Archive for October, 2008

Holy Crap — ‘Zep’ Is Serious?

Posted by admin in Friday, October 31st 2008   
Topics: Jimmy Page/Zep    
1 Comment 29 views

Initially I just chalked up the “Zep touring without Plant” talk as rumor. I mean, can you imagine? (I’m searching for an analogy here, but I can’t find one. Maybe it would be like Queen, with Freddie still alive (God bless him) taking a long hiatus and then suddenly touring with another singer. Or maybe [...]

How To Get Hand Tone?

Posted by admin in Thursday, October 30th 2008   
Topics: Alex Lifeson, Billy Gibbons, Edward Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page/Zep, Stevie Ray Vaughan    
No Comment 532 views

I just read an article on Gibson.com about Stevie Ray’s tone. The headline starts with these words: Myth Busters. I assume that’s because the overall point of the piece is that Stevie’s gear wasn’t cut and dried, particularly on the amp side, so his tone being a direct function of his equipment is a [...]

On the Other Hand/Finger

Posted by admin in Wednesday, October 22nd 2008   
Topics: John Petrucci, Paul Gilbert, Picking Technique    
No Comment 82 views

On the subject of switching your picking from thumb/forefinger to thumb/first two fingers — well, you can go the other way too. Paul Gilbert used to play with two fingers and a thumb, but switched to thumb/forefinger, apparently just to get a cooler, cello-like pick attack — and because of a little thumb pain.

Attack of the Pick

Posted by admin in Monday, October 20th 2008   
Topics: Edward Van Halen, George Lynch, Picking Technique, Steve Morse    
1 Comment 205 views

Years ago I was watching a Steve Morse instructional video (yes, on VHS) in which he talked about how he holds his pick. Specifically, if I remember right, he holds it with his thumb and first two fingers — contrary to the grip 99% of people seem to use, which is thumb and first (pointer) [...]

Ed the Force Is

Posted by admin in Monday, October 13th 2008   
Topics: Edward Van Halen, Picking Technique    
No Comment 124 views

Today I was going to write something about Yngwie getting a bad rap or maybe start looking into how Skynyrd got such great tones out of Peavey amps, but instead ran into this quote on the Van Halen News Desk. It’s from an interview with EVH’s guitar tech Tom Weber, who was on his maiden [...]

Zep x 75% + Kennedy = Tour?

Posted by admin in Monday, October 13th 2008   
Topics: Jimmy Page/Zep    
2 Comments 37 views

According to Gibson.com via this gossip blog, Led Zep may tour minus, without, not including — Robert Plant. Plant’s replacement may be Myles Kennedy of Alter Bridge.
What?!

Gary Moore’s ‘Edge’ Tone

Posted by admin in Thursday, October 9th 2008   
Topics: Gary Moore, Marshall, Strat    
No Comment 308 views

Like all good tone-chasers, Gary Moore has been all over the map, albeit a fairly narrow map. I won’t pretend to know a lot about Gary Moore — he’s from one of those islands over yonder, right? — but I do know WoodyTone when my ears hear it. And killer playing.
Today I was listening to [...]

Basswood? Anyone?

Posted by admin in Friday, October 3rd 2008   
Topics: Basswood, Edward Van Halen, Joe Satriani, Peavey, Steve Vai    
No Comment 222 views

Can anyone get woodytone out of a solid basswood guitar body? Or is this just the worst guitar wood ever?

Here’s my ear experience with it.
1. Not even the great EVH can get a true woodytone out of basswood, though he has come close on stage with the EVH Art Series Charvels.