Guitar Player articles from February 2008

Guitar Player archives from February 2008

Noize from the editor.(Editorial)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] BECAUSE I WORK IN MEDIA, I'VE SUPPOSEDLY been trained not to be sucker punched by marketing ploys. This doesn't mean I'm immune to a shiny point-of-purchase display at Target hawking some very slick, coal-black...

Letter of the month.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2008... Man, when this ol' metalhead went to the mailbox, he was righteously pissed to see some country-music buffoon on the cover. Then, when I saw that buffoon was a gear hound, and had a thing for Dr. Zs (let alone custom ones built just for him), I...

Crazy Paisley praise.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2008... Mr. Paisley is a virtuoso of all things spanky and planky. The dude is a maniac guitar player. And, before I get hissed and booed by the entire Guitar Player readership--no, I am not a "country fan." Far from it. However, as a musician and...

From the "you can't please them all" department.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2008... Thank you for publishing such a great magazine. I receive a great surge of bliss whenever I find it in my mailbox. But I would like to comment on your choice of a cover artist. I can understand why you would want a different face then the usual...

Oops!(FEEDBACK)(Correction notice)
February 1, 2008... The final line of Dave Hunter's January 2008 review of the Stevenson Pop Classic Custom (page 164) was cut off in the production process, and should have read as follows: "I did briefly miss having a split or semi-split-coil option at the...

Robben Ford.(RIFFS: Blues)(Interview)
February 1, 2008... ROBBEN FORD IS CAPABLE OF DEALING THE AVERAGE GUITARIST A DOUBLE-WHAMMY ego blow. Not only can he conjure both stinging and smooth-as-butter tones while employing sophisticated phrasing that straddles both blues and jazz, he also has pop...

Guitar Player's Guitar Hero 2007 Competition.(RIFFS: Event)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] GP'S THIRD ANNUAL GUITAR HERO SLUGFEST threw down at San Francisco's Great American Music Hall on October 12, 2007, and it delivered a blitzkrieg of thrilling moments. The stage was a firestorm of mad chops,...

Roine Stolt.(RIFFS: Prog)(Flower Kings and the progressive rock music)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HEAR THE PHRASE "PROGRESSIVE-ROCK GUITARIST" these days, and it's easy to picture a shredder drilling Lydian licks at 90 mph. In contrast, Roine Stolt, of Swedish prog favorites the Flower Kings, is a melodic,...

Coheed and Cambria.(RIFFS: Rock)(Claudio Sanchez and Travis Stever)(Interview)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE BILLBOARD CHARTS, chances are you're not simultaneously pondering progressive rock, loads of soaring guitar solos, and concept albums with song titles that include a colon, a mythological...

Marnie Stern.(RIFFS: Rocker Girl)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY I'M A SHREDDER," says Marnie Stern. "But I'm not sure if I really am one. I've never done a solo in my life. Everything I do is fully composed and layered to go with the song." That's just...

High on fire.(RIFFS: Metal)(rock groups)(Interview)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA'S HIGH ON FIRE makes a frightening amount of noise for three guys. With a sound that melds druggy stoner rock with the relentless drone of post-apocalyptic doom, the alt-metal titans are not for...

Editor boy's big eight.(RIFFS: MySpace Hordes)(guitar music)
February 1, 2008... GP IS EMBRACING D-I-Y MUSICIANS by spotlighting thrilling (or, at least, interesting) guitar talents in this column and at guitarplayer.com. If you think you've got something going that our readers should hear, go to myspace.com/michaelmolenda...

Kramer Guitars.(RIFFS: Industry Insider)(Company overview)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] AS IMPOSSIBLE AS IT MIGHT SEEM IN TODAY'S Fender- and Gibson-dominated guitar landscape, there was a company out of Neptune, New Jersey, that soundly kicked the ass of those two industry giants for two years running....

Peavey's Custom Shop 2.0.(RIFFS: Industry Insider)(customize your own guitar)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... "WE'RE INVITING MUSICIANS deeper into the design process," says Hartley Peavey, founder and CEO of Peavey Electronics. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The invitation is to Peavey's online Custom Shop 2.0 (peaveycustomshop.com), where players...

Joe Barrick cow's skull doubleneck.(RIFFS: Vintage Vault)(guitar design)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... THERE IS A SAYING THAT APPLIES here: "This takes the cake." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The incredible Joe Barrick cow's skull doubleneck guitar--actually a bull's skull, as it has horns--dates from the early 1950s, and it's the ultimate...

The real heroes of Guitar Hero III.(RIFFS: Gamer)(video game)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] THE VIDEO-GAME INDUSTRY HAS BECOME A monster player in the new-media economy. Just ask the record and movie companies desperately trying to compete for your entertainment dollar. For a while, it even appeared that...

Butch Walker.(RIFFS: Pop)(Interview)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "WHEN I WAS 19 YEARS OLD, I WAS A LITTLE SHREDDER guy out of Atlanta who used to go to Yngwie and Paul Gilbert clinics. When I realized I could sing, I started writing songs, and I used the guitar as more of a...

Crosby Loggins.(RIFFS: Acoustic)(Interview)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CROSBY LOGGINS HAS BEEN AROUND MUSIC his entire life. After being given a keyboard at seven by his dad, hit-meister Kenny Loggins, he began writing tunes and performing at school talent shows. He got his first guitar...

Jimmy McIntosh.(RIFFS: Blues-Rock)(Interview)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] JIMMY MCINTOSH HAS THE KIND OF LUCK that would simultaneously terrify and thrill hordes of guitarists. With little more than optimism, tenacity, and a bit of ingenuity--okay, and massive fusion chops--the Las Vegas,...

Passing notes.(RIFFS: Blues-Rock)(death of Hughie Thomasson)(Obituary)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Hughie Thomasson, guitarist and founding member of Southern Rock pioneers the Outlaws, died of a heart attack September 9 at his home in Brooksville, Florida. He was 55. Signed to Arista Records in 1975 by Clive Davis, the Outlaws-known as the...

Allparts: cord lok system.(GEAR: New Gear)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Locks both cord and strap * Specially shielded cable-tie slides easily to position, but grips cord securely when pulled * Provides real "stress relief" protection for expensive cables * Works with other strap locks or easily replaces them *...

Lindy Fralin: P-92 humbucker pickup.(GEAR: New Gear)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Drop-in replacement for Gibson-sized humbucker * 2-conductor shielded cable allows for phase reversing to match any other pickup * Available with outputs ranging from 6k to 10k (customer can specify preference) * Available in nickel, gold, and...

Reverend Musical Instruments: roundhouse HB-FM electric guitar.(GEAR: New Gear)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Solid flame maple veneer top on solid korina * Set one-piece mahogany neck with rosewood fretboard * Two Reverend humbucker pickups * Wilkinson staggered EZ-Lock tuners * Available in flame maple blue burst or flame maple faded burst * Optional...

Postal Monkey: leopard fur guitar case.(GEAR: New Gear)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Built with heavy-duty construction and high-quality leather-bound handles * Built-in tuner, pick tray, and string pouch * Designed to fit most electric guitar shapes and bodies * $159 retail * postalmonkey.com [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Maxon: AD-9 pro analog delay.(GEAR: New Gear)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... 450ms of analog delay with unique filtering circuit * Multi-tapping-pong delay switch replicates dual-head feature of vintage tape-echo units * 9-volt battery or AC adapter power * LED status/battery life indicator * 5375 retail/$300 street *...

Randall Amplifiers: Ninja V2 Michael Amott signature series stack.(GEAR: New Gear)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Channels include classic solid-state clear, classic Randall overdrive, and an all-tube preamp with Attack and Bright switches * MIDI-assignable, 6-band graphic EQ and parallel effects loop * Master Volume control, power amp Density and Presence...

50 essential guitar DVDs.(sound & vision)(Cover story)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] LISTENING IS, OF COURSE, PARAMOUNT TO PLAYING THE GUITAR. Phrasing, vibrato, dynamics, chord changes, riffs--all are crucial elements of style which can be gleaned from hearing an mp3 of Zakk Wylde or a 78 of Charlie...

10 things you gotta do to play like Robin Trower.(LESSONS)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] REMEMBER THE '70S? THE PRE-DISCO '70S, TO BE EXACT? IF NOT, LET ME remind you that this was an incredibly fertile and creative period in music history. Blues rock, progressive rock, funk, and fusion were in their...

Ever since they stole the blues: a guitarist's guide to the British Invasion.(LESSONS: Style Council)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] LOTS OF AMERICAN GUITARISTS WHO take a patriotic view of their music like to trace the lineage of rock and roll from blues to country to rockabilly and finally to the heavy stuff of rock's golden age. Most draw a...

Improvising without scales: a private lesson with Carl Verheyen.(LESSONS: Soloing Seminar)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IF YOU THINK YOU'VE NEVER HEARD CARL VERHEYEN, YOU'RE PROBABLY MISTAKEN. Whether it's major motion pictures such as Ratatouille and The Usual Suspects, hit shows such Seinfeld and Cheers, or songs by Supertramp, the...

Name that lick!(INTERMEDIATE)(Marius Constant's guitar trick)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... It's one of the more famous one-bar phrases in music history, but few people will recognize this passage as sounding like composer Marius Constant's signature motif. Anyone who's ever owned a TV, however, should instantly hear the notes as the...

Scofield breaks off some Brecker.(ADVANCED)(Michael Brecker)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] If you're even slightly into jazz, you probably know that Michael Brecker was one of the most influential soloists of the modern era--so influential, in fact, that name guitarists were transcribing his licks as early...

The saddest of all licks.(BEGINNER)(Buddy Guy's guitar tricks)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] He smiles a lot onstage, but wow, does Buddy Guy know how to make a guitar cry, especially when he busts forth with the signature technique shown here. Perfect for a soul-searching slow blues in D minor--the most...

The ultimate "where's one?" riff.(ADVANCED)(guitar chords)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Strum this sprightly sequence of chords solidly (without tapping your foot) and ask your listeners to identify beat one--or, for that matter, any other down beat. Unless they are familiar with Afro funk, they will...

Marnie Stern's two-hand tap tactics.(INTERMEDIATE)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Some players wouldn't touch a two-handed tapping lick with a ten-foot tapping finger. Not Marnie Stern. The creative New York guitarist forged a signature style around--and even scored a record deal with--spirited...

Priestess' 12/8 mosh masterpiece.(BEGINNER)(Lay Down)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Thank you, Priestess. It was long overdue that someone reminded young rock fans how killin' a blues shuffle riff can be. With the mean-ass 12/8 guitar theme to your song "Lay Down," that's exactly what you did. Maybe it's the monster fuzz tone...

Joe Satriani's: tips for beginners.(LESSONS: Beginner)(Interview)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHEN WE DECIDED TO LAUNCH A NEW column for beginners, we could think of no one more perfect to star in it than Joe Satriani--and not just because Satch is the world's only multi-platinum instrumental guitar hero (or...

100-watt rigs from Carvin, Engl, and Marshall.(GEAR: Roundup!)(amplifiers)(Buyers guide)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IT'S HUMAN NATURE TO WANT MORE OF A GOOD thing, so it's not surprising that the advent of the guitar amplifier quickly led to the desire to be able to plug in as many instruments as possible. Initially the extra...

Taylor: solidbody classic, standard, and custom.(GEAR: Bench Test)(Taylor Guitars)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING. DOES THE WORLD need another electric guitar? Does Taylor really want to risk its stellar rep in the acoustic world by trespassing into the parallel universe of electric solidbodies? Don't...

PRS DGT and Mira.(GEAR: Bench Test)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] LATELY, IT HAS BEEN A BIT TOUGH KEEPING UP WITH THE output of the PRS factory. The renowned maker debuted nine guitars in 2007 as well as a few signature models and also dropped a fall surprise on everyone by...

Gibson HD.6X-Pro.(GEAR: Tech)(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IT'S NO SECRET THAT GIBSON'S HD.6X-PRO--also known as the Digital Les Paul (DLP for short)--had a long birthing. While its signature feature of being able to send each string to a separate output is not a new idea,...

DigiTech: Vocalist Live 2 and Live 4.(GEAR: Field Test)(vocal harmony processor)(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "HE OR SHE SINGS LIKE A GUITAR PLAYER" IS not a compliment, and while DigiTech's Vocalist Live products can't exactly cure that curse, they are designed specifically for singing guitar players looking to enhance...

Native Instruments Guitar Rig 3 vs. Waves GTR3.(GEAR: Fight Club)(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2008... GUITAR RIG 3 ($339 RETAIL/S299 STREET SOFTWARE EDITION; $579 retail/S499 street for Kontrol Edition) and GTR3 (complete system $500 retail/native or $600 TDM; software only is $380 retail/native or $480 retail/TDM; interface only is $120...

Fender Classics pedals.(GEAR: Stompbox Fever)(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] WHEN FENDER GOES RETRO, THE COMPANY doesn't think of, say, recasting art deco lamps in plastic. No way. The Fender Classics pedals are like huge, iron-and-chrome Oldsmobiles from the era of post-war American...

Stage Ninja INS-26S.(GEAR: Accessory File)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] GIG SETUP AND BREAKDOWN just got a bit easier, thanks to the folks at Stage Ninja. The INS-26S ($65 retail/$60 street; two XLR models--the XLR-26S and XLR-26D--are also available) is a 26-foot retractable cable...

All about tonewoods.(GEAR: Sonic Essentials)(woods for guitars)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A LOT OF INK IS GIVEN TO TWEAKING TONES by swapping pickups, mixing and matching pedals, and dialing in the right amp, but enlightened tone freaks understand the core of your guitar sound begins with its most...

Speaker solidarity.(BACK PAGE: Shop Talk)(extension speaker and amplifiers)(Column)
February 1, 2008... WELCOME TO GP'S NEW SHOP TALK COLUMN. Tube amp wizard Gerald Weber will field your amplifier related questions, and we'll call on the experts in other fields to kick down the answers to whatever you need to know about guitars, effects,...