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Gov’t Mule’s By a Thread: Tone to the Bone!

Gov’t Mule’s By a Thread: Tone to the Bone!

There’s more woody tone in Gov’t Mule’s new By a Thread CD than in just about any album I can think of off the top of my head since the ’70s (maybe Derek Trucks’ latest?). Many other albums have great tones, but it’s pretty rare that everything sounds this woody in a vintage rock way. […]

November 19, 2009 | By | 1 Reply More
Mick Jones’ Early Foreigner Gear

Mick Jones’ Early Foreigner Gear

Foreigner is a funny band. One of their songs will cause you to change the station, another will cause you to crank it up – because Mick Jones can throw out cool riffs. I’ve always been curious about the specifics of Mick’s early Foreigner gear, but there isn’t much info on the web about it. […]

November 17, 2009 | By | 4 Replies More
The Last Word on Where EVH First Saw Tapping?

The Last Word on Where EVH First Saw Tapping?

If it’s worth getting to the bottom of this question – and, strangely, IMO it isn’t (assuming it’s possible) – comes the latest and maybe last unearthed fact in the “where did Edward Van Halen learn to ‘tap’?” question. (Not really tap, as those are harmonics. It’s right-handed hammer-ons, but no one uses that mouthful. […]

November 16, 2009 | By | 3 Replies More
Slash Using a Tele: Can You Hear It?

Slash Using a Tele: Can You Hear It?

Most people swore Jimmy Page only used a Les Paul, but we now know about the Fender Telecasters. Jimi Hendrix apparently used a Tele on the Purple Haze solo. Virtually everyone thinks Steve Gaines used a Strat on Skynyrd’s “I Know a Little,” but it turns out it might have been a Les Paul. Point […]

November 13, 2009 | By | Reply More
George Lynch on EVH Back in the Day

George Lynch on EVH Back in the Day

Well, I guess it’s George Lynch week here at WoodyTone. Read this again yesterday and remembered that I forgot to note it at the time. Here’s George Lynch on Eddie Van Halen’s influence back in the day, from a Guitar Player interview (and other sources, below) – and remember that the “big three” players that […]

November 11, 2009 | By | Reply More
George Lynch’s Woody Smoke & Mirrors Gear

George Lynch’s Woody Smoke & Mirrors Gear

Part 2 of 2; Plus George’s Vintage Parts Guitars If you read part 1 of the Lynch Mob’s Smoke and Mirrors review, you know I’m digging the album. (I’m also really digging Lynch’s Souls of We disc – more on that in a future post.) But what’s odd about it, from a Lynch standpoint, is […]

November 10, 2009 | By | Reply More
Review: Lynch Mob’s Smoke & Mirrors Really Good!

Review: Lynch Mob’s Smoke & Mirrors Really Good!

Part 1 of a 2-parter Wicked Sensation. That was George Lynch’s first post-Dokken “solo” album (the band was called Lynch Mob), and it was incredible. Still is. Great songs, great singing, great gainy tone, great playing and some of the most mind-altering solos you will ever hear. For me, it’s one of the best albums […]

November 6, 2009 | By | 1 Reply More
Slash’s ‘New’ Favorite Les Paul

Slash’s ‘New’ Favorite Les Paul

If you’re a diehard Slash fan, you might know this already, but it was news to me – interesting news. Lately, Slash has been spotted playing only a Les Paul (no surprise), but one that is not one of his many signature Les Pauls (a surprise). Naturally lots of people have been curious about the […]

November 4, 2009 | By | 1 Reply More
Leslie West’s ‘Mississippi Queen’ Tone

Leslie West’s ‘Mississippi Queen’ Tone

Everybody – every famous guit-slinger – loves Mountain’s “Mississippi Queen.” The meanness of the riff (literally too mean for daytime radio at that time – it was played only on night radio), the hugeness of the tone and the vocals…. If I can sound like a talking head for a sec, the tune is an […]

November 2, 2009 | By | 1 Reply More
Expert Says: Don’t Toss Marginal Tubes

Expert Says: Don’t Toss Marginal Tubes

Tubes = wood. Some brands of tubes may give you more wood than others. All tubes are not alike. That’s why when buying tubes, you should know what you’re doing – or talk to/buy from someone who does.

October 30, 2009 | By | Reply More
New Gov’t Mule! BFG on ‘Broke Down…’

New Gov’t Mule! BFG on ‘Broke Down…’

Yeah! Gov’t Mule’s first studio release in 3 years is out now, called By a Thread. I’m stoked. I mean, not only is it Warren and Mule, Les Pauls and big amps, it’s new music – and, if that wasn’t enough, the first tune has Billy Gibbons on it. The only way this could be […]

October 29, 2009 | By | 1 Reply More
Semi-Lost Interview: Rhoads on His Gear

Semi-Lost Interview: Rhoads on His Gear

I’ve been a Randy Rhoads fan ever since I heard the Blizzard of Ozz album. Many people can say the same thing. I’ve read all the guitar magazine interviews (Guitar Player only?) with Randy, and while I can’t quote from them verbatim, I know the gist of his gear details. It also seems to me […]

October 27, 2009 | By | 2 Replies More
Just Stupidly Great Guitar-Playing

Just Stupidly Great Guitar-Playing

Vai and Crimson I think that headline is self-explanatory. So here you go: first Steve Vai playing Zappa, then King Crimson playing ‘Elephant Talk.’ Re: Elephant Talk, I’d never heard that song before – or anything remotely like that song – which several of my buds could not believe. Maybe you’re in the same boat!

October 26, 2009 | By | Reply More
A Couple Tunes You May Not Have Heard

A Couple Tunes You May Not Have Heard

From Gary Cherone and George Lynch For the weekend, here are a couple of songs you may not have heard before – that, while not strictly woody, are pretty cool. I dig ’em, anyway.

October 23, 2009 | By | 1 Reply More
Review: KISS’s Sonic Boom Good, Single Great

Review: KISS’s Sonic Boom Good, Single Great

Full Track by Track Review After numerous listens to the Sonic Boom CD, that’s where I come out: good album, great single – and bear in mind that I’m a huge, long-time KISS fan. Don’t misread that. This is the best KISS record since 1979’s Dynasty (obviously I’m not a fan of the ’80s KISS […]

October 22, 2009 | By | 1 Reply More