10 Questions We Ask Everyone

JonnieMelancholy

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?

I first played my mum’s classical, but the first guitar I owned for myself was a Brunswick electro-acoustic

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?

Epiphone Lucille

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?

Had Lucille the longest. Not sure which one's oldest.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?

A stage piano/hammond/rhodes 

5: What strings do you use?

I used to use D’addario Blues but kept snapping them. Now I just use Mediums, of any brand except Rotosound. 

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?

I haven’t recorded much but in general, I’m happy with it, then hate it, then think life’s too short and move on

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?

Tuning. Making sure the rest of the band are tuning 

8: ...And five minutes after?

Packing down the PA

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?

I’ve played a few gigs as a bass player with my volume dial turned right down. I was so cross with the sound desk until I realised…

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?

Don’t wait for someone to ask you to join them, ask people to join you. Playing with the right people is so much less work and more joy.

evan_reSound

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
A Squier P-Bass when I was 12. It got me hooked.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
My 40-year-old Jazz Bass. It’s been with me through everything.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
Probably the Jazz Bass, but I have some vintage synths that are pushing similar age.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
A nice semi-hollow or a vintage pedal I’ve been eyeing.

5: What strings do you use?
Flatwounds on the Jazz Bass. For guitars, it depends, but I lean towards classic nickel-wound sets.

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
I’d leave more space—sometimes less really is more.

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Checking tuning, last-minute stretches, and trying to keep my mind in the zone.

8: ...And five minutes after?
Either grinning ear to ear or overanalysing everything I played.

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
String snap mid-song. Had to finish on whatever was left.

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Relax, trust your feel, and don’t overthink it, just play.

{ToneChaser}

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?

£30 nylon acoustic from Argos - It sucked

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?

Fender Stratocaster Vintera II

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?

Fender Stratocaster Vintera II 2023

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?

PRS Silver Sky SE Black

5: What strings do you use?

11's any brand

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?

I never really recorded other than using my iphone voice memo app

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?

I never gigged but most likely trying to meditate to relax a little

8: ...And five minutes after?

Overthinking about how bad it was


9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?

I've never been on stage I'm just a bedroom player

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?

Stop buying gear buy some lessons and focus on practice and improvement

Cartoonwiththepain

This looks fun, I'll play!

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
A pretty average Tanglewood FST32 Strat copy that was my older brother's. He gave it to me when I was about 16, I think?

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
My '91 Orville Les Paul Custom that was originally in Alpine White but has faded to cream. It's my birth year guitar, I'm never letting it go.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
Again, my '91 Orville. Which feels like a back handed comment now given the whole birth year thing.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
A Squier Paranormal Esquire Deluxe. I play in three punk rock bands and it looks pretty much perfect for me especially as a stage guitar.

5: What strings do you use?
Electrics - Ernie Ball Regular Slinky on 25.5in scale lengths, and Ernie Ball Power Slinkies on 24.5in scale lengths. As for acoustic I can't remember the last time I restrung mine... I think I used Martin strings? I'll probably use something else next time though just to change it up.

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
The guitar tones on the guitar solos on my band's recent record. I should have put my foot down about using a live head & cab rather than allowing it to be done with cab sims.

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Probably having a pee and running to the bar to get a glass of water.

8: ...And five minutes after?
Probably having another pee, and another glass of water.

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Breaking a string, then getting my backup guitar... and breaking a string on that too. Our bassist had to entertain the crowd with improvised Motown covers while I frantically put a new string on. Horrible.

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Save your money a bit longer and get a second hand Gibson as your first 'good' guitar!