, and
simon.lewis@anthem-publishing.com a supremely talented bassist, at his peak
ADVERTISING McCartney could have walked into absolutely
Senior Sales Executive Gemma Bown any band and improved it. So much of what he
Tel +44 (0) 7788 266847 did in The Beatles simply set the bar too high to allow those who followed
gemma.bown@anthem-publishing.com
to compete. Yet comparatively little has been written about his six-string
Ad Production Craig Broadbridge
guitar playing. Responsible for some of the Fab Fours most memorable lead
craig.broadbridge@anthem-publishing.com
guitar moments the solo in Georges Taxman to name but one example
ANTHEM PUBLISHING
McCartney might just be the most underrated electric guitarist to have
Managing Director Jon Bickley
featured in a major band.
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This month, we set renowned music historian Alan Clayson the task of
Editorial Director Paul Pettengale
paul.pettengale@anthem-publishing.com
charting Pauls six-string contributions to The Beatles; our special feature
begins on page 14. Elsewhere in the issue, youll nd a new regular feature in
Marketing Executive Verity Travers
verity.travers@anthem-publishing.com the shape of Vintage Bench Test. Rather than simply ogle vintage instruments
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guitar-bass.net NOVEMBER 2015 5

NOVEMBER 2015 Vol 27 No 02
In this issue...
THIS MONTHS
EXPERTS...
DAVE HUNTER
Dave Hunter
is a writer
and musician
who has
worked in the
US and the
UK. A former
editor of this title, he is the
author of The Guitar Amp
Handbook, Guitar Effects
Pedals, Amped and The Fender
Telecaster. Check out his new
column on page 10.
HUW PRICE
Huw spent 16
years as a
pro audio
engineer
working with
the likes of
David Bowie,
Primal Scream and NIck Cave.
His book Recording Guitar &
Bass was published in 2002,
sparking a career in guitar
journalism. He also builds and
maintains guitars, amps and FX.
RICHARD PURVIS
A reformed
drummer,
Richard has
been gigging
for over 20
years as a
guitarist and
bassist, and working as a music
86 Golden Wonders
journalist for almost as long. We turn the spotlight on this stunning
He also composes music for
television, and is legally pair of 1950s Les Paul Goldtops in
married to his 1966 Gibson
Melody Maker.
our latest Vintage Bench Test
14 Paul INTERVIEWS
McCartney Alexi Laiho ....................................................................... 26
Children Of Bodom man picks his favourite albums
G&B UNCOVERS THE BEATLES
Vintage Trouble ........................................................... 28
LEGENDS LESSER-HAILED Rhythm & blues kings tell us about their second
GUITAR PLAYING album and touring with AC/DC, The Who and Bon Jovi
Willie Watson ............................................................... 36

The former Old Crow Medicine Show guitarist
and banjo player on going it alone
VINTAGE
Vintage Bench Test....................................................86
This month, its the turn of a 1954 Les Paul All Gold
and a 1957 Goldtop to go under the microscope
Private Collection ..................................................... 94

Jazz fusion pioneer John Etheridge discusses his
highly eclectic guitar collection
The Bishop Of Denmark St ............................... 104

From biker brawls to Rotary Club dinners, Sid
Bishop remembers the worst gigs hes played
R E G U L A R S OPENING BARS News, emerging talents, win a Blackstar ID:Core BEAM worth 239 8 READER BOARDS 22 SOUNDTRACK OF MY LIFE Alexi Laiho 26
6 NOVEMBER 2015 guitar-bass.net

Vol 27 No 02 NOVEMBER 2015
GEAR REVIEWS
Patrick James Eggle
Macon Carved Top ...................................................... 46
Godin Session Ltd ..........................................................50
Vigier GV Rock ................................................................ 56
B&G Little Sister ........................................................... 60
Eventide H9 Max ........................................................... 64
JHS SuperBolt & Twin Twelve................................. 67
ThorpyFX Muffroom Cloud Fuzz ...........................70
Electro-Harmonix Super Pulsar ........................... 72
Martin GPCRSGT ............................................................. 74
Sandberg California II
VM4 & TM5 basses........................................................ 76
Six of the best: lightweight
bass gigging combos ................................................... 81
WORKSHOPS
Telecaster revamp project .................................. 39
You dont need a new guitar if your old faithful
is ailing, as Gary Walker nds out when his
Mexican Tele gets the workshop treatment,
complete with new pickups and a Bigsby
All about... tremolo ................................................120

28 Vintage Trouble Tremolo is the daddy of guitar effects, and has
been around since 1946, when DeArmond devised
THE CALIFORNIAN R&B OUTFIT TALK US the rst standalone guitar tremolo unit. Almost 70
years on, G&B charts the effects evolution
THROUGH THEIR RISE TO PROMINENCE
Chord clinic ................................................................... 122
In the second instalment of this tuition series,
Rod Fogg looks at suspended or sus chords, which
can add an emotive and majestic feel and are
an invaluable addition to your chord vocabulary
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OPENING BARS
Ones to watch...
The emerging guitar-based
talent on G&Bs radar this month
Alvvays
CANADIAN INDIE-POP WALL OF SOUND
Alvvays may hail from remote island provinces in
Canada, but their huge, infectious sound is mined from
a rich seam of British inuences.
Guitarist and vocalist Molly Rankin met co-guitarist
Alec OHanley in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and a love of
Teenage Fanclub, The Smiths and The Jesus And Mary
Chain informs their luscious, jangly wall of sound.
Their eponymous debut album is a bittersweet indie-
pop delight that reached number one in the US College
charts, yet its this side of the pond that the band, now
based in Toronto, are held most dearly.
We broke more or less in the UK, says OHanley,
who still works in a Toronto guitar shop when he nds
time. The Brits were more receptive to our stuff. I dont
know what it is about UK bands, there was something in
the water in the late 80s. We lean pretty heavily on the
Glaswegians and Mancunians. We got into The Smiths
together, Cocteau Twins were big for us, and Johnny
Marr is tough to top. Its him and Lindsey Buckingham
for me. The rst time I heard Bandwagonesque by
Teenage Fanclub was one of those moments when blue
sparks come pouring out of the speakers.
In Archie, Marry Me, Alvvays have a solid-gold classic
indie single, yet Molly reveals its romantic notions are
misleading: I wrote the song when a lot of my friends
were getting married, she says. I wasnt sure it was
the right time and didnt understand what the rush was.
Its a bit of a bitter song, as anthemic as it may seem.
A pair of Fender Deluxe Reverbs are at the heart
of the bands live sound, with the Electro-Harmonix
Deluxe Memory Man, ProCo RAT and Dr. Scientist
Reverberator on their boards.
Ive got the reverb at zero most shows, I like the
Kevin Shields approach of achieving that wall of sound
without reverb, says OHanley. Reverb is valuable and
we use it on our record, but delay is just as effective,
if not more so. That approach served Alvvays well on a
recent sold-out UK tour, and wed recommend checking
them out next time they hit our shores. GW
TRY IF YOU LIKE Teenage Fanclub, The Smiths
GEAR
GUITARS Fender Jazzmaster, Fender Duo-Sonic,
Fender Jag-Stang
AMPS Fender Deluxe Reverbs
EFFECTS EHX Deluxe Memory Man, MXR Carbon Copy,
Pro Co RAT, Dr. Scientist Reverberator
Anna von Hausswolff

EPIC SCANDINAVIAN STORYTELLING
Swedish songstress Anna von Hausswolff spins saturation on the Deco for a texture on the distortion.
fantastical tales of myth and fury, delivered in a We have a very reverby atmosphere, but we try to keep
towering voice that its between hushed confessions it raw and full of energy.
and howling damnation. Von Hausswolff was uncompromising in her creative
Backed by the progressive rock of her Stockholm approach for her third album, with the rst single a
band, and the cavernous sounds of a 9,000-pipe 10-minute doomy prog epic, Come Wander With Me/
Swedish Acusticum organ, its a heady, immersive noise, Deliverance, which Fabiansson reveals was recorded in
as witnessed on the dark, expansive new album just two live takes.
The Miraculous, released on 13 November. I cant afford to care about the markets approval,
Joel Fabiansson, one of two guitarists in the band, says Anna. I would lose too much artistic energy, and
has the daunting task of nding space in that mix. that would only ruin me.
Fabiansson, who is schooled in jazz playing and cites Amen to that, Anna. GW
Frank Zappa as an inuence, describes the organ, which
TRY IF YOU LIKE Anna Calvi, Jefferson Airplane
extends to three oors, as being: insane, like a little
town inside. I used a lot of pedals, he reports. I used GEAR
a Fender Deluxe Reverb and three Strymon pedals: the GUITARS Jakobsson Les Paul Junior-style guitar, Casio
BlueSky, El Capistan and the Deco to make it dirty. PG380 MIDI guitar, Danelectro Baritone
I had two RATs when I want it to be extreme with lots AMPS Fender Deluxe Reverbs
of feedback, I have those two before the Deco, and the EFFECTS Strymon BlueSky, El Capistan, Deco; Pro Co RAT

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and stereo denition. We recently reviewed Terms & conditions The closing date is
the BEAM in Guitar & Bass, praising its clear 6 November, 2015. By entering Guitar & Bass
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L E T T E R S F RO M A M E R I CA
PORT CITY MERINO

10-WATT 1X12 COMBO
In his latest look at the best gear across the pond, DAVE HUNTER
runs the rule over a beautiful little hand-crafted combo
S
DAV E H U N T E R ince theyre based in Asheville, North 50- or 100-watt head with just volume, treble,
Dave Hunter is a writer and musician Carolina, on the edge of the Smoky middle and bass controls, plus an eloquent tube-
who has worked in the US and the UK. A Mountains, 250 miles from the coast, the buffered effects loop all intended as a stout
former editor of this title, he is the author origins of the Port City Amplication name pedal platform for guitarists who embrace their
of numerous books including The Guitar
Amp Handbook, Guitar Effects Pedals,
might be somewhat puzzling. In fact, the stompbox-generated overdrive needs. Similarly, the
Amped and The Fender Telecaster. company was founded by Daniel Klein in the Orleans is a 100-watt tube head for bassists seeking
ocean-side town of Wilmington, NC, in 2005, but contemporary performance from rich golden-age
Id like to think theres a more thematic tie to the tone. Landing not a million miles from this ethos,
moniker: before the amps themselves took off, then, we have the latest offering from Port City
Klein got signicant traction in the market with his Amplication: the Merino. Dog simple in operation
ported Wave 1x12 speaker and blessedly compact,
cabinets, for which this 1x12 combo with
he received a patent, a nominal rating of 10
along with the 2x12 A look inside the chassis watts (deceptively, Id say)
designs that followed.
Although ported cabs
conrms that about 90 per aims to perform similar
tricks for the club player
are traditionally more cent of the Merinos DNA looking for a rm sonic
popular for bass than foundation. Its a package
guitar, I have played both is tweed Deluxe that inspires a bountiful
sizes of the Port City playing-to-tweaking ratio,
creations and, despite all at a reasonable price for
being relatively compact, they throw out a boatload a hand-wired valve amp using quality components
of tone, beautifully blending the fullness and punch such as SoZos reproduction Blue Molded signal
of closed-back cabs with the balanced frequency capacitors and US-made Heyboer transformers.
spectrum of open-backed designs, and proving Outwardly, the size and format scream tweed
themselves adept at virtually any genre of music. Deluxe. Port Citys sleek, contemporary styling
But I digress. While helping to make both their brings its own look to the table, but the cab
own and other amps sound sweeter through clever is approximately the same dimensions as a
cab design, Port City has also been turning out narrow-panel tweed Deluxe; it has the same valve
relatively straightforward yet beautifully hand- complement of two 12AX7s (if you allow swapping
crafted valve amps aimed at fullling a perceived the 5E3 V1s 12AY7 for the hotter 12AX7), two 6V6s
gap in the market without relying on excessive and a 5Y3 rectier; and it has the same simple
gimmickry. The companys long-running agship, control section, minus the second channels volume
the Pearl, is a broadly blackface Fender-inspired knob. Sure, there are plenty of 5E3 clones out there,
Inside the chassis,

things are just as
neat and tidy

VIEWPOINT
Despite its compact The aesthetics of this

dimensions, the Merino little amp are classic
packs a deceptive punch tweed Deluxe
but to nd out what the Merino does differently you leaning Thorn Artisan 3 with TV Jones Classics, the
need to dig a little deeper. And plug it in, of course. Merino revealed a bold voice with snappy-edged
A look inside the chassis conrms that about 90 cutting power, and a performance that works
per cent of the Merinos DNA is tweed Deluxe, but successfully toward Daniel Kleins intentions. With
what happens with that remaining 10 per cent the Telecaster, it remained clean up to around two
makes a signicant difference. Fans of the hallowed oclock with impressive apparent volume when it
5E3 would nd no got there something
major surprises from you wont hear from
the input through the most authentic tweed
preamp, but a few Deluxes. Id say we can
tweaks along the way put any thoughts of
begin to make a Deluxe redux behind
difference. Replacing us and approach the
the 5E3s spec .1uF Merino as a different
signal cap in the rst beastie. It breaks up
stage with a .022uF with bark and authority
cap should help to keep and a meaty, textured
the boominess down, grind when you push it
even with the higher- further with the Tele,
gain tube in V1. At the or around the noon
output stage, the use of mark with the Les
a non-adjustable Paul, but the available
xed-bias network on headroom before that
KEY FEATURES
Port City Merino
the 6V6s, rather than the tweed Deluxes cathode point makes it a more condent clean machine or 10-Watt 1x12 combo
biasing, marks an even greater departure, and pedal platform than many amps this size. Gas FX PRICE $1,650 direct (approx.
1,075, plus shipping and
another large step as with Fenders evolution in Drive Thru and Analogman Prince of Tone any duties)
the medium-sized combos in the early 60s toward overdrive pedals sounded as sweet and dynamic as BODY CONTROLS Volume,
a rmer, punchier tone. Slightly larger values in the youd hope through the Merino at 11 oclock, tone
power-ltering stage (three 22uF electrolytic allowing a punchy clean tone with either pedal OUTPUT 10 watts
TUBES Two 12AX7s, two
capacitors rather than three 16uF caps) also work disengaged. The combo stood up well to a Blackout
6V6GTs, 5Y3 rectier
toward that end. Its probably more accurate to think Effectors Musket Fuzz, too, issuing muscular FEATURES Dual parallel
of the Merino as akin to the brownface Princeton of psychedelic rock riffs where many sub-15-watters speaker outputs
the early 60s, with which it shares the cathodyne fold up and fart out. Fans of small- to medium-sized SPEAKER WGS G12-C 12
(split-phase) phase inverter, although Port Citys cathode-biased amps may miss the harmonically- DIMENSIONS 20x17.5x9.25
WEIGHT 39lb
rendition carries a 12-inch speaker an American- saturated, output-tube distortion, but the Merino CONTACT
voiced G12-C from Warehouse Guitar Speakers. nails big-amp performance in a portable package for Port City Ampliers
Tested with a Telecaster, a Les Paul and a Gretschy- a wide range of smaller clubs and studios. Daniel@portcityamps.com

MUSIC IS OUR PASSION
PROFILE Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney PROFILE
SIX-STRING
ORIGINAL
As if being pops most famous bassist and one half
of the most successful songwriting partnership of
all time wasnt enough, Paul McCartney also played
memorable guitar parts on many Beatles recordings
Story Alan Clayson
I
n July, 1965, The Beatles released their McCartney and Lennon were now treating
second movie, Help! During the sequence Harrison and Starr as mere tools for their
for the McCartney-penned country-rocker masterworks, noting that George would have
Another Girl, the band swap instruments, done two or three takes that seemed perfectly
with John Lennon miming the drums, all right, but Paul wouldnt like it, and hed
Ringo Starr playing Johns acoustic and start quoting American records, telling
George Harrison grappling with Pauls George to play it like such-and-such a song.
Hofner 500/1. Pauls instrument is a model Wed try again, and then Paul would take
in a bikini. Intentional or not, this light- over and do it himself on the left-handed
hearted crossing of the groups instrumental guitar he always brought with him. Later,
demarcation lines was a celluloid caricature I found out that George had been hating
of what was increasingly taking place behind Pauls guts for this, but didnt let it show.
closed doors during The It says a lot for George
Beatles studio sessions. that he took so much
Harrison mimes the Paul would take stick from Paul.
lead guitar parts for Smiths successor,
Another Girl on Johns over and do it Geoff Emerick,
Rickenbacker, but Paul
played them in the
himself on the was present when
McCartney replaced a
studio, as he also did left-handed guitar Harrison solo that took
on the extraordinary
Ticket To Ride, recorded he always brought seven hours to record
on the title theme of Sgt.
on the same day. Pauls
guitar playing would be
with him Peppers Lonely Hearts
Club Band. Was it ever
NORMAN SMITH
similarly prominent on thus? When he joined
Revolver the following The Quarry Men in
year, with possibly his greatest piece of 1958, George had been in the year below Paul
electric lead work of all lighting up Georges at Liverpool Institute High School For Boys,
album opener, Taxman. and three years below John at primary school.
Having proven themselves proportionally Nevertheless, his fretboard skills were the
as sound an investment for EMI as Elvis most advanced in The Quarry Men though
Presley for RCA, the Fab Four had been that isnt saying very much, qualied Paul,
granted unlimited time at the companys as we were raw beginners ourselves.
Press Association Images
Abbey Road complex. Therefore, McCartneys Very much the junior partner in The
ministrations werent corner-cutting strategies Beatles, too, George, being younger and
dictated by the studio clock, but by his not writing songs then, didnt have the same
perfectionism and, to a lesser degree, an communication with them, concluded
insistence on written parts. At the console, Cynthia, the rst Mrs Lennon, but John
engineer Norman Smith witnessed how and Paul couldnt stop playing together. >

Getty Images
Getty Images
Paul with his father The young McCartney
Jim, who once led was bowled over by
Jim Macs Jazz Band Elviss Heartbreak Hotel
Neither was Georges a particularly musical trumpet his father had given him was, lets by Melody Maker as looking like a genial
family as Pauls very much was. Indeed, say, an incomplete success, put off as he butcher, Haley was a disappointment at the
in the McCartney living room, there stood was by the unpredictable harmonics, which Empire, although he paved the way for more
an upright piano. Whilst it suffered the jarred his teeth. Guitars hadnt come in yet, genuine US articles, notably Elvis Presley.
investigative pounding of the infant Pauls hed recall, trumpeters were the big heroes In a then-unimaginable future, McCartney
plump sts, it also tinkled beneath the self- then especially Eddie Calvert from Preston, was to own the double bass thrummed on
taught hands of his father, whod once led in the same neck of the woods. If well into Heartbreak Hotel, but in 1956 he was just
his own Jim Macs Jazz Band. After his 30s, hed shown what was possible one of countless British youths whod been
this ensemble broke up, circa 1927, by scoring a 1954 No 1 with the so instantly gone on the Kings 78rpm UK
Jim continued to play for his own sentimental Oh Mein Papa, recorded chart unveiling that all he could think was
amusement and compose, too. He at Abbey Road Studios. that its maker was surely the greatest man
was also the principal accompanist on Yet Paul couldnt sing with ever to walk the planet. It was the same when
piano or a Spanish guitar, a Framus a trumpet, and I wanted to sing. Paul discovered Little Richard. In a succinct
of indeterminate vintage during those Moreover, like all but the most serious- foreword to Richards 1984 biography, hed
musical evenings that were a frequent
occurrence in many households before
television became a xture.
The rst time I really ever felt a tingle up
From being a fascinated listener
whenever Dad was seated at the eighty-
my spine was when I saw Bill Haley and
eights, Paul progressed at his own The Comets on the telly
speed on the instrument, acquiring the PAUL MCCARTNEY
rudiments of harmony, and adding to a
repertoire that embraced tunes from cross- minded adolescents of the 1950s, hed recollect, The rst song I ever sang in public
legged primary school assemblies and be thrilled by Rock Around The Clock was Long Tall Sally in a Butlins holiday camp
then quite a new idea traditional whenever it intruded upon the airwaves as talent competition when I was 14.
songs from Singing Together and 1955 drew to a close. The rst time Of more insidious impact was Buddy
other BBC Home Service radio I really ever felt a tingle up my Holly. While Paul was unable to attend the
broadcasts to schools. spine, he gasped, was when bespectacled Texans show with his Crickets
On graduating to the Institute, I saw Bill Haley and The when their sole European tour reached
Paul became as well-known for Comets on the telly. Then he Liverpool in March 1958, hed studied Hollys
his musical skills as the school came to the Liverpool Empire. ngers as they fretted chords and picked solos
bully and football captain were The ticket was 24 shillings, and with unappable ease on ITVs Sunday Night
in their chosen spheres. I was the only one of my At The London Palladium that same month,
However, an attempt to mates who could go, as no- and his early efforts at composition became
master a second-hand one else had been able to less of a sideline after constant replays of
save up that amount but I Buddy and his boys Chirping Crickets,
was single-minded about it. a maiden LP consisting mostly of self-penned
A modern reissue of Pauls
hollow-bodied Hofner Club 40, which I knew there was something songs, tailored to lead singer Hollys elastic
was loaned to him by John Lennon going on here. Described adenoids. Crucially, these demonstrated

Getty Images
The Quarry Men perform at
a wedding reception at Pauls
Auntie Gins house in 1958
Pauls perfectionism led to him

sometimes laying down the guitar
tracks himself in the studio
Buddy Holly had a

profound impact on
the young McCartney
that rock n roll could be simultaneously

forceful and romantic, and that it could evolve
without getting too complex. Arguably, it
was from this realisation that McCartney
and Lennon were to evolve into one of the
most outrageously successful songwriting
partnerships of all time although the
main audience for their efforts then was
the McCartneys domestic tape recorder.
On these, Paul played either Jims Spanish
model or a Zenith Model 17 acoustic six-
string, having exchanged the trumpet for
it at Rushworth and Dreaper in the city
centre. The story goes that he couldnt play
it because he was left-handed, recalled
Getty Images
Jonathan Rushworth, great-great grandson

of the music stores founder, so he had
to turn the strings round the other way. >

McCartney has always had a close

affinity with the acoustic, and his
playing features on tracks such
as Blackbird and Michelle
McCartney gave
the bass guitar
fresh credibility
Getty Images
Once he had done so, Paul noticed that the dropped, and then a hollow-bodied
highest string was too loose in the wider Hofner Club 40 loaned to him
notch designed for the lowest one, until by Lennon, whod bought the
the insertion of a bit of matchstick. With Rickenbacker Model 1996 that
the addition of a magnetic pickup near the hed still be plucking at the height
bridge, it served as an electric guitar from of world-wide Beatlemania. Yet, no
his rst date as a Quarry Man where, matter how contrasting McCartney
crippled by nerves, he made such a hash of and Lennons chord shapes could
Getty Images
an instrumental number that it wiped me be, Paul found himself too often just
out as a lead guitar player that night until singing and gyrating around with an
If we had troubles with our overworked As far as the group as a whole was
ampliers, Id just chuck it in and start concerned, matters mended when Sutcliffe
left during 1961s dull and cool July, and
leaping all round the stage The Beatles decided not to replace him,
PAUL MCCARTNEY
opting instead for the simpler expedient of
transferring McCartney permanently to bass.
The Beatles rst season in Hamburg with unplugged guitar, or impersonating Before the summer was out, hed acquired
drummer Pete Best (superseded in 1962 by Little Richard at a given clubs the Hofner violin model that was to be
Starr) and, on a newly-purchased Hofner worn-out piano. The sound, per se, his trademark instrument after John, Paul,
President bass, Stuart Sutcliffe. was puny, yet harsh and atrociously George and Ringo spearheaded the British
As one rhythm guitarist too many in this distorted as The Beatles battled with Invasion of world pop in 1964 and the bass
line-up, Paul was strumming a sunburst ampliers that were sent through guitar was no longer the instrument you
six-string Rosetti Solid 7 semi-acoustic. It speakers known to tear, got lumbered with. Indeed, according to
was really just a good-looking piece of wood, explode and even catch re Donald Hirst, of Melbourne group The
he sighed, It had a nice paint job, but it was because of power surges Spinning Wheels, McCartney gave
a disastrous, cheap guitar. After Sutcliffe and the mismatch of the bass credibility. Before him, it was
remained in Hamburg, an attempt was made British and German ohms. usually given to the fat boy, who stayed
to turn the Rosetti into a makeshift bass by McCartney would recall out of sight. From 1965, however, it
restringing it with wires from a piano, but, that If we had troubles with would be Harrisons task to introduce
with Stuarts return, Paul was happy to scrap our overworked ampliers Yesterday from the non-soundtrack
this idea. Bass was the instrument you got we had to plug two side of the Help! album For Paul
lumbered with, he said. You didnt know a guitars into the same McCartney of Liverpool, opportunity
famous bass player. They were background one Id just chuck it knocks! which McCartney >
people, so none of us was prepared to spend all in and start leaping
money on something like that. all round the stage or
The iconic Hofner 500/1 violin bass
Instead, he continued with the Rosetti, rushing over to the piano dubbed the Beatle bass or Cavern bass
despite damage sustained when it was and playing a few chords. that became Pauls trademark instrument

Photo courtesy of: CharlieWallisPhotograhy.com Artist: James Veck-Gilodi - Deaf Havana

FAITH GUITARS

PAUL UNPLUGGED
A
coustic six-strings gured on Beatles discs for EMI from the beginning,
namely P.S. I Love You, B-side of debut single Love Me Do. McCartneys rst
outing might have been on 1964s A Hard Days Night LPs Ill Be Back nale.
Purportedly, he, Harrison and Lennon all played acoustic six-strings on this
track, and Paul was more prominent on Ill Follow The Sun, from Beatles For Sale.
The earliest all-acoustic Beatles opus was on the Help! album. Furthermore,
the two-ute coda of Youve Got To Hide Your Love Away was the rst occasion
when auxiliary musicians were hired for a Beatles session, predating Yesterday.
On the next collection, Rubber Soul, Pauls Epiphone Texan FT-79 was heard
on Im Looking Through You and Michelle. It was to feature, too, on Here, There
And Everywhere (Revolver), The Fool On The Hill (Magical Mystery Tour) and All
Together Now (Yellow Submarine).
Yet McCartney was to truly come into his own as an acoustic guitarist
during The White Album, on Rocky Racoon, I Will, Mother Natures Son and, most
conspicuously, Blackbird (using a 1967 C.F. Martin D-28), on which the only other
instrument was his tapping foot. One reviewer compared him to Tom Paxton,
but Blackbird betrayed more of the arpeggio style purportedly demonstrated to
Paul (and John) the previous February by Donovan, a fellow seeker of nirvana at
the Maharishi Mahesh Yogis yoga-ashram in the Himalayas. Less directly, it was
Getty Images
derived from that of Davey Graham, John Renbourn and Bert Jansch, all-ngers-
going denizens of Britains folk scene, who also inuenced, among others, George
Harrison and Jimmy Page.
Other relevant Beatles selections worth mentioning are Two Of Us (with both
Paul and John on acoustics) on Let It Be, and Her Majesty, the brief McCartney-
only coda to Abbey Road, the subject decades later of an apparently impromptu delivered to solely his own strumming of an
performance during his slot at Party At The Palace, an extravaganza in London to Epiphone Texan FT-79 acoustic. No-one saw
commemorate the Queens Golden Jubilee. any purpose in taking on the road a string
Finally, prior to McCartney announcing his resignation from The Beatles quartet like that hired for the session. Money
in 1970, he spent much of the previous winter taping by multiple overdub an was no object, it was only that any subtleties
eponymous solo album in the privacy of his home. Overall, it captured a sketchy crammed into such a small spot were lost on
freshness, even a stark beauty at times. Certainly, its acoustic emphasis was what had become tribal gatherings rather than
much at odds with more intense offerings of the day, whether Led Zeppelin, Deep musical recitals.
Purple, Man, Black Sabbath, Humble Pie and other headbangingly heavy outts It was expedient, too, for Harrison to learn
or the pomp-rock of ELP and Yes, castigated for preferring technique to instinct parrot-fashion McCartneys lead lines to Ticket
and McCartney couldnt be accused of that. To Ride which had emanated from a hollow-
bodied Epiphone Casino, obtained on the
recommendation of bluesman John Mayall,
whod noted it being twanged by the likes of
Magic Sam and Otis Rush. Enduring as one
of Pauls favourite guitars, his Casino was still
being heard in concert and on disc at the turn
of the century. He also still owns a single-
pickup 1964 Fender Esquire from this period.
Another famous Casino user was Dave
Davies, whose Kinks had superimposed
Indian sounds onto pops grid via 1965s See
My Friends with its plaintive vocal and droning
guitars. Dave would recall an encounter in a
London club, the Scotch Of St. James, when
McCartney said: You bastards! How dare you!
I should have made that record.
Paul also lent an intrigued ear to The
Yardbirds similar ventures into areas far
removed from their R&B core through hits
such as Heart Full Of Soul, Evil Hearted You,
Still Im Sad, Shapes Of Things and Over
Under Sideways Down, all hybrids of instant
familiarity and unpretentious musical
innovation. Though, for example, a sitarist
Getty Images
had been hired for Heart Full Of Soul, such

ostentation was disregarded after Jeff Becks
guitar tone exhaled what was in pop terms a
more pungent breath of the Orient.

Getty Images
Paul playing his
Rehearsing Step cherished Epiphone
Inside Love with Cilla Casino with Wings
Black, January 1968 in France, July 1972
Beck, Davies and perhaps other victims of cut his teeth before going on to bigger and
the same passion such as Dick Taylor of The better things. Indubitably, he was to rack up
Pretty Things and Ian Tich Amey of Dave heftier sales and honours as an individual and
Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich left their as leader of Wings most memorably with
mark, however involuntarily, on McCartneys 1977s Mull Of Kintyre overtaking She Loves
lead guitar contributions (sometimes shared You as the UKs biggest-selling single after
with Harrison and Lennon) to Taxman, Good the group was dissolved formally
Morning Good Morning (the nal solo), Fixing in the Chancery Division of the
A Hole and elsewhere on Sgt Peppers Lonely London High Court on 12 March
Hearts Club Band, and on The White Album 1971. However, most relevant
Back In The USSR, Helter Skelter, Honey to this discussion are his good,
Press Association Images
One of Pauls favourite guitars, his Casino,

was still being heard in concert and on Knighted for
his services to
disc at the turn of the century music in 1997
Pie and Martha My Dear, plus the medley old-fashioned guitar-playing rearing According to the appointed bass player, Nick
that closes 1969s Abbey Road. Displaying up amid the fusion of down-tempo Garvey, of The Motors, I went to a rehearsal
eclecticism and unpredictability in compatible house and a vague strata of dub- place in Woolwich where Macca ran through
amounts, his solos and passagework were reggae on 1993s Strawberries Oceans and recorded several things with me on
constructed to integrate with the melodic Ships Forest and 1998s more bass, him on guitar and live vocals,
and lyrical intent of a piece. This approach free-form and slow-moving Mickey Gallagher on piano and Terry
seemed attractively unfussy to anyone ambient-techno of Rushes Williams on drums. Macca played
attuned to the more obvious aesthetics of a by The Firemen. Before guitar like it was easy as hell.
song than a reaction largely to underlying this teaming up with Finally, on receiving his
chord sequences with high-velocity ash as modern dance paladin knighthood in 1997, McCartney
dispensed, for instance, by Eric Clapton, Martin Youth Glover, commissioned the designing of a coat
Jeff Becks predecessor in The Yardbirds, on nevertheless, McCartney of arms. It was to embrace four
A Certain Girl, one of the outts B-sides, in had released Choba B shapes resembling beetles, two
which his break has almost a separate life CCCP, a USSR-only circles representing records,
from the rest of the number. album of 13 favourite the title of his Ecce Cor Meum
Clapton was among catalytic familiars who non-originals,mainly oratorio, a singing Liver bird
added icing to the cake of The White Album. from the annals of and, of course, a guitar.
During the making of this, too, some have classic rock.
speculated that Paul began holding in his If nothing else,
heart the possibility that The Beatles would Paul sounded as if he Paul acquired his Epiphone Casino on
be recalled as just the entity in which hed enjoyed revisiting them. the recommendation of John Mayall

READER BOARDS
ASHLEY KORMAN was a pedal-free player until he encountered
Tom Morellos sonic wizardry and the stompbox journey began.
We take a look at a widescreen board built for cinematic sounds
KIT LIST What inspired this set-up? Is there anything else youre
ASHLEY KORMAN I really enjoy creating cinematic looking to add?
PEDALS (IN ORDER) Xotic EP mind-trip scores (new genre?), so Im always looking out for David
Booster, Dunlop Cry Baby Slash I began looking at pedals as voices. Raingers next creation, and Ive got
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Hardwire Polyphonic Tuner,
Catalinbread Topanga, music that is secretly organic and from DigiTech hopefully its not just
DigiTech Luxe, Gig-FX Chopper, created predominantly on strings, a clever name
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Fuzz + Igor, Recovery Effects bi-polar to passive-aggressive! Its What guitars and amps do you use?
Bad Comrade, Jam Pedals Red
Muck, DigiTech Whammy (rst
easy to get lost, so the Rainger FX My main guitars are a Gibson ES-
generation), DigiTech Trio, Dr Freakenstein, the Jam Pedals Red 355 with Lollar P-94s and a Gretsch
Walrus Audio Iron Horse, EHX Muck and my 91 DigiTech Whammy White Falcon that my beautiful wife
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Audio Stingray w/ Hot Hand,
an 88 Marshall Silver Jubilee 2555
Zvex Wah Probe, FXdoctor 8-Bit
Fuzz (modied), unknown old Tell us a little about the journey and a Fender 59 Bassman or Orange
typewriter ink tin with a white I was a straight-to-the amp player Rockerverb 100 combo.
noise compressor for 10 of my 19 years and then I
PATCH CABLES Various heard Tom Morello. The disregard What lessons have you learned
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many amazing builders out there. think less and feel more! guitarandbass@anthem-publishing.com

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INFLUENCES
SOUNDTRACK OF MY LIFE
ALEXI LAIHO
The Children Of Bodom guitarist talks us
through the nine records closest to his heart
F
innish vocalist, composer and guitarist Alexi Laiho is the main man in melodic
death-metal band Children Of Bodom, whose ninth album, I Worship Chaos, is out
in October. Taster track Morrigan got 106,000 plays in its rst ve days online.
With fellow guitarist Roope Latvala leaving the ranks in May, Alexi now handles
all guitar duties and will be leading Children Of Bodom on a UK tour in November. An
endorsee of ESP since 2003, he has a series of signature guitars, unashamedly Randy
Rhoads-inuenced in shape. One passive pickup, one volume knob and a Floyd Rose,
and hes good to go. With accolades including the Metal Hammer Golden Gods shredder
award under his belt, this is one fast-ngered Finn you should keep an eye out for.
Here, Laiho reveals the albums that shaped his musical evolution
Guns N Roses Dimmu Borgir Stone Sour

APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION ENTHRONE DARKNESS TRIUMPHANT COME WHAT(EVER) MAY
One of the records A black metal I dont listen to
I grew up listening album that was a lot of new music,
to. It was released very different at but when you
(in 1987) at a very that time (1997). speak about the
important time for Black metal new generation of
me; I was inuenced was considered hard rock this is
by Slash from an primitive, but this the album to hear.
early age, before was something It shows hard rock
I started playing the else We opened for still exists and can
guitar. It wasnt only Dimmu Borgir when still be awesome,
the guitars, but the this album was out modern and with
whole band their attitude and music. Axl Rose, his the rst time, and that was a really signicant gig for a lot of attitude. Listen to the track 30/30-150, which
stage presence, everything he is one of my all-time us: thats why its an important album for me too. I understand grabbed a Grammy nomination. This is
heroes. Appetite is the perfect rock album. I recommend hearing Spellbound (By The Devil). a real old-school album particularly the guitars.
Metallica Sepultura Mtley Cre

METALLICA ARISE SHOUT AT THE DEVIL
I picked this even The rst time Another of those
though its not the I heard something bands I grew up with
rst Metallica album I could call extreme in the 80s. I was into
I heard. That was metal. Id heard bands some might
And Justice For Metallica, Anthrax now call hair metal,
All; I was nine or 10, but this was the rst but Mtley Cre
and I loved the crap time I heard rock were different to the
out of it. Even after with vocals that are others. They were
I heard that and not melodic, that way more pissed off,
Master Of Puppets, are pure insanity. especially on this
Kill Em All blew me Id never heard album. Its just so
away. It was harder so raw. Its so angry, you can feel anything like that. It was a very big deal because raw, and denitely more punk rock compared to later
it. One of the most inuential albums on the thrash- I then started getting into harder music death metal, albums like Dr Feelgood its got an amazing vibe, and
metal movement, and still one of my favourites. stuff like that. thats why I love it.
Steve Vai Andrew W.K. Ozzy Osbourne

PASSION AND WARFARE PARTY HARD NO REST FOR THE WICKED
At the time this was Something This was the rst
released, I decided different its here time I knowingly
I really wanted because it makes me heard anything by
to start playing smile. If Im having Zakk Wylde
guitar. In fact, I a bad day, I pop that I had already been
was obsessed with in the player and it inuenced by Randy
the idea, so when kinda saves my day, Rhoads and Jake
I heard this album so thats enough E Lee, but I had
and saw the video reason to include it. managed to miss out
for the song For The I played with Andrew Zakk. When I rst
Love Of God, I was once; we happened heard it, I thought
like holy shit!. It just blew me away. This was the to be appearing in different rooms in the same venue, holy fuck, this is awesome. Its a very strong album,
rst time I ever heard Steve Vai, and hes still one of in Milwaukee, and I ended up playing with him which all the songs are really good, my favourite Ozzy album
my favourite guitar players all these years later. was actually pretty awesome! and thats really saying something!

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INTERVIEW Vintage Trouble

Vintage Trouble INTERVIEW
THE I N T E RV I E W
R&B nowadays is
Rihanna and Chris
Brown for us its
Ike and Tina Turner,
its Chuck Berry
AC/DC, The Who, Lenny Kravitz, Bon Jovi all these greats have
had the pleasure of Vintage Trouble opening for them. Now, after
four hardworking years, everybodys favourite support band
have nally cut their second album, 1 Hopeful Rd
Story Michael Heatley
W
e started with you get the energy you have from the newest
37 tunes, says babies, but at the same time we had so many
bassist Rick that were road-tested, things lots of fans will
Barrio Dill, know, that should, could have been put on a
pared them second record years ago.
down and only 12 made the record. My Heart Wont Fall Again and Soul
We wanted to make a real LP that was a Serenity are my two favourite new ones, and
journey from start to nish, the best songs two older ones are Strike Your Light and
we could. And I think weve done that. Run Like The River. Weve been closing our
Its a big difference from the old album set with Strike Your Light for a while its
[2011s The Bomb Shelter Sessions], remarks a monster, upbeat thing that was inspired
guitarist Nalle Colt. We brought in a real by our fans, the Troublemakers, in LA and
producer this time, Don Was. It was very London, who gave us the ability to think that
song-focused. I tried thinking about guitar we could y and that, if we fell, they could
solos more, to go into almost David Gilmour catch us.
(territory), trying to write out solos and nd
really melodic things; this other side of me Taylor made
that I wanted to bring out, so Im really Songs, explains Colts bassist buddy,
proud of it. come from anywhere. Sometimes,
Timothy White
Swedish-born Colt reveals that half the Ty (singer Ty Taylor) will have the core of an
songs are stage favourites and the other half idea he writes the lyrics and hell bring
are new which is nice, he says, because it in and then we completely destroy it and >

Getty Images
Ty Taylor is a
captivating frontman
with a voice thats
unique in modern music
ACOUSTICALLY SPEAKING
turn it into something else. Angel City came
out in an hour; inspiration comes from all
different angles.
Colts acoustic of choice is a Taylor. Its on Soul Serenity,
Coincidentally, both men have recently at the end of the new record, he says. Andy Powers, the
changed their instruments of choice. Fender master luthier, built it. It doesnt have a name yet, it just
man Barrio Dills transition from Jazz to says prototype, but Im really proud to play it. Im
grateful to Taylor for being so supportive and building me
Precision was sudden and unexpected.
guitars that play so well.
Its funny, because I was a Jazz guy for so While Barrio Dill played a Guild on the bands Swing
long still am, in a lot of ways. But I got into House Acoustic Sessions EP [check out the video on their
[James] Jamerson and [Bob] Babbitt and that website], he has reservations about acoustic bass on
Motown sound record. The Guild is amazing in the room, but to get that
to translate to recording is a different story. I use a
Ive got a 62 with a slightly smaller neck,
[Fender] Kingman on the road backstage, and have used it
that Fender American Design Experience in radio sessions, but when we did an acoustic thing for
did for me. I got into a P Bass because, with Obama [they played presidential benet dates in 2012]
Richard [Danielson]s 26-inch kick drum Nalle used an acoustic guitar and I used a P Bass with
atwounds and my little ip-top amp. I love the sound of
I thought the Jazz was the way to go because
an acoustic bass if youre live but that combination
it was coming up over the top of it sonically. sounded better, dare I say it, on record.
My whole mission is to be heard and less to
be felt, because you feel Richard already. But
the more I dug in, started rolling off bottom
and making it more percussive, the P Bass
answered that call.
Gretsch love
Colt is a recent convert to Gretsch, having
forsaken his lifetime squeeze, the Les Paul.
That said, theres more than a hint of Gibson
about his new love which, he reveals, took a
year and a half to perfect. Its my signature
guitar, and Im very excited. Luckily, I got it
before the album was recorded, and 99 per
cent of the guitar on that is the Gretsch.
Its based on a 54 Duo Jet.
I sat down with Steve Stern, who works
for the Gretsch Custom Shop, I showed him >

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The Vintage Trouble

live experience is
a frenetic,
high-energy one
Getty Images
Getty Images
Getty Images
Vintage Trouble Left to right: Ty

perform at John Taylor, Nalle Colt,
Varvatos Bowery in New Richard Danielson,
York in April 2013 Rick Barrio Dill
my Les Paul and we talked about my opinion; wherever I am in

what we could do. I was intrigued Its a philosophy. We come from the world, I just need to look at
about getting a hollowbody guitar, an Aguilar DB750 and a DB 4x12
because Id always wanted to get the 50s sensibility, in terms of turned on its side and thats it. That
that Scotty Moore/Chuck Berry
kind of tone.
trying to obtain that timeless can be my soundcheck I dont
even need to turn it on. If I go to
We ended up with a weird approach to songwriting Australia, if I go to Japan, I know
hybrid between a Les Paul and RICK BARRIO DILL exactly what its going to sound like.
a Duo Jet. The pickups look like I dont really use any effects live,
FilterTrons, but theyre made by Montys Barrio Dills choice of studio amplication though I have used an [Aguilar] Agro [bass
Guitars in London theyre humbuckers, a 1967 iptop B-15 Ampeg is certainly overdrive] pedal on this AC/DC run, just for
and its wired inside like a Les Paul; we took vintage. He also had an Aguilar DB 750 with a little extra teeth in a stadium situation. But
off the master volume. The neck is basically a 6x10 cab, and both were micd up. The nal most times, I pride myself on using a P Bass
a straight Les Paul neck. Its got a Bigsby component was a DI box built, it is claimed, with atwounds, volume and tone on the bass
tremolo, cos I thought if you have a Gretsch out of components used in the Motown desk and a tuner.
you gotta have a Bigsby on it! With that, in Hitsville, and sourced by Don Was.
theres less tension, so I can use heavier These were used in combination, depending David vs Goliath
strings .11 to .54. on the song. The shows with AC/DC saw a mismatch on
I put a TonePros bridge on it and it ended Live, its Aguilar all the way, Barrio the guitar amplication side, with Colts pair
up being a great recording and touring guitar. Dill explains. Theyre like Mercedes, in of Lazy J amps dwarfed by Angus Youngs
Im all for trying to nd my own personal massive Marshalls. I love it those two tiny
tone, something that sticks out as my own
thing. The Gretsch really brings that out,
so Im happy to say its my main guitar now.
THE MIGHTY WAS
Producer Don Was is also, of course, a bass legend, but
20-watt tweed amps growl like crazy, he
enthuses. For this tour, Jesse [Hoff] made
me a head that I use for the guitar Leslie.
The name Vintage Trouble suggests a band whats he like to work with? Hes like a Buddha, says So I have three Lazy Js running at all times.
Barrio Dill: He promotes your best view, he doesnt
with an eye for the building blocks of rock try to put him on you at all. Thats the mark of a true
The guitar Leslie he is referring to is
instruments and amps that help them create leader, a true inspirationalist they look at what you a Fender Vibratone, which helps him thicken
a vibe. Its a philosophy, Barrio Dill do and try to make that blossom and ower the best the sound of the bands solitary guitar.
explains. We denitely come from the 50s they possibly can. This time, I really brought it into the mix
Surprisingly, the younger man was rst to offer a
sensibility, in terms of trying to obtain that as almost a secondary instrument. We
bass-playing tip. I have a mute on the nut of my bass;
timeless approach to songwriting, and the its one of those FretWraps they sent me to try, and its emphasised it a lot put headphones on for
original styles rhythm and blues, soul and kinda cool on some of the ballads we do live. When we Another Mans Words and you get almost an
early rock n roll came from. R&B nowadays started hanging out, he said Whats that thing? and it organ vibe.
is Rihanna and Chris Brown for us its Ike was cool to see the FretWrap I gave him on his bass His pedalboard, the guitarist explains, has
when he did some TV I gave Don Was that FretWrap!
and Tina Turner, its Chuck Berry. slimmed down somewhat over recent years. >

ITS ALL IN THE
DETAILS.
'$QJHOLFR*XLWDUVORQJKLVWRU\LVGHQHGE\LWV
THE LEXINGTON
commitment to quality. In addition to creating

exceptional acoustic instruments, weve made sure
WKDWWKH\DUHUHDG\IRU\RXUOLYHSHUIRUPDQFHE\
focusing on the small details that make a
ELJGLIIHUHQFH
2QERDUGHDVH7KHQHZ)LVKPDQ,1.RQERDUG
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to work in the dark.
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3UHPLXPWRQHZRRGV5RVHZRRGVSUXFHVDSHOHDQG
mahogany for superior tone.
6XSUHPHUHVRQDQFH)87RQHEUDVVEULGJHSLQVDOORZ
every note to cut through the mix.
Lebrecht Music & Arts
Getty Images
Playing with Joss
Stone in Boston,
Colt with his lifelong Massachusetts,
guitar love, the Les Paul in October 2012
I want to home in on the guitar. Colts also enjoyed what he calls

You can get so much tone out of I can watch Pete Townshend masterclasses from some of the
tone controls and volume knobs best in the business. I can sit and
The latest effect didnt make playing 51 shows in a row, I can watch Pete Townshend playing for
the new record, but Nalle is raving
about the SoloDallas Schaffer
see Angus play, Lenny Kravitz 51 shows in a row, now I can see
Angus play, Lenny Kravitz and all
Replica, a wireless unit Angus Its like Christmas every night these guys true performers. I try
Young, by coincidence, has used as NALLE COLT to learn what they do, how they do
a clean boost. You can turn down it, why they do it and what I can
the guitar and really compress it into the amp. the Olympic Games, says Colt. You have make my own. Im so honoured its like
Thats something I learned from touring with 45 minutes to convince these people Christmas every night!
Brian May; he got it from Rory Gallagher. [laughs], so it gives me a huge amount of
It brought out such a warm, beautiful adrenalin. Its been a great journey so far. The road to Wembley
sound, from clean to madly rough overdriven, I think weve played to 1.4 million people in For Barrio Dill, playing Wembley with AC/DC
just using the volume on my guitar. Now a month and a half! The one thing we learned was an achievement. But were barely at
I never turn it off. Its an incredible little thing is that anything you do with your body you base camp staring up at Mount Everest, he
it makes your amp so dynamic. gotta do tenfold, because to most people in contends. When you look at their 40 years
The other effect he runs all the time is the stadium youre a tiny little Lego gure. and all the fans they have, singing their hits
a Strymon El Capistan tape echo for a cool Movements express your energy, and it for two hours, its inspiring because you
slapback effect. I used to listen to Scotty comes naturally to us. realise theres so much work for us to do
Moore, and it was all about tape echo to create and so much hopefully in front of us.
that really nice space, he says. It works One thing we have going for us is that we
LISTEN UP
really well for rhythm guitar. are a live band rst and foremost. You come
VINTAGE TROUBLE
Other than that, I have very few pedals. The Bomb Shelter see us and we promise were going to leave
I have a [LovePedal] Pickle Vibe that I didnt Sessions (2011) you with something. Thats a currency you
use on the AC/DC tour, cos we dont play the Their debut album was recorded cant fake nowadays, and I think people see
songs, and a Voodoo Lab Proctavia pedal to live in just three days and is a that Well carry on trying to deliver that as
raw and raucous listen, capturing
get that dirty Hendrix tone. Its cool to bring far and wide as possible.
the spirit of Led Zeppelin and
out on an old song called Total Strangers, Chuck Berry. The last word goes to Colt: AC/DC have
because it really cuts through. VINTAGE TROUBLE
sold out every show on this tour. Hopefully,
1 Hopeful Road (2015) we can start getting closer to doing the stages
Stadium rock Vintage Troubles second album they are doing. Its a massive carrot in front of
The bands recent tour with AC/DC saw them demonstrates some masterful us. Were learning how to take an audience of
songwriting, covering blues,
play in Austria to 120,000 people the largest 100,000 and make it feel like a little sweaty
soul, country and R&B.
show the country had ever staged. Its like blues club then youve done your duty.

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INTRODUCES...
WILLIE WATSON
Endorsed by the likes of David Rawlings and Ry Cooder, Willie
Watson cut his teeth as a member of Old Crow Medicine Show.
Having since gone solo, hes thriving as the main man
Story Michael Heatley | Photography Monkey Bird
WHEN NO LESS a man than

Ry Cooder calls you someone to
handles the instruments just
right and sings like a cotton mill Q Do you play any of the
old material?
but I havent been genuinely
inspired. And I dont want to
watch, and David Rawlings not hand with no benets In the Theres a few Old Crow write about things I dont know
only signs you to his label but young generation of old-time Medicine Show songs that Ill about I want to be honest
drafts you into his band, youre music-makers, Im putting all my sneak in there sometimes, but and write about things that are
doing something right. Willie money on Willie. G&B advises I pretty much stay away from relevant to me, that Ive had
Watsons just nished his second readers to gamble responsibly that. I do sing CC Rider and a few experience with. I dont want to
solo tour of Britain, having made but if Americana oats your boat, others once in a while, but mostly force it.
his name as a long-time member then listen to Uncle Rys its from the record [Folk Singer
of Old Crow Medicine Show.
Watsons debut solo album,
advice. Folk Singer Volume 1 is
a sound investment.
Volume 1]. I dont sing all of those
songs [every night], Ill leave one Q What instruments do you
take on the road?
Folk Singer Volume 1, produced by off here and there the show is My Larrivee OM-1, which Ive
Rawlings, found him alternating
between acoustic guitar and Q Its your second solo tour
of Britain. Do people still
longer than the record, so theres
more material.
had for quite a long time, all
through my Old Crow Days, is
banjo, tackling material by associate you with your old group? what I still play now. Its pretty
Leadbelly (Stewball), Memphis
Slim (Mother Earth), Utah
A lot of people that show up
have the (solo) record by now. Q You chose to interpret
traditional songs because
beat up. I took the pickguard off
it when I got it; It came with a
Phillips (Rock Salt And Nails) and Theres a handful of people at writing new material under transparent square pickguard,
more. Only in his mid-30s after each show that brought a friend pressure was daunting are you which was like a giant piece of
17 years service in OCMS, hes whos never heard of me, and writing now? clear tape they stuck on there.
revelling in being centre stage. they usually have a good time; Not really. Once in a while, Ill So I ripped that off, cos it looked
According to Cooder, Watson I get some new fans out of that. have an idea, jot down a line, awful. And I have a 1957 Gibson

Willy Watson INTERVIEW
Guitar came rst

for Willie, before
he progressed
to the banjo
Watsons solo
work is steeped
in traditional
American folk music
RB-100 banjo. Its an archtop; the

tone ring is raised up and part of Q How is playing with the
Dave Rawlings Machine
break a G string every three songs.
I didnt know how to hit it right.
LISTEN UP
WILLIE WATSON
the head sticks out a bit. different to solo? I dont want to say it was wrong, Folk Singer Volume 1 (2014)
Ive always loved Dave and because it did create a certain Watsons debut solo release features
Q
10 traditional numbers handpicked
Did you learn guitar rst? Gillian (Welch), and Daves guitar sound that worked well, but if
from the American folk songbook,
Which was harder? playing is something I was drawn you were to take me out of that played with simple sincerity and
I started playing guitar round to at an early age. I rst heard band and put me in a bluegrass sung with an emotional edge.
about 11, 12, and didnt seriously those guys in 1994 or 95 when band I wouldnt have lasted long.
start playing banjo until I was I was about 15, I had a copy of I feel Ive got a lot better.
17, 18. It was no different than Revival and immediately liked
anything else; it was just as hard.
It takes a lot of practice. A lot of
it. I didnt realise how unique it
was. They like to have me around Q Whats your plan for
the future?
people think they can pick up for singing, we sing real good Were going to work on Folk
a banjo, and if theyre a guitar together As far as guitar-playing Singer Volume 2 and put that out.
player itll be easier. It is true in goes, I always wondered why And I guess Ill keep on touring.
some ways because (it helps) if they had me play guitar, because I enjoy it, but Ive been touring
your left hand is agile enough Gillian plays such good, solid a lot and Im burnt out. Ive not
and it knows how to fret chords, rhythm, but they assure me that found a lot of songs for the next
but the right hand is another it sounds a lot better with both record, but we have a backlog. OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW
thing altogether; it doesnt have of us. Me and Gill play the same Big Iron World (2006)
An album that Willie made with Old
anything to do with guitar-
playing. Throw all that out of
stuff, maybe with a few different
capo positions. If shes playing Q Would you consider making
Volume 2 more elaborate?
Crow Medicine Show before his
unexpected 2011 departure from the
the window! a C chord, maybe Ill capo up The way Volume 1 sounds is the band. Produced by David Rawlings,
and play in the G position on the way I sound. There wasnt with Gillian Welch on drums.
Q How would you describe your

banjo-playing style?
fth fret to get a full sound that
complements each other.
anything deliberate about it
People think theres all this
Clawhammer is what its called. thought put into it. Its not the
There were a lot of banjo players
around Ithaca, in Tompkins Q Are you still progressing
as a player?
case. Im just singing songs,
doing what I do.
County, that played that style, so Im always learning, especially
I was exposed to it at an early with guitar. It took me a long
age. Clawhammer is more closely time to not break strings at every AND ANOTHER THING Willie
discovered a big vocal inuence, Roy Orbison,
related to Africans and the way show. In Old Crow Medicine when he heard roots supergroup the
they played when they brought it Show, my right hand would strike Traveling Wilburys little realising his
from Africa. the guitar in such a way that Id illustrious 60s past!

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Tele renovation WORKSHOP
DIY WORKSHOP
TELE
RENOVATION
Its that age-old conundrum do you upgrade or
trade up? With its comfy played-in neck and
road-worn charm, Gary Walkers Made In Mexico
Tele felt as if it had the potential to be a great guitar.
HUW PRICE accepted the challenge.

WORKSHOP
INTERV EW Tele
Vinnie
renovation
Moore & Paul Raymond | UFO
1 2
3 4
T
1 This Keef set from here are so many great- The factory pickguard had not for minor adjustments rather than
Montys Guitars comprises a looking, acoustically-resonant aged gracefully. The three-ply look correcting structural issues.
Full Monty Tele bridge pickup
and a PAF replica humbucker
and affordable guitars that wasnt great and the cut-out for Cranking up the truss rod as far
for the neck position are crying out for some new the humbucker was oversized. as it will go is not the remedy.
pickups or improved hardware Gary decided a thin one-ply black In fact, you may strip the truss rod
2 The Bigsby B5 kit for
Telecasters has the F brand to bring out their full potential. pickguard from Allparts would thread or even snap the rod itself.
and includes a replacement Planning the upgrades, researching spruce things up 3 . But before I could tell that this necks truss
bridge plate and an offset- the parts and putting it all together starting, there was a playability rod was already very tight, so an
style rocking bridge can be a rewarding experience, and issue that needed to be sorted. alternative remedy was needed.
3 You can buy Tele if you choose your parts wisely you One method to cure an up-bow
pickguards with a humbucker can end up with a fantastic guitar Neck pains is to slacken off the truss rod then
cut-out, but Allparts UKs ones
without spending a fortune. The neck had developed a fairly bend the neck to straighten it or
are three-ply. The next best
option was a single-ply Esquire Gary liked the idea of keeping substantial up-bow, so there was even introduce a slight back-bow.
guard, which meant cutting a humbucker in the neck position, too much relief and the action was Then you can tighten the truss rod
the hole for the Montys PAF along with a ve-way selector unpleasantly high. To gauge neck back up to clamp the neck in place.
4 Placing capos at the switch, but the stock pickups were relief, place two capos on the guitar If youre lucky, it may stay there.
rst and 15th frets allows fairly nondescript. The humbucker one at the rst fret and the other A spirit level was clamped onto
you to assess the amount of sounded a tad dark and boomy and near the body join 4 . Check for the neck at each end, using cork
neck relief
the bridge a bit shrill and thin. So the gap between the strings and the pads for protection 6 . A metal
the decision was made to go with top of the seventh and eighth frets. ruler was placed onto the frets to
a PAF and a Full Monty from Opinions differ as to the ideal assess the extent of the up-bow and
Montys Guitars 1 . amount of relief, but a gap of identify the deepest point. In this
As a Gretsch fan, Gary also approximately a millimetre or more case, the gap was widest around
fancied having a Bigsby to waggle. may indicate a problem that the the eighth fret 7 .
Various Bigsby and bridge options truss rod cant x 5 . Truss rods A third clamp was placed with
were considered before he decided are tted to set the right amount the top jaw contacting the top of
on a B5 Fender Kit 2 . of neck relief, so they are intended the spirit level and the bottom jaw

5 6
7 8
under the eighth fret. As this third things dont always line up quite lined up fairly nicely, although the 5 The wide gap between
clamp was tightened, the centre as they should. To establish this replacement pickguard required the tops of the frets and the
string around the seventh fret
part of the neck bent upwards guitars true centre line, I attached three fewer screws. is excessive
towards the spirit level and the two strips of masking tape across The control plate was a few
6 Using cork pads for
truss rod was brought back up to the body in front and behind the millimetres off, so the easiest
protection, a spirit level is
snug 8 . This technique may not bridge area. Placing a long metal solution was to plug both screw clamped along the centre line
work every time, but its easy to try ruler tight along the bass side of holes and drill new ones after of the ngerboard. The pads
it yourself. It may save you luthier the ngerboard, I drew lines across repositioning the plate 11 . For this, create a space between the
fees and save your truss rod, too. the masking tape where the ruler I usually take a chunky matchstick frets and the bottom of the
spirit level
passed over the body. and round over the square corners
Strip down I repeated the process for the using a Stanley knife blade as a 7 Resting a metal ruler
along the frets gives you
Before drilling any holes, or doing treble side, then measured identical scraper. With some wood glue
a clear indication of the
anything irreversible, I needed to distances from the 12th fret to the inside the screw hole, simply tap necks straightness
check that all the new parts would marker lines for both sides and in the matchstick and snap it off,
8 A clamp under the eighth
t. All the hardware and electronics marked the points on the lines. To leaving a few millimetres proud fret can be tightened to
had to be de-soldered from the establish the centre point, simply of the surface. Once the glue has straighten the neck or induce
controls and removed 9 . The draw lines between the marks, then dried, carefully trim it ush with a back-bow. Once this is done,
old-school jack cup was left in situ, use a ruler to determine the halfway the top using a Stanley blade 12 . you can bring the truss rod up
to snug and remove the middle
because theyre a nightmare to t. point of each and join the two Unlike the original bridge, the
clamp. If youre lucky, the neck
I simply coiled up the jack wires centre points with another line 10 . Bigsby bridge plate is held on with will hold straight
and tucked them away inside the three screws behind the saddles
control cavity ready for reassembly. Dry run rather than four, and with two
The Allparts pickguard went on further screw holes in front of
Centre point rst, but before it would t properly, the saddles. After establishing the
Never assume the centre of the I had to le away some of the plastic centre line, the middle screw hole
body always corresponds with the because the neck was a bit too wide. behind the saddles was positioned
centre line of the neck, because Once in position, the screw holes over the line 13 . >

WORKSHOP
INTERV EW Tele
Vinnie
renovation
Moore & Paul
ul Raymond | UFO
9 10
11 12
9 Always record the wiring Having the pickguard in situ the pickup 14 . A bona de luthier back and forth to get it squared
layout before you start taking allowed me to square up the bridge would probably rout the hole using up with the pickguard 16 . Once
things apart. You can draw
plate, and I found it best to have a template. Instead, I found the drill I was happy with the positioning,
yourself a diagram, or better
still, take some pictures using the pickup mounted in the plate. It bit that best matched the corners of I tightened the screw fully, then
your phones camera. was vital to ensure the pickup didnt the cover and drilled four holes in marked out the positions for the
Garys Tele had complicated foul the sides of the pickup rout the pickguard one for each corner. four remaining screws.
ve-way switching and it was free to move for setting A jewellers saw was used to cut out The rocking bridge is mounted
10 When tting new the height. Once I was happy, the hole, and I cut a millimetre or in thimbles, which press into the
hardware, its essential to I marked the position of the centre so inside the marked lines. body, so 9mm diameter holes
establish the centre line of
screw, then removed the bridge and To get straight and smooth lines, must be drilled. With the bridge
the guitar
lled the old screw holes. I did this I clamped the plastic to a piece of plate position established, I placed
11 The pickguard was a
because the new screw holes would wood with a machine-cut edge. masking tape under the plate
decent t, but the control
plate no longer lined up with be close to the old ones, and I didnt The wood lines up along the and marked the position of the
the original screw holes want cracks to occur in the body. marked lines and a Stanley knife thimbles. After the centre points
12 Matchsticks are a cheap,
Filling the unwanted screw holes blade is used to to shave the plastic had been marked, I used a bradawl
easy solution when you need provided extra structural solidity. ush with the wood edge 15 . After bit to drill the holes 17 18 .
to plug small screw holes Again, I used matchsticks, but since drilling the pickup screw holes, Traditional Telecasters have a
the screw holes were countersunk, I removed the lm from the front of ground wire under the bridge plate,
I followed up with some Milliput the pickguard, mounted the pickup but this Mexican model had a solder
epoxy resin ller and set the body and screwed down the pickguard. tag clamped between the plate and
aside for the glue and resin to set. one of the height adjustment screw
Fitting the Bigsby springs. This bridge assembly
Cutting the pickguard I began by drilling a pilot hole for doesnt make contact with the plate.
With the pickguard attached to the the centre screw I marked earlier, The instructions suggest bending
body, I applied masking tape in the then I loosely xed the bridge a short length of unwound G string
pickup area, established the centre plate using that single screw. to a right angle and using the cup to
line and marked out the position for This allowed me to turn the plate wedge it into the hole. It sits under

13 14
15 16
the bridge and provides electrical see bridges attached both ways, but set the overall string height at the 13 Heres the new bridge
continuity between the strings and if the intonation screws are on the bass and treble ends. The Bigsby with the centre screw over the
centre line
ground 19 . The Bigsby kit contains vibrato side, its hard to reach them bridge saddles ended up being
a length of red twine to help with a screwdriver. slightly higher than the saddles 14 Take your time when
marking the position of the
position the vibrato section itself. Start by setting the intonation of the stock bridge, so to get
PAF cut-out. Measure thrice
You tie two lengths of the twine to screws to ballpark positions and everything lined up properly and cut once
the outer Bigsby pins, pass them adjust the saddle heights so the I had to shim the neck with a piece
15 A straight piece of timber
under the front roller and tie them tops of the intonation screws line of maple veneer. With everything acts as a guide when scraping
onto the E string tuner posts. up with the curve of the bridge lined up and the Tele playing nicely, the plastic with a Stanley knife
The basic idea is that the twine base. This gives you a radius of I ne-tuned the string radius and blade. This is an easy way
and the strings should follow the approximately 241mm (9.5 inches). intonation, nished off the wiring to achieve cut lines that are
straight and square
straightest path from the vibrato, If you set the saddles higher, the and Garys Tele was good to go.
over the bridge saddles and to the intonation screws can protrude 16 Fixing the bridge plate
tuners 20 . Once I was happy, I upwards and touch the strings, or Verdict loosely allows it to swivel, as
its lined up with the pickguard
marked the screw positions, drilled even poke into your right hand. Guitars dont get much cooler
the holes and attached the vibrato. Two posts extend from the than a Tele with a Bigsby. Having
underside of the bridge base. Inside said that, all youll get from one of
Bridge each post, theres a grub screw that these B5s is a touch of Bigsby slur
This was the rst time Id tted adjusts to set the string height. and some pitch wobble on chords.
a Bigsby kit to a Tele, and the The pointed ends of the screws sit Even by Bigsby standards, its a
instructions cover only the basics. in a recess at the bottom of each subtle effect. I did notice that the
For instance, theres no advice on thimble, which allows the whole acoustic tone was more solid and
which way round to t the bridge, bridge assembly to rock back and the guitar sustained longer, but Tele
and it was only at the last moment forth with minimal friction. snap and twang was less evident
I realised it would be preferable to The saddle height screws are presumably because the string
have the intonation screws on the really for ne-tuning the string vibrations pass straight into the
pickup side. Look online and youll radius, and the grub screws actually body rather than the bridge plate. >

WORKSHOP
INTERV EW Tele
Vinnie
renovation
Moore & Paul
ul Raymond | UFO
17 18
19 20
17 The thimble hole locations It all works and it stays in tune,

are marked and the centre but I dont think much of the
points carefully established
HOW DOES GARY

traditional Jazzmaster/Jaguar
before drilling
bridge. The multi-grooved saddles
18 For the thimble holes,
LIKE HIS REFURBED

are a bit of a drag, and great care
I used a 9mm bradawl bit.
Here, you can see how close must be taken to adjust saddle
TELECASTER?
the new holes come to the height without having the strings
original screw holes contact the bridge behind the
19 A bent length of unwound saddles. If this were my guitar, Id
G string wedges into the Having fallen out of love with be upgrading to a Mastery bridge
thimble hole and sits under my old Tele, due to the fact that as soon as funds allowed. Even so,
the bridge plate to form an
neither pickup alone offered it looks and plays better than it did
electrical connection from
strings to ground desirable tones, its now an almost unrecognisable guitar. before, and the pair of Montys
In all ve pickup positions, the sound is glorious. Huw told pickups have improved the
20 The Bigsby kit comes with
red string to help you align the
me to expect big things from the humbucker, describing it sound immeasurably.
vibrato unit as the best PAF replica hed heard, and it certainly lives up
to that billing. Played through my Fender Hot Rod Deluxe PARTS LIST & SUPPLIERS
with a splash of reverb, its the classic full-bodied, vocal Esquire pickguard www.allparts.
uk.com
Tele clean sound Ive always wanted, while theres sustain
Pickups www.montysguitars.com
aplenty when driven; the Full Monty has bountiful bite and Bigsby B5 Kit www.fender.com
denition, too. The Bigsby doesnt seem to be affecting the
NEXT MONTH
tuning stability, and a vigorous band practice eased my
fears about the bridge although Im not ruling out taking
up Huws offer of a Mastery upgrade just yet
Huw demonstrates how to construct a
fret-bending tool in a simple workshop
that will prove invaluable for DIY
enthusiasts and save you 100 or more

PATRICK JAMES EGGLE MACON CARVED TOP 3,595
ELECTRIC GUITAR

ELECTRIC GUITAR
Patrick James Eggle

Macon Carved Top
After focusing on acoustics in recent years, one of the UKs best
luthiers is back in the electric game. CHRIS VINNICOMBE plugs in
P
atrick Eggle will be a familiar format is something thats always the redwood top, this is an instrument KEY FEATURES
name to most readers, whether appealed to Eggle: I like the stripped- thats a little more rock n roll than Patrick James Eggle
because of the Berlin electrics down functionality. Plus theyre really many a boutique machine with an Macon Carved Top
of the early 90s or his more recent great looking guitars. We have a at-top exotic cap. Rock n roll doesnt mean PRICE 3,595
acoustic designs under the Patrick version of the Macon. Its very, erm, thrown together, of course; theres some DESCRIPTION Set neck,
double-cutaway electric with
James Eggle and Faith banners. utilitarian and non-blingy. That plain formidable luthiery on display here, too, chambered body. Made in UK
Patricks last serious foray into electric Jane aspect is very cool to me as a in the elegant lines of the deep carve BUILD Chambered mahogany
guitars was in the early noughties with player. That said though, as a guitar of the redwood top that ows into the body with carved redwood top,
the Discus, made in collaboration with maker, I cannot resist a pretty piece of scraped edge binding, and the snug Mahogany Fat C neck with
304mm (12) radius Macassar
Zemaitis engraver Danny OBrien. Its in
ebony ngerboard with dot
the chambered, double-cutaway Discus
that youll perhaps nd the seeds of Theres some formidable luthiery on inlays and 22 Sintoms 6105
frets. Macassar ebony
the instruments that mark his return to
electric guitar manufacture proper over
display here, too, in the elegant lines headstock fascia and truss
rod cover
a decade later. of the deep carve of the redwood top HARDWARE Aged Waverly
tuners, aged ABM tune-o-
I dont think I ever didnt want to matic bridge and trapeze
build electric guitars again, Patrick timber. So we will denitely be putting ribcage contour in the subtly burst- tailpiece
explains. Its just that the time wasnt together some real lookers nished mahogany back. ELECTRICS 2x Bare Knuckle
Mule humbuckers with aged
right. We built a few about four years Lifting our model out of its black and Initially, the nitrocellulose nish is
covers, three-way toggle
ago, just a very limited run, but I white tweed hardcase, were struck by applied in exactly the same way as it pickup selector switch, master
wasnt really able to devote the time to how light and alive it feels; the low- would be if it was to be buffed to a high volume, master tone (pull
building more. We are now building both gloss, hand-burnished nitrocellulose gloss. We can make that choice right coil-split)
acoustic and electric guitars though. Its nish and aged hardware mean that, at the end, says Eggle. The hand- SCALE LENGTH 628mm/24.75
NECK WIDTH 43mm at nut,
a different mindset and a lot of fun. despite the depth of the guring on burnished nish is rubbed back using > 52mm at 12th fret
Crafted with meticulous care by NECK DEPTH 22mm at rst
Eggle, Sam Gill and Frank De Haan in fret, 24mm at 12th fret
the companys Oswestry workshops, STRING SPACING 35mm at
nut, 52mm at bridge
the new Patrick James Eggle Macon
WEIGHT 2.7kg/6lbs
electrics (just like Little Richards LEFT-HANDERS Yes
birthplace in Georgia, its pronounced (no extra charge)
like bacon, only with an m) are FINISHES Hand-burnished,
available exclusively from World Guitars double-stained tobacco
nitrocellulose (as reviewed).
in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire. The Numerous other nish and
series began with chambered, at-top material options call
models with a slightly enlarged (by to discuss
approximately 6mm) double-cut Junior CONTACT World Guitars
01453 824306
outline, and it now encompasses
www.worldguitars.co.uk
contoured and carved-top versions, still www.eggle.co.uk
with chambered construction and the The Bare Knuckle Mule
vintage Gibson-inspired body shape. humbuckers have attractive
Macassar ebony surrounds
The classic double-cutaway Junior

ELECTRIC GUITAR
The Macassar ebony fretboard Another ebony detail, this time

has dramatic striping on the rear control plate
feel and response is close to a typical otherwise occur with a lightweight,

ABR-1 and stopbar arrangement, with chambered instrument such as this.
only extreme bends in combination
with open strings betraying the fact In use
that the tail oats. Aesthetically, its an If you feel a little disillusioned with
LIKE THIS? TRY THESE... a ne abrasive paper, followed by extra- unusual touch on a boutique double-cut twin humbucker-loaded electrics, the
When it comes to luxury ne wire wool and wax to achieve this and, along with the open-gear Waverly Macon is a breath of fresh air, and
double-cuts, PRS is impossible
soft sheen. Its no better or worse than tuners at the peghead end, theres an not just because of the chambered
to ignore. We reviewed Pauls
Guitar 3,125 last month and the gloss nish, just a different look that old-time vibe that complements the rich construction. The Bare Knuckle Mules
found it supremely versatile. lots of our customers prefer. beauty of the deep-stained redwood are excellent PAF-alikes, but as ever
The Rock N Roll Relics Though every Macon is different and dramatic striping in the ebony thats only part of the picture; the
Thunders II 1,899 dispenses and custom orders can be placed, the board and headstock veneer. Macon has a real voice and a three-
with frills and sails much closer
most obvious departure exhibited by Eggles fat C carve is spectacularly dimensional quality before you even
to the Gibson source as a result.
our review guitar is its tailpiece. All of good. Over the years, this writer has plug it in. When you do, theres a top-
the other Macons weve seen have had consistently found chunky necks easier drawer sonic quality and an expressive
German-made ABM wrapover bridges, to play than slim proles, but spend sophistication that puts our own ES-335
but here theres a tune-o-matic and some time with a neck such as this in the shade, and is one of the best-
trapeze of the same origin that are and make up your own mind; were sounding humbucker-loaded guitars
milled from solid bell brass and nickel willing to bet most players would be weve encountered, vintage or modern.
plated. The relatively short 41mm (bass converted. Twin rear strap buttons The three humbucking voices alone
side) and 45mm (treble side) distance ensure the guitar is less likely to topple would be enough for many players in
between saddle and tailpiece means if you lean it against an amplier, but this guise, the Macon can do anything an
theres plenty of tension over the more importantly provide greater scope ES-335 can do and then some. But when
bridge and as a result, in combination for adjustment than a single button, you pull up the tone control to engage
with the 24.75-inch scale length, the helping offset any neck dive that might the split-coil mode the midrange is
hollowed out, the output lowers slightly
and theres a whole world of jangle and
springy, Fender-like tonalities to play
OLD WOOD
with for those lighter indie and 60s pop
moments: whether thats Harrison or
Marr, its equally effective.
I love redwood, admits Eggle during our conversation. Its very If you can afford it, then make no
light and has a really open acoustic ring to it. The redwood I buy is mistake, this is a British-made electric
old, salvaged from the stump wood of those really large old trees with a real soul and an all-round level of
that were felled by hand with saws in the latter part of the 19th craft and quality thats up there with
century. Foundation wood is super dense, due to it being at the base the best that the US boutique market
of the tree and supporting that incredible weight for so many years. has to offer. If you cant afford it, youll
What about that wonderful neck shape? I like a fatter neck, he says. I think theyre very wish you never played it...
comfortable, but more importantly stiffer with more mass. This helps the guitar to hold a note,
even when the body is very light. We also put a carbon bre strip either side of the truss rod.
Some of our customers ask for a thinner neck. This is ne, but I want it to be stiff and pretty VERDICT
much inert. This mainly has come from my experience with acoustic guitars, where this is + Fantastic neck shape
crucial, as I want the energy from the string to dissipate through the bridge, not the neck. At + Beautifully built and nished
+ Premier league sounds
the moment, customers can choose from three body formats: at top, drop top and carved
top. Then the body can be chambered or not. We can cut f-holes, etc. Customers can select This level of quality doesnt
come cheap
the tonewood, choose scale length, neck size and prole, inlays, frets we are in the process
One of Britains nest builders returns to
of designing a larger-bodied, proper semi. This should be ready by the end of the year.
the electric guitar arena in considerable
style. A glorious musical instrument.
9/10

GODIN SESSION LTD 649
ELECTRIC GUITAR

ELECTRIC GUITAR
Godin Session LTD

A limited edition of a workhorse, with new nishes, upgraded
pickups and a clever vibrato system. SIMON BRADLEY investigates
C
anadian company Godin has pearloid scratchplate, should the livery pickup thats best described as a PAF KEY FEATURES
always produced a wide and of this example not appeal. on steroids with an accentuated high Godin Session LTD
versatile choice of instruments, Many manufacturers have taken range. Controls comprise volume and PRICE 649, with padded
and whether your head is turned by the plunge and now produce their own tone pots, with the latter doubling as Godin gigbag and straplocks
DESCRIPTION Solidbody
models bursting with all manner of pickups; the likes of ESP/LTD, Jackson a push/pull coil split for the humbucker.
six-string guitar. Manufactured
modern technology, such as the Multiac and Ibanez load a selection of their The bridge pivots on two points and in Canada, assembled in USA
or LGX ranges, or you prefer guitars that low- and mid-priced instruments with is made up of six hefty Fender-style BUILD Canadian Laurentian
are more down to earth, wed suggest home-branded coils as a matter of and fully adjustable saddles. Its set to basswood body and engraved
that any player would nd something three-ply tortoiseshell
scratchplate; Rock maple neck
interesting in the catalogue.
The regular Session models, with Theres always something undeniably with 12-inch radius and gloss
headstock; rosewood
high-quality tonewoods, a diverse
choice of nishes and an excellent
woody about Godin guitars, and ngerboard with 22 medium
jumbo frets
overall performance, are more than the Session LTD is no exception HARDWARE Two-point Godin
vibrato with Tru-Loc system
worthy of attention, and its difficult ELECTRICS One Seymour
to see how they could be improved on. course. Godin, too, takes this approach, allow a modicum of upward movement Duncan SH-11 Custom Custom
Theres no such lack of ambition from and the regular Session features an almost a full tone on the open G humbucker and two Godin
Godin, however, and three new Session HSS conguration of Godin pickups that string and is beautifully smooth in GS-1 single coils, volume and
tone controls, with push/pull
LTD models were introduced at NAMM includes the same pair of GS-1 single its operation. It also includes Godins humbucker coil split on tone
this year upgraded versions that have coils as loaded here. Replacing the Tru-Loc system, a method of securing pot; ve-way Blade selector
been produced in limited numbers. covered Godin humbucker in the bridge the screw-in vibrato arm in just the right SCALE LENGTH 648mm/
Theres always something undeniably is a double-white Seymour Duncan place. Set the arm to your preferred 25.5
NECK WIDTH 42mm at nut,
woody about Godin guitars, and the SH-11 Custom Custom, an Alnico II-based position, use a 3mm allen key to lock >
52mm at 12th fret
Session LTD is no exception. You NECK DEPTH 22.5mm at rst
can almost smell the aroma of the fret, 24.6mm at 12th fret
woodshop exuding from the hand- STRING SPACING 35.5mm at
nished Rock maple neck, and the nut, 52.8mm at bridge
WEIGHT 3.63kgs/8lbs
awless satin feel makes it exceedingly LEFT-HANDERS Two regular
playable. The shaping of the ngerboard Session models available
edge results in a shallow D prole, and (549 or 599, depending
the neck as a whole puts on a little more on nish)
FINISH Silver Gold, Desert
meat as the 12th fret approaches. Even
Blue, Desert Red
casual acquaintances with the company CONTACT 440 Distribution
should be aware of the quality of Godin 0113 258 9599
necks, and this is yet another beauty. www.godinguitars.com
Its secured to the body with a four-
screw plate thats shaped to mirror the
heels ergonomic contouring. Its worth
noting that models nished in Desert
Blue and Desert Red are supplied with The bridge incorporates
Godins Tru-Loc system
not only a maple ngerboard but also a

ELECTRIC GUITAR
The jack socket dish is

secured with screws,
keeping things tight
The truss rod can

be adjusted at
the headstock end
LIKE THIS? TRY THESE... it in position via an aperture in the

Fenders Deluxe Lone Star 13.5mm trem block and youre done. Its
Strat (659) features a Twin
not immovable when secured, but does
Head HB alongside a pair of
Texas Special single coils and stay put where you leave it.
the always-cool 70s-style The body, a slightly squarer take on
headstock. The Fret-King the classic Strat shape, is constructed
Corona SP (539) comes from Canadian Laurentian basswood.
loaded with a stacked
humbucker and two FK single
Traditionally, at least, basswood is
coils, not to mention the usual lightweight and airy, yet the Session is
gamut of Trev Wilkinson reassuringly weighty; the guitar as a
innovations while, for genuine whole weighs in at 8lbs.
value, the HSS Yamaha
To our eyes, the sparkly Silver Gold The neck join offers
Pacica PAC212VFM can be
nish of this example is similar to easy access for
found at frankly staggering high-register playing
prices, considering how truly Fenders Shoreline Gold option and,
versatile it is aside from a disappointingly blobby
area surrounding the control cavity, providing a striving rock rhythm tone guitar can ably cover a number of
has been applied satisfactorily. Its that can really sear for solo work, musical bases, whats not to like? No
topped with a three-ply tortoiseshell especially if you kick in a drive pedal. guitar can authentically manage all
scratchplate that has been engraved The single coils sound great, too, with tonal styles, but the Session LTD comes
with the Godin logo, and theres little the split bucker coming across all spiky pretty close. It doesnt do jazz, nor is it
doubt that the guitar is quite a looker. and full of attitude like a beefed-up Tele; ideal for music that needs a warm,
while position two, probably our overall soupy guitar. However, from blues and
In use favourite, would be a great go-to tone country, through pop and punk, and on
With a clean tone, the humbucker coil for up-tempo blues styles. to classic rock and beyond, its
split which solos the screw headed There are arguably more suitable impressive. Its a pro instrument that
coil provides an unusually nasal guitars on which to play hard rock and looks great, plays wonderfully and is
tone thats great for more aggressive metal, but its to the Sessions credit fairly priced. There are plenty of
country styles, and adding in the central that its more than capable of icking options, too, so dont dismiss it down
pickup via position two adds body the horns. The humbuckers treble, simply to the name on the headstock;
without compromising the trebly cut. It coupled with the edge of a high-gain you need to give it a whirl.
has that lovely in between character amp, gives a perfectly acceptable
that complements the high end to give tone for these styles and, unlike some
versatile and balanced tone. ceramic-based pickups, cleans up nicely VERDICT
Positions three, four and ve add on the volume pot without losing too + Eminently playable neck
incrementally more levels of depth, much character. At super-dirty levels + Quality construction
as expected, and we found the neck of high gain, it positively screams, and + Versatile performance
pickups woody character was aided by if your covers band is called upon to + Good choice of options
removing some of the edge with the trot out Du Hast to satisfy the brides Tones wont be for everybody
tone pot. That said, the twang thats mother, youll be more than happy with Limited production run
Some issues with the nish
inherent across all pickup selections is the sheer aggression of the harmonics
Affordable and versatile, the Godin Session
certainly engaging, and ensures your that jump out. The treble might be too
LTD is a great-looking gigging workhorse
tone is never indistinct. much for some, but we loved it. that stands out from the crowd
With more gain, the tone lls out and The term workhorse can be
tightens up, with the full humbucker perceived as disparaging, but if a single
8/10

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VIGIER GV ROCK 2,169
ELECTRIC GUITAR

ELECTRIC GUITAR
Vigier GV Rock
The best-known electric luthier outside of the US unveils a new
single-cutaway design. RICHARD PURVIS assesses its true worth
F
rance may not appear a very kind of symmetry with the one below, construction and nish that youre KEY FEATURES
rock n roll country. Alhough if nothing else; the curved edges around unlikely to nd on a more modestly Vigier GV Rock
they have their pop stars, and the back of the body are more welcome, priced instrument. That scraped binding PRICE 2,169 (including
their sophisticated chanteurs, the whole especially on the heel of the bolt-on effect has been pulled off awlessly, hard case)
DESCRIPTION Single-cutaway
grubby being in a band culture is just neck, where ling off the corner has and little touches such as the neatly
solidbody electric, made
not as deeply ingrained as it is on this brought obvious benets for access recessed output jack add to the aura in France
side of the Channel. But the good news to the upper frets. of craftsmanship. BUILD Alder body with
for those French people who do want maple top; maple bolt-on neck
with 22-fret rosewood
to rock is that they have lots and lots
of trees almost 10 times more than
The overall look of this guitar does not ngerboard
HARDWARE Vigier xed
the UK by total forested area and
Patrice Vigier walking among them
immediately chime with the four-digit bridge and tailpiece, Schaller
locking tuners
with a big chainsaw. number at the top of this page ELECTRICS Amber Rock
humbuckers with ve-way
Well, he might not actually be
switch and master volume/
chopping them down himself, but Vigier Were not sure what to make of the Hardware-wise, theres a clear tone controls
is perhaps the best-known electric overall look of this guitar, though preference for sleekness over bling: the SCALE LENGTH 630mm/24.8
luthier outside of the USA, and his the combination of a powdery matt chromed bridge is essentially a tune-o- NECK WIDTH 42mm at nut,
company sources all its timber from nish, uncovered humbuckers and an matic redesigned, with smoothly curved 52mm at 12th fret
NECK DEPTH 19.5mm at rst
French forests. You dont get much unbound, unmarked neck does not saddles to minimise the risk of string fret, 23mm at 12th fret
more made in France than that. This immediately chime with the four-digit breakages; it forms a clean and tidy STRING SPACING 35mm at
is a high-end brand with a deserved number at the top of this page. ensemble with the at-topped tailpiece. nut, 52mm at bridge
reputation for thoroughness and A close inspection, however, The only other occupants of that maple WEIGHT 3.8kg/8.4lbs
LEFT-HANDERS No
attention to detail, typied by the fact does reveal a level of immaculate top are master volume and tone > FINISHES Red, Green, Yellow,
that all that wood is left to dry out for Black (all matt); Amber, Black,
at least three years before use. The chromed bridge is Burgundy, Gold, Pearl White
Vigier has long specialised in metal- essentially a tune-o-matic CONTACT High Tech
with smoothly-curved saddles Distribution 01722 410002
ready shredders, but the single-cutaway
htd-uk.com
GV models have been adding a Les
Paul-ish element to the range since
2009. This years version of the GV Rock
brings cosmetic changes and one more
signicant addition: a Lester-like maple
top on the alder body. This Revolution
Red nish is one of four new colours,
all with faux binding on the body that
is, a strip of paint carefully scraped
away from the front edges to reveal
the maple beneath. Theres also a new
embossed metal logo on the headstock.
The front of the top bout has a subtle
yet distinctive chamfer, which brings a

ELECTRIC GUITAR
A strip of paint is scraped

away from the front edges
to reveal the maple beneath
The headstock features a

new embossed metal logo
LIKE THIS? TRY THESE... controls, plus a ve-way pickup switch.

The obvious place to look for Hmm, ve settings for only two pups?
rocking humbucker tones with
Brace yourself for some coil-tapping
a little more treble than the
average Gibson is PRS, whose First, well check out the neck, which
striking S2 Vela 1,289 is (painted) maple with a rosewood
impressed us with its board, and has been rendered eternally
coil-splittable bridge bucker. warp-proof in theory at least by
The Knaggs Kenai 2,499 is a
Vigiers 10/90 system: put simply, a
swanky single cut handcrafted The Revolution Red nish
in the USA by a former PRS solid carbon-bre core instead of an is one of four new colours
designer. For another luxury adjustable truss rod. The scale length
European option, try Matt is 630mm, just a smidge longer than
Bellamys signature guitar, the
a Gibsons, and the fretboard has a you like the chunkiness of Les Pauls, but higher. In fact, in the middle position
UK-made Manson MB-1S
3,374. decidedly modern radius of just under crave something with a more aggressive its brighter than my US Standard Tele,
304mm (12). Theres a zero fret, which top end, here it is. if not as clucky in character, with just a
is actually formed of six individual The neck pickup is fatter and wee bit less bottom end.
saddles so they can be replaced one smoother, as youd expect, but not by The neck pickup in single-coil mode
by one in case of wear. You might well all that much thanks to the maple top comes across as being extremely
say this is bonkers; we couldnt possibly and the eriness of the pickup, theres rened, displaying a soft spot for funk,
comment. Behind that is a teon nut, still plenty of bite in the attack. Pile on while the bridge unit works well with
a Tube Screamer for mid-gain crunchy
If you like the chunkiness of Les Pauls riffing. Add metallic levels of distortion
and it will pay you back with just about
but crave something with a more as much trebly sting as the human ear
can take which might be just what you
aggressive top end, then here it is need to cut through a sludgy mix. Youre
unlikely to fall properly in love with
while the headstock has a PRS-like the gain with the right amp and your any of these coil-tapped tones, though.
asymmetrical shape, and holds three widdliest lead runs will remain clear and Where theyll probably nd most use is
locking tuners on each side. clicky on all six strings. Take the gain as sweet rhythm sounds to sing over,
off again and you might be surprised by before the humbuckers leap out of
In use the smooth jazz tones. Either way, your their box for the big solos.
The German-made Amber humbuckers ngers will thank you for choosing such
have been custom-voiced for this guitar, an easy neck to show off on: its just
and the bridge pickup wastes little time enough of a handful to feel like a grown- VERDICT
in transforming the GV Rocks richly up guitar, and the medium-sized frets + Stunning build quality and
resonant and cultured acoustic tone are impeccable. understated class
into a festival of snarl. Its got lots of One thing the GV Rock cant give you + Supremely playable neck
+ Useful coil-tapped sounds
punch, and the bit you really cant is the sound of two humbuckers at once,
Pickups will be too bright for some
miss much more brightness than a because all three of the middle settings
No both humbuckers setting
conventionally voiced bucker or P-90. put it into single-coil mode. Were now
A powerful and versatile rock guitar with
The tone control does little to tame dealing with something closer to a
the emphasis on no-expense-spared
the spikiness until its close to fully off, Telecaster than a Les Paul: the overall quality and zingy treble
which is disappointing, but its not going output level is markedly lower, while
to be an issue for most rock players: if the transparency and sparkle are
8/10

Mini Monsters
The Peavey Classic 20 MH, 6505 MH , and ValveKing

MH Mini Heads authentically produce the legendary
tones of their iconic big brothers in a small, portable
package. These amps boast modern features like the
USB record output, a plug and play port that allows
the amps to be used as an audio interface into your
favorite recording software.
www.peavey.com
B&G LITTLE SISTER 2,950
ELECTRIC GUITAR

ELECTRIC GUITAR
B&G Little Sister AWA R D

CHOICE
With its ES-140-like body and a slot-head parlor neck, is the B&G
Little Sister a retro curio or a viable player? HUW PRICE nds out 9/10
B
ack in 2011, David Weitzman This example is made from African nitrocellulose and a variety of sunbursts KEY FEATURES
was listening to Robert Johnson mahogany and a kingwood ngerboard, and custom colours are available. B&G Little Sister
and gazing at the famous photo inlayed with pearl dots. The Stewart- The Little Sister can be ordered DESCRIPTION Semi-solid
of him holding a Gibson L-1. The fat MacDonald Golden Age Restoration directly from B&G or through its UK electric guitar, manufactured
in Israel
and throaty tones of early Delta blues tuners work smoothly, and Little Sister dealer, The North American Guitar. The
PRICE 2,950
guitarists became an obsession and customers can choose whether to have distributor books slots in advance, so BUILD Chambered African
Weitzman was on a one-man mission the brass parts clear-coated to prevent ordering through them is quicker or mahogany body, ame maple
to crack the code. top, one-piece African
mahogany set neck with soft
He began collecting antique guitars,
and in the process started learning
Its not simply a visual thing. The Little V prole, 12 radius
kingwood ngerboard with
about repair work. Weitzman ended
up studying at The Algranati School of
Sister really does feel like an old guitar, pearl dot inlays and 20
narrow frets
Lutherie in Israel, eventually designing albeit a factory-fresh one HARDWARE Solid brass
tailpiece, gold-plated
and building the rst Little Sister.
tune-o-matic bridge, Stewart
Weitzman took it to his friends tarnishing or simply to allow nature to if you prefer, you can buy from B&Gs MacDonald Golden Age
at B&G Guitars for some nishing do its own thing. shop stock without waiting. Restoration tuners
touches, and soon after B&G called to Brass is also used for the control ELECTRICS B&G manufactured
say it wanted to put the Little Sister cavity cover and a brass pickguard is In use unpotted P-90-style single-coil
pickups, master volume
into production albeit with a handful provided along with screws to be Its not simply a visual thing. The Little & tone, three-way
of enhancements. tted at the owners discretion. Sister really does feel like an old guitar, selector switch
The Little Sister is now available with A soft V is the standard neck prole, albeit a factory-fresh one. Although SCALE LENGTH 624mm/24.5
or without a cutaway, and customers but customers can specify proles the neck was described as having a V NECK WIDTH 42mm at nut,
53mm at 12th fret
can request PAF-style humbuckers or and ngerboard width. The nish is shape, it actually feels quite rounded >
NECK DEPTH 21mm at rst
P-90s. B&G casts its own tailpieces fret, 24mm at 9th fret
and, like the pickup covers, theyre B&G casts its own tailpieces, STRING SPACING 36mm at
fabricated from a unique brass alloy. which are fabricated from nut, 51.5mm at bridge
a unique brass alloy WEIGHT 3.15kg
Much of the tone timber is reclaimed
LEFT-HANDERS Yes
wood, and ngerboards can be (no extra cost)
Brazilian, Madagascan or Amazonian FINISHES Most classic
rosewood. The options for the neck sunburst varieties, plus
and chambered bodies are Honduras custom colours
CONTACT The North American
and African mahogany, and customers
Guitar 0207 835 5597
can choose from a selection of Eastern www.bngguitars.com
maple tops before the guitars are built.
B&G even makes its own glue, and the
in-house ethos extends to the pickups.
The review guitar was tted with P-90s
with un-potted scatter-wound coils of 42
AWG wire. Long, roughcast Alnico V and
II magnets are used in the neck
and bridge pickups respectively.

ELECTRIC GUITAR
Stewart-MacDonald Golden But for all its gorgeous clean tone, it

Age Restoration tuners
always feels that the Little Sister has a
darker and meaner side. Unexpectedly,
the Little Sisters acoustic qualities are
more apparent when the amp is cranked
than in clean mode. However, unlike
some semis, theres no need to struggle
for sustain.
The bridge pickup produces a
full-throated sprang. The lower mids
growl and the upper mids bite in an
undeniably bluesy sort of way. The
neck setting sounds huge and fat, but
still clear. Mild overdrive has a swampy
and rootsy quality that morphs into a
buttery smooth and roaring sustain as
the gain is increased.
Theres no treble bleed capacitor,
but you can still clean up by rolling
A 36mm string back the volume control without losing
spacing at the nut clarity. In fact, the touch dynamics and
clean-up characteristics are much like
The more aggressive attributes of the 54 Goldtop thats also featured in
P-90s have perhaps been overplayed this issue. However, the pickups are
in recent times. Strap one to a prone to squealing, and while the Little
mahogany plank and, for sure, you will Sister behaves quite well with a cranked
certainly get quintessential rock n roll amp, using overdrive pedals can be
tone. But good P-90 pickups can also rather problematic.
deliver some of the sweetest, most If I wanted to be picky, I could point
Brass alloy ttings
delicate and clean sounds in the electric out some nish imperfections where the
reinforce the retro vibe guitar pantheon. ngerboard shim meets the body.
The Little Sisters P-90s are a case in A smaller neck heel may ease upper-fret
LIKE THIS? TRY THESE... and the depth certainly lls the palm. point, and there are three distinct but access, but B&G points out that mass in
The boutique market is full of Skinny frets add to the impression. balanced sounds. The bridge positions this area optimises tone, and I wouldnt
semi-solids, but most evoke an
The body style and 14th-fret neck join midrange has a snarly quality that argue with that. The metalwork looks
idealised vision of the late 50s
and early 60s. Do check out the may trick you into thinking the scale is coupled with an authentic vintage bright and shiny, too, but if and when
Kauer Daylighter 2,499 and is even shorter than 622mm (24.5). quack. The low strings, meanwhile, the brass and the nitro nish start to
the Fano RB6 Thinline Small-bodied acoustics rst inspired are focused and even twangy when age, this guitar will doubtless look
2,999. The Gibson ES Les the design, and that has carried over you play near the bridge, while the even more beautiful.
Paul 2,149 is a semi-solid with
a gured maple top.
into the general feel. However, in terms treble has a chiming sheen, without Ry Cooder once made some
of playability, the Little Sister has the sounding too bright. observations about the true purpose
of the electric guitar. He said, In the
The Little Sister is a reminder that 1950s, electric guitar was coming into
itself, from a primitive idea into
plugging a great electric guitar directly something very grand and beautiful.
There has to be beauty there, and
into a valve amp can sound magical character and personality. He might
as well have been talking about the
fast suppleness of a well-played vintage In the neck position, the Little Little Sister, and if I had the funds,
electric guitar. Sister is sweetly-rounded, smooth I would buy one in an instant.
Acoustically, its louder than a Les and vocal. It has just as much treble
Paul and sounds more like a highly as the bridge pickup, but the clunky
resonant ES-335. The tone is also full character gives way to a woody VERDICT
and well balanced, which means its fun mellowness thats perfect for blues + Its drop-dead gorgeous
to play unplugged and theres plenty for and even pulls off a passable + Wonderful tone
+ Effortlessly playable
the pickups to work with. impersonation of 50s jazz tone. + Outstanding pickups
Just because a pickup looks like a With both pickups together, the + Controls that really work
P-90, theres no guarantee that it will phasey mid-scoop is very noticeable, Overdrive/high gain makes the
sound like one. We have learned from and this is the position that almost pickups squeal
previous reviews that winding pickups compelled me to grab a thumb pick Heel slightly restricts upper-fret access
in-house isnt always advisable, but or play with my ngers. These days, Some barely noticeable
nish imperfections
in this case it has paid off in spades. its easy to get xated on pedals,
The Little Sister is both timeless and fresh.
Both of these P-90s are noticeably effects and overdrive. The Little Sister
It also happens to sound incredible and
microphonic and produce the type is a reminder that plugging a great plays beautifully
of tone that would make any vintage electric guitar directly into a valve
guitar enthusiast feel right at home. amp can sound magical.
9/10

EVENTIDE H9 MAX 639
EFFECTS
Eventide H9 Max
The ultimate stompbox now has a Max
version with loads of extra sounds
including distortion. Review by RICHARD PURVIS
D
KEY FEATURES oes this look familiar? Back in This doesnt, in fact, come loaded or recording session using only your
Eventide H9 Max June 2014, we reviewed a little with anything new, but once youve dancing toes.
PRICE 639 white box called the Eventide downloaded the free H9 Control
DESCRIPTION Multi-effects H9, which blew us across the room software and paired it up with the pedal In use
processor. Made in China
with its studio-quality delays, reverbs via Bluetooth, USB or MIDI, it gives you Reviewers are not paid to be sensible,
CONTROLS Rotary controller;
X, Y, Z and Hotknob parameter and pitch-shifting effects. What were unlimited access to every effect in the so we begin with the usual process
buttons (all with secondary looking at here is, in fact, an identical Eventide stompbox armoury including of plugging straight in (manual, what
functions); preset selector enclosure; but the addition of the word those it hasnt even yet thought of. manual?) and zipping through the
button, bypass and tap Max denotes a whole new level of We counted 46 of them: 10 each factory presets to see just how zany this
footswitches; USB and 9-12V
power inputs, stereo inputs
sonic potential on the inside including from the TimeFactor, ModFactor and thing can get. The answer is very zany
and outputs, expression access to Eventides new distortion PitchFactor, 12 from the Space, and four indeed, but we wont dwell too long here
pedal input algorithm, CrushStation. And, yes, H9 exclusives. Weve already mentioned because these are the same sounds we
ADDITIONAL FEATURES H9 it also alludes to a recommended
Control software (Windows,
Mac, iPad) for patch editing
and free access to all current
retail price that can be described only
as spectacular.
The extra delays and reverbs are every
and future algorithms
CONTACT Source Distribution
Bear in mind, though, that this
is very far from being an ordinary
bit as mindblowing as the ones that are
020 8962 5080
www.eventide.com
stomper. Eventide has been making available to standard H9 owners
pro studio processors for 40 years,
and the bloodline of the H9 series two of these, CrushStation and UltraTap; heard from the original H9 last year.
traces right back to the original H910 the others are Resonator, offering The two key points to reiterate are
Harmonizer, one of the very rst devices spookily ltered delays, and a self- that the audio quality is consistently
to offer digital pitch manipulation. explanatory twin effect called simply fantastic theres a pristine clarity at
A more obvious link is to the current EQ Compressor. the heart of everything this unit does
TimeFactor, ModFactor, PitchFactor and Each algorithm comes with a whole and that the scope for creativity is
Space units, Eventides rst forays into bunch of presets to play around with almost overwhelming.
oor-dwelling effects. look out for Transcendental Dolphin, There are tape-style delays, amp-
The standard H9 (479) takes eight of worth it for the name alone and style reverbs and 80s-style chorus
its nine algorithms from those pedals, the pedal has room to store 99 of sounds, but its the more extreme
the ninth being an UltraTap delay that these. You can tweak your tones with effects that really mark this out as a
isnt found anywhere else; the H9 Core H9 Control or, if you dont mind the special piece of kit. The pitch algorithms
is a cheaper option at 359, which ddliness of navigating through menus can be used to create layered harmonies
comes with just pitch and delay effects. on the little screen with double button and arpeggios, while the swelling
Both of these can be upgraded with presses, can access every parameter on reverbs and heavily modulated delays
additional algorithms at $19.99 each, the unit itself. This might be necessary conjure up atmospheres that you might
thanks to the magic of the internet, if youre separated from your computer not have thought possible from a guitar.
but the simplest and most satisfying or iPad, but well be honest, its no Well done for blowing us across the
solution assuming that youre not fun at all. Still, the tap footswitch can room again, Eventide but now lets talk
concerned by such minor trivialities as be used for toggling through presets, about the new bits.
cost is surely to cut straight to the so have them all cued up beforehand This is where it all so nearly went
Max version. and it is possible to get through a gig badly wrong. Our review unit did not

EVENTIDE H9 MAX 639
EFFECTS
Like this? Try these...

Theres not a lot of competition in the compact one-at-a-time multi-
effects market, with Eventides most obvious competitor in the delay
and reverb stakes, Strymon, keeping its effects such as the TimeLine
and BigSky individual. But here are a few alternatives to check out
Zoom
MS-50G
99
Zooms latest
MultiStomp unit
crams 55 custom
guitar effects and
amp models, plus
a chromatic tuner,
a stompbox-sized e
for a retail price as
69. In addition to
effects types, you g
of amps from the l
Marshall, Vox, Two
come with a mini USB cable and the the obvious EQ and gain controls, and ENGL.
one we dug out from a drawer didnt most notably octave for Octavia-
seem to work, while establishing a style textures, sag for simulating
Bluetooth connection with a MacBook lo- voltage starvation, and sustain Line 6 M5
proved impossible. Frustration peaked for adding thickness either before or 169
and the H9 Max was grumpily stuffed after the distortion. All of these work
Although its now been
back into its box, ready to be thrown endishly well and help to ensure
superseded by the
off the nearest tall building. But then CrushStation is adding genuine value
larger, more advanced
everything changed: a working cable to the H9 offering there are sounds
M9, the M5 is a great
appeared, and meanwhile Eventides UK available here that you denitely dont
place to start in the
distributors supplied us with the login already have a pedal for.
world of multi-effects,
details for this specic unit so we could The extra delays and reverbs are
offering a wealth
unlock the Bluetooth (youll need to set every bit as mindblowing as the ones
of reverb, delay,
up your own account). The lights came that are available to standard H9
modulation, distortion
on and all was forgiven. owners, and it pays to experiment with
and overdrive effects at
Once youre in, H9 Control is a two amps in stereo. Its just a shame you
frankly ridiculous street
tidy piece of software with a simple cant create whole pedalboard presets
prices as low as 72.
interface that makes selecting and using several effects daisy-chained
editing presets a doddle. The only slight together. At its heart, perhaps, this is
annoyance is that, when you want to still more of a studio processor than TC Electronic
save a new sound to the pedal, the
dropdown menu gives you only
a gigging tool; for many players it might
even have made more sense in
Nova 246
While the Nova is larger than the other selections here, it offers a
a list of numbers from 1 to 99, with no rackmount format, with a nice big
vast range of effects in six blocks, and can be found online for a very
indication of which ones might already screen and lots of knobs for hours of
attractive 140. It incorporates TCs innovative G-System and Nova
be occupied. Its quick, though, and the easy tweaking without a laptop or
Drive technology, with a fully analogue drive and overdrive section.
on-screen knobs are just as responsive tablet in sight.
as physical controls.
Well focus on the CrushStation
algorithm, because this is the effect that
VERDICT
marks a bit of a departure for Eventide. + 46 crazily inspiring effects in one box
+ Unbeatable audio quality
Is it reckless for a specialist in digital + New high-gain sounds are convincing
manipulation to dabble in the hairy- and versatile
backside stuff? Well, maybe not. Most of - Frightening price for one effect at
the presets are on the heavy side, and a time
they score highly for fat, beefy impact; - Fiddly to control as a
pull the gain down into Tube Screamer standalone stompbox
territory and things start to sound just The new distortion effects are a worthy
addition, but youre paying a heavy
a wee bit less natural, but thats to be
premium here for the ultimate in sound
expected and anyway, you already quality so youd better be sure you need it
have a pedal for that, right? There are
some interesting variables beyond
8/10

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JHS SUPERBOLT & TWIN TWELVE 159
EFFECTS
JHS SuperBolt
& Twin Twelve
Vintage Supro and Silvertone amps are pretty scarce in the UK.
Can you get their sounds from these pedals? HUW PRICE nds out
L
ike many boutique stompbox SuperBolt is an exceptionally transparent and LIKE THIS? TRY THESE
companies, JHS started out These days, theres a vogue for natural-sounding boost pedal. For SuperBolt
with one guy in an apartment overdrive pedals that are congured a neutral treble response, you need to The Sonic Fusion Supreaux
trying to repair a broken pedal. Josh to sound like specic vintage amps. roll the tone back to around 10 oclock, Deux $159 is a licensed
pre-built version of a DIY
Scott was so pleased with the outcome The SuperBolt is designed to simulate and there is some slight bass roll-off
Supro-in-a-box project detailed
of that work that he was inspired the tone and character of 1960s-era that you cant do anything about. on the Run Off Groove website.
to learn more. A period of pedal Supros, and features discreet On the plus side, your guitar tone will The Pedal Monsters White
modding followed, until his technical components mounted neatly on a be clearer. The low setting has a bit Lightning Overdrive V2 81 is
understanding reached the level where bespoke printed circuit board with more midrange, while the hi setting also popular for Supro sounds.
he began designing his own pedals Twin Twelve
from scratch.
Although JHS has grown as a
Its worth noting that the SuperBolt is Silvertone amp soundalike
pedals are a bit niche, but you
company, its still a hands-on operation

with four full-time builders and a few
an exceptionally transparent and could check out the Greer
Ghetto Stomp $149.99 or the
extra support staff servicing more natural-sounding boost pedal Lumpys Tone Shop Class A
Overdrive $140.
than 100 dealers worldwide. As well
as offering pedal modications and open frame jacks and voltage trim pots is slightly brighter. The SuperBolts
rehousing services, JHS has built up for all the transistors. natural brightness becomes less
a fairly extensive range of original The tone control is fairly true to apparent as drive is added and volume
products that include the specialised the designs in many of these vintage is reduced. In low mode, the overdrive
overdrive/boosters we are reviewing amps, and is designed to produce comes through as a throaty bark in the
this month. usable tones throughout its range. mids, with ever-increasing amounts
Both are built in regular-sized A hi/low toggle switch provides two of compression.
enclosures, nished in two shades gain settings, which the manual likens At extreme levels, theres a slightly
of grey with screen printed logos to the high- and low-level inputs found ragged and aggressive Class AB quality
and legending. Neither pedal on many ampliers. to the breakup, juxtaposed with a
accommodates a battery because surprisingly sweet, chiming treble.
voltages are bumped up internally to Sounds The SuperBolt remains touch sensitive
18 volts from a regular centre negative Before getting into the overdrive tones, throughout, and will clean up when you
nine-volt supply. its worth noting that the SuperBolt play lighter. >

JHS SUPERBOLT & TWIN TWELVE 159
EFFECTS
Equating hi mode to an amps high At higher gain levels, it veers towards

sensitivity input seems about right, fuzziness, and the overall vibe is
and you get more of everything. discernibly vintage.
In low mode, I might leave the So, does the Twin Twelve nail the
SuperBolt activated as a tone shaper, 1484 thing? Given that I cant do
but in hi mode it behaves more like an AB test, my answer would be an
a regular overdrive albeit with a enthusiastic, although qualied,
highly stylised sound. yes. Regardless of the drive setting,
At extreme drive levels, the simply switching on the Twin Twelve
SuperBolt does a convincingly ramps up the fun factor.
fuzzy impersonation of a vintage With humbuckers, some might
mid-power valve amp on the verge nd the woolly bass lacking a little in
of meltdown, yet that sweet and denition to cut through a dense mix,
articulate treble remains. As for but it has an authentic grind that
sounding like a Supro, wed have to almost compels you to play garage-
ask which model, because JHS isnt punk rhythm and blues-rock riffs.
exactly forthcoming on that one. Like a valve amp, it cleans up
nicely from a guitar, but this feature
Twin Twelve works best with lower-output single
This time, the amp JHS has chosen to coils. At low-to-medium drive
emulate is the Silvertone 1484 as settings, it also obliges you to work The SuperBolts discrete
printed circuit board
used by artists such as Beck, Death a little harder if you want sustain
The Twin Twelve is at its most

effective adding character and colour
to clean-sounding amps. It responds
so well to volume adjustments
Cab For Cutie and Jack White. The for soloing, but again this feels
Twin Twelve has discrete transistor authentically amp-like. It also retains
stages that replace the 1484s a sweet jangle with clear note
valves, with each stage adjusted for separation, even at relatively high
optimum voltage, and its built with drive settings.
surface mount components. Both equaliser controls are very
The controls include volume, powerful and usable over their
drive, bass and treble. The equaliser entire ranges. You can go from lo-
is close to the 1484s Baxandall clanginess, with the bass cut and
circuit, but tweaked to maximise the the treble maxed out, to a soupy
useful range. Both bass and treble sixties fuzztone, with bumped-up
controls are active and provide boost bass and drive combined with heavy KEY FEATURES KEY FEATURES
and cut. treble cut. SuperBolt Twin Twelve
Although Supro amps are being PRICE 159 PRICE 159
DESCRIPTION Supro-simulating DESCRIPTION Silvertone-simulating
Sounds made once again, their sonic
boost/overdrive pedal running on 9V boost/overdrive pedal running on 9V
I should probably fess up and admit character may be something youd centre negative power supply. Made centre negative power supply. Made in
that I have never played through a want to enjoy now and again rather in the USA the USA
1484, or indeed any other Silvertone than use as the basis of your tone. CONTROLS True bypass footswitch, CONTROLS True bypass footswitch,
amp. They were cheap amps sold The SuperBolt may be an effective volume, tone, drive and hi/low volume, bass, treble and drive
toggle switch CONTACT Peach Guitars 01376 553016
through catalogues in the US, so and cost-effective alternative, but CONTACT Peach Guitars 01376 5530161 www.jhspedals.com
while they may be commonplace it also holds its own as a boost/ www.jhspedals.com
over there, relatively few crossed the overdrive pedal.
Atlantic. My only recourse, therefore, The Twin Twelve is at its most
was YouTube. effective when adding character and
Online demos cant give you any colour to clean-sounding amps, VERDICT VERDICT
indication of playing dynamics, because it responds so well to + Transparent boost + Bags of character
but they can be useful when you volume adjustments and playing + Hi/low provides extra versatility + Powerful equaliser
want to learn something about dynamics. You can match levels with + Very well built + Wide range of tones
tonal characteristics and range of the bypassed sound without losing + Amp-like overdrive Slightly woofy bass
sounds. Without exception, all the any vibrancy or power, and it stacks Limited range of tones A boost/overdrive stompbox that
1484s sound raunchy and ballsy. The very nicely with other boosts and A Supro-inspired boost/overdrive does a great job of capturing a good
mids and upper bass are thick and overdrives, too. Its the sort of pedal thats manufactured with very amount of the classic Silvertone
high-quality components 1484 tone
rounded, but theres plenty of upper- you may want to leave switched on
7/10 8/10
mid bite and pick denition, too. all the time.

FEEL. INSPIRED. AGAIN.
#FEELINSPIREDAGAIN
THORPYFX MUFFROOM CLOUD FUZZ 184
EFFECTS
ThorpyFX AWA R D
CHOICE
Muffroom Cl 9/10
Could Major Thorpes second offering be all Muffs to all men? CHRIS VINNICOMBE gets
a visit from the fuzz in the G&B review of the ThorpyFX Muffroom Cloud
R
KEY FEATURES egular readers will remember developed by Mike Matthews and of mine had a particularly lovely PNP
ThorpyFX Muffroom ThorpyFX from the Gunshot Bob Myer. However, there was one Triangle Big Muff, and he loaned it to
Cloud Fuzz overdrive pedal we were particular vintage unit that Thorpe set me, and I was like, this is astonishing,
PRICE 184 wowed by in the August issue of G&B. out to beat whats going on here?.
DESCRIPTION Analogue fuzz As we explained in our Gunshot review, Of all the Muffs, Triangle Big Muffs So I opened it up and theres nothing
pedal with active EQ. Made in
ThorpyFX came into being when British have always been my favourite circuit, particularly amazing; there were no
the UK
CONTROLS Volume, sustain, Army Major Adrian Thorpe took up he explains. I just nd it really sweet component value changes that I could
treble, bass stompbox building to relieve the stress and really articulate, but like all Muffs see, but I couldnt measure any drift of
FEATURES True-bypass of his high-pressure day job as an you can have a problem hitting the components. But it was a benchmark for
footswitch, 9V battery or
explosive ordnance disposal specialist.
mains power
DIMENSIONS 70 (w) x 145 (d)
x 60mm (h)
And no, were not doing the bomb-proof
build-quality gag again. Triangle Big Muffs have always been
CONTACT
www.thorpyfx.com
Following the hugely positive
response to the Gunshot, Thorpe turned
my favourite circuit, I just nd it really
his attention to a different kind of drive sweet and articulate, but you can have
pedal, based on the early Electro-
Harmonix Big Muff Pi fuzz pedals built
a problem hitting the sweet spot
between 1969-73. Nicknamed Triangle
Big Muffs due to the orientation of the sweet spot with the tone control. Some me. What I wanted to do was achieve the
pedals three control knobs, there were are great and have the mids that cut same thing, but with newer components
approximately 17 variations on the through, but trying to nd a vintage and consistency. I tried to do it, couldnt
circuit of the rst production Big Muffs version that does that is hard. A friend do it for a little while, then came up with
the idea that the key thing was the EQ.
The front end of the circuit is
absolutely ne; it needs a few changes
to lower the gain and suchlike, but
actually its all about the EQ. I messed
with different styles and ended up with
an active tone stack treble and bass
that actually came out of a vintage 70s
audio unit.
A friend of mine Dan Coggins, who
was the designer of Lovetone pedals
and now Dinosaural collaborated
with me on it, and he suggested that
this circuit was great because theres
so much scope for bass and treble; and
when you adjust them, the two overlap
The orange powder-coated and you can get a peak in the mids or
enclosure is designed to offer lower the mids, so thats awesome. It
protection to the controls
sounds amazing in front of a JTM45 just

THORPYFX MUFFROOM CLOUD FUZZ 184
EFFECTS
Adrian and his wife solder

every one of these pedals by
hand, but the result looks
far from home-made
on the edge, its incredible. It sounds high frequencies you need to be heard
great in front of a clean amp, but it in the mix, and then sculpt the body of
cuts through. Theres plenty of sustain the sound beneath; with a single tone
available, but its vintage-voiced. I will control, most Muffs get thinner as you
do something thats a lot more raucous wind up the treble, but here you get to
down the line but now my friend ne-tune the balance of girth and grit.
who has the vintage one is selling it; Like any Muff-style circuit without
he bought a Muffroom Cloud and said, a gate, engaging the pedal lifts the noise
youve nailed it. oor, but its well within acceptable
Arriving neatly wrapped in orange tolerances, and when engaged theres
tissue paper inside its box, like the enough denition and clarity for more
Gunshot, the Muffroom Cloud exudes complex chord voicings with the kind of use. It certainly sounds great when
class before you power up, thanks subtleties that might usually get lost in you turn it up in a rehearsal room, and
to a stainless steel enclosure with a wall of fuzz. where others zz or collapse into an
a laser-etched graphic depicting a Another benet of the sensible over-compressed, saggy mush, this
stylised hydrogen bomb schematic and level of gain on tap is that fuzzy pedal snarls and sings; all the while,
exceptionally robust external build alternative-rock riffs and powerchord because theres no attempt to make
quality. Its not as big as it might seem, rhythms remain focused. One of our it too gainy, it remains responsive to
though; at only a few millimetres wider favourite ways in which to use the pedal picking-hand dynamics in a way that
than a standard compact Boss pedal, was to keep the sustain and treble at makes some less sophisticated designs
the top-mounted Neutrik in/out jack around 1-2 oclock; even with the volume sound comically unsubtle.
sockets and nine-volt PSU connector control dialled in to give the amp a If Muff-style fuzz is your once-in-a-set
actually make it more space-efficient serious kick, at band levels this provides special effect, then there are cheaper
in terms of width when its in situ on crunchy raunch with a fuzzy rasp for pedals that will do the job, for sure. But
a pedalboard. rhythm parts and a sensible decay if its a big part of your sound, then wed
Inside, the Muffroom Cloud is just thats still highly controllable, even recommend that you check out the
as smart and condence-inspiring as when playing choppy or syncopated Muffroom Cloud before demand goes
its exterior, with a thick, gold-plated rhythm parts. through the roof. ThorpyFX may be a
PCB housing metal lm resistors with The Muffroom Cloud stacks well, too; small operation but, inside and out, the
a one per cent tolerance and WIMA with a variety of overdrives and boosts attention to detail exhibited by Adrians
and Panasonic capacitors. Off-board, placed after it in the chain, or into an pedals results in a vibe thats about as
the volume, sustain, bass and treble already driven amp, we were able to far from homemade as it gets.
controls are high-quality, dust-sealed produce some wonderfully uid sustain
potentiometers and the smooth-action, for Gilmour and Santana-style lead.
LIKE THIS? TRY THESE...
true-bypass footswitch is rated at many The lower reaches of the pedals gain VERDICT Electro-Harmonix makes many
thousands of cycles. Time to step on it range are also worthy of investigation; + Great range of fuzztones, from Floyd avours of Muff these days, and
there are some great raspy garage to QOTSA the Big Muff Pi With Tone
In use blues sounds to be found with the + Powerful active tone stacks Wicker 68 has additional tone
+ Extremely impressive build quality switching. The Earthquaker
Without the over-cooked distortion sustain around 10-11 oclock, that bring and internals Devices Hoof 139 sounds
levels of some modern Big Muffs and Dan Auerbachs early Black Keys tones closer to the green Russian Muff
- The price is fair but may deter more
Muff-derived circuits, its immediately to mind. casual fuzz fans made by Sovtek in the 1990s,
apparent that the Muffroom Cloud While hardcore Big Muff acionados but has a shift control that helps
Both articulate and explosive in equal scoop or boost mids. Vick
makes it possible to retain a great deal often have several models they rely on measure, the ThorpyFX Muffroom Cloud is Audios 73 Rams Head Muff
more control. The presence of separate, for different tasks, we already know the bomb $129 is many a Gilmour fans
active treble and bass controls is a real several who reckon the Muffroom Cloud 9/10 preferred choice for smooth,
asset, allowing you to dial in the cutting is the answer to their prayers for live violin-like sustain.

ELECTRO-HARMONIX SUPER PULSAR STEREO TAP TREMOLO 219
EFFECTS
AWA R D
CHOICE
9/10
Electro-Harmonix
Super Pulsar
Stereo Tap Tremolo
This new pedal from Electro-Harmonix takes tremolo into uncharted
sound-sculpting territory. GARY WALKER has his nger on the pulse
T
KEY FEATURES remolo is one of the staple In use command of music theory or a degree
Electro-Harmonix electric guitar effects, The Super Pulsar quickly proves to be in applied mathematics, though, its
Super Pulsar Stereo intertwined in the evolution of a highly creative instrument that sparks back to the manual here. We found
Tap Tremolo the instrument, from DeArmonds late songwriting ideas. Subtle amp tremolo, the pedals busy surface, with 15
PRICE 219 1940s water-based pedals, to Fenders rhythmic patterns, stereo panning and knobs, stomp switches and buttons a
DESCRIPTION Stereo
iconic onboard amp vibrato tremolo reverse effects are all at your disposal. little troublesome to negotiate live.
tap tremolo pedal with
analogue circuitry circuits and modern pedalboard Set the Wave knob to Pulse, with Shape Accidentally hitting the xRate button
CONTROLS Volume, Rt. phase, standards such as the Boss TR-2. around 9 oclock and pair it with some mid-song resulted not in the gentle Twin
wave, shape, depth, wave Electro-Harmonix has taken all that reverb, and a simple arpeggio turns into Peaks-style throb we wanted, but the
invert, tap divide, exp mode, history and blasted it into space, turning a huge, throbbing ambient wash. Add an angry Dalek gargle of a ring modulator.
envelope depth, envelope
a simple effect into a phenomenal EBow to the mix to double the fun. Its advisable to use the Super Pulsars
rate, xRate, tap tempo switch,
mode preset, bypass musical tool. The Super Pulsar offers Beyond 12 oclock on the Wave knob, eight preset locations; you might
FEATURES Stereo ins/outs, a dizzying range of features: analogue you enter rhythmic territory. Select a question whether thats enough for a
adjustable modulation circuitry; sine, triangle and pulse pattern, strike a chord and the repeats pedal of this depth, but who uses more
waveforms, tap tempo, tap
than eight tremolo effects in one gig?
divide, expression pedal
control, volume boost of up to
12db, eight preset slots, eight
If the sonic witchcraft coming from your If you want only subtle amp-like
sounds, you may nd it tough to justify
LED lights, true bypass, 9V DC
AC adaptor included
pedalboard doesnt transx audiences, the RRP of more than 200, and to
dedicate so much board space, but the
DIMENSIONS 146 (w) x 121 (d)
x 64mm (h)
the ethereal disco lights are sure to Super Pulsar offers innitely more, and
CONTACT if you take time to explore its vast
www.ehx.com waveforms; rhythmic patterns; a tap gallop away into the distance at preset functionality, youll be rewarded. In fact,
tempo; stereo ins/outs and bags more. intervals. Its like cheating at the guitar. wed go as far as to say its the most
The pedals rectangular enclosure Venturing further down the rabbit feature-full, innovative tremolo pedal
will be familiar to fans of the EHX range, hole, the envelope depth and rate weve ever encountered.
sporting the same dimensions as the controls create enormously inventive
Cathedral Reverb and Deluxe Memory sounds. These two mini knobs link the
Man. It also comes with a mesmerising effect speed to your picking dynamics VERDICT
light show eight blue LEDs that pulse the intensity increases or decreases as + Hugely creative tool with
in time to the effect rate; if the sonic the string vibration slows. We now nd vast functionality
witchcraft coming from your pedalboard it hard to resist ending all our songs by + Pulse effect sounds incredible
doesnt transx your audiences, the chopping a chord and listening as the
+ Rhythmic tremolo effects are
highly inventive
ethereal disco lights are sure to. tremolo slows and the sound dies. + Ability to connect expression pedal
The number of controls on the Super All of this is wonderful fun on your
- Some players may want room for more
Pulsar may initially prove daunting, own, yet can be tricky to harness with a than eight presets
and wed advise reading the manual band. However, the tap tempo function - Envelope depth and rate and xRate
thoroughly no matter how tempted is your friend, and the tap divide switch controls are small and ddly
you are to dive straight in. So, lets dive splits the tap into seven note types. Whatever kind of tremolo sound you
straight in Unless you have a comprehensive want, the Super Pulsar has it covered
and it may change the way you think
about and use the effect, too.
LIKE THIS? TRY THESE... For a range of stereo tremolo sounds in a smaller enclosure, try A supremely creative pedal
the Seymour Duncan Shape Shifter 219. Strymons Flint 279 incorporates reverb, too, and 9/10
the Boss TR-2 85 is a much-loved and more affordable classic.

Photo by Jordan Curtis Hughes
Stand Out in the Crowd

System 10 Stompbox Digital Wireless Guitar System
The innovative digital wireless guitar system from

Audio-Technica that ts right on your pedal board.
Pair up to 8 guitars with separate body pack
transmitters for easy on stage changeovers, and
either mute, tune or use a second rig with the A-B
switching. With a discreet clip bodypack, sturdy metal
pedal casing, and no large intrusive aerials, it is ready
to go straight from the box to the stage. Operating on
the 2.4GHz range, it is also both interference and
wireless license free.
www.audio-technica.com
MARTIN GPCRSGT 959
ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC GUITAR
Martin GPCRSGT
This Mexican-made acoustic offers the illustrious Martin name for
less than a grand, but is it ready for the road? RICK BATEY nds out
M
KEY FEATURES aintaining a busy gigging and bridge are both ebony-like Richlite chimey, with an agreably burnished,
Martin GPCRSGT schedule can be hellish on and the trim is dead simple, with blurry quality on the strum, clear, full
PRICE:959, inc. hardcase both body and soul, and front binding only, small ABS position trebles and a healthy soupon of nutty
DESCRIPTION Electro- having a guitar that functions really well markers and a faux-rosewood headstock bottom end. The Fishman Sonitone does
acoustic guitar. Made
but which isnt a family heirloom can facing, which is a bit of a shame. that undersaddle thing acceptably well,
in Mexico
BUILD:Solid sitka spruce top, take a big weight off the mind. Martins With the action at a very acceptable with reasonable string balance, and
solid sapele back and sides, GPCRSGT is designed to ll exactly that medium, the saddle is showing a bare there are volume and tone wheels inside
black Boltaron front binding slot in your life. 3mm above the bridge some buyers the soundhole. The GPC plays really
only, single ring rosette, Breaking down the tongue-twister might be happier with just a shade more well, too, as the slim Performing Artist
one-piece select hardwood
of a model name, GP indicates a on display. prole with its 1.75-inch nut vanishes
neck, Richlite ngerboard
and bridge, Style 28 white ABS Grand Performance body much like In terms of specication, its all very nicely under the hand. Tuning stability
ngerboard inlay an OM in style, but .75 of an inch wider practical, then, although the Fishman and intonation are both tip-top.
HARDWARE Ebony bridge, Realistically, this guitar has got tough
Corian nut, Tusq saddle,
enclosed tuners
ELECTRICS Fishman Sonitone
The GPC is loud enough and well competition. Less money, in another
brand, can buy a solid rosewood back
USB with soundhole vol/tone
SCALE LENGTH 645mm/25.4
balanced between warm and chimey and sides, a real ebony ngerboard and
an all-gloss nish, so the GPC has to rely
NECK WIDTH
44mm at nut, 54mm at
with a burnished blurry quality on its tone and name for its appeal. It
isnt your desert-island fantasy Martin,
12th fret
NECK DEPTH and just shy of half an inch deeper. C Sonitones USB function for DI-ing to a but its sturdily built, sounds bright and
22mm at rst fret, 23mm at means cutaway, which improves the PC/Mac wouldnt get too much use, we even, plays easily and in tune all the way
10th fret accessibility of the 14-fret neck; R is suspect, in a pro studio. Nor would it be up the neck, and with the caveat that
STRING SPACING
Road Series and GT means gloss top for our own rare moments of travelling the Sonitone system may satisfy some
39mm at nut, 55mm at bridge
WEIGHT 2.12kg/4.6lbs (the back, sides and neck are satin). In inspiration, where wed be more likely to players but not others its the kind of
LEFT-HANDERS Yes, at no terms of woods, we have a solid sitka just reach for a mobile phone and use a guitar the majority of us would be happy
extra charge top cosmetically not the highest grade, recording app with the built-in mic. to take out on a 30-date tour. Just no
FINISH Satin with gloss top although it looks rather attractive. shared rooms, please.
CONTACT:Westside
Distribution
Under the hood, we get scalloped sitka In use
www.westsidedistribution. spruce bracing in a hybrid X pattern. This Martin is made in the Mexican VERDICT
com The back and sides are solid sapele, and factory 2,700 miles away from
+ Useful all-rounder
the one-piece neck is made from what Nazareth, PA, but as always the + Slim neck, good playability
Martin describes carefully as select company has managed to incorporate + Richlite board is low-maintenance and
hardwood to keep the door open for enough of that signature sound into its avoids endangered hardwood problem
whatever it has on hand thats best for affordable line to live up to the name on + Pleasant Martin-esque tone
the job (the chances are its either sipo the headstock. The GPC is loud enough Not great value on specs alone
or Spanish cedar). The ngerboard and well balanced between warm and
Fishman Sonitone is pretty basic
Road by name, road by nature its a real
plug-in-and-go guitar, and with a posher
LIKE THIS? TRY THESE... The ever-reliable Taylor 114ce 860 has a laminated sapele back acoustic sound than its looks imply
and sides. The Faith FVHG 819 and the Guild F-150CE 808 both up the ante with a gloss
nish and solid rosewood back and sides. All three are electros with hardwood ngerboards.
7/10

The more the merrier
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SANDBERG CALIFORNIA II TM5 AND VM4 1,884 & 1,175
BASS GUITARS

SANDBERG CALIFORNIA II TM5 & VM4 1,884 & 1,175
BASS GUITARS
Sandberg California
II VM4 & TM5 AWA R D
CHOICE
Heres a pair of new basses from German company Sandberg;
one pristine, one less so GARETH MORGAN investigates 9/10
I
ts been two decades since Fender TM5 horn shorter, but Sandberg has left well LIKE THIS? TRY THESE...
launched its rst Relics at NAMM, Sandbergs MkII California series alone with the top half, and the vibe at TM5
and the years since have seen doesnt ditch all its original Fender the top horn is still forward-leaning. Fender offers a Road Worn
numerous manufacturers follow in the references, the bodies being subtly The main interest with the European 60s Jazz Bass (1,199),
big Fs wake and inict intentional age remodelled, creating intelligent ash body stems from its HAR nish, although it takes a more subtle
approach to the process.
and wear marks on their instruments. and visually appealing variations on which adds 585 to the cost and a week
If youre really keen, check out
Weve already had one taste of the classic templates with a strong to completion time. This bridges the the wares of American company
German company Sandbergs version identity. Here, the redesigned J-type antiquation gap between Hardcore Nash Guitars (from around
of this strand of faux ageing, via the 1,900), which offer aged
versions of designs that you
MarloweDK bass, with its Hardcore
Aged nish. This month, we have a
Aside from fun with various les may recognise.
remodelled California II TM5 thats and sanders, HAR includes baking

been treated to the newly-concocted
Hardcore Aged Reserve (HAR) process. the wood, giving a played-in vibe
We also have a new VM4 which, where
the TM errs on the J Bass side, is rmly shape is a few millimetres shorter (275) and Hardcore Masterpiece (980)
P-inuenced. Note that as these are and the bulbous lower-rear bout more ageing. With HAR, the neck is also
hand-built instruments, you can tweak moderately proportioned, allowing treated, and aside from fun with various
many of the specs, although many incur Sandberg to downsize the lower half, les and sanders, HAR includes baking
additional costs for instance, the basic leaving Musicman StingRay overtones. the wood to simulate the process, giving
TM5 is only 1,299. The lower cutaway is deeper, and the a played-in vibe >
Both basses The HAR ageing process, seen

feature Sandberg here at the neck-body join,
Lightweight tuners includes baking the wood

SANDBERG CALIFORNIA II TM5 AND VM4 1,884 & 1,175
BASS GUITARS
LIKE THIS? TRY THESE... Ageing detail on the Both the VM4 and
VM4 heel of the TM5 TM5 have bolt-on
maple necks
The Musicman Classic Sabre
4-string Bass 2,029 is a less
well-known, more versatile
offering without forgetting its
roots. Or, for a more
contemporary take, how about
a Warwick Streamer $$
(Double Buck) (2,360)?
Fiercely contemporary styling
coupled with an excellent
variety of great sounds.
to both tone and appearance, especially consist of volume, balance, bass but every little helps! You also get a
as hardware, pickguard and pickups are and treble. remodelled pickguard, the white against
also aged. Ageing is another nishing white vibe of pickguard to nish being
option you either like or you dont, VM4 a particularly classy feature. The top
and we must admit to being fans when The VM4 has been similarly tweaked half is as of old, with comfort facilities
its done as well as this. The neck is a in the vista department, the alder and familiar dorsal n horn. Sandberg
maple/rosewood ngerboard combo bodys previously even rear bouts now hitches up a dot-free rosewood
ngerboard to the maple neck wagon,
Ageing is a nishing option you either with 22 medium nickel frets, and the
hardware again consists of Sandberg
like or you dont, and we must admit to Lightweight tuners and Vintage High
Mass bridge, without the intentional
being fans when its done as well as this blemishing of the chrome nish.
Theres also the tension-enhancing
with 22 medium nickel frets, Sandberg having a decidedly offset vibe, the lower string tree youll nd present on all
Lightweight tuners and Vintage High horn has less mass and the cutaway is Sandberg basses.
Mass bridge. Hitched to a Sandberg deeper. These alterations alone amount The standard active electronics with
preamp are one Delano T-style single to a body thats slightly smaller, and Sandberg preamp are hooked up to
coil at the bridge and a Delano M-style instead of the expected 4.3kg of a the Splitcoil pickup in neck position
humbucker the latter with coil-tap basic P shape, the VM4 weighs in at and Powerhumbucker at the bridge,
switch for single-coil mode. The controls 3.95kg not a staggering difference, although sans the coil-tap switch of
The serial number is

found on the back of The VM4s Vintage
the headstock High Mass bridge

SANDBERG CALIFORNIA II TM5 & VM4 1,884 & 1,175
BASS GUITARS
AWA R D
CHOICE
9/10
KEY FEATURES KEY FEATURES

TM5 VM4
The headstock on PRICE 1,884 with padded gigbag PRICE 1,175 with padded gigbag
the four-string VM4
(basic model from 1,299) DESCRIPTION Solidbody bass.
DESCRIPTION Solidbody bass. Made Made in Germany
the TM for obvious reasons. Controls boost the treble, theres a hike to in Germany BUILD Alder body, bolt-on maple neck
number volume (pull for passive the highs, not mids, and employing BUILD Alder body, bolt-on maple neck with 22 medium nickel frets on a
with 22 medium nickel frets on a rosewood ngerboard. Sandberg
mode), balance and a two-band EQ. slap technique gets joyously big and
rosewood ngerboard. Sandberg Lightweight tuners and Vintage High
aggressive results. With the bridge Lightweight tuners and Vintage High Mass bridge. Chrome hardware
TM5 pickup, dialling in bass creates a Mass bridge. Aged nickel hardware ELECTRICS Active with one Sandberg
Of the two coil-tap modes, the powerful, snappily-dened, modern ELECTRICS Active with two Delano Splitcoil pickup (neck) and one
humbucker/single-coil option is funk tone thats wide enough to do its pickups, T-style single coil (bridge) and Powerhumbucker (bridge)
M-style humbucker, Sandberg preamp CONTROLS Master volume (pull for
the most solid and has the most job but funky enough to groove hard.
CONTROLS Master volume (pull for passive), balance, bass and treble
stature, with plenty of bottom- The neck pickup sound also benets passive), balance, bass and treble, LEFT-HANDERS Yes at no extra cost
end width and a pleasing growl to from more weight behind its rootsy two-way coil tap switch FINISHES Any matte and selected
the E string. Theres an excellent old-school vibe. LEFT-HANDERS Yes at no extra cost high-gloss colours, aged
FINISHES Any matte and selected SCALE LENGTH 864mm (34)
evenness of response across the
high-gloss, aged NECK WIDTH 40mm at nut, 56mm at
fretboard, and the midrange tone VM4 SCALE LENGTH 864mm/34 12th fret
is dark and aggressive with plenty We found that, whilst imbued with NECK WIDTH 45mm at nut, 64mm at NECK DEPTH 22mm at rst fret, 25mm
of punch. This also means thinner decent width and aggression, there 12th fret at 12th fret
strings are fat and solid enough for was a wirey quality to the VMs basic DEPTH OF NECK 22mm at rst fret, STRING SPACING 11mm at nut, 120mm
25mm at 12th fret at bridge
practical melodic groove playing. noise, almost a slight weakness in
STRING SPACING 9mm at nut, 18mm WEIGHT 3.94kg/8.66lb
Whilst clarity is not an issue, theres output, so we reached for the bass at bridge CONTACT Synergy Distribution
a slight metallic zing on the G dial. Half boost creates a more WEIGHT 4.3kg/9.5lb (0121) 270 6485
string, suggesting that highs are up-front sound with depth and power, CONTACT Synergy Distribution www.synergydistribution.co.uk
(0121) 270 6485
being overshadowed by high mids, growling at the bottom end, and dark
www.synergydistribution.co.uk
although this effectively acts as and aggressive in the midrange with
contemporary clarity. It becomes a plenty of slightly stunted top-end
more dominating element in single- clarity. Dialling in treble provokes
coil mode, and whilst enhancing a snappy, slicing edge to thinner
the audibility of lower notes, the strings and more overall harmonic VERDICT VERDICT
adenoidal twang on thinner strings life perfect for metal. Whilst + Classy take on classic styling + Another ne-looking and
can be irritating. Individual pickups soloing, the neck pickup brings hints + Wonderful build quality, aged well-made bass
offer an earthy, acoustically nuanced of the P Bass, while the VM has more nish not overdone + Delivers a good selection of solid,
variation and gurgly nger-funk, but authority, with much more rasp and + Solid, practical sounds practical sounds for varied
+ Responsive all over the neck groove playing
when you involve the EQ, the TM5 aggression across the neck. Boosting + Well balanced in all aspects
has lift-off. Dialling in bass reduces the treble gets more snap before
Could be cleaner at the top end
Maybe needs a three-band EQ Highs could be more explosive
the zingy edge and increases width, re-awakening the wiry clank on full
A ne instrument in the high-quality, A good option if youre in the market
reducing the snappiness in note boost its fun and almost pick-like. workhorse stakes. If youre after the for a solid grooving four-string with
denition without hitting clarity Bass boost also uncorks a warm, fat aged vibe, look no further just that little extra
heavily a great option for solid gurgly funk tone at the bridge, where
9/10 8/10
rock or pop groove playing. If you your note is given real purpose.

FROM THE MAKERS OF
ON SALE NOW AT
& OTHER REGULAR STOCKISTS WORLDWIDE
or buy online at www.subscribeonline.co.uk/guitarclassicissues
SIX OF THE BEST
BASS GIGGING COMBOS
Six of the best

When it comes to bass combos, there are heaps of
options out there. Here are some of the best ones
PJB Suitcase Compact

PRICE 799 CONTACT www.pjbworld.com
P JBs 300-watt Suitcase Compact is worth a mention for its diminutive

stature and PJBs unusual but superb ve-inch Piranha speakers. Add
another cabinet for the full 500 watts or use alone as a tiny boombox with
handy twin-channel preamp, each sporting simple, intuitive three-band EQs.
The amount of boom is a real surprise; add tight, aggressive impact and
bright, clean highs without clickiness, and youve got a high-quality bass
sound. The onboard limiter is useful, and it all weighs a paltry 18kg (40lbs).
Peavey Tour TKO 115

PRICE 447 CONTACT www.peavey.com
P eaveys 400-watt TKO 115 is an excellent example of top-notch,

affordable bass wares. Weighing 33kg (70lb) and wearing a mottled vinyl
overcoat, the TKO is made in China, its domed grille creates an appealing
contemporary vista and it can be tilted for monitoring. Loaded with one
USA-designed Peavey 15-inch speaker and a well-attenuated tweeter, the
basic EQ section is complemented by a seven-band slider graphic and bright
and contour (mid-scoop) switches. It delivers a thick, detailed tone with
zingy highs and a good range of practical variations. Plus you can plug in an
extension speaker for extra boom.
Laney Richter RB7

PRICE 486 CONTACT www.laney.co.uk
T he RB7, from Blightys own Laney, is another keenly-priced gigging

combo thats made in China, and arrives in the form of a carpet-covered,
monitor-shaped box with a businesslike steel grille protecting two Custom
10-inch drivers. This combo
is competitively priced, a
reasonable weight (24kg/53lbs)
and has simple bass, treble and
presence controls, plus a seven-
band midrange slider EQ for
tonal shaping shenanigans and
Peaveys 400W TKO 115
switchable limiter. This gets you is an excellent example of top-
a clean, punchy, full-range tone,
but you can also conjure some notch, affordable bass wares
tight, fat lows, brooding punch
in the midrange and slicing highs
delivering a thick, detailed
with just a few simple tweaks. tone with zingy highs
SIX OF THE BEST
BASS GIGGING COMBOS
Ampegs BA-210 delivers plenty

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Ampeg BA-210 V2
PRICE 458 CONTACT www.ampeg.com
F or many bassists, Ampeg has been rather special ever since the
companys all-tube SVT behemoth appeared in the 60s. The 450-watt
BA-210, at 22kg (48lbs), is a more conservative beast, with classic black Tolex
skin, twin Ampeg 10-inch speakers (plus mutable tweeter), blendable Bass
Scrambler overdrive and extension speaker capability. Tone shaping is via
its three-band EQ, with pre-shaping courtesy of the traditional Ultra Lo and
Hi switches. The BA-210 delivers plenty of growling bass, clean midrange
and some truly exuberant highs, which will take the top of your head off if
you dare engage the tweeter.
Warwick BC 300
PRICE 458 CONTACT www.warwickbass.com
W arwicks amps have a far lower prole than its basses, but theres
still plenty to shout about. Rated at 300 watts, the BC 300 is the
most powerful of six combos, with a domed front creating a resolutely
contemporary vibe. Speakers number one 15-inch Warwick Custom unit and
a four-inch HF horn; the EQ system has bass and treble controls, augmented
by a 10-band slider graphic. Theres onboard compression with level control
and extension speaker capability which, given the fat, detailed, full-range
nature of the tone on offer, adds up to a good little unit.
Fender Rumble 500

PRICE 480 CONTACT www.fender.com
F ender has produced some really good bass amps of late, the splendid
Indonesian-made Rumble 500 being a prime example. 16.5kg (36.5lbs)
represents excellent power (350 watts) and portability with a silver grille
cloth protecting two Eminence 10-inch drivers adding familiar class. Ignore
the three preset EQ shapes, as the magic really happens courtesy of a simple
four-band EQ, which uncorks oodles of width, punchy mids and slicing
highs. The horn is lively but mutable, you can add another speaker and
theres also onboard distortion (drive), thats limited but great fun.

THE AMERICAN STANDARD SERIES
A HANDMADE ORIGINAL
fender.com
fendergbi
2015 Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. Fender, Telecaster, Tele and the distinctive
headstock designs commonly found on Fender guitars are registered trademarks of FMIC. All rights reserved.
ADVERTISERS PROMOTION
Pick of
the bunch
Guitars come and go, but once a player nds the
right pick its surprising how loyal they can become.
Hercos nylon picks were used by many star players,
and now these classics are back, thanks to Dunlop.
Story Marcus Leadley
erco picks were there right remained available to players until the 80s. and they came in six shapes. The injection
at the beginning of the rock Its worth noting that Herco was essentially moulding process wasnt perfect and photos
n roll story. The Hershman the highest-prole distributor for these picks of the era indicate the presence of excess
Musical Instrument and the same items, dispensed from boxes material around the edges and marks where
company of New York was branded to Ibanez, Lindell, Ventura and they were separated from the mould stem.
set up in 1940. The rst picks that Jerry and Segovia, were available at the same time.
Eddy managed to get off the production line As guitar music became more and more Premium range
were made from a non-celluloid plastic; there popular in the 1960s, there was a growing At the same time, a premium range of
were three or four shapes and the gauge was nylon picks (at roughly twice the price) was
extremely heavy. Quality control was loose launched. There was the thin-gauge gold
to say the least; however, all looked slightly Despite the success of HE210, which became know as the Bold Gold,
different due to the admixture of brown and and the heavier-gauge HE211, the so-called
white pigment. Todays pick collectors often the Bold Golds and Hi-Yo Silver despite the fact they were also
refer to them as Bastard Browns.
During the mid-1950s, at the same
the Hi-Yo Silvers, made in white. These two picks are the ones
that became associated with players such as
time that Leo Fender was launching the Hercos quest for pick Jimmy Page, Joe Walsh, Scott Gorham, Brian
Stratocaster, Hershman started to get more
serious about peripherals, and a dedicated
excellence continued Robertson, Pete Townshend, David Gilmour,
Don Felder, Tommy Bolin, Rory Gallagher,
accessories division was set up. The company Gary Moore and Chris Squire.
itself was doing well; its new Goya range was demand for budget picks and Herco turned These picks remained in production,
one of the rst to target the growing market to nylon (the company called it Flexylon). unchanged, until the Herco pick brand
for instruments and amps at the mid-price Three new lines were launched in 1966, was sold to Dunlop in 1992, at which point
and budget areas of the market. The rst and this was when sales really started to take modied gold and silver Herco-branded picks,
new picks of the era were known as the 720 off. First, there was an ultra-budget range of the Flex 50 and Flex 75, went into production
Counter Top Assortment. They were made green picks. They were aimed at the teenage (not to be confused with the earlier Herco
from celluloid, manufactured in Japan and player with only pocket money to spend, Flex series picks of the late-1970s).
came in 11 basic Despite the
ROUTE 66
shapes, plus thumb success of the
picks and nger Bold Golds and
picks. There were the Hi-Yo Silvers,
While Dunlop has offered gold and The original moulds were beyond After that, we analysed the pick
a couple of colour Hercos quest for
silver Herco Flex picks since 1992, use, but by playing and studying material itself. Nylon is made
variations, but they the addition of the Vintage 66 picks original picks it was possible to differently today than it was 40 pick excellence
were essentially represents a specic commitment re-engineer the original Bold Gold years ago, and that bears out in the continued. In
made from mottled to vintage authenticity. Last year, and Hi-Yo Silver. Dunlop also added sound and feel of a pick. We had to the mid-70s, the
celluloid in a range says Jimmy Dunlop, we discovered an Extra Light white pick. tweak different parameters to come company launched
several pick moulds had been There are two important up with a formula that perfectly
of tortoiseshell stashed away in storage ever since differences between the Herco Flex captures the tone and feel of that
its blue (Bugablue)
colourations. A we acquired Herco 20 years ago. Series and the Herco 66 Series, old-school nylon its virtually standard shape
number of the picks When I realised they were the adds Dunlop. The Flex picks have a indistinguishable. Because the HE209 and
featured an unusual moulds used to create the very rst grip on both sides, while the Vintage 66 picks are designed with HE212, which was
Herco nylon picks, I immediately Vintage 66 picks have a grip on one the characteristics of the older
glued-on cork grip. a triangular pick
knew that I wanted to recreate side. Grips add stiffness, so Vintage nylon, they have a warmer sound
The range was hugely that classic pick magic. 66 picks are more exible. and a smoother attack. but with rounded
successful and edges. These were

ADVERTISERS PROMOTION
ultra-thin nylon picks, designed to give a

particularly percussive edge to the guitars
sound, and were therefore particularly good
for certain types of acoustic rhythm. Another
line of budget pics, the Dynamite Whites,
was also launched mid-way through the 70s.
They were available in three basic shapes
standard, large triangle and small triangle
(both with rounded edges), and in thin,
medium and hard gauges. Towards the end
of the decade, the Flex series reached the
stores. There were four shapes. The rst
three, a pointed teardrop (Flex 40), a triangle
(Flex 48) with straight sides and a triangle
with rounded edges (Flex 60) were made
from light brown nylon. Curiously, the Flex
55, the most standard-shaped pick in the
group, was manufactured in bright orange.
Urban legend?
Hercos nal stab at innovation came in
1980, with the release of a line of picks
referred to as the Axe Handlers. The
companys publicity of the day highlights
the unique material developed for the
production of what were essentially US
handmade picks. They were designed and
produced by Robert Zaidman, and over the
six-month run there were around 20 basic
shapes of pick. The material was custom-
engineered for tone and durability. Each
pick was hand-nished and coated with a
special compound. Axe Handlers came in
red, green, yellow and brown. Some believe
that the brown Axe Handlers were actually
surplus 1940s stock that was re-released
when the companys marketing was much
improved. This may, of course, simply be an
urban legend.
Visit www.jimdunlop.com for more

information on Herco picks

Bench Test

Bench Test
BENCH TEST
1954 & 1957

LES PAUL GOLDTOPS
KEY FEATURES
1954 All Gold
SCALE LENGTH 624mm/24 9/16
NECK WIDTH 42.5mm at nut, 52.5mm
at 12th fret
DEPTH OF NECK 21mm at rst fret,
23.5mm at 12th fret
STRING SPACING 35.5mm at nut,
50mm at bridge
Heres proof that not all WEIGHT 4.53Kg/10lb
CONTACT Vintage Guitar Boutique
50s-era Les Pauls were 0207 729 9186
www.vintageguitarboutique.com
lightweight lovelies. This
1957 Goldtop
is a whole lot of Goldie SCALE LENGTH 626mm/24.5/8
NECK WIDTH 42mm at nut, 52.5mm at
12th fret
DEPTH OF NECK 21mm at rst fret,
23mm at 12th fret
STRING SPACING 37.5mm at nut, 51mm
at bridge
WEIGHT 4Kg/9lb
CONTACT Vintage Guitar Boutique
0207 729 9186
> www.vintageguitarboutique.com
The Les Paul logo has almost completely worn away

on the 54. Notice how both guitars have the Gibson
logo close to the tuners in the early-50s style but the
dots over the i are in different places

Top, left to right, The play wear
transitions from the neck heel to
the body perfectly. If the back of the
neck was resprayed, it was done
decades ago; towards the left of this
shot, the nish has worn away to bare
wood. In the centre, you can see the
lighter brown nish that youd expect
to nd on a regular Goldtop. The gold
nish was sprayed over the light
brown nish
Right, This 54 has extensive verdigris
and the green areas are proud of the
old layer. Run your nger over the
surface and it feels not unlike
alligator leather
Opposite page, Gibson called these
straight-sided controls speed
knobs and theyre correct for a
Goldtop of this era
88 NOVEMBER 2015 guitar bass net

Cranking up the amp
transformed the bridge tone
into a grinding bark thats
perfect for classic-rock riffs
Below, Gibson called these straight-

sided controls speed knobs and
theyre correct for
> a Goldtop of this era
guitar bass net NOVEMBER 2015 89

Bench Test
Acoustically, it probably
has more resonance than
any humbucker-equipped
Les Paul Ive played
Above, As youd expect from a very

early 57, theres no Patent Applied
For decal, and the covers are brushed
stainless steel >

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Bench Test
Id nd it hard to choose
between these guitars. Its
like comparing a mid-50s
Strat with a mid-60s model
Above, left to right, Here, you can see

how the stainless steel pickup covers
do not have the patination typically
seen with nickel. The wear line in the
nish suggests the previous owner
played a lot of rhythm with the
pickguard attached; the bumble bee
caps are right, but the wiring isnt.
The caps should be soldered to the
centre tags of the volume
potentiometers

P R I VAT E C O L L E C T I O N
ECLECTIC WARRIOR
These two Strats are

stunning, they both play
beautifully, whilst sonically
they are very individual
Above left to right, John Etheridge

and his Fret-King Black Label
FKV3JE Elise; 64 sunburst Strat
(left) and 62 natural Strat; the
cracked scratchplate around the
pickup adjuster screw on the 64
sunburst Strat >

60s Gibson SG Custom in Pickup selector
walnut (left) and 60s on the walnut
Gibson SG Custom in white 60s SG Custom
Martyn Booth Distinctive headstock Johns 60s Gibson

Honeyburst with sunower inlay 335 Stereo
signature model

Private Collection
Guitarists were saying

Eric was just another
London guitarist, but he
invented the whole thing
Above, Yamaha SA 2000 with

Seymour Duncan humbuckers (left),
Rosendean Black Ruby (middle),
and close-up of the Black Ruby
headstock (right) >

INTRODUCING
NEW MODEL
Terry
Pack
DBS
Unit 9, Woodside, Whitehills, Blackpool, FY4 5PL

m 07970 111404 e terry@terrypackguitars.com
www.terrypackguitars.com
Private Collection
For me, speed is of the

essence, so it really has to be
an ebony ngerboard, as on
this 60s Gibson 335 Stereo
Above, left to right, 52 Gibson ES-150

tted with a P-90, Gibson Super
400, 37 Gibson ES-150 tted
with a Charlie Christian pickup,
Johns Hofner A2L tted with a
oating pickup >

Studio in a box
Everything you need to record, produce and release your music
AudioBox iTwo Studio -9;,'6'8('$;1<9-$$8'!32#<2&'(38+<-;!8-9;9T9-2+'89!2&683&<$'89T
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AudioBox iTwo Studio includes - <&-33?->3!<&-3-2;'8(!$'j;<&-32'89;!2&!6;<8'<38'$38&-2+93>!8'j9;<&-31-$j683,'!&6,32'9j-1#-;

8''!$$3<2;
*iPad not included. Mac and iPad are registered trademarks of Apple Inc.
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/ (%*'()'*)%$%*!&'(%$*(
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Thomas Blug Pedals

Tube Squasher Golden Brownie
Designed by Thomas Blug

MERCHA
AL
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www.jhs.co.uk
N
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MU
SE
The
GOLDEN JUBILEE YEAR
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1965-2015
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www.jhs.co.uk/xvive www.xviveaudio.com
WI IB
D E DISTR
Check out the full Xvive pedal range and videos at
Private Collection
Headstock of Johns Close-up of Greg Smallman

Selmer Maccaferri Australian acoustic
Selmer Maccaferri, Gibson L-7 archtop Greg Smallman

built in 1934 in natural Australian acoustic

www.synergydistribution.co.uk
Private Collection
I have several acoustics,

a nice Martin 00-18
dating from 1938, and this
Collings OM1
Want to see your guitars, amps or effects

Above, John replaced the A and low
E strings with bass guitar strings on featured in the pages of Guitar & Bass? SHOW US
his 83 Tele (left and middle), Email the details and a few taster pics to YOUR
Collings OM1 and a Martin 00-18 guitarandbass@anthem-publishing.com to COLLECTION
dating from 1938 be considered for inclusion in a future issue

Guitar gods like Slash, Michael Schenker and Mick Ronson have
used the cocked wah sound to create monster riffs that have
earned a permanent place in the rock lexicon. That required
nding the sweet spot in their wah pedals sweep. The Cock
Fight lets you achieve that cool cocked wah sound without
the wah pedal. Tune in the tone you want. Add the built-in
distortion for more grind and growl, or switch to the Talking Wah
mode for a stuck voice-box sound. If you plug in an expression
pedal, you can sweep the Cock Fight for jaw dropping
wah and talking pedal effects, with or without distortion!
The smallest member of

the polyphonic POG clan
designed with the super
space conscious in mind.
Same legendary tracking and
sound. Dial in an amazing
12-string guitar or turn your
guitar into a convincing bass.
Generates organ-like harmonic
structures. Separate controls
for dry, sub octave and octave
Completing the powerful up, plus silent footswitching
trilogy forged by the B9 and provide the perfect formula
C9 Organ Machines, the new for this compact jewel.
KEY9 pedal emulates the
worlds most coveted electric
pianos and more. With 9
presets, you can transform
your axe and lay down a cool
Riders on the Storm style
groove or some hot funk ala
Whatd I Say! Each preset lets Are noisy effects, single coil
you control the fundamental pickups and 60 cycle hum
parameters that help dene messing with your sound?
that instruments sound. Many The Silencer is a sophisticated
include adjustable modulation noise gate that can tame em.
like tremolo, phaser and Threshold, Reduction and
chorus. Take it from Mike Release controls guarantee
Matthews who says: Youll dig precise ne-tuning. Direct I/O
the way the Key9 turns you or a built-in effects loop for
into a Rhodes Scholar! maximum exibility. Silence
the noise!
Combining a compact foot-

print, comprehensive feature
spec and an intuitive user
interface, the 22500 delivers
powerful looping capabilities
in an affordable, easy to use
package. It records high quality,
non-compressed audio direct
to a removable SDHC card
(4 to 32GB) and each card
holds up to 100 individu-
al loops. Includes an 8GB
card for up to 12 hours
of total recording time.
An optional Bank Up/Down
Foot Controller is available.
T H E B I S H O P O F D E N M A R K S T.
IM NEVER GOING TO
PLAY THERE AGAIN!
SID BISHOP
During his tenure at the Top Gear
store on Londons iconic Denmark
Street, Sid dealt with multitudes of
famous musicians. Having been
around, in his own words before
vintage guitars were invented,
Sid got up close and personal
with thousands of drool-worthy
instruments. Luckily for us,
hes willing to share his stories
and wisdom about all things
guitar-related.

The Bishop Of Denmark Street
Getty Images
Heres what could happen when a greasy

biker band are inadvertently booked to
play to a hall full of skinheads
There was a bullet hole in

the side of the van, with a
slug lodged deeply into
a Marshall PA cabinet
>

Wed just begun playing
when I became aware of a
sound resembling bacon
frying, and a tingling
sensation in my legs
Getty Images
Edgar Broughton performing at Reading

Festival, 12 August 1972

Re-Issued
Midge Ure Signature Model
"The V100MU is everything I want in a guitar.
The variety of tones from the Wilkinson W90SK
pickups combined with the vari-coil enabling me
to go from single coil to quasi humbucker whilst
the roller bridge and 'classic' vibrola is something
I've never seen before on a contoured topped
guitar. It really is a thing of beauty not just
to look at but to play."
Midge Ure.
MERCHA
AL
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N
SI
DI
MU
SE
The
GOLDEN JUBILEE YEAR
N
WO
TIO
1965-2015
RL
D
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WI IB
D E DISTR
Visit your Vintage dealer
www.jhs.co.uk and take one for a spin! V100MU
MERCHA The
AL
C
GOLDEN JUBILEE YEAR
N
SI
DI
MU
SE
1965-2015
w w.jhs.co.uk
N
www.hughes-and-kettner.com
WO
TIO
RL
D
U
B
WI
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www.coda-music.com
With an artist roster including Were delighted to have our first shipment
Joe Perry, Josh Homme & Troy Van of Kauer guitars, designed & hand-built
Huge reductions on Leeuwen - these guitars mean business!
Coda Music are excited to be the first and
by Doug Kauer in Sacramento, USA. They
Gibson USA 2015 guitars. mix traditional building techniques and
only UK dealer to stock these stunning
Prices from 499 guitars! New delivery due soon, materials along with modern technology
including Model J, 59 and La Carne. to create unique and great sounding guitars.
We always carry a great selection Fender & Squier Established in 1974

guitars, basses & amps. Amazing selection of by Bob Taylor and Another Coda Music UK exclusive.
American Standard Series guitars & basses in Kurt Listug, Taylor Guitars Louis Electric Amplifiers, a boutique
stock. Its been 60 years since Fender introduced has evolved into one of the worlds leading manufacturers maker of the finest hand-wired guitar
the Stratocaster. Full range of 60th Anniversary of premium acoustic & electric guitars. We have nearly 100 amplifiers available today. Based in New Jersey,
guitars now in stock. Prices start from 364 Taylor guitars always on display in our new acoustic centre. Louis Electric has been building tube amps for over 20 years.
Two-Rock are incredible sounding, hand built Full range of Bad Cat amps always in stock,
boutique guitar amps, made in Rohnert Park, Amazing selection including the brand new for 2015 Bad Cat
California. Two Rock Bi Onyx Head, Two Rock Studio of Collings Acoustic Bob Cat 5 Reverb. Handwired in the USA
Pro Plus Heads & Combos, Two Rock Sensor Heads & & Electric guitars this beast is 5 watts, powered by a single
Combos. New Two Rock Akoya head and combos in stock at our 6V6 tube and has a 12Bad Cat speaker
due soon, prices start at 2629 Stevenage store. housed in a smaller, lighter poplar cabinet
(Only weiging in at 30lbs).
Nice fresh shipment of K Line

The only place in the UK to see Fano guitars.
guitars now in stock, including: Full range of
Currently in stock..GF6s in Pelham blue, candy
San Bernadino Sonic Blue Tone King amps
apple orange, faded tea burst, black over
San Bernadino Oly White in stock, including
inca silver, amber burst TC6s, black & tan,
faded tea burst, SP6s roundup orange, Texola Dakota Red the all new Falcon
butterscotch blonde, JM6s, faded tea Springfield 3 Tone Sunburst Grande, 1999
burst, sea foam green, vintage cream, Springfield Vintage White
Pelham blue, RB6s bull black, Cadillac green. Plus many more, please call
100s of secondhand guitars, amps & pedals in stock,

see www.coda-music.com for an up to date list. Acoustic Guitars
We buy secondhand guitars - bring yours in for We are delighted to announce our new
a quote & try something new at the same time acoustic only showroom in Stevenage is now open.
This new showroom and demo facility is home to an enormous choice of exquisite
acoustic instruments from Bedell, Collings, Gibson, Gretsch, Lowden, Martin,
National, Taylor, Yamaha and many, many more!!!
CUSTOM SHOP
WHEN YOURE READY A Custom Shop guitar embodies everything Incredible craftsmanship
Fender has learned over 60 years of building the worlds most revered using only responsibly
electric solidbodies. The finest materials, all the right details, hand sourced tonewoods.
built in Corona, California its the guitar of your dreams, realised. Great selection of These beautiful guitars are all hand built in
models and finishes, the USA adhering to strict environmental
WE HAVE THE GUITAR FOR YOU Coda Music is Europes biggest and Europes number one policies regarding the use of exotic hard
best Fender Custom Shop dealer, so whether you want a perfect New Carr amp dealer. Carr wood...finally you can have an incredible
Old Stock, vintage-correct model, or the heaviest of Heavy Relics with Skylark now in stock, sounding, gorgeous looking acoustic
a raft of custom playability tweaks, youll find it here and with over prices start at 1999. instrument and be 100% guilt free!
100 in stock in one store you wont find a better selection anywhere.
Effects
UNIQUE TO US, UNIQUE TO YOU Our extensive in-store stock Coda Music bring you the finest guitar effects
includes many custom ordered guitars, built to our own exacting specs pedals money can buy!...ready for you to demo
after years of buying, selling and playing these fabulous instruments. with a your choice of amplifier and guitar!!!
CAN WE BUILD IT? Yes we can! If you have that extra special Our pedal range includes the usual suspects such as Boss, Electro Harmonix,
something in mind, we can work with you to make it a reality. Ibanez, Jim Dunlop, Joyo, Line 6, Mesa Boogie, Mooer, MXR, Strymon, T-Rex, TC
Custom orders can be ready in a matter of months and cost less than
Electronic, Visual Sound, Voodoo Lab, Wampler, Way Huge, Xotic.we also
have a huge selection of the less ordinary suspects like Bad Cat, Death By Audio,
you might think call us, email us or drop in to discuss your perfect
Earthquaker Devices, EWS, Faifield Electronic, Free The Tone, Fulltone Custom
combination of features. Shop, Jetter Gear, Keeley, Mad Professor, Providence, Rothwell and Sonic Edge!!!
51a High Street, Stevenage, Herts, SG1 3AH t : 01438 350 815 e : stevenage@coda-music.co.uk Instant decision 9 months 0% finance
Acoustic Centre 27b Church Lane, Stevenage, Herts, SG1 3QW t: 01438 350815 e: acoustics@coda-music.com available on all new products over 300 on our website
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And many more..
Tel: 01271 323686 www.soundpad.co.uk info soundpad.co.uk

More Information and Photos available online
2,199 1,499 1,899 1,599

Rickenbacker 360/12 Mapleglo Rickenbacker 4003
Rickenbacker 330/6 Fireglo Rickenbacker 360/6
A brand new Ricki! Superb finish. Circa 1981. Nice condition for its
Toaster Pickups. Tremolo. New! Fireglo finish.
Comes with deluxe hard case. age. Original Hard Case.
Hard Case. Mint condition. Grab a classic! Hard Case!
2,995 1,799 3,399 1 899

Gibson 1967 ES330TD Gibson 2004 ES335 Gibson 50th Anniversary Gretsch G6120 Left handed
)LQLVKHG LQ &KHUU\ %HVW ZHYH Pre-owned. Mint condition. 1959 Reissue R9 Eddie Cochran Signature.
seen! Comes with Hard Case. Vintage Sunburst. Hard Case. Original Tags & Hard Case. As New condition! Hard case.
1,279 1,499 1,549 1,059

Fender Eric Johnson Paul Reed Smith Custom 22 Gretsch G96120-JR2 Ibanez JEM77P
Candy Apple Red. Maple Neck. 2007. Tobacco Burst Flame Top. Pre Owned. Junior 2 Nashville Jr. Matched colour Tree-Of -Life
Near mint condition. Hard Case Bird Inlays. Hard Case & Tags. Mint condition with Hard Case. inlay. Maple Premium Neck.
699 2,250 999 999

Fender Japanese 54 Reissue Gibson SG Custom Fender Bitsa 70s Telecaster Gibson Custom 1959 Les Paul
Stratocaster FSR. 2 tone sun- &LUFD 1LFH FRQGLWLRQ Deluxe. More info and Photos Std Reissue Ltd. Edition
burst. 9/10 condition. More information & photos online. online at www.soundpad.co.uk Superb condition. Hard Case.
1,599 1,499 999 2,599

Gibson 2001 Les Paul Standard Martin 000C-16RGTE Aura Gibson ES135 DAngelico NYS2 New Yorker
Near mint condition. Lovely Electro-Acoustic. Sweet tone. Circa 1993. Glossy black finish. Lawsuit Model.
example. Original hard case. Excellent condition. Hard Case. P100 pickups. Gig Bag. Circa 2006. More info online..
Next day
Before noon
999 349
Delivery available
Fender USA American Std. Eko 1981 Acoustic Bass
Precision Bass Olympic White. A future collectable. Made in Italy. From onl 12
9/10 condition. Hard Case. Nice condition.
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COLLINGS GUITARS
Collings City Limits Deluxe + ThroBak pick-ups - tobacco s/burst . 4,350
Collings City Limits + ThroBak Pick-ups - acid wash ................... 3,675
Collings City Limits Deluxe - used/2012 - amber sunburst ........... 2,999
Collings SoCo Mahogany Soapbar - tobacco sunburst ................. 4,779
Collings SoCo LC faded cherry - Lollar Gold Foil pick-ups ............. 3,899
Collings i35LC + Throbak pick-ups - Blonde ............................... 3,999
Collings i35LC dark cherry sunburst .......................................... 3,899
Collings DC290 TV Yellow ........................................................ 2,894
Collings 290 - custom doghair finish + Bigsby............................ 2,999
FENDER CUSTOM SHOP

Custom Shop '56' Relic Strat + h/wound Abby's - fiesta red ........ 2,099
Custom Shop 60's Heavy Relic Strat - black over candy red ........ 2,499
C/Shop '56' Heavy Relic Strat + h/w Abby's dakota red .............. 2,099
Custom Shop 1963 'Custom' Relic Strat - faded dakota red ........ 2,399
Custom Shop Tone Zone '55' Light Relic Strat - 2 tone s/burst..... 2,199
Custom Shop '56' Heavy Relic Strat - aged sonic blue ................. 2,379
Custom Shop '51' Relic Nocaster - butterscotch blonde ............... 2,599
Custom Shop 60's Journeyman Relic Tele - candy tangerine ........ 2,490
Custom Shop Ancho Poblano Strat - sunburst ............................ 2,479
Custom Shop Ancho Poblano Strat - white blonde ...................... 2,479
Over 50 Custom Shop Strats and Teles in stock
NEW & USED GUITARS

Charvel USA So Cal - used/2009 - candy plum.............................. 799
Fender AM Strat 60th Diamond Anniversary - sunburst - 2006........ 899
Fender Custom Shop 1959 Journeyman Relic Tele - aztec gold ... 2,490
Fender Custom Shop 1963 Relic Strat - candy apple red ............. 2,399
Fender Custom Shop 2007 Namm Limited Edition Relic Strat ....... 1,930
Fender Custom Shop '54' Anniversary NOS Strat - white blonde .. 2,999
Fender Custom Shop '59' Heavy Relic Strat - aged vintage white . 2,469
Fender Custom Shop 63 Heavy Relic Strat - sherwood green ....... 2,299
Fender Custom Shop '64' L series Super Heavy Relic Strat ......... 2,399
Fender Custom Shop '69' Closet Strat - black ............................ 2,390
Fender Custom Shop American Custom Strat - shoreline gold ...... 2,259
Fender Custom Shop Heavy Relic 1960 Strat - lake placid blue ... 1,690
Fender Custom Shop Lacewood Strat - orange stain - 2004......... 1,989
Fender Highway One Strat - used/2002 - crimson transparent ........ 499
Fender Master Built '54' 50th Anniversary Strat - Chris Fleming ... 3,250
Fender Masterbuilt 1960 Heavy Relic Strat - sunburst - J. Smith .. 4,100
Fender So-Cal Speed Shop Strat - circa 2005 ............................... 580
Gibson BB King Lucille - ebony - used/2010 .............................. 1,979
Gibson Custom VOS SG 'Les Paul' Standard - 2008 .................... 1,799
Gibson ES335 Limited Edition - rootbeer - used/1996 ................. 2,269
Gibson Firebird 1976 Bicentennial - natural mahogany ............... 2,299
Gibson Les Paul Deluxe Gold Top - circa 1971............................ 2,690
Gibson Tennessean + Bigsby - used/1997 - Sunrise Orange ....... 1,479
Gretsch Country Gent G7670 - walnut - 1979 ........................... 2,190
Guild T100BDP - natural - circa 1960 ........................................ 1,875
Heritage Academy Custom - almond sunburst - used/2001 ........ 1,390
Ibanez Prestige RG1520GK - Team J Craft - Roland GK Ready ....... 650
Musicman Axis Super Sport MM90 - trans blue........................... 1,590
Musicman Axis Super Sport MM90 - trans gold........................... 1,590
Musicman Luke + EMG's - Luke Blue ........................................ 1,335
Musicman Silhouette Special HSS - pearl blue............................ 1,389
PRS Custom 22 Gold Top - stoptail - used/2006 ......................... 1,599
PRS Custom 22 Semi Hollow Limited Edition - used/2010 ............ 2,490
PRS Custom 24 + bird inlays - black cherry - 1997 .................... 1,589
PRS Custom 24 dark cherry sunburst - used/2006 ..................... 1,589
PRS Mira + bird inlays - vintage cherry - used/2008 ................... 1,099
PRS Private Stock Hollow Body + Brazilian Rosewood #1497..... 10,000
PRS SC245 - honey - used/2015 .............................................. 2,099
PRS SC245 '10' Top + bird inlays - vintage natural - used/2007 .. 1,690
PRS Signature #896 - Vintage sunburst - 1991 ......................... 4,959
PRS Swamp Ash Special - black sunburst - 2007 ........................ 1,569
Suhr Carve Top Standard - used/2003 - fire burst ...................... 2,479
Suhr Classic T Soapbar - sea foam green - used/2014 ................ 1,879
Suhr Standard Korina Flame Limited Edition 2012 - bengal burst . 2,149
More tasty guitars in stock - visit www.guitars4you.co.uk
WANTED QUALITY EXPRESS

USED GUITARS MAIL ORDER
14 Compton, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, DE6 1DA
Fax: 01335 345888 E-mail: mark@guitars4you.co.uk www.westsidedistribution.com
Groove Tube 6L6GC GE Reissue Cryo ***SPECIAL OFFER***
6L6WGB/5881 PHILIPS ORIGINAL USA
GT recreation of the General Electric 6L6GC is regarded as one of These Philips 6L6WGB have had rave reviews from both sides of the Atlantic. They
the best 6L6GC available. The Cryo version has incredible dynamics are built to a higher spec than any other 6L6 and are noted for their rich sustain, tight
with a large sound stage. It provides a warm smooth crunch which punchy bass and superb midrange twang, which no other 6L6 can equal. These are
guaranteed to upgrade your Fender or Boogie, so take advantage of our special offer
when distorted gives a thick creamy sustain. The Cryo treatment will ensure that you get on these now extremely rare tested and matched military grade American Philips
the best sounding GT valves available anywhere in the World. These will upgrade any amp 6L6WGB/5881 at only 30 each
using 6L6GCs and we have a specially selected version for Mesa Boogies.
6L6GC GE Reissue Cryo 29.40 each. HARMA SUPERIOR GRADE
15% off Raising the standard, Our own brand, the best selected and tested valves
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ECC83 JJ CRYO PREAMP KITS & OUTPUT VALVES high plate volt tested under full working conditions for maximum reliability.
These specially selected JJ ECC83-S Cryo preamp kits combined with Used by the industries biggest names including Brian May, Thunder,
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cleaner treble and smoother distortion. All preamp kits come in standard or ECC81-STR 14.40 EL84/E84L burst tested 21.60
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Cryo Preamp kits Cryo Output valves EL34 STR 19.20 6L6GC STR 21.60
3 valve 48.96 EL34 JJ Cryo 18.80 EL34 Retro 21.60 6L6GC-Retro 21.60
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JJ Tesla valves have a worldwide reptation for excellent sound quality. These These valves are called Super Premium as you get the best GT available.
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Our full trade and quantity details on JJ and other popular valve brands are on our
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examples of our JJ quantity prices. 12AY7 18.00 20.40 6L6GC-GE 24.00 26.40
ECC81 10 Pcs 7.80 Each EL34 mk 2 16 Pcs 12.90 Each EL34-LS 22.20 24.60 6L6GC-S 24.00 26.40
ECC82 10 Pcs 7.80 Each E34L 16 Pc 12.72 Each EL34-M 19.20 21.60 6V6GT-R 19.20 21.60
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ECC83-MG 10 Pcs 9.60 Each 5881 16 Pcs 12.60 Each 15% OFF
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5751 10 Pcs 9.00 Each KT88 12 Pcs 22.80 Each
HARMA RETRO -CRYO SUPERIOR GRADE

The Harma Retro Cryo range recreates the classic sounds and designs of
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ECC83-Retro Cryo 21.60 KT66- Retro Cryo 48.00
EL34-Retro Cryo 24.00 5U4GB- Retro Cryo 24.00
EL84-Retro Cryo 24.00 6550A-Retro Cryo 34.56
EZ81-Retro Cryo 24.00 6L6GC-Retro Cryo 24.00
GZ34- Retro Cryo 26.40 6550A-Retro Cryo 34.56
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Keeley Stahl Hammer 139 Keeley 30ms Double Tracker 149 Dark Sapphire 90.78 Vintage Ruby 90.78
Keeley Red Dirt Geraanium 165 Keeley GC-2 Comp 155
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see our new website

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9 ALBERT STREET, DUNDEE DD4 6NS EST. 1972
DAquisto New Yorker Special 1980 s/b ex/condition a great player with a sound to
match very rare..................................................................................................P.O.A.
Gibson Citation 2005 blonde near mint a stunning rare model top off the range with
custom case and certificate .............................................................................14,950 WE BUY, SELL & TRADE GUITARS, AMPS & PEDALS
Guild Savoy blonde with DeArmond pick-up and case...................................... 895
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Fender Strat.s/b 1983 (62 reissue) ex/condition great player and sound......... 1495 Guitars Bass Guitars
Taylor 414 1998 with case near mint...................................................................895 Fender AVRI 69 Thinline Tele S\b, case,mint.....1100 Fender silver series P-bass,with change,used.....185
Martin RD New....................................................................................................995 Fender CIJ Tele,Mary Kaye,lots of upgrades.......495 Fender Jazz, natural, 78,v.g.c. case plus tags..1750
Gibson L4CES 89 vintage s/b excellent condition original case........................3500 Fender Strat deluxe,HSS,case,tags,mint.............895 Gibson EBO, 1971, v.g.c, original case...............950
Fender CS, 56 relic Strat, Fiesta Red,case.......1495 Gibson Grabber, 1st issue, 1976, great cond......950
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Contreras Double Top 1982 Spruce double top amazing sound.....................P.O.A.
Benedetto Amps, arriving soon...........................................................Call for detals
Fender Hightway One Tele,SB,m/neck,gigbag.....495
Fender Cstm shop relic Strat, fiesta red, 2001...1495 Amps
Gibson Ripper Bass 1974 great sound natural....................................................895 Fender Strat deluxe, pearl white, case and tags..875 Adam Stark Fire amp, Google it!!.........................950
DAquisto New Yorker DQ-ALB Almondburst near mint with case and cert..2750 Fender USA Tele, C.A.Red, R\w neck,gigbag......475 Fender Reverb unit, Reissue, brown tolex............450
Gibson SG std, 97, cherry,worn neck, gigbag.....650 Fender Tweed Deluxe,F switch,cover,good cond.450
WEBSITE: WWW.CHALMERSGUITARS.CO.UK : TEL: 01382 457642 or 810988 Gibson ES 125, 1964,all original,great cond......1495 Musicman 65,2x10,orig speakers,modified..........550
Email: vincechalmers@hotmail.co.uk Gibson LP double cut, AAA top,great cond..........950 Marshall JCM 201 DSL combo,20watts, vgc........285
Gibson LP std, traditional, case, as new cond.....995
Gibson LP custom authentic, stunning!!!!!.........3495 PRIVATE COLLECTION SALE
Gibson LP Special,worn, TV yellow,2005,bag.....650 DAngelico New Yorker by Vestax, mint cond.....2150
Crinson Telecaster,blonde, m/neck,with case.....1395
Acoustics Gibson LP, R8, s/b, brazilian board, v.g.c...........2500
Danbury Electronics Yamaha LL 1X acoustic,fitted case,mint cond......395

Gibson SG Junior, 1963, cherry, great cond.......2495
Gibson L5 CES,Triggs master built,1990............4500
Gibson Heritage,early 70s,natural,hard case......895 Gibson Super 400, 1937 original, see website...5750
Gibson MK-81, 75, Spruce/rwood, rare, case......950 Gibson MK81, mid 70s acoustic, case,v.g.c........895
UK TRANSFORMER manufacturer since 1983. Gibson J45 Celebrity, S/burst, rare item, number 73 of PRS CE24,Bonni Pink,rare item,great cond.......1350
Our stock range of valve/tube audio mains, outputs, chokes 90,fantastic condition,fitted case by Gibson....2850 PRS Custom 24,1989, greyburst,case,v.g.c.......2200
Suzuki Hummingbird, 1970s,good cond,bag.......185 Haar Tele, blonde, m/neck, relicd,v.g.c................850
are available via Mike Holmes' web site (PayPal/card) Epi Hummingbird, new in box, cherry, mint..........180 Haar Strat, blackie model,very nice......................950
www.livinginthepast-audioweb.co.uk Christopher Dean classical, 88, natural.............1000 Rocket Fire Strat, fiesta red, US maker,mint......1000
(vintage & classic guitar section for AC30, AC15, AC10)
We rewind classic transformers and build production quantities. Please visit our website
Contact: Dave Brooks www.guitarcollective.co.uk
Web: www.Danburyelectronics.co.uk
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FOR SALE Fender 1977 Stratocaster. Original, Gibson basses: 1967 EB3, 2,200; Musicman Stingray 5-string bass,
1967 Fender Telecaster, extra pickup ash, maple neck with case, accessories Thunderbird 76 VGC, 2,950; 1963 SG mint, never gigged, superb. Two
route in body, but otherwise original, and original purchase receipt! 1,550 Special, white, 4,000; 1965 in Cherry, pickups, three EQ, 5-position switch,
transition logo, maple cap neck. Will ONO. Call Kev, 01536 203200 or photo-provenance, 4,000; 1976 LP black. 1,399 Bob. 0115 940 0733.
swap for hardwood Boogie Mk3. 0208 c_kev@hotmail.co.uk. Corby Special 55, wrap-over tailpiece, Nottingham
845 2860 1,950. 07773 276815
Fender Classic 50s Stratocaster,
1978 Fender Precision bass guitar Fiesta Red. 56 Custom Shop lookalike. Gibson Chet Atkins Country
US-built in Natural Honey body, maple Light home use, so absolutely mint. Gent, 2001, beautiful Wine Red
neck, minor damage to scratchplate Gold hardware upgrade, inc. Fender amed body, ebony board, excellent
by input jack. Flight bag. 1,000 OVNO. bridge. Unused Fender gigbag. 425 condition. Original pink lined case.
01978 760478. Flintshire ONO. Stephen, 01206 265921 or Rare. 1,750. Call Dave on
daviess556@aol.com. 07770 302636 or email david.
1998 USA Fender Jazz bass, 750. Suffolk/Essex border rogerson7@yahoo.co.uk
07773 276815 Tokai Love Rock, made in Korea,
Gibson Les Paul Deluxe Goldtop 2003/2004, original, never gigged, in
BC Rich Mockingbird NJ Classic. 1972, one owner. Tags, original strap, v.good condition. Beautiful guitar, low
Immaculate. Quilted antique natural lead and case. DiMarzio pickups and action, easy player. 485 ONO. Contact
nish. Ebony 24-fret ngerboard. TP6 tailpiece tted, but original Lee. lee@lstewart8.orangehome.
425. 01933 222766. Northants pickups and tailpiece included in price. co.uk, 07880 650123
Good condition. 2,600. 07593 398272
Blackstar Series 1-45 2x12 combo or email roger_gill@btinternet.com.
two channels, 4x modes stunning West Midlands
sounds! Excellent condition, c/w 4-way Fender Strat 1978 s/b, maple neck,
footswitch & heavy-duty cover. 650. added 5-way switch (pre-82), owned
Pete, 07982 912304. West Midlands 33 yrs. Trem bar wont screw into
trem. Vol knob missing. A few dinks.
Cornford Roadhouse 30, valve 1,200. Jamie, 07507 617393 or
combination amp. Never been michalina78@hotmail.co.uk.
gigged. Hardly used, in as good as new South Wales
condition. 400. Buyer to collect.
Telephone 07780 614406. Fender Strat Left-handed American
North Yorkshire 2004. 50th Anniversary stamp plate
xing neck, white maple neck. 800. Marshall 1987 JCM 800 50-watt
Cornford Roadhouse 50 head, Peter, 01942 677547. Lancashire single-channel valve head and
excellent condition, c/w boost matching JCM 800 300-watt 1960A
footswitch, heavy-duty cover & spare Fret King Elan Super 60 in Coral. angle cabinet in superb condition with
set of valves. 350. Call Pete, 07982 450 with Fret King gigbag, or will amp and cabinet cover. 1,050, RRP
912304. West Midlands trade for decent Strat or Tele. 2,058. 01386 861873
No Squiers. Contact Ray on Zilla Modern 2x12 8-ohm speaker
Electric Sitar (copy of Coral Sitar), 01670 733196 or email ray.faulder@ Marshall Artiste 1972 160-watt. Not cab in black. Comprising 1x Celestion
home use only. 275. Call Bob Sawyer sky.com. Cramlington original cloth, side handle missing. Vintage 30 & 1x Celestion G12H.
on 07879 265019. Herts area New Russian power valves and service. Excellent condition, c/w heavy-duty
1,200 ONO. Jamie, 07507 617393 or cover. 200. Pete, 07982 912304.
michalina78@hotmail.co.uk. West Midlands
South Wales
WA N T E D
Marshall JTM-1 combo, very Fender Hotrod 52 Telecaster good
collectable, home use only, totally condition, preferably London area,
mint. 350. Call Bob, 07879 265019. cash waiting. Telephone Mick,
Herts area. 0208 530 1208
Epiphone Dot, Vintage Sunburst. Matsumoku Guitars (x2), one Aria Hofner 1959 President, genuine
As-new condition with new Epiphone Cardinal and one Washburn Raven. original scratchplate and bridge
hardcase. 250. Call 01922 685593. Both in very good condition. wanted. Other parts considered.
West Mids If interested, email me for full details, Ring Alan after 6PM on 07980 985937,
price and photos. alhome@ntlworld. or 01298 74208, or email
Farida A-62CE electro-acoustic. com, or call me on 01442 402828 or tretten40@outlook.com
Fishman electrics with Presys blend Gibson 2007 LP Standard 07899 021236
onboard preamp, Farida hardcase, 12 Honeyburst. Nice ame, cream Line 6 Flextone III amp (1x12), must
months old, mint condition. 450 ONO. binding, nickel/chrome hardware in Mesa/Boogie, MK5/25, two months be in top condition. Please email
Graham. 0161 973 8406. immaculate condition, Gibson case. old. Will swap for hardwood Boogie details to joe.horwich@ntlworld.com.
South Manchester 1,250. 01386 861873 Mk3. 0208 845 2860 (Derby area)

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TUITION
All about... tremolo

Tremolo is the daddy of guitar effects and weve used it
since the 1940s. But there has always been confusion about
what it really is. HUW PRICE charts tremolos ups and downs
T
hose of us who In both cases, a playing mechanically, with a diaphragm to the volume uctuations of
experienced the technique is employed to create opening and closing to modulate tremolo. Nevertheless, both
unremitting tedium the tremolo, but tremolo as an air pressure but pitch uctuated terms have long been used
of formal music added effect was rst heard on along with volume. interchangeably and incorrectly
lessons may recall long lists church organs during the 16th Rhythmic pitch uctuation is in the musical world as well
of Italian terms that had to be century. The effect was produced called vibrato, which is different as the patent ofce. So Leo
memorised for theory exams. Fender can be excused to some
Among them might have been
the words tremolo or perhaps
Many acionados regard extent. By the 1930s, electronic
musical instruments were being
tremolando. the brownface-era harmonic developed, and the rst electronic
The musical use of tremolo tremolo effect appeared on the
predates electronic effects by vibrato as Fenders best design market in 1941.
several hundred years at least.
Tremolo was almost certainly Electro-mechanical tremolo
rst produced by string players Most electric instruments
moving bows back and forth have volume controls so that
rapidly using very short strokes. you can create your own tremolo
Since sound is generated only effects. Hit a chord and turn the
when the bow is moving, its clear volume knob back and forth and
that the volume level must drop youll get tremolo but would
as the bow changes direction. you really want to do that all the
This results in a series of way through an entire song? It
volume peaks and troughs and, makes a great deal more sense to
if the players technique is good, automate the process, because
then the effect will sound smooth its far less exhausting, it sounds
and regular. Check out the intro better and both hands are then
of Bruckners Symphony No. 9 to freed up to deal with the real
hear this in an orchestral context. business of playing.
Tremolo is a key technique Its well known that DeArmond
in mandolin playing, too. A developed the rst electronic
plectrum is used instead of a tremolo, but they were initially
bow, but the rapid back and forth installed in the electric Storytone
movement is the same. piano during the 1940s. Before
The DeArmond 601 Tremolo The Demeter Tremulator (middle) emulates classic Fender optical
Control (left). Devised in 1946 tremolo, while the Electro-Harmonix Super Pulsar (below) offers
the rst standalone unit adjustable sine, triangle and pulse waveforms

ALL ABOUT TREMOLO
TUITION
long, DeArmonds Tremolo

Control became available as
a standalone unit that can
the light source and the resistor
acted like a light-driven volume
control. This type of trem is
BUYERS GUIDE
Having identied the three main categories of amplier tremolo, we came up with
legitimately claim to be the rst characterised by an asymmetrical a stompbox for each type along with a modern-style tremolo with user control
that cover just about every parameter. Here are four of the top tremolos that we
guitar effect. response, where the volume rise
believe are worthy of your attention.
A motorised spindle shook and fall occur at different rates.
a canister containing electrolytic
uid. As the uid sloshed around, Tremolo pedals KINGSLEY BARD
it conducted varying amounts of Amps with built-in tremolo $275
signal to ground, which made tend to be bigger and more The Bard is basically amp tremolo in
the guitar volume uctuate. complicated. The tremolo a stompbox. Running a single 12AX7
valve at a full 275 volts, the circuit
Many of these units were circuits occasionally fail, and
generates a Princeton-style bias
discarded after the electrolytic where theres a normal channel modulated tremolo effect. Controls
uid dried up, but they can be and a vibrato channel, the are straightforward, with speed and
rejuvenated with an injection former is often considered to depth. Theres also a volume control to
compensate for perceived level drop
of Windex cleaning uid. sound superior. If tremolo is
with tremolo engaged, or it can provide
Bo Diddley and Muddy Waters an occasional treat for you, a a clean boost.
used this tremolo, as did Duane tremolo pedal will be cheaper,
Eddy on Rebel Rouser. Billy less hassle and your core tone
Gibbons is also a fan and tells may be better if youre not
some great DeArmond anecdotes, obliged to play through
but its wise to take most of what a tremolo/vibrato channel.
he says with a generous bucket With amp tremolo, you are
of sodium chloride. stuck with the basic characteristic VO O D O O L A B S
of the circuit, but as weve T R E M O L O 109
To recreate the blackface and silverface
Amp tremolo discovered, tremolo is a more
tremolo, Voodoo Lab used an identical
Mechanical tremolos, like tape subtle and nuanced effect than lamp and photocell assembly. The slope
echoes, require maintenance, and simply a volume pulse. If you control adjusts the feel from smooth and
invariably wear out. This made would prefer brownface tremolo vintage to machine-gun stutter. Along
with speed and intensity, theres a volume
the move to purely electronic with your tweed amp or optical
control to cut or boost the output level.
tremolo inevitable. By the late trem with your Brit-inspired
1940s, Danelectro, Multivox and Class A combo, pedals allow you
Gibson were selling tremolo- to mix and match.
equipped amps. Magnatone and Most amp tremolo controls
Fender nally boarded the trem- are limited to speed and depth
train in 1955. or variations on the theme.
Its interesting to note how Choosing the right tremolo is
Fenders implementation of about feel as much as sound, so
tremolo evolved over the years. the waveform of the oscillator
C ATA L I N B R E A D
In the 1955 Tremolux, a 12AX7 makes a huge difference. Some PA R E I D O L I A 2 153
valve was used as an oscillator to pedals enable you to set the With three valves and complex
generate a varying voltage that waveform to taste for a variety of circuitry, the tremolo circuit used
was applied to the cathode of the tremolo sounds and feel. in the brownface Fender Twin, Pro
and Concert didnt last for long,
phase inverter valve. This varied Remember how Johnny Marr
but this harmonic tremolo remains
the bias, which partially turned matched his trem speed to the the ultimate for some. This pedal
the phase inverter valve on and tempo of How Soon Is Now? Its is designed specically to replicate
off and caused the volume to hard to achieve using an amp, Fenders harmonic tremolo, and
rise and fall. but some trem pedals have tap the controls include speed, depth
For the later Vibrolux, the tempo and even subdivision
and volume. S EY M OU R DU N CA N
S H A P E S H I F T E R 199
oscillator voltage acted on the switching. Maybe you prefer
One for the pathologically indecisive
bias of the power valves. Many fast swell and slow decay, or vice because it promises to be every type of
acionados regard the brownface- versa? There are pedals that will tremolo in a box. Features include
era harmonic vibrato as Fenders allow you to do both, or even depth, rate shape, wave and phase.
best design. It achieved a select a symmetrical shape. It also has stereo inputs and
outputs, plus tap tempo for
pseudo-vibrato effect by splitting Modern tremolo pedals come
easy synchronisation.
the signal into high and low in many forms, with op amps,
frequencies and modulating one JFETs and even valves. Some of
with low-frequency oscillators these pedals have photocells,
working in opposite polarity. The just like blackface Fenders, and
result falls somewhere between you can even choose between
tremolo, vibrato and phasing. mono and stereo.
During the blackface and Unlike chorus and phasing,
silverface eras, Fender used a tremolo has a timeless quality,
photocell resistor essentially and the choice has never been
a resistor that reacted to light. better for occasional users and
Simply put, the oscillator drove obsessives alike.

TUITION
Chord Clinic
Suspended chords can create an ethereal, hypnotic feel, and are a
valuable addition to your chord vocabulary. In the second instalment
of this series, ROD FOGG delves into the world of the sus shapes
Sus2 and add9 chords Sus2 and sus4 chords (Fig 1 & 2)
Last month, we got started with the basic
major and minor chord shapes and then took A Asus2 Asus4
a look at what happens when you raise the
third of a major chord one fret producing a
x o o x o o o x o o
sus4 chord. Sus is short for suspended, and
the only other note you can suspend is the
second. To make a sus2 chord, the third of a
major chord is lowered a whole tone, which is 1 2 3 1 2 1 2
the same as two frets. This produces a chord
with the formula root, second and fth. 4
Asus2 and Dsus2 are easy chords to play,
as you release a nger and the sus2 note is
found on the open string. Try alternating A E A C# E A E A B E A E A D E
between the major chord we studied last
1 5 1 3 5 1 5 1 2 5 1 5 1 4 5
month and the sus2 chord for a pleasing
mixture of chord movement, together with
the effect of not really going anywhere. Then D Dsus2 Dsus4
try playing D, Dsus2, Dsus4, Dsus2 round x x o x x o o x x o
and round and youll get something like
the intro to KT Tunstalls Other Side Of The
World. The sequence works just as well with
A chords, and if you end on the major chord
instead of the sus2 you might come over all 1 2 1 1
Christmassy as John Lennon sings And so
this is Christmas.... Sus chords dont seem 3 3 3 4
to want to progress in the sense of moving on
to a different chord theyre really happy just
to let the suspended note return to its original D A D F# D A D E D A D G
pitch in the major chord. 1 5 1 3 1 5 1 2 1 5 1 4
The other three major chord shapes cant
be turned into sus2 chords quite so easily Lowering the tone (Fig 3)
but its denitely worth trying. For the Csus2
shape, we have a couple of options, the rst of
which involves muting the open E string with
C Csus2 Csus4
the underside of the rst nger and letting x o o x o o x o x
go of nger two. There is a sus4 voicing
available, too, as we saw last time. These 1 1 1
low suspended chord voicings have a lot of
character try playing KTs chord sequence 2
using these C chords and see what you think.
3 3 3 4
C E G C E C D G C C F G C
1 3 5 1 3 1 2 5 1 1 4 5 1

CHORD CLINIC
TUITION
If muting the open E is tricky for you, try Alternative C voicings (Fig 4)
dropping the pinky on the third fret of the
top string and alternate between Csus2 and
C Csus2 Csus4
C major. Adding this high G note means we
have a doubled fth in the C chord it has a x o x o o x o
chiming, ringing quality preferable in many
ways to the doubled third in the standard C 1 1 1
chord, or the shapes in gure 3, which dont
use the top string at all. A quick re-ngering 2 3
also lets you play a Csus4 voicing that goes
well with the other two shapes. 3 4 4 2 3 4
Figure 5 does for a G major chord what
gure 4 did for a C major, taking away the
doubled third and adding a nice chiming C E G C G C D G C G C F G C G
doubled fth instead. Gsus2 also sounds
1 3 5 1 5 1 2 5 1 5 1 4 5 1 5
great with this voicing if you are alternating
between the sus2 and the major, theres
probably no need to keep putting your rst
Adding a double fth (Fig 5)
nger back on the A string. Just mute the
A string all the time with the underside of G Gsus2
your second nger. o o x o
Subtle variations in chord voicings, like
those in gures 3, 4 and 5, can add a great
deal to your music. Even if you are just
playing a cover version of a well-known
song, adding a chord with some extra colour, 1 1
an unusual voicing or a suspension can
really take your version to the next level. Be 2 3 4 2 3 4
prepared to experiment, and always trust
your ear for what sounds right.
G B D G D G G D A D G
1 3 5 1 5 1 1 5 2 5 1
Add9 and add11 chords note above C and F is the eleventh). Heading to track down songs by artists as diverse as
In all the shapes weve looked at so far, weve back to C major, we have a couple of voicings Alicia Keys and Tom Petty that use these
gone to a lot of trouble to avoid having the for Cadd9. Take your pick between the one kinds of chord sequences.
third in the chord along with the sus2 or with the doubled third or the doubled fth. Figure 7 introduces another Cadd9 chord,
sus4. So what happens if you simply add the Which one you choose could depend on this time with the added ninth low down on
second or fourth note to the chord, leaving the the next, or maybe the previous chord. For the D string. This pairs very nicely with an
root, third and fth in place? Answer: you get example, if you have just played G major, as added 11th chord with a similarly low position
an add9 and an add11. in gure 5, it might be musically effective to for the added note. Played on its own, this
The convention is that these added notes choose the second shape, which will keep the Cadd11 produces quite a clash with the open
are viewed as coming from above the fth, top two notes the same. It might be tempting E string. However, played in sequence with
which takes them up into the next octave, to follow that with the Dsus4 chord from the major chord and the add9, the forward
where a second becomes a ninth and the gure 2 so that three chords in a row have movement seems to conceal the clash. Its
fourth becomes an eleventh (think of it like the same two top notes. Stick a capo on the worth remembering that forward motion in
this: if C is one, D is two. Now keep going: second fret and youre almost heading into a chord progression can make many kinds of
EFGABCD, etc, and youll nd D is the ninth Oasis Wonderwall territory, but I was able temporary dissonance tolerable.
Voicings for Cadd9 (Fig 6) Add9 and add11 (Fig 7)
Cadd9 Cadd9 Cadd9 Cadd11

x o o x o x o o o x o o
1 1
2 1
3 4 2 3 4 3 3 4
C E G D E C E G D G C D G C E C F G C E
1 3 5 9 3 1 3 5 9 5 1 9 5 1 3 1 11 5 1 3 >

CHORD CLINIC
TUITION
Somehow, weve managed to get this far E options (Fig 8) Keeping the third (Fig 9)
without having any E chords. In fact, Eadd9
in the lower voicing can be a bit of a stretch.
Eadd9 Aadd9 Dadd9
Try mixing it with the open E chord and
Esus4. The higher voicing (the second chord
o o o x o o x x o
diagram in gure 8) has a sweet quality,
which makes me think of Barry Manilow not 1 1 1 2
being able to smile without you, although Jimi
Hendrix turned this into a movable shape and 2 1 2
played the sliding chord intro to Castles Made
Of Sand. But Im saving movable shapes for
a future instalment.
Were going to nish off with Aadd9 and 4 4 4
Dadd9, both of which need to be compared
with the sus2 chords from gures 1 and 2.
Keeping the third in the chord sounds so E B F# G# B E A E B C# E D A E F#
much sweeter than the comparatively stark
1 5 9 3 5 1 1 5 9 3 5 1 5 9 3
sus2 voicing. Different is not necessarily
better were looking at chords in this way so
that you can choose voicings which suit the Eadd9 Aadd11 Dadd11
music you are playing or writing. Just to end x x o o o o o o
with a bang, the last two chords in gure 9
are the wonderfully ambiguous Aadd11 and 1
Dadd11, where the low position of the 11th
makes you wonder if these are A and D 2 3 4 1 2 2
chords at all. Oh, and we left the fth out of
the Dadd11 chord because the fth is always
3
the rst note to leave out when things get
tight. Chords are wonderful things
E B E G# B F# A D A C# E D G D F#
1 5 9 3 5 1 1 11 1 3 5 1 11 1 3

YOUR SAY
Fretbuzz
Your letters. This month: wine-box boards, Temple boards,
more bass please and Dave Black remembered
LETTER OF THE MONTH

Wine-box build
Hello guys, Ive just nished my pedalboard, following Huws DIY
Workshop in the September issue. I liked the modular concept and
hidden power supply, but wanted something portable. Whilst thinking
about options over some liquid refreshment, the idea of a wine-box
case surfaced portable and you can use the lid as a drinks tray
during the gig. Nice.
Love the new look, always love the hands-on practical stuff keep
up the good work, etc.
Matt Fisher, via email
G&B Your pedalboard looks great, Matt! Has anyone else followed
Huws advice and built their own modular board? f please send
your pictures to the usual address
LETTER
modular OF THE
Matt Fishers MONTH
nder
board. We wo
d to drink
whether he ha
rst
all that wine
WRITTEN A LETTER Tin machines for powder coating the end-plates making a product thats obviously
OF THE MONTH? I loved the Micro Machines feature in could enter the tapped screw holes. been designed by musicians. You
Then you are the lucky winner of an Orange
last months mag and it solved the Upon tightening, this extra material have made my life so much easier.
Crush PiX mini amp, featuring switchable
overdrive, a built-in tuner and the Brit amp problem I had with my tone: I didnt could, on occasion, cause the thread All the boards mentioned have
legends timeless cosmetics. Visit have an Altoids tin on my board! to strip. This has now been corrected modules installed. All the best.
www.orangeamps.com for the full spec. Massive improvement, thanks again. (the taps are plugged during coating) Vince Rice, www.templeboards.co.uk
Ray Faulder, Cramlington and of course we will replace any
G&B Thanks Ray. Weve heard that end-plates that have been affected. Bass desires
vintage Altoid tins sound better. The In the few months that the UK Hi chaps, rst off I have to say I love
red ones have more gain. office has been operating, we already the mag, been buying it for years and
have a growing number of its easily the best guitar publication
Temple Boards professionals using the boards on the on the market. You produce great
Thank you for the review of the road, including Ella Hendersons features on all aspects of what is,
Temple Audio Design Solo 18 in the guitarist Ross Chapman, who has two lets face it, the coolest instrument on
September issue. There should be no boards and used a Solo 18 on the the planet! I particularly enjoy the
need to use Loctite or similar in the Jimmy Fallon show in New York. Dan features on vintage guitars/basses
module mounting holes. The size of Pugsley, bassist with Skindred, has a and equipment, always fascinating
screw and tapped thread was board and Luke, Michael and Callum stuff. Personally, I own both guitars
carefully calculated for its job. In from punk-popsters 5 Seconds Of AND basses, but I am principally a
early production batches, however, Summer all have boards on their bassist, therefore theres one thing
from which the review board came, world tour. From their legendary that does bug me, and I think its
we discovered that the material used guitar tech Nigel Banks: Thanks for getting worse the lack of print

NEXT ISSUE
Ray Faulders board:

now with 100 per cent
more Altoids
IN THE NEXT ISSUE

WORLD EXCLUSIVE
dedicated to the noblest of all the
string-based instruments the
as a teenager. He taught me some
serious chops and song structure,
FIRST REVIEW
bass guitar! I know the word bass is
in smaller print than guitar in the
magazine title, but come on! There
which was invaluable stuff to a 13- to
14-year-old, he said.
Dave was born in Cullercoats, Tyne Marshall
Astoria
has to be more stuff out there to & Wear on 2 February, 1953. In the
enthral us low-frequency addicts that early 70s, while still in his teens, he
your talented writers can document! formed five-piece prog-rock band
Some months, there are only nine or Kestrel, and wrote all but one of the
Classic
10 pages of content donated to us songs for their self-titled album,
guys n gals that hold down the beat released in 1974 on the Decca Cube
and everything else revolves around! label. Although the album didnt
Were not even asking for half a chart at the time, 25 years later vinyl
magazines worth, a third will do the copies began to change hands for
job! It would be appreciated, Im sure, high prices, leading to its reissue by Will the Brit amp legends
by all 2, 4, 5, 6, 8 oh, even 10-string
thumpers out there
a Japanese CD label in 2000.
In 1975, Dave and Pete MacDonald new valve combo kill off
That said and rant over, keep up
the good work you wonderful people!
joined The Spiders From Mars after
the departure of David Bowie & Mick
boutique competition?
Mark Williams, Bristol Ronson. They released one self-titled
G&B Thanks Mark, ironically your album. After the demise of the
letter coincides with an issue in which Spiders, Dave formed Goldie in 1976, 1967 FENDER CUSTOM
weve published a feature on the
most successful bassist in pop
which included vocalist MacDonald
and Tom Knowles from Kestrel. TELECASTER
history, and focused on his guitar
playing! Hopefully, Gareth Morgans
Goldie continued to perform and
record together for four years,
Our next Vintage Bench Test puts a
Sandberg review and the 6 Of The disbanding in 1980. They released beautiful old Tele through its paces
Best in this months issue will satisfy three singles and appeared on
your craving. Look out for a new bass numerous TV shows, including Top Of
tuition column in the new year, too. The Pops. For nearly a decade,
beginning in 1980, Blackie
INTERVIEWS
Dave Black remembered concentrated on a new group, 747, Dan Auerbach Billy Bragg
Singer/songwriter/guitarist Dave
Black died tragically on 18 July, near
who were stalwarts of the North East
club scene. Although they had no
Chrissie Hynde Jimmy LaFave
Cullercoats Metro Station [North chart success, they appeared on an
Tyneside]. Dave was best known for 80s TV talent show called The Fame
co-writing the 1978 hit for his band Game, performing a number of
Goldie, Making Up Again, which spent Daves compositions. He then began
11 weeks in the UK singles chart, a solo career, as well as a sideman James Collins,
peaking at number seven. It was stint in the Brendan Healy Band.
Boss, Moog, Epip
written by Dave and Pete McDonald, Dave was a well-respected
Radial, Norm VOL 27 NO 3
ON SALE
and released on the Bronze label. musician and a very popular
Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor character. He will be sadly missed by
described Dave as a mentor, who his family and the music community.
06 NOV
gave the aspiring guitar hero lessons Mike Hall, via email
HAVE YOUR SAY! Write to us by snail mail, Guitar & Bass, Anthem Publishing, Suite
6 Piccadilly House, London Road, Bath BA1 6PL or email guitarandbass@anthem-
publishing.com. Alternatively get in touch via social media on Facebook or Twitter.
facebook.com/
TheGuitarMagazine @guitarmagazine @guitar_bass_ofcial Contents ar

ALBUM REVIEWS
New music
We round up and rate a selection of this months
guitar-driven album releases and reissues
ON THE
OFFICE
STEREO
Keith Richards Joe Bonamassa Lanterns On The Lake

CROSSEYED HEART LIVE AT RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL BEINGS
Crosseyed Heart gets under way with Delta licks Coming hot on the heels of the slick electro-funk The Newcastle bands third album is another
straight from the Robert Johnson school, but of Rock Candy Funk Partys second long-player, heart-rendingly beautiful release, comprising
theyre something of a red herring for whats the latest release from almost certainly the dynamic post-rock atmospherics and tender
to follow. This second solo album from Keef in 23 hardest working guitarist in showbusiness nds revelations. The ominous piano chords of opener
years isnt some wistful meander through his Bonamassa occupying territory that long-standing Of Dust & Matter set the foreboding mood, while
inuences (although from Chuck Berry to Gregory fans will nd more familiar. The CD and DVD are Ill Stall Them has a tremendous shimmering
Isaacs, they can pretty much all be heard here). compiled from two sold-out performances at the tremolo-picked lead line. The production, handled
Instead, its a dirty, ramshackle, romantic, often iconic New York City venue back in January of this expertly by guitarist Paul Greogry, is rich and
witty and above all hedonistic collection of songs, year. Separate acoustic and electric bands provide tasteful throughout, with Ebows, reverb-soaked
that sometimes approaches his prime Stones expert accompaniment, while Bonamassas electric ambient guitar textures and brass parts dissolving
work (Trouble and Robbed Blind), and at other playing sounds more expressive and discerning into one explosive melancholy whole. Such
points entertains with knowing self-parody than ever; his newly-adopted vintage tweed Twin grandeur is balanced by delicate piano vignettes,
(Amnesia). Richards drunken JJ Cale/Tom Waits and Bassman backline requires a little more ght such as Send Me Home, that nd vocalist Hazel
vocals carry some telling lyrics and choruses, and lends a more open and dynamic voice to his Wilde baring her soul. Gregory executes some
and as well as his own trashy riffs and rhythms, ever-present Les Pauls. To our tastes, it makes for wonderfully affecting playing with a cello bow on
some excellent electric additions from Waddy a much more exhilarating listen than the syrupy the title track, alongside a pleading vocal that
Wachtel make this an energetic and thoroughly sounds of old. Dont expect Bonamassa to slow disappears into swirling tape echo. A rened,
enjoyable stomp. CM down any time soon CV absorbing listen from start to nish. GW
8/10 8/10 8/10
TRY IF YOU LIKE The Rolling Stones, Tom Waits TRY IF YOU LIKE Rory Gallagher, BB King TRY IF YOU LIKE Explosions In The Sky, Sigur Rs
New Order The Dead Weather Cheatahs

MUSIC COMPLETE DODGE AND BURN MYTHOLOGIES
Calling your rst With Jack White on Cheatahs are a
album in nine years sabbatical from live multi-national
Music Complete is a music, this side- collective, drawn
bold statement of project album is from the UK,
intent, and New good news for fans. Germany and North
Order deliver with His drumming America, and this
this stridant channels John second album was
65-minute record. Bonham on I Feel recorded on the
Featuring guest Love, and he shares road. Its hazy,
production by The Chemical Brothers, it sets off vocals on Three Dollar Hat closer to his solo work. time-stretched fuzztones and woozy vocals owe a
like a danceoor express train, then becomes more However, the record has most in common with debt to My Bloody Valentine, with Signs To Lorelei
diverse in scope. Look out for the europop of Tutti vocalist Alison Mossharts main band, The Kills. She and Seven Sisters particularly dreamy. The
Frutti and the menacing Stray Dog, with an inspired sounds strangely at home on nal track Impossible sprawling Reverie Bravo is more forthright, and
crazed preacher appearance from Iggy Pop. GW Winner, a Bond theme-style left-turn. GW closes the album in epic shoegaze fashion. GW
8/10 7/10 7/10
TRY IF YOU LIKE:New Order, Pet Shop Boys TRY IF YOU LIKE:The Kills, Jack White TRY IF YOU LIKE:My Bloody Valentine, Sonic Youth

ALBUM REVIEWS
Reissue spotlight
David Bowie
FIVE YEARS (BOXSET)
This veritable
treasure trove of
Bowies classic
early-70s albums
comes packaged
in a sumptuous
boxset, featuring
the original
albums on CD or
vinyl. What you get is the rst six studio releases
(excluding the oft-maligned eponymous debut
and including two versions of Ziggy Stardust),
a couple of live albums and a rarities compilation.
Much has been said about these records and
their inuence over the past few decades.
However, one aspect that all too often goes
undiscussed is the importance of guitarist and
arranger Mick Ronson, who stands as perhaps
one of the most underrated guitar players (and
teen idols) in the history of British popular music.
Ronno, as he was affectionately known back in
the Spiders heyday, was almost as popular a
gure as Bowie/Ziggy himself amongst the
record-buying audience of the early 70s.
His arrangements from The Man Who Sold The
World onwards are superb, and contribute
massively to the sound of a still somewhat
F E AT U R E D A L B U M
undeveloped songwriter. Hunky Dory stands as
David Gilmour testament to this, with the piano and strings
RATTLE THAT LOCK
Its beyond question that David Gilmour is one of Gabriel pop-funk detour of Today, this is a largely parts dominating the mixes of the standout
the greatest players ever to wield a Stratocaster, contemplative set of compositions. The gravitational tracks, turning compositions such as Changes and
and on this follow-up to 2006s On An Island, pull of sadness at the heart of the atmospheric Life on Mars? into timeless classics.
theres no doubting his uncanny ability to wrench A Boat Lies Waiting isnt matched by the leaden
By the time of Ziggy Stardust and Aladdin Sane,
every ounce of emotion out of the ngerboard. Faces Of Stone, Dancing Right In Front Of Me and the
Every lead break is a masterclass in economy and jazz-infected Girl In The Yellow Dress. In Any Tongue, Bowies posse had developed into a concrete
telling phrasing, conveyed using a choice palette on the other hand, is likely to be a standout track and somewhat heavy live rock n roll band, with
of amp tones and guitar sounds and there are for many Floyd fans its a near-seven-minute, the powerful and dexterous Les Paul of Ronson
liberal helpings of Les Paul and Gretsch in here, too, brooding anti-war statement aiming for the epic, the primary musical element. Although Bowies
balancing out the sheer Floyd-ness of his iconic and with a combative, shimmering, classic outro solo
career would see him work with many creative
imperious Black Strat. to suit. CM
guitar players, it was his partnership with Ronson
Such superlative guitar playing aside, Gilmours
in ne vocal fettle, too, but apart from the up-tempo
7/10 that produced the most celebrated work.
title track and the Stevie Wonder-meets-Peter TRY IF YOU LIKE Pink Floyd, Leonard Cohen
Arguably, this rst box doesnt really represent
Bowie himself at his creative high; that accolade
surely belongs to the awless album cycle of
Hotei Anna Von Hausswolff Station To Station, The Berlin Trilogy and Scary
STRANGERS THE MIRACULOUS Monsters, from the latter half of the 70s. But
Iggy Pop is among This Swedish captured here is the irresistible musical journey
the stellar guests on songwriter and her of a young creative singer/songwriter who would
Tomoyasu Hoteis band produce dark, become a glam-rock behemoth (with more than a
rst global release. dense proggy fairy little help from some extremely talented friends).
Guitar crunch tales that erupt into Its a journalistic cliche to describe Bowie as a
abounds on 4/4 huge feedback- chameleon. However, this couldnt be further
epics such as heavy psych-guitar from the truth. He stood out because he was so
Medusa, which workouts. Its all different, applying a more cerebral element to
boasts surf guitar underpinned by the pop music. Listening to these albums in
and cinematic soundscapes, while skewed lead and towering sound of a 9,000-pipe Acusticum organ, succession, whats striking is how coherently they
slick ngerwork pervade. Lyrically, its uninspiring, opening with the doomy 10-minute epic Come ow from one to another. If youre just starting to
but theres an unbridled feel, such as when Pop Wander With Me/Deliverance. Von Hausswolffs delve into the Bowie back catalogue, then this is
launches into tracks such as How The Cookie voice somehow soars above the dense fog of the perfect starting point (if youve got a spare
Crumbles and Walking Through The Night. NC instrumentation and is truly spellbinding. GW 185 that is!). AP
7/10 7/10 9/10
TRY IF YOU LIKE: David Bowie, Bill Nelson TRY IF YOU LIKE Jefferson Airplane, Anna Calvi TRY IF YOU LIKE David Bowie

TA L K B O X
NEIL FALLON
My Spinal
Tap moment
Clutch frontman Neil Fallon is no
stranger to hard rifng, but theres
a lot more to him than that
1 I couldnt live without my

The voice memo on my
iPhone. Seeing as my long-term
could also be a kind of existential
experience, when its that good.
metal guitar solo to save my life, but I
can ngerpick. And thats a fun thing
to do, especially when experimenting
memory is non-existent, its a
great tool to get down guitar
ideas and lyrics very quickly
4 The one that got away
Before the internet ruined
good deals on the road, I did
with open tunings. Thats my go-to
thing on guitar. We have a number of
songs that derive from that
before they go away. Even if its an go into a
unplugged electric guitar, just to
get a rough draft down. 8 The most important
thing on my rider
Water. Its the kind of thing you
2 In another life, I would be

The idea of not being a
musician is a terrifying prospect. letter C and I always get em
dont think about until its gone.
Its the most important thing.
Its a question Ive never had to

ask myself, as I went straight
from school to doing this.
confused. Thats about as literal
Spinal Tap as it gets, I guess 9 My guiltiest musical
pleasure
I dont feel guilty about listening
But I probably would
have stayed in college
and racked up an
6 The best advice Ive
ever been given
One of the greatest pieces of
to anything, thats my caveat, but
Im a big Brian Eno fan. Its a
good ear-cleaner after listening
enormous amount wisdom is actually in Decline Of The to heavy music all day long to
of debt. I might have Western Civilization listen to ambient
gone into teaching; my Part II when Ozzy synthesisers
moms a teacher and I Osbourne says, from the 1970s.
actually liked the dont fuck people
school environment.
What would I teach?
I dont know
pawnshop in Oklahoma City and
bought a 1972 SG for $300. And
on your way up,
because youll
meet them on your
10 If I could
learn to
play one thing
I had it for years, it was an excellent way back down When I was in
3 The band that

started it all
I bought a lot of
guitar, but I needed some rent
money and sold it like a dummy.
I wish I could get that back its a
as well. Its good
to exercise some
humility in
grade school
I played cello and
I quit. I wish
metal records very typical story! this business. I hadnt. Carrying
when I was in my cello from
junior high, but
the rst show
that I saw that
5 My Spinal Tap moment
Theres so many to choose
from! I have said the wrong city on
7 The rst
thing I
play when I pick
school to home
was a pain in the
ass. If I could
really split my wig a number of occasions. Particularly up a guitar... pick that up again
was Bad Brains in when were in Ohio and you Im a big fan of it would be great.
the late eighties. Thats have Cincinnati, Columbus and Travis picking I really love the
when I saw that live music Cleveland. They all begin with the I cant do a heavy sound of it.

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