Guitar Player articles from March 2002

Guitar Player archives from March 2002

Soundhole sometimes it sucks to grow up.(legacy of musician George Harrison)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... For many in my age group--a demographic blip forged by flower power, the sexual revolution, and the Me Generation--living in a world with two less Beatles is a daunting and depressing reality. It's even worse if you're a guitarist, because...

More cheese for our 35th b-day! (Feedback).(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2002... I've played guitar since age eight, and I grew up around the world as an army brat. My first lesson was in 1970, and I've never stopped playing or learning. Seeing the past covers of Guitar Player in your "Elements of Style" article [Jan. '02]...

Roy Buchanan. (Feedback).(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2002... Ever have one of those great gigs? The kind where the notes drip from your amp like molasses, the club is packed, and the smoke covers the air like gauze? On the drive home, you think, "I'm the man--no, I'm the king!" Then you throw Roy...

Farewell to George. (Feedback).(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2002... We lost a great one on November 29, 2001. George Harrison's body died in Los Angeles, but the warmth from his heart, and the sound that burst from his hands will live on. Goodbye, George, and thank you for spending 58 years with us. David...

Oops! (Feedback).(Correction Notice)
March 1, 2002... In our review of the Bad Cat Black Cat 30R ["Bad to the Bone," Dec. '01] we mistakenly reported that Matchless Amplifiers is no longer in business. They are again alive and well (albeit without Mark Sampson's participation) at 8423 Wilshire...

Flightless flying V.(students at Academy of Science and Technology in Texas build world's largest playable guitar)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... FLIGHTLESS FLYING V: With the help of science teacher Scott Rippetoe, 11 students at the Academy of Science an Technology in Conroe, Texas, have constructed that was recently confirmed by the Guinness Book of World Record as the world's largest...

Big talent, short list.(music group Sigur Ros receives Shortlist Prize for Artistic Achievement)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... BIG TALENT, SHORT LIST: The first annual Shortlist Prize for Artistic Achievement in Music was handed out to Iceland's experimental rock group Sigur Ros for their album/Agaetis Byrjun at a November 19, 2001, award ceremony in Los Angeles....

Pawnshop prize: Elli Sound. (Toolbox: essential info for guitarists).(vintage guitar)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... As with other European countries, Italy responded to the '60s pop-music boom by cranking out electric guitars by the jillions. Many of these models were made by accordion manufacturers that had distinct ideas about guitar design. Take this Elli...

Live wires: Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman. (Toolbox: essential info for guitarists).(guitars, sound equipment used by members of music group Slayer while on tour)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Few bands wield raw power on the level of Slayer--the band that set the standard for speed metal. On tour in support of their latest album, God Hates Us All [American], Slayer guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman perform material from their...

Watch women rock.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... WATCH WOMEN ROCK: Coming to a PBS station near you this March is Welcome to the Club--The Women of Rockabilly, a documentary by Beth Harrington that tells the stories of '50s rockabilly stars Wanda Jackson, Brenda Lee, Janis Martin, and Lorrie...

Passing notes.
March 1, 2002... PASSING NOTES: Michael Karoli--guitarist, violinist, and

Classic riffs: Brad Gillis on "Sister Christian". (Toolbox: essential info for guitarists).(guitar, playing techniques used by musician in recording of song)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... When Night Ranger hit the airwaves in 1982, Brad Gillis was already famous in guitar circles for having the guts to fill the late Randy Rhoads' shoes in Ozzy Osbourne's band. With his own group, Gillis established himself as a master of the...

Songcraft: David Garza. (Toolbox: essential info for guitarists).(singers)(Interview)
March 1, 2002... Although David Garza was feted as one of the year's heaviest singer/songwriters in Vanity Fair's 2001 music issue, he is afar cry from an introspective coffee-house poet. And he does way more than strum an acoustic guitar and sing aching...

Setups of the stars: the edge. (Toolbox: essential info for guitarists).(music)(Evaluation)
March 1, 2002... The 1976 Gibson Explorer The Edge bought new as a teenager was the first guitar he played in U2, and, for me, it is synonymous with the unique sound of its owner. The guitar has remained relatively stock. Gold Schaller tuning machines have been...

Norman Granz, founder of Verve Records, died November 22, 2001, at the age of 83.(Obituary)
March 1, 2002... Norman Granz, founder of Verve Records, died November 22, 2001, at the age of 83. Besides establishing what is now the world's largest jazz and adult-contemporary record label, Granz was also respected for his efforts to fight racism. During...

Pick up pickup artists.
March 1, 2002... PICK UP PICKUP ARTISTS: In September, Seymour Duncan released the first of its limited-edition CD compilations, United by Tone -- which showcases artists associated with the company and features liner notes that detail gear used on each track...

My favorite Guitar Player. (Toolbox: essential info for guitarists).
March 1, 2002... "The December 1983 issue was the first time I had seen the word `rockabilly' in print, and I thought, `Oh my god--we've been discovered!' And to have my idol, Eddie Cochran, on the cover was another home run. I'd never seen that really cool,...

Site reading: buzzfox.com. (Toolbox: essential Info for guitarists).(internet)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Don't you hate it when you read about a pedal that seems really cool, but your local music store doesn't carry it? Enter buzzfox.com--an online stompbox outlet with a brilliant pedal-auditioning feature. First, locate the pedal you want by...

Performance notes: Rodney, Jones. (Toolbox: essential info for guitarists).(Interview)
March 1, 2002... PERFORMANCE NOTES Rodney Jones Veteran sideman and session guitarist Rodney Jones has played alongside such notables as Dizzy Gillespie, James Brown, and Michael Jackson. He's currently the house guitarist on NBC's The Rosie O'Donnell...

Learning curve: Jump, Jive `N' Swing. (Toolbox: essential info for guitarists).
March 1, 2002... If you're ready for a swing-jazz/jump-blues revival on your fretboard, Jump, Jive `N' Swing is right up your alley. Featuring instructional guru Keith Wyatt, this 60-minute video focuses on rhythm playing in the styles of swing legends Freddie...

New gear.(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2002... 1. KRAMER The Striker AX-404C Double Neck ($600) combines a 6-string acoustic with a 6-string electric, and features dual outputs, a maple top, maple necks, an alder body, and rosewood fretboards. The acoustic side has a Shadow SH-CA...

Cracker: Johnny Hickman dissects his eclecticism.(musician discusses recording of music album Forever)(Interview)
March 1, 2002... "We keep anything that feels good--regardless of its musical style," says Cracker guitarist Johnny Hickman of his songwriting partnership with vocalist David Lowery. "Dave and I became friends in high school, during the punk-rock days of the...

Warren Haynes: Gov't Mule pays tribute to Allen Woody.(guitarist discusses recording of music albums The Deep End Volumes I, II)(Interview)
March 1, 2002... When Gov't Mule bassist Allen Woody passed away suddenly on August 26, 2000, guitarist Warren Haynes and drummer Matt Abts were devastated, but they decided to carry on. However, picking a new bass player to replace their dear friend seemed...

Robben Ford: blues and beyond.(guitarist discusses recording of music album Blue Moon)(Interview)
March 1, 2002... Like an explorer venturing from a secure base camp, Robben Ford pushes the boundaries of his musical vision while keeping a solid footing in blues. His journey so far--from the Northern California blues scene to stints with Jimmy Witherspoon,...

Pickups.(guitarists discuss recording of music albums)(Interview)
March 1, 2002... Guitar Shorty Tahiti might seem like an unlikely locale to find a road-seasoned blues legend who grew up poor in rural Florida, but for Guitar Shorty, that's exactly where he needs to be to rehearse his band. "In Los Angeles, all the guys...

Buzz.(guitarists discuss recording of music albums)(Interview)
March 1, 2002... Hadacol "We've never had a problem reconciling our country influences with our rock and punk influences," says Fred Wickham of ass-kicking roots rockers Hadacol. "But I think some other people might have a problem with us reconciling those...

Industry insider: behind-the-scenes news on the guitar biz.(Celestion G12 Century speaker)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2002... DEVELOPING A NEW-CENTURY CELESTION Since the 1950s, Celestion speakers have set the standard for rock-guitar tone. Models such as the T530 (a.k.a Bulldog/Bluebell) were a big part of the British Invasion sound, and greats such as Jeff Beck,...

Repeat offender: Zakk Wylde reboards Ozzy's crazy train.(guitarist)(Interview)
March 1, 2002... Zakk Wylde never set out to be a metal god--despite the fact that with his flowing blond hair, full beard, and impressive physique he looks like Thor with a Les Paul. No, Wylde just wanted to jam on the music he loved growing up as a kid in New...

This year's model: after a decade of evolution, incubus' Mike Einziger becomes an overnight sensation.(guitarist)(Interview)
March 1, 2002... In the music business, if a band can't be pigeonholed, it probably doesn't stand a chance of surviving. That's what makes Incubus--and their guitarist Mike Einziger--an anomaly. They've risen to the top of the modern-rock heap without resorting...

Puttin' the breaks on the blues: saucy starts and flashy finishes for your 12-bar binges.(blues guitar techniques)
March 1, 2002... Few licks are more satisfying to play than fat, juicy blues turnarounds. These gratifying cadences please your ears and soothe your soul. But of all the turnarounds you play, are any more important--or more high profile--than those that open or...

Divine light: George Harrison's fab life of innovation and exploration.
March 1, 2002... Quiet? Like hell. George Harrison may not have prattled on like the characters in the Monty Python skits he loved, but his actions were loud, clear, and far reaching. Often characterized as cranky and uncomfortable with fame, it's no surprise...

Board games: four prefab pedalboards. (Bench Tests).(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2002... Until recently, there were surprisingly few pedalboard options. The few mass-produced models were too flimsy for dependable stage use, or could accommodate only one manufacturer's pedals. Serious users either built their own pedalboards or...

Shrine of power: Budda Superdrive 80 Series II. (Bench Tests).(guitar amplifier)(Evaluation)
March 1, 2002... Since the early '90s, Budda Amplification has been building boutique-oriented guitar amps that offer smart features and killer tones at reasonable prices. The company's latest offering is the Superdrive 80 Series II ($2,200), which is designed...

Gizmo alert: Korg Pandora PXR4. (Bench Tests).(sound recording, processing device)(Evaluation)
March 1, 2002... Is that a Pandora in your packet? Or are you just glad that Korg has crammed an absurd amount or recording and processing power into a box the size of a bologna sandwich? The PXR4 Digital Recording Studio ($500) is a 4-track...

Neo traditional: Dean EVO Premium. (Bench Tests).(electric guitar)(Evaluation)
March 1, 2002... With an infamous history of ads featuring scantily clad women and pointy guitars, Dean has forged a reputation that's heavy on design eccentricity and rock-star attitude. But with the introduction of its recent EVO series--which features...

Chorus of approval: Fulltone Choralflange and Visual Sound H20. (Bench Tests).(chorus pedals)(Evaluation)
March 1, 2002... After a decade of disuse, chorus pedals seem once more to be staking out prime real estate on guitarists' pedal-boards. While it's sometimes difficult to tell how tongue-in-cheek the chores comeback is, one thing's for sure: When modern...

Whole-tone helper. (Chops Builder).(guitar playing techniques)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... WHILE THE WHOLE-tone one scale is one of the easiest to memorize, it's one of the trickiest to use--until, that is, you unlock its simple secrets. Though many players are familiar with its mysterious sound (listen for it ascending as characters...

Portable harmonics. (Chops Builder).(guitar playing techniques)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... TAKE IT FROM CHET Atkins, Eddie Van Halen, The Edge, and the inspiration for this column--the late, great Lenny Breau--harmonics just plain rule. More often than not, they sound cooler than regular notes, animate static progressions, and...

Walking bass lines. (Classic Column).(guitar playing techniques)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... BEING ABLE TO comp and play bass lines at the same time is a very handy skill to have. This column deals with rhythm changes, a progression (based on George Gershwins "I Got Rhythm") that centers on the patterns I-VI-II-V and III-VI-II-V....

Encore: classic interview: Johnny Winter, 1974.(Interview)
March 1, 2002... Guitar Player, August 1974 -- Beginning with his great-grandmother's 100-year-old Spanish guitar--with its neck "all horribly warped like a bow"--Johnny Winter has been stringing guitars since he was 11. With allowance money earned by mowing...