Содержание выпуска: August 2017 — Guitarist

This month’s cover feature on acoustic blues – the wellspring of so much that we play on guitar today – ironically gave rise to a lot of conversations not about the past of guitar playing, but its present. Michael Messer, the superb British blues guitarist and all-round student of blues history (see p70) raised a really interesting point when he remarked how orderly everyone’s approach is to blues today, particularly when it comes to rhythm. A strong, propulsive 4/4 beat is pretty much standard when a guitarist gets up to play the blues now. But as you go back in time to the recordings of artists such as Blind Willie Johnson you hear a different blues, unconstrained by tidy structures, emanating directly from the soul. It’s the same with folk…

FENDER PARAMOUNT STANDARD ALL-MAHOGANY NE £509 WHAT ARE THEY? A trio of all-solid mahogany additions to the Paramount series of acoustics launched by Fender in 2016 When Fender launched the Paramount series last year, it represented a new commitment to winning over players from a company that’s arguably not traditionally a go-to for acoustics. With its Standard and Deluxe ranges, a two-year development paid dividends and we were suitably impressed with the PM-2 Deluxe parlor, PM-1 dreadnought and PM-3 000 Standards in issue 402. Fender was establishing itself in the lower market area with characterful models boasting solid backs and sides, which also came stage-ready with individually voiced preamps for each shape – the result of a Fishman/Fender collaboration. The Paramount Standards offered serious spec for the money, and now…

The last two weeks for me have been spent at the BBC’s relatively new facility in Manchester, Media City, filming the first five episodes of the series Pitch Battle, which will fill the Saturday night music slot on BBC One now The Voice has been sold to ITV. The BBC has, as part of its public remit, an agreement to always have a Saturday night music entertainment show, hence the seeming relentlessness of the output of this kind of programme. I’ve been involved in many of these shows for the past 20 years, some enjoyable, some a little more testing, but I have to say this was one of the most positive experiences in TV I’ve ever had. The format of this type of singing competition, as I’m sure you’re…

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS Hi, I thought it was about time that I sent you some thanks instead of endless dumb questions, and report success with my ongoing quest to get my Gretsch Electromatic to actually rock. I am stuck at home at the moment with a broken foot so I’ve been re-reading all of your back issues and Mr Burrluck’s modifications to his cheapo Gretsch caught my attention. Then I recalled your issue with the hotrod on the cover, which had a fascinating sidebar about the internal bracing of the famed hollowbody. My Electromatic has nothing but a small block below its bridge, so maybe if I were to apply my feeble woodworking skills…? In the midst of this and inspired once again by your excellent articles, I measured the DC…

Marc Ribot is travelling light. Currently halfway through a solo tour that will end in Shenzhen, China, he pulls up outside Cafe Oto in Dalston carrying a battered old Gibson acoustic and a requinto jarocho, an exotic four-string instrument not entirely dissimilar to a ukulele. It might not be an obvious choice for a guitarist, but then Marc is anything but predictable. Since his genre-defying session work with Tom Waits in the 80s, his unparalleled style has augmented the recordings of a diverse host of artists including John Zorn, The Lounge Lizards, Elvis Costello, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, The Black Keys, Marianne Faithfull and Beat Generation poet, Allen Ginsberg. Tonight’s gig, however, is a truly solo affair – just one man and his guitar (or, possibly, a requinto jarocho)…

Not only has Martin Simpson spent time researching country blues, he’s also lived and travelled extensively in the USA, absorbing the culture at first hand – an experience that has resulted in him authoring classic songs such as Love Never Dies , honouring the spirit of Delta blues while capturing the essence of the best of this country’s traditional music. Nominated for countless awards and recognised as one of the best acoustic slide players around today, he’s also covered songs by his heroes, including a hauntingly beautiful version of Blind Willie Johnson’s I Can’t Keep From Crying Sometimes from his album Righteousness And Humidity . We begin by asking how his all-encompassing attitude to many different forms of music began…

“The sound is balanced, it’s got no dead spots – it does what it says on the tin in a big, big way” PHIL HARRIS Original Sunburst Gibson Les Paul Standards, otherwise known as ’Bursts, came into production for only a few short years between 1958 and 1960 and represent a benchmark of guitar evolution. Bolstered by the earlier success of Leo Fender’s Esquire/Broadcaster/No-Caster/Telecaster solidbody electric guitars, the previous lineage of ‘Model’ Les Pauls were often referred to as ‘Goldtops’ and underwent a process of evolution and enhancement throughout the 1950s since their introduction in 1952. In ’54, the shallow neck pitch was deepened, the tuneo-matic bridge and stop tailpiece arrived in ’55, PAF humbuckers were introduced in ’57, and by 1958, the guitar was renamed as the Les Paul…

1 What was the first pedal you built and how did the design come about? “The first pedal that I sold under the ThorpyFX brand was the Gunshot Overdrive. The design came about because I wanted to give a true representation of the saturation you get from a cooking tube amp. I also wanted to solve a few engineering faults present with the standard enclosures that everyone else uses – it gave us a distinct military look that’s become a part of the brand design. The holes in the sides take inspiration from a type of anti-RPG armour.” 2 What makes ThorpyFX unique? “I think customers appreciate our ethos. We aim to deliver exemplary quality with everything that we do. This goes all the way from our custom-made packaging through…

Did the 2017 CITES legislation take you by surprise? “We’d heard rumblings about it in October/ November 2016, but there wasn’t a lot of warning. The really big, organised suppliers had made some preparations, but they were in the minority.” Were there measures in place to help you deal with it, in terms of paperwork, process and so on? “This is where it gets really difficult. Any commercial transaction involving rosewood now requires an import and export licence. The exporter, Martin, for example, must obtain an export licence and the importer must obtain an import licence, that would be Martin’s UK distributor, Westside. However, you can’t apply for the import licence unless you have the export licence. When you add all that up, it can add four to six weeks…

1953 Introduced as the Les Paul Custom with Alnico V and P-90 pickups 1957 Three (rarely with two) humbucking pickups added 1959 Grover Rotomatic tuners added 1961 Double-cut ‘pointed horns’ SG body shape 1962 Ebony tailblock with pearl inlays added to limited number of guitars 1963 Les Paul dropped from model name – becomes the SG Custom 1968 Reintroduced as Les Paul Custom with single-cut and double pickups 1969 Four-piece ‘pancake’ body 1970 Neck volute added 1971 Cherry and Cherry Sunburst finishes available…

ACOUSTIC MASTERY Free 36-page guide to unplugged guitar SHERYL CROW The US Grammy winner on guitars and songcraft GIBSON MEMPHIS Freddie King ES-345 on test and more Next issue on sale: 28 July 2017 Save up to 56% on an overseas subscription to Guitarist Subscribe to the digital edition available on your iOS and Android device, the glossy print edition, or the complete print and digital package • Never miss an issue • Get your copy delivered direct to your door each month as well as instant access to our digital edition • Save up to 56% off the store price • From only $/€36 every month ORDERING IS EASY Go online at: www.myfavm.ag/GUIoverseas Terms & Conditions: Details of the Direct Debit guarantee are available on request. You will receive…

Chuck Berry Chuck Berry Is On Top Let’s go back to the source first. Released in 1959, this album contains the classics Johnny B Goode, MaybelleneandRoll Over Beethoven. It’s not too hard to imagine a generation of young players hearing this and seeing things differently forever afterwards. With a backing band featuring Willie Dixon on bass and Bo Diddley on guitar, this album has been likened to a greatest hits package. AC/DC Highway To Hell There’s a pretty straight timeline linking Chuck’s rhythmic doublestop hooks and Angus Young’s solos on this album. Angus has never played down the influence Chuck’s performance style had on him. His opening phrases on the solos of Highway To Hell, as well asGirlsGotRhythmandTouch TooMuchalso showcase his deep affection for Berry’s playing. Sex Pistols Never Mind…

GRETSCH PLAYERS EDITION 6609 BROADKASTER £2,299 WHAT IS IT? Modernised take on classic double-cut semi, with centre block and Full’Tron pickups GRETSCH PLAYERS EDITION G6659TG BROADKASTER JR £2,399 WHAT IS IT? Scaled-down single-cut semi with Bigsby and Full’Trons in Cadillac Green Who doesn’t love the look of a Gretsch? They’re big, bold and flashy and they scream rock ’n’ roll – and that’s rock ’n’ roll of all flavours, from Eddie Cochran to George Harrison, Neil Young to Joe Perry, Billy Duffy to Johnny Marr and beyond. Trouble is, play a classic 6120 or Duo Jet and it can seem a bit, well, old-fashioned. And while the likes of Brian Setzer, Darryl Higham and Richard Hawley couldn’t live without their own Gretsches’ quirky controls and 50s playability, a growing number…

Mounting the darkened stage area, I’m directed across the space by a stagehand with a flashlight, and over to my guitar tech who straps me in, waits for my quick examination followed by a thumbs up, then it’s over to my rig to plug in and get ready to make music. Let’s examine the process before the first notes are played… Prior to being handed the guitar, it had been duly cleaned, fitted with fresh strings that were stretched and stressed – and tuned and retuned at numerous steps in the process. The fret surfaces had been checked and intonation adjusted with a high-end Conn or Peterson Strobe Tuner. These tuners are the‘diamond standard’, enabling the operator to look deeply into the harmonic spectrum of the note being played. There…

“There was a time when I was extremely low physically, emotionally and spiritually and I blamed music for my addictions… I blamed the guitar” 1 What was your first guitar and when did you get it? “My first guitar was an acoustic – I don’t know if it even had a name. It was bought at a flea market or a swap-meet and it was like a $7 guitar that my mother bought me when I was 10 in ’76. I just listened to the sound of strumming it over and over until someone showed me a D chord and an A chord and then it was Oh My Darling, Clementine.” 2 Suppose the building’s burning down – which one guitar from your collection would you save? “Oh, that’s not…

Martha Tilston had a childhood steeped in music. Brought up by her mother in south west London, there was nearly always music on the turntable. “Generally, it was Joni Mitchell, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and that kind of thing,” she says. “Then, when I’d go and visit my dad, I’d see him a lot with a guitar in his hand – or cooking a curry, those were the two things I mostly remember dad doing!” Her early years also saw her mixing with her parents’ circle of friends that included Bert Jansch, John Renbourn and John Martyn. “They were around quite a lot and I used to hear them jamming and playing; we used to go and stay at John Renbourn’s house down in Exmouth and they’d be playing…

Dif ficulty 40 mins Gear used: Paul Reed Smith Martin Simpson signature acoustics Acknowledging that there’s no division between folk and blues during his formative years means that Martin Simpson’s guitar style is a rich blend of diverse elements. In this tutorial, he shares with us his amazing arrangement of Duncan & Brady , plus offers us a general insight into playing in a blues style in drop tunings – a device used by many of the forefathers of the genre. Look out for some unusual chord voicings and a chance to break free from the accustomed pentatonic man traps along the way. Watch the accompanying video for a masterclass on acoustic blues technique par excellence! EXAMPLE 1 ‘DUNCAN & BRADY’ is a traditional tune that has…

PRS STUDIO Originally introduced in 1988, the Studio was the first production PRS guitar to feature true single coils, based on the all-mahogany Standard. A maple-top version was added the following year and lasted until 1990 (although the pickup configuration was offered until 1996). It returned, as pictured, in 2011 with a 57/08 full-size humbucker at the bridge and two 57/08 Narrowfield humbuckers in the neck and middle positions. PRS SWAMP ASH SPECIAL The Swamp Ash Special debuted in 1996 with a bolt-on maple neck, ash body, covered McCarty Treble and Bass humbuckers and one Seymour Duncan Vintage Rails single-coil-size humbucker. The 25th Anniversary Swamp Ash Narrowfield (pictured, with three Narrowfield mini-humbuckers) appeared in 2010. In 2013, the Swamp Ash Custom 24 Limited appeared – a dual-pickup Custom 24 with…

It’s perhaps the most revered of all tonewood species and it’s used extensively in guitar manufacturing. You’ll find it under your fretting fingers on a great many Gibson, Fender and Martin models, not to mention the countless brands they’ve inspired along the way. Backs and sides of premium acoustic guitars, bridges, headstock overlays, binding, tuning pegs, bridge pins, control knobs, even whole necks and bodies in a handful of instances. Make no mistake: rosewood is a big deal in the guitar world. However, in May 2017, Fender – the biggest guitar maker in North America – announced it would no longer be using rosewood fingerboards on its Mexican-made instruments. Pao Ferro is to be the replacement, while ebony steps in for its American Elite Series ’boards. Other manufacturers are following…

Did the new CITES legislation take you by surprise? “We learned about the upcoming ruling soon after CITES’ summit in South Africa in September 2016. At the time I felt quite negative, imagining we were looking at another Brazilian rosewood situation [where it’s almost impossible to use that species now – Ed]. However, it has all gone way more smoothly than I could have imagined. We have had some shipments delayed in the first quarter or 2017, which isn’t great, but I’m confident it’ll be running smoothly very soon.” Were there measures in place to help you deal with it, in terms of paperwork, process and so on? “I talked to DEFRA [UK Department For Environment, Food & Rural Affairs] right away and they pointed me at Form FED0172, which…

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

Les Pauls built by Gibson in the first years after the single-cut version’s resurrection in 1968 present a fascinating microcosm of the vintage Les Paul market in general. These transition instruments share qualities of both the original era of Les Paul production in the 50s, as well as the less-coveted guitars of the 1970s – and these vary substantially in exact specs and details. Generally speaking, the earlier the guitar was built, the closer it gets to that magic 50s Kalamazoo production period. This in turn generates more collector interest and higher prices. While it’s tempting to draw a neat line between ’68- and ’69-issued guitars, as with most things vintage Gibson, the reality is not so simple. Many Les Paul Customs released in the first half of 1969 share…

BAD CAT CLASSIC PRO REVERB 1X12 COMBO £1,499 WHAT IS IT? A lower cost (relatively speaking) PCB-built amp from legendary American boutique builders As one of the original and most respected names in the so-called ‘boutique’ market, California-based Bad Cat Amplification produces point-to-point hand-wired designs that blend vintage valve know-how with exceptional build quality. This comes at a price, of course, and in the past Bad Cats were exclusively for those well-heeled enough not to need to ask “how much?”. However, things changed for the better when Bad Cat introduced its USA Player range, which uses high-quality PCB construction to make substantial savings on build time, while managing to retain the all-important sound and response by using the same transformers and British-made Celestion loudspeakers as its more expensive counterparts. The…

Just don’t do it. Or what was it John Page told us recently? “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.” What are we saying? This is the start of a series of articles on guitar modding and our advice is, just say no? There will be plenty readers of a certain age nodding in agreement to those ‘What was I thinking?’ mods of their past. That Kahler vibrato seemed such a good idea on that ‘worthless’ early ’70s Strat. How were we to know the value that that guitar – in original condition – would realise today? There are plenty of other examples, not least all those originals PAFs that were chucked out ’cos we’d just got some DiMarzio Super Distortions. D’oh! We can’t change the past, but we…

I consider myself to be lucky when I think about the music that was around when I was growing up. I started with The Shadows – Hank Marvin was my first guitar hero – and I then discovered the Mersey Beat phenomenon, which confirmed me as a Beatles fan. By the time I was 15, I was introduced to electric Chicago blues. I was given Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and Sonny Boy Williamson LPs, but I had to cast aside my Searchers and Freddie And The Dreamers LPs in order to have them. I suppose The Rolling Stones made me first aware of the blues; Brian Jones’s slide guitar on Little Red Rooster really resonated with me, but music from The Animals and The Yardbirds played a role, too. From…

Various Artists American Epic – The Sessions (Lo-Max/Columbia) American Epic is a historic multimedia project with a documentary and soundtrack that tells the story of early American recorded music. The double-album finds classic and contemporary artists including Willie Nelson, Elton John, Taj Mahal and Pokey LaFarge revisiting some of those songs and recording using a reassembled example of the first electrical (one-mic) sound recording system. Jack White’s (also executive producer here with T Bone Burnett) take on Matrimonial Intentions and Alabama Shakes’ version of Memphis Millie’s Killer Diller Blues are akin to sending them back in time. With some excellent acoustic playing showcased, the results are a testament of the past echoing into the present. [DH] Standout track:Come On In My Kitchen – Stephen Stills For fans of: Recording history,…

A few years ago, Mike Rutherford’s side project, Mike + The Mechanics, was placed on permanent hiatus and it was only when songs came along that seemed to fit the Mechanics’ style did he venture back into action. Recently, the new album, Let Me Fly, saw the band out and about in theatres across the UK and USA. Meanwhile, it’s been 10 years since we saw Genesis in action, but rumours of a forthcoming reunion have been rife, bolstered by Phil Collins’ return to touring this summer. “There’s no plans, but whatever I say, like, ‘There’s no plans, but we’re all good friends,’ it reads, ‘Phil’s got his diaries out, looking at dates – it’s on!’” Mike laughs when we pop the inevitable question. “I’ve said for years, ‘Never say…

Robert Johnson The Centennial Collection (Columbia) “At the moment, this is the best re-master of the whole catalogue. When it comes to acoustic blues that’s related to rock ’n’ roll – because there are so many strains – Johnson has to be the greatest. 70 or 80 per cent of his songs are classics that have been recorded hundreds of times. His guitar style is, simply, definitive. From Robert Johnson you move up to Chicago, you move up to Muddy Waters. From Muddy Waters you move into Clapton and The Stones. It’s so rock ’n’ roll in its rhythmic content. It’s not a competition, but I believe he was the greatest acoustic blues player.” Son House Father Of The Delta Blues – The Complete 1965 Sessions “Son House probably…

Whether you like the idea of the all-in-one modelling processor or not, they are definitely here to stay and rapidly becoming a common sight on stages everywhere. And now there’s a new kid on that block in the shape of the HeadRush Pedalboard – but it hasn’t just emerged out of nowhere. HeadRush is part of the inMusic group that includes Akai and other companies, and the Pedalboard has modelling from the team behind Digidesign’s Eleven amp and effects simulation software for Pro Tools, as seen in the Eleven Rack, a rackmount unit that we looked at almost 100 issues back and is still favoured by many guitarists. Now, HeadRush is at pains to point out that Pedalboard is not just an Eleven Rack strapped to a foot controller with…

The fabled Dalbergia nigra (Brazilian rosewood) stands apart from the majority of other rosewood species as it’s been on CITES Appendix I since June 1992 (all other rosewoods are on Appendix II as of 2 January 2017). Brazilian rosewood was used freely in guitar manufacturing until the late 60s – on vintage Fender and Gibson fingerboards among many others and, of course, used as backs and sides on a great many of the most desirable, classic-era acoustic guitars, not least all the most valuable Martins. Any wood used before 11 June 1992 is considered to be ‘pre-Convention’ (and therefore ostensibly free to use), but hold your horses… There are further Annexes to the CITES Appendices. Brazilian rosewood is on Annex A: any pre-Convention specimens may not be imported to various…

Supro Black Holiday with Dave Burrluck Writer DAVE BURRLUCK Gear reviews editor, Guitarist Our Supro versus Supro test continues. Old or new: which is best? Our reviews editor is learning fast as he takes on a gig and live studio session in quick succession… “ The Black Holiday is less bulky, better balanced and light in weight on a strap” To recap, in wanting to continue learning about Supro guitars – old and new – I’d borrowed a new Black Holiday and purchased, rather hastily, a 1968 Supro Stratford. The two guitars might bear the same brand name, but separated by some 49 years, it’s little surprise that they feel and sound very different. And while the contemporary 2017 Black Holiday hasn’t been back in its box since I received…

The stage was set for a more elegant version of the Les Paul – one that would appeal to the upmarket musician In 1952, Gibson launched its first solidbody electric guitar – the Les Paul Model. Although this seminal instrument would eventually evolve into perhaps the most iconic guitar in Gibson’s history (the Les Paul Standard ’Burst), and subsequently command the highest prices of all on the vintage market, by Gibson conventions it was relatively modest in terms of decoration at the time. A rosewood fingerboard, nickel-plated hardware, minimal single-binding and the absence of fancy headstock inlays deemed it a fairly staple, mid-priced design in comparison with other fancier models. The stage was set for a more elegant version of the Les Paul electric guitar – one that would appeal…

No matter which year it was built, pricing factors for late 60s Les Paul Customs include the following: SINGLE-PIECE VS ‘PANCAKE’ BODIES The earlier 60s Customs used a single piece of mahogany, which is more sought-after than later versions and included a four-ply pancake body alternating between mahogany and maple MAPLE TOPS Some early single-piece Custom bodies carried a maple top, like that of an original LP Standard. Some players claim these maple-topped Customs have a mellower tone and are therefore the best of the bunch NECK VOLUTES The presence of a volute where the headstock meets the neck will lower the value of any vintage Custom. The volute seems to have crept into the Custom design as early as late ’69, though it’s typically considered a very 70s appointment…

The Man Upstairs Dif ficulty 10 mins per example Tutor: Richard Barrett Gear used: Knaggs SSC, Vox AC15C1, Boss DS-1 and SD-1 (modded by www.pedalmods.com ) If there’s a more influential guitarist out there, I’m not sure who it is… Of course, the concept of players copying solos and licks is not unusual, but when you consider how many modern players still quote Chuck Berry licks pretty much note for note, that’s something unique. Check out almost any solo by Steve Jones or Angus Young to start with, plus you won’t have to look long for lots more. Of course, Chuck wasn’t just a soloist, he was a writer too, inspiring The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and even The Beach Boys. At first using a bigger-bodied Gibson…

Electrics FenderChris Shiflett Deluxe Telecaster, Shoreline Gold, rosewood, with case. Vgc, little home use. £625. Call 01803 843528 or email Nickwilliams4@hotmail.com Gibson Les Paul 59 VOS 2002, vgc. £5,000 ono. Call Pete on 07765 974610. Bath Gibson 1989 Les Paul Custom. Exceptional condition. Even gold plate almost like new. Offers over £2,000. Call Trev on 07813 257667 or email trevor.jessop@ntlworld.com Gibson Les Paul Special 1976 ‘Limited Edition’ single-cut, P-90s, wrapover tailpiece. £1,900. Call 07773 276815. Cumbria Gibson Les Paul, 2005 Standard, nice top, ‘faded’ finish, big neck, open ‘zebra’ HBs. £1,500. Call 07773 276815. Cumbria Gibson Les Paul Studio, early (c.1984) dot fretboard, ex Polaris white well faded, fitted DiMarzio HBs. £650. 07773 276815. Cumbria Gretsch5655T-CB Electromatic Rosa Red. Perfect condition, never gigged, genuine reason for sale. £750 w/hard case.…