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1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
An early 80s Tokai Strat, which I got secondhand when I was about 15. About a year later I got bored of it and did some punk style modifications. It now has no lower horn - more like the bottom half of a Vox teardrop, a truncated upper horn and all sorts of grafitti type paint jobs. That was over 30 years ago when people hadn't quite realised how good they were.' I've still got it and although it ain't worth much due to my ''thoughtful' mods it's great and I still use it on stage
2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
Hmm. That's like asking which of your children do you save. Probably the Tokai Strat, as although it may be the least valuable it's the least replaceable. And I've got insurance for the rest.
3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
A 1968 Gibson Dove that I only got a month ago. Been looking for another acoustic to compliment my mahogany Martin for a while and kinda stumbled across it, or it found me. One strum and I knew I was taking it home
4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
Probably a Strymon Riverside or Sunset to simplify my pedalboard.
5: What strings do you use?
Elixirs generally, gauge depends on the guitar. I play bass as well and tend to use La Bellas for the basses.
6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
Nothing. Everything. There are a thousand things you always want to change, there's never a perfect take, and as I produce for others I've learnt to be able to move on and focus on feel. Try your best to perfect it but if every little thing gets scrubbed and cleaned like a kid going to see the queen you loose the character.
7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Sounds dull, but making sure everything is in tune . I seem to be the band roadie for one of the bands I'm in
8: ...And five minutes after?
see above. Still unplugging shit. Ten minutes after generally at the bar.
9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
More of a band worst gig thing than just me. 20 odd years ago playing at a university ball, we were last on at something like 1am and they gave us a green room with a piano and a crate of beer after we'd arrive for a soundcheck at 2 in the afternoon.
So obviously we drank a bit more than we should have, but the main problem was by the time we went on we were knackered., so decided to go at it super-energetic and bouncy to stay awake. We'd forgotten from the soundcheck that the stage appeared to be made out of trampolines so this made the whole drunken debacle even more precarious. The bass player clanged his headstock against a monitor halfway through the first song and couldn't stay in tune the rest of the gig, the drummer said afterwards every time he did a roll or reached for a cymbal it wasn't there anymore due to the bounce, and all the while I was corpsing in fits of giggles.
It didn't help that the hall suddenly emptied just before we came on apart from a few people fighting with giant pugilsticks (if anyone remembers Gladiators) and headbangers with there heads virtually inside the PA cabs.
We later learned from a news report that the hall had emptied due to some people having sex on the pool tables next door and everyone wanting to see it.
10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Play more with other people and less by yourself.
A Tanglewood Strat copy. Bought for me by my gran for my birthday in 1990.
2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
My 1992 MIJ Jackson Rhoads.
3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
Aforementioned Tanglewood Strat copy.
4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
A USA Select Jackson RR1.
5: What strings do you use?
Ernie Ball 09 - 46 and D'Adarrio 10 - 52, depending on the guitar
6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
The entire mix of an old band's first album. And the second one.
7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Usually trying to remember how our songs go...
8: ...And five minutes after?
Protecting my gear from murderers.
9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Playing an indoor gig in a heatwave. 30-odd degrees outside, even hotter inside, absolutely unbearable on-stage under the lights. Was a little "irritable". Singer / bassist hit me on the head with the headstock of his bass. I pushed him away. He stumbled. He fell. Right through the drum kit...
10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Just relax. No-one gives a ****
1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
Hohner jumbo acoustic at the age of 12/13 and first electric was a black CSL super strat at 15
2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
My old Shaftesbury SG copy that I traded in for crappy Yamaha back in 94 or so
3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
Was a Charvette 270 that got given away as I'd stashed it in my mum's old house
4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
KMA Wurm pedal
5: What strings do you use?
Ernie Ball Not Even Slinkys
6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
Use the 5150 that was suggested as opposed to the Zoom 9150 I was rocking
7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Normally having a dump
8: ...And five minutes after?
Wishing I was still up there on stage
9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Had a migraine before a gig and was bending down to relieve some pressure when the end of the newly wound B string went into the white of my left eye. The migraine had affected the vision in my right eye, so I basically played the gig blind and partially deaf...
10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Learn some f'ing scales young man
Yamaha SA500 in about 2008. Black semi-hollow with art-deco f-holes. Nice guitar. Should have kept it around for longer.
2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
Moffa Maryan archtop.
3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
See Q2. Ordered by me in January 2011 and completed in November 2012.
4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
Hahn Model C telecaster
5: What strings do you use?
Thomstik Swing flatwounds, 13-52
6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
Have not yet recorded.
7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Stretching out hands and some mental focus/relaxaton exercises.
8: ...And five minutes after?
Criticising my own playing, even if others felt I played well.
9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Guitar and strap parting company.
10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Prioritise learning tunes!
LJGS on Twitter: www.twitter.com/LDNJazzGuitar
Feedback threat: http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/148144/
A Teisco SS4L, which I bought for £15 (complete with amp) in 1972. I had no idea what it was until I saw an article on Ry Cooder, who was playing one, about 10 years ago. Still got it, but it's in a sorry state.
2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
Gibson Roxy/Zappa SG
3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
The Teisco SS4L
4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
A selection of old-style FX pedals. I can't get on with multi-FX; Helix will be in the classifieds forthwith.
5: What strings do you use?
Probably Ernie Ball; I like the colours...
6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
Never recorded anything
7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
I don't play in public
8: ...And five minutes after?
See 7:
9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
See 7:
10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Give up; you'll never be any good!
The pointy monster, coming up on 31 years old now.
1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
A "Star Sound" strat shaped thing in sunburst, from the now defunct guitar shop named Netto! I was about 17 I guess. It was alright after a set up, before that the intonation was abysmal. I was already quite musical having done my grade 8 piano and theory the year before so although I wasn't that good at playing it, I could tell it needed a set up!
2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
I've a white Reso Glass kit made by Wez of this parish which means a lot to me, it's beautiful visually and plays wonderfully but it has a lot of sentimental value to me as well as it was partially with money from my nan (who's no longer with us) that I bought it as she encouraged me a lot with my music.
3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
Another resoglass kit guitar bought off ebay, in red. Not as good as the white one but gets more playing time on it because it's a bit more rough and ready and therefore dispensable.
4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
An amp to replace my very disappointing Princeton Reverb.
5: What strings do you use?
For electric, usually Slinky Fat Bottom Skinny Tops. For acoustic I like Silk and Steel folk strings.
6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
On any recording of me singing I've ever done, I'd like a different singer.
7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
I sit quietly away from the chaos and do breathing exercises, effectively a sort of quick meditation. Unless I'm fiddling about with cables and amplifiers of course.
8: ...And five minutes after?
Same as the answer to number 7 pretty much, I don't hang around.
9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
I had no monitor at a performance at a Vintage Fashion & Craft fair so couldn't hear what we were playing, the only way to hear it was to turn the PA up so high that it deafened the entire hall. It wasn't great.
10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Stick to piano, and learn to sing instead.
soundcloud.com/thecolourbox-1
youtube.com/@TheColourboxMusic
A 3/4 size, nylon string, acoustic in 1992.
2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
My Strat
3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
Ibanez J-Custom
4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
UA Ox Box
5: What strings do you use?
Elixir, all round!
6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
I genuinely wouldn't change a thing.
7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Tuning up.
8: ...And five minutes after?
Packing everything down... quickly.
9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
A pint of Guinness meeting my pedalboard.
10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
It's not all about how fast you can play to the metronome.
A second-hand Hofner semi-acoustic in 1970. My mum and Dad bought me it for Xmas - I had asked for a bass guitar.
2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
My Tokai LS200.
3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
As above - 1994?.
4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
A Strat neck - vintage spec.
5: What strings do you use?
Roto yellows and Blues Sliders (when I'm feling flush.
6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
I wish. never felt good enough to go on stage.
8: ...And five minutes after?
See above.
9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
See above.
10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Practice, try to join a band. If the competition is too hot, switch to bass or drums.
1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
@Alnico has given me a beautiful Telecaster which was handbuilt by @Bridgehouse, using body & neck by @GSPBASSES - love it!
2: The building's burning down- what one guitar do you save?
Mine!
3: What's the oldest guitar you own?
Ibanez JS100 which is from 2001
4: And the next piece of gear you'd like to acquire?
Currently happy with my lot!
5:What strings do you use? - D'Addario EXL110 - 10-46
6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
I've not been recorded yet
7: what are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Not played live yet.
8:...And five minutes after?
have a pint!
9: What's the worst thing that's ever happened to you onstage?
waiting for that moment...
10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
should have learnt it earlier! only started learning it now at 21(ahem... )
Crappy nylon string classical thing which was terrible.
2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
Patrick Eggle New York Standard 1991
3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
See above
4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
New low watt valve amp for gigs. Thinking Orange OR-15 or Marshall Origin 20 atm.
5: What strings do you use?
D'Addario NYXL, because I'm worth it
6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
I'd get the guitar parts right
7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
My make-up (don't ask)
8: ...And five minutes after?
Taking my make-up off (see above)
9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Been shot at
10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Learn WHAT you are playing and why it works
A Carleton Les Paul copy, might have got it in 1997/8 or so... I still have it.
2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
My Silverburst Epi Les Paul
3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
An 80s japanese Squire Strat
4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
Lawd only knows. Depends on what comes up. Maybe an amp.
Power Slinkies on electrics, Elixer somethingorothers on my acoustic.
6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
That I have no recordings. Yet.
7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Drinking.
8: ...And five minutes after?
9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Don't get stuck in the minor pentatonic cliche for ten years, then have to go to lessons because you're bored.
Yamaha Classical 1972
2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
White nitro 2002 Fender American Deluxe Strat (a.k.a. Yang)
3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
Black Japanese 1986 Fender Contemporary Series Strat (a.k.a. Yin)
4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
Amber Burst Les Paul
5: What strings do you use?
Ernie Ball Super Slinky (9's)
6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
Add more guitar.
7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Sweating profusely.
8: ...And five minutes after?
Drinking heavily.
9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Forgot words....
10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Learn piano instead.
1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
A lousy nylon strung classical. Around six months later, a Cherry Red Squier Affinity series Strat.
2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
My silverburst Gibson SG (70's tribute)
3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
My Affinity Strat.
4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
A Chapman ML3 Modern
5: What strings do you use?
Ernie Ball Regular Slinky (10's)
6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
I'd use actual drums, rather than a lousy sounding MIDI track
7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Trying to organise my bandmates
8: ...And five minutes after?
Having a smoke and a beer.
9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
My nerves getting the better of me and properly screwing up my vocals.
10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Practice more!
An Encore acoustic, bought for me by my parents. I wasn't there at the time but my mum was very proud to tell me about this highly skilled luthier she'd found and what a nice guy he was. Later, of course, I found out all about Encore but I've never had the heart to tell her.
2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
Mary, my '94 Strat.
3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
I guess it's that Encore acoustic.
4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
Probably a Vox Amplug.
5: What strings do you use?
I've almost always used Hybrid Slinkys, occasionally Skinny Top Heavy Bottoms. Right now though, I have SKTBs on one guitar and Blue Boomers on the other, which are basically like Hybrid Slinkys with a 10 instead of a 9 on the top E.
6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
I'd have kept them.
7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
I haven't been on stage in over 20 years.
8: ...And five minutes after?
Loading the van?
9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Do it because you enjoy it.
A Spanish nylon guitar bought for me by my parents at the behest of the locals where we lived in Nerja, Spain back in '62...
2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
'52 Les Paul all-gold Goldtop...
3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
'52 Les Paul all-gold Goldtop...
4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
Origin Effects Cali76 Limiting Amplifier (the big one, not the compact jobbie)...
5: What strings do you use?
Ernie Ball - various depending on the guitar...
6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
The effort I put in to pushing it out there... ALL of them...
7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Tuning, checking, panicking...
8: ...And five minutes after?
Partying...
9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Brain fart - came in loud with a chord in the wrong key...
10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Don't expect too much, embrace everything that comes your way, practice more...
1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
A nylon string with the strings about an inch off the fretboard bought for me by my parents when I was eleven, I think. Super hard to play and not really a good fit for a beginner. Didn't really get into playing until I picked up an electric again at 16
2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
My Ibanez AT
3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
Nylon string from question 1
4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
An EBMM Luke
5: What strings do you use?
I've been palying D'addario 09's for years
6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
That I sucked that day!
7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Tuning, probably...
8: ...And five minutes after?
Get a beer!
9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Small stage, monitoring was REALLY bad. Couldn't hear the singer or the bass player - lots of counting going on!
10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
One note solos are absolutely acceptable - you just have to mean that note...