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Jerry Garcia’s Surprisingly Interesting Technique

Jerry Garcia’s Surprisingly Interesting Technique

High Knuckles = ‘Well-Spoken’ Tone? Here’s a guy I never thought we’d write about on this blog. In case that’s not clear, I’ll come right out with it: I’m not a Grateful Dead fan. The whole never-ending concert, drooling stoner, zero-aggression, electric caravan music scene was never my thing. Call me close-minded, but I never […]

February 1, 2010 | By | 15 Replies More
Allan Holdsworth on Not Sweep-Picking…

Allan Holdsworth on Not Sweep-Picking…

…and Not Needing To In keeping with our picking theme this week, here’s more, this time from the one and only Allan Holdsworth. In a 1990 Guitar Player magazine interview, he says he can’t sweep pick – which I’m assuming is true only because he doesn’t really want to because there’s nothing Allan can’t do […]

January 29, 2010 | By | Reply More
Sweep-Picking: Are You For It or Against It?

Sweep-Picking: Are You For It or Against It?

Sometime back I started a thread on thegearpage.net titled “Outlaw sweep-picking?” and I meant it – sort of. I meant it in the sense that 9 out of the 10 times I’ve seen or heard sweep-picking in the rock arena, it’s been pure “wankage.” It may even detract from all-important TONE.

January 27, 2010 | By | 6 Replies More
Jackson Making 60 Rhoads Replica ‘Concordes’

Jackson Making 60 Rhoads Replica ‘Concordes’

One of the biggest things to come out of the recent NAMM show – that strangely got little media attention – was Jackson Guitars’ (owned by Fender) announcement that it is making 60 exact (including relic’d) replicas of Randy Rhoads’ white Jackson.

January 25, 2010 | By | 1 Reply More
Ozzy’s Opinions of His Guitarists

Ozzy’s Opinions of His Guitarists

Guitar fans owe a debt of thanks to Ozzy (or really Sharon, for saving him). Musically, I mean. The reality TV thing…not so much. Not only does Ozzy pick incredible guit-slingers for his bands – pretty amazing since he claims not to know much about the guitar – he also gives them the freedom to […]

January 22, 2010 | By | 4 Replies More
Black Country! And the ‘New’ Old Marshall…

Black Country! And the ‘New’ Old Marshall…

Have you heard about Black Country yet? This is the newly announced band with Joe Bonamassa (awesome chops and tone), Jason Bonham (awesome kabooming beats and tone), Glenn Hughes (awesome song magic) and Derek Sherinian (awesome augmentation, if you dig keys). Kevin Shirley is producing, and not only does he produce Joe but also has […]

January 20, 2010 | By | 3 Replies More
Paul Gilbert on Riff-Writing, Rhythm, Marshall VM

Paul Gilbert on Riff-Writing, Rhythm, Marshall VM

If you heard Paul Gilbert in Racer X in the ’80s, he was shredding. In Mr. Big in the ’90s he was playing poppy, but still managing to shred. On his solo albums he shreds, but not all the time. So for many of you, Paul Gilbert may = “shred.” But I think the best […]

January 18, 2010 | By | 1 Reply More
Rant: Where the F Was the Ace Frehley Cover?

Rant: Where the F Was the Ace Frehley Cover?

Nuno In a Similar Boat… Since we recently ended a year and, according to some, a decade, I thought about writing a post on the year’s/decade’s best/worst whatever…but decided it would run a serious risk of being boring. Or at least redundant. But I couldn’t let one thing pass without writing about it. And because […]

January 15, 2010 | By | 3 Replies More
Jimmy Page Going To ‘Shake Our Trees’?

Jimmy Page Going To ‘Shake Our Trees’?

Plus Jimmy Playing Whitesnake’s ‘Still of the Night!’ Word is the mighty Jimmy Page is going to do “something” musically this year, after seeing his attempt to get Zep II off the ground with a new singer fail, and watching John Paul Jones have fun with Them Crooked Vultures. I can’t wait. I’m sure it […]

January 13, 2010 | By | Reply More
Some Details On the New Slash Pickups!

Some Details On the New Slash Pickups!

In September we posted that a new Slash Les Paul was in the works, along with new signature pickups. Well, with the winter NAMM show just weeks away, details about lots of products are beginning to trickle out, including the new Slash pickups. Here’s what we know.

January 11, 2010 | By | 1 Reply More
Robbin Crosby of Ratt’s Rig Circa 1987

Robbin Crosby of Ratt’s Rig Circa 1987

Even though it’s the Year of the Tiger, here’s another Ratt post – this time on Robbin Crosby, who died some years ago of drug addiction. This info, from the April 1987 Guitar Player, is not comprehensive gear-wise but sheds some light on his sound and on what he and Warren used on Dancing Undercover. […]

January 8, 2010 | By | 2 Replies More
Warren DeMartini: Strings, Picks, Solos, Snakeskin

Warren DeMartini: Strings, Picks, Solos, Snakeskin

Here’s part 2 of the post on Warren DeMartini’s gear – plus intel on how to make your own snakeskin-covered guitar and how he looks at guitar solos. All of this info is from the 1987 Guitar Player interview and the warrendemartini.net site referenced in part 1. All quotes are Warren’s unless otherwise noted. Picks […]

January 6, 2010 | By | Reply More
Warren DeMartini’s 1987 Ratt Rig: Part 1

Warren DeMartini’s 1987 Ratt Rig: Part 1

I remember the Guitar Player magazine with Warren DeMartini on the cover – because it never arrived. I remember looking forward to it, I remember seeing it in guitar stores, but it never arrived at my house even though I was a subscriber. That’s how guitar-crazy the ’80s were: someone at the post office stole […]

January 4, 2010 | By | Reply More
What Else Affects Tone? A Great Drummer

What Else Affects Tone? A Great Drummer

Bonzo! Alex! When you’re pondering how to improve your tone and playing next year, think about this: It’s inspiring to play with a good drummer. You might play differently, you might be inspired to new heights in riff-dom and all that could change your tone – much of which is in your fingers anyway.

December 31, 2009 | By | Reply More
Do You Own One of Lowell George’s Strats?

Do You Own One of Lowell George’s Strats?

You might. It would probably be a mid-70s Fender Stratocaster, which Lowell (of Little Feat) was favoring at the time, but could be something else. Why am I asking? Here’s why, from the August 1976 issue of Guitar Player magazine: GP: How many guitars have you had? Lowell: I’ve had 50, 20 of which I […]

December 29, 2009 | By | Reply More