Guitar Player articles from October 2004

Guitar Player archives from October 2004

Noize from the editor.(Editorial)
October 1, 2004... Revisiting one's musical past is often a pathetic exercise, and I avoid it in much the same way as I would attempt to steer clear of a certain and painful death, but here I was picking through boxes of old posters, demos, photos, and press...

Letter of the month!(Feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... I just finished reading the Aug '04 issue, and the first thing that came to mind was "Best Issue Ever" (spoken in the voice of The Simpsons' "Comic Book Guy"). With a cover story on the Beatles (the band that literally launched a million...

Noize.(Feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... Michael Molenda's August "Noize from the Editor" was dead on. I would add that American Idol is trying to facilitate a music industry where musicians mean nothing and the singer is the only performer worthy of recognition. The Beatles were a...

Buddy Holly.(Feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... Thanks for re-running the excerpt from Bill Bush's 1982 article on Buddy Holly and the Crickets [Classic Tracks, Aug. '04]. In an era in which, sadly, many of the surviving rock and roll legends of the 1950s are passing on, it may come as a...

Daisy Rock.(Feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... As a female guitarist, I feel a little torn about these Daisy Rock guitars. I think it's great that female players are becoming more common and accepted--and that someone has acknowledged us by designing an entire brand to suit our needs--but...

Oops!(Feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... Somewhere along the editing process, we lost a few words at the end of the Ibanez Troubadour TA20 and TA35 review [Aug. '04]. The last sentence should have read: "Bring an overdrive pedal along, and you just might be able to leave your regular...

Dan Armstrong, 1934-2004.(Community)(Obituary)
October 1, 2004... Visionary guitar and effects designer Dan Armstrong passed away on June 8th, 2004, due to complications arising from emphysema and a heart attack. Armstrong was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on October 6th, 1934, and migrated to New York City in...

How I won Guitarmageddon 2004.(Community)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... "First off, I was the only acoustic guitarist in the finals, so I think I was a breath of fresh air," details Michael Kelsey, who wielded a Taylor 615 and a sense of humor to win Guitar Center's national Guitarmageddon competition, held June 5...

Showdown at the Buffalo Niagara Guitar Festival.(Community)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... This year's Buffalo Niagara Guitar Festival was loaded with headliners such as Robert Randolph, Derek Trucks, Rik Emmett, and Richard Thompson. But the high drama belonged to five unknowns battling it out at the festival's fourth annual North...

Homegrown guitar amps.(Community)(ax84.com )(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
October 1, 2004... A new subculture of musicians-turned-amp-builders is transforming tool sheds, garages, and kitchen tables around the globe into custom amp shops. Fed up with boutique amps that cost thousands of dollars--and possessed by an "I can do that"...

Those Jimmy Page signature Gibsons we covered back in the July issue have sold like hotcakes!(News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Those Jimmy Page signature Gibsons we covered back in the July issue have sold like hotcakes! Really expensive hotcakes. One was purchased by an anonymous buyer for an insane $55,000--more than double the already pretty darn steep retail price...

Richard Thompson on thinking visually.(Songwriting)
October 1, 2004... As one of the world's most celebrated and prolific singer-songwriters and guitarists, Richard Thompson knows a thing or two about crafting a good tune. His latest CD, The Old Kit Bag [SpinArt], showcases a muse brimming with piercing wit, dark...

Another smaller, slightly less pricey collectible will be available in October: KnuckleBonz's Randy Rhoads sculpture.(News)
October 1, 2004... Another smaller, slightly lass pricey collectible will be available in October: KnuckleBonz's Randy Rhoads sculpture. For $99, you can get one of only 3,000 nine-inch sculptures of the legend--part of KnuckleBonz's Guitar Hero series. Rhoads...

Yamaha kicked off the summer on May 22 with the Yamaha Guitar Experience in Santa Monica.(News)
October 1, 2004... Yamaha kicked off the summer on May 22 with the Yamaha Guitar Experience in Santa Monica. In conjunction with West LA Music, the day-long event featured live performances, autograph sessions, and drawings, with appearances by Chris Poland,...

Ted Nugent and Toby Keith showed their support for our troops by heading over to Afghanistan and Iraq for a couple of performances in June.(News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Ted Nugent end Toby Keith showed their support for our troops by heading over to Afghanistan and Iraq for a couple of performances In June. Nugent asked members of the U.S. Armed Forces to sign his red, white, and blue Gibson J-200 Super...

They Might Be Giants' John Flansburgh has put together a fundraising compilation.(News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... They Might Be Giants' John Flansburgh has put together a fundraising compilation, Future Soundtrack for America, to be released on Barsuk records on August 10. All proceeds from the project will go to progressive organizations such as...

CA guitars factory tour.(Industry Insider)(Lafayette Instrument Company Inc.)(Company Profile)
October 1, 2004... Located in the heart of Louisiana's Cajun country, Lafayette is famous for its crawfish etouffee, infectious music, and joie de vivre. Improbably, the small university town is also the home of one of the most high-tech guitar manufacturers on...

Exclusive sneak peek! Peavey partners with Jack Daniels.(Industry Insider)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Peavey has introduced a new line of guitars, amplifiers, and accessories bearing the Jack Daniels brand. Citing the unique affinity that fans of the Tennessee distillery have for music, Peavey hopes the products will appeal to Jack Daniels...

Burning brides.(Buzz)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... "When you can't help your body and head from rocking back and forth--that's when you know a riff is good," says Burning Brides guitarist Dimitri Coats. And judging by his hand's latest sacrificial offering to the riff gods, Leave No Ashes [V2],...

By divine right.(Buzz)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... "I'm not really the typical guitar guy," explains Jose Miguel Contreras, mastermind for Canadian indie-rockers By Divine Right, who just released Sweet Confusion [Linus]. "I'm just a guy who uses guitars to make music. In fact, a lot of our...

Hill: Almeria Acoustic guitar.(Out Now!)
October 1, 2004... * Based on an 1885 design by Spanish luthier Antonio de Torres * Engleman spruce top * Indian rosewood back and sides * Rubner tuners * 650mm string length * French polish finish * (831) 335-0442; hillguitar.com ...

Electrosonic: fireball tube AMP.(Out Now!)
October 1, 2004... * 40-watt class AB output section * 5AR4 tube or solid-state rectifier * 12AX7, 6SL7, or EF86 preamp section * Choice of 6L6, EL34, KT66, or KT88 output tubes * Built-in reactive load attenuator * (812) 897-5051;...

Rivera: Sedona Lite Acoustic AMP.(Out Now!)
October 1, 2004... * Two individual, parallel channels for simultaneous use with transducer/pickup and a microphone * Two 12AX7A preamp tubes; two EL34 output tubes * Genuine long-pan Accutronics 3-spring reverb * 12" high-output neodymium speaker,...

Schecter: twin tribal double neck guitar.(Out Now!)
October 1, 2004... * 25.5"-scale "Devil" neck on bottom * Extended 26.5"-scale "Scorpion" neck on top * Scorpion neck tuned to B, E, A, D, F [sharp], B, low to high * Grover tuners, TonePros bridges, Duncan Designed pickups * Full-neck tribal...

Gretsch: G6122SP country classic special.(Out Now!)
October 1, 2004... * Reproduction of 1963 Gretsch 6122 (immortalized by the Beatles' first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show) * Laminated maple top, back, and sides * Three-piece maple neck * Bigsby B6G vibrato tailpiece * Grover 150G Imperial...

Rocktron: hpression DSP effects processor.(Out Now!)
October 1, 2004... * 4-band parametric EQ * 128 vintage and modern presets * Flanger, Phaser, Rotary, Tremolo, Delay, and Chorus effects * Tap button for Delay and Rate control * Speaker, mic position, and dynamic tube reactance modeling *...

Tornavoz: humicase metro classical guitar case.(Out Now!)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... * Complete humidity control system * Durable fiberglass shell * Perfect weather seal; six secure latches * Shoulder/back strap rings; removable pouch compartment * Available in red, blue, green, white, black, and silver *...

Damage control: demonizer tube pre with distortion.(Out Now!)
October 1, 2004... * Dual E-H 12AX7 preamp with opto-compressor * Pre- and post-tube analog EQ * True bypass * "Magic Eye" output meter reacts to performance levels * Two channels (Engage and Nuclear) * damagecontrolusa.com * $349...

Roger McGuinn.(Patron Saint)(Interview)
October 1, 2004... In June 1965, the Byrds released their heretical version of Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man." Though the song shocked folk purists--who had yet to hear Dylan strum electric guitar at the Newport Folk Festival--it quickly shot to No. 1 on the...

The 50 greatest tones of all time.(Critical Essay)
October 1, 2004... Tone. It's one of the most magical and beautiful aspects of the guitar. It's also the most mysterious and, at times, frustrating. A player can chase after technical skills for years, and nothing he or she plays will sound like much if the tone...

Distorted confessions: Juliana Hatfield slacks her way to guitar bliss.(Interview)
October 1, 2004... After a 15-year solo career chock full of critical acclaim, Juliana Hatfield still can't give herself a break. But the Massachusetts native's penchant for self deprecation is definitely at odds with her brilliant songcraft, her ragged and...

The DIY kids: the black keys are doing just fine all by themselves.(Interview)
October 1, 2004... It's a tired, but true adage: If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. And you'd be hard pressed to find a more musical embodiment of the DIY approach than the Black Keys. After the band's early 2003 release of...

What's spinning in the editors' heads this month?(Rants And Raves)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... BARRY CLEVELAND Tal Farlow, The Complete Verve Tal Farlow Sessions Les Paul, The Legendary Fred Waring Broadcasts The Nels Cline Singers, The Giant Pin ART THOMPSON The Cure, The Cure John Scofield Trio, Enroute Junior Brown, Down...

The Sadies: Fovourite Colours.(Sound Recording Review)
October 1, 2004... All too often the phrase "alternative country" means childishly strummed electric guitar with wan, croaky vocals laid over the top. And maybe, if you're lucky, a steel guitar will appear to give the proceedings an air of supposed authenticity....

Rush: Feedback.(Sound Recording Review)
October 1, 2004... This is gonna be kind of messed up and cruel, but Rush gives me the giggles. I mean, can you really listen to their oh-so-meaningful lyrics and resist quivering in spasms of laughter? C'mon--that stuff is funny. Then, there's Geddy's voice. Say...

Jon Durant: Things Behind the Sun.(Sound Recording Review)
October 1, 2004... On his fifth album, Durant creates a marvelous pastiche of the tones and textures explored on his previous recordings, while generally framing them in more harmonically complex structures. Accompanied by upright electric bassist Tony Levin and...

Finn Brothers: Everyone is Here.(Sound Recording Review)
October 1, 2004... Throughout his tenures in Split Enz and Crowded House, I have been amazed and dumbfounded at Neil Finn's ability to yank surprising and expressive melodies out of the same damn chords that every other schmuck songwriter carries around in his or...

Clutch: Jam Room.(Sound Recording Review)
October 1, 2004... Tagged as being everything from stoner rock to a hardcore/metal jam band, Clutch simply refuses to be pigeonholed. And, as this rerelease of 1999% Jam Room can attest, that's just fine. Containing three extra tracks, Jam Room manages to be...

Richie Havens: Grace of the Sun.(Sound Recording Review)
October 1, 2004... I have loved Richie Havens' voice since I first heard the recording of his performance at Woodstock in the late '60s. Deep, nuanced, and possessing a spiritual potency that has proved capable of moving even the most hidebound listener, that...

The Doors: Live in Europe 1968.(Sound Recording Review)
October 1, 2004... If you devour everything about the Doors, then Live in Europe will help you sate your collectivist yearnings quite nicely. But if you're a Doors neophyte seeking tangible proof about the band's mythic celebration of the Dionysian creed, this...

Tom Dowd & the Language of Music.(Movie Review)(Brief Review)
October 1, 2004... This excellent feature-length documentary details the extraordinary life and work of the late Tom Dowd, the man behind some of the greatest music recorded in the latter-half of the 20th Century. Tracing the visionary engineer and producer's...

Lap Steel Guitar: By Andy Volk.(Book Review)(Brief Review)
October 1, 2004... If you're captivated by the fat whine of a Supro steel, the cutting cry of a triple-neck Fender Stringmaster, or the mellow twang of a Weissenborn hollowneck acoustic, you'll flip over Lap Steel Guitar. Author Andy Volk interviewed or profiled...

Discover DADGAD: Laurence Juber reveals the secrets of this enchanted open tuning.(Master Class)
October 1, 2004... "I use DADGAD for about 50 percent of my music," says fingerstyle wizard Laurence Juber as he coaxes his Martin into the exotic altered tuning. "It opens up dimensions on the guitar that aren't accessible in standard tuning. Because it leads me...

Woodshed: grooving over jazz changes.(Advanced)
October 1, 2004... For those growing up on a blues-scale diet of rock and blues, the natural inclination for improvising is to play modally. However, in jazz--or in any music with shifting harmony--the modal approach alone brings vagueness to solos. Listen...

Blues guru Robben Ford: that cool four-against-three sound.(Intermediate)
October 1, 2004... The blues often has a triplet--some would say shuffle--feel that we typically write out as 12/8 or 6/8 meter, which indicates three pulses per downbeat. But many musicians, from bebop horn players to blues guitarists, like to occasionally put...

Metal guru Rusty Cooley: soulful sweeping.(Advance)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... I love playing two-string sweeps ultra fast. No, it's not because I'm trying to show off or be the sickest shredder in town, but rather because when this type of sweeping is performed as shown below--that is, looped repeatedly at an insanely...

Hot guitarist alert!(Intermediate)(North American Rock Guitar Competition )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... NAME Paul Runfola HOME BASE Warsaw, New York RIFF With a singing overdrive, a touch of delay, and a smooth, even attack, Paul Runfola wowed a massive crowd with this mesmerizing lick during his silver-medal performance at this year's...

Reader's challenge: killer closers.(Beginner)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Every train needs a caboose, every joke a punch line, and every sentence a period. Similarly, as Eric Iverson of Jackson Heights, New York, points out, every song needs the perfect closing chord. Because that final harmony will be the last...

Lessons online at guitarplayer.com.(Online Lesson Menu)
October 1, 2004... FREE * AUDIO VERSIONS AT GUITARPLAYER.COM OCTOBER '04 GUITAR PLAYER MASTER CLASS Discover DADGAD--Laurence Juber Reveals the Secrets of this Enchanted Open Tuning OCTOBER '04 GUITAR PLAYER LESSONS: Hot Guitarist Alert!--Paul...

"I'm the One" by Van Halen.(Full Song Transcription)
October 1, 2004... "I'm the One"--a killer track from Van Halen's self-titled debut album--is a virtual textbook study of how a remarkable young guitarist named Edward Van Halen reinvented rock guitar in the late '70s. With a lone guitar, he juggled rhythm and...

Squier Jagmaster II and '51.(Gear)(Product/Service Evaluation)
October 1, 2004... Seeking to expand its Vintage Modified series of guitars, Fender's Squier division has introduced two new models: the Jagmaster II and the Squier '51. Both guitars are geared toward younger players, but would make great alternatives for anyone...

Mesa/Boogie Lone Star 1x12.(Gear)(Mesa Engineering)(Product/Service Evaluation)
October 1, 2004... It's best to be one fearless mofo when you plug into a Mesa/Boogie, and not just because the company's Rectifier series defined one of the scariest, heaviest, and most controversial tones ever to partner with a guitar and a scowl. The deal is...

Line 6 Variax Acoustic 700.(Gear)(from Line 6)(Product/Service Evaluation)
October 1, 2004... When Line 6 debuted the original Variax digital-modeling solidbody (see the July '03 GP cover story), players and industry vets alike were shocked by the guitar's ability to mimic a roomful of classic instruments. With the Variax Acoustic...

Music Man Sub1.(Gear)(from Ernie Ball Music Man)(Product/Service Evaluation)
October 1, 2004... As much as we all enjoy our precious vintage and custom guitars--you know, like the ones in Spinal Tap that you can't even point at--there are times when what's really needed is just a good utility guitar. The SUB1 from Music Man is just that....

Malden Karma.(Gear)(Malden Guitars)(Product/Service Evaluation)
October 1, 2004... As anyone who has been to a music store or shopped online lately knows, it's not difficult to find a good-quality solidbody electric for a great price. The hard part is in picking the right model from literally hundreds of choices. And, as most...

Electro-harmonix Pulsar.(Stompbox Fever)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Featuring a Waveform switch and a Shape knob to alter the character and on/off ratio of its undulations, the Pulsar ($138 retail/$99 street) sculpts an exceptionally broad selection of tremolo effects. Made in the U.S. and sporting a...

Flip TD-X Tube Echo.(Stompbox Fever)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
October 1, 2004... Combining analog and digital technology, the Tube Echo ($300 retail/$225 street) is a hybrid delay pedal that offers controls for Level, Feedback, and Delay Time. The latter knob works in conjunction with a Delay Time switch that provides three...

Fender Color Restorer.(Accessory File)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Want to make a funky old guitar look good again? The Meguiar's Company--a well respected name in the automotive and furniture finish care business for 100 years--formulates Color Restorer ($10 retail/$8 street), which promises to quickly revive...

G7th Performance Capo.(Accessory File)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Someone somewhere is always trying to design a better mousetrap or guitar pick, and, as proved by the innovative G7th Performance Capo ($49 retail/$39 street), there is more than one way to squeeze guitar strings. Place this capo over the neck,...

SKB PS-35 Pro Series Deluxe Pedalboard.(Accessory File)
October 1, 2004... Offering easy setup and excellent protection for your stompboxes, the PS-35 Deluxe Pedalboard ($329 retail/$200 street) is comprised of a large plastic board with a useable area of 27" x 15 1/2" and a tight-fitting cover that attaches to the...

Pro audio report: M-audio condensers.(Product/Service Evaluation)
October 1, 2004... In a modern recording world where rights and wrongs simply don't exist anymore, even the most prissy and paranoid studio cats can feel more right by capturing the sound of an electric guitar rig with a dynamic microphone. After all, a Shure...

Exotica: Gibson Cloud 9 1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue.(Gear)(Product/Service Evaluation)
October 1, 2004... It's fun to watch expressions of amazement cross guitarists' faces when they first encounter Gibson's Cloud 9 1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue ($7,669 retail/$4,886 street). But, as impressive as this guitar's accoutrements are, it's not the...

Neck Sock: Happy Necks L.L.C.(Product Spotlight)(Advertisement)
October 1, 2004... Now Available The Neck Sock allows you to display your favorite guitars & basses without sacrificing tone and string life. Protects your strings & instrument from dust and oxidation while providing an alternative to stuffing your guitar...

Equinox Parametric Equalizer Preamp: D-TAR.(Product Spotlight)(Advertisement)
October 1, 2004... Now Available Equinox is an audiophile quality, low noise, 3-band parametric equalizer preamp. The frequency sweep controls, bandwidth controls, boost/cut controls and dual notch filters make Equinox ideal for studio and live use. ...

Awakening CD--20821CD: Mel Bay Records.(Product Spotlight)(Advertisement)
October 1, 2004... Now Available Corey Christiansen's Awakening conveys the intensity and virtuosity of his playing. Contains original compositions and timeless jazz standards. Enhanced CD features artist bio, video footage, interview and more. Burnin' jazz...

GRAMMA: Auralex Acoustics, Inc.(Product Spotlight)(Advertisement)
October 1, 2004... Now Available GRAMMA is the revolutionary isolation devised designed to float any amp, monitor or subwoofer, delivering a purity of tone like you've never heard before. SRP: $59 www.auralex.com 317-842-2600 [ILLUSTRATION...

Gadow Custom Hollow: Gadow Guitars.(Product Spotlight)(Advertisement)
October 1, 2004... Now Available The Custom Hollow provides an inspiring alternative to today's solid body electric guitars. A solid block of mahogany down the center of the body reduces feedback normally associated with hollow bodies. Result? You can be as...

Spike Powered Recording System: Mackie.(Product Spotlight)(Advertisement)
October 1, 2004... Meet Spike, a complete recording solution from Mackie featuring a 24-bit/96k USB Audio/MIDI interface, great-sounding Mackie preamps, incredibly easy Tracktion recording software, VST and ReWire support, and more. SRP: $495 USD ...

Big Bends Nut Sauce: Big Bends LLC.(Product Spotlight)(Advertisement)
October 1, 2004... Now Available Nut Sauce filled groove luber applicator for pin point application. Reduces pitch drift an average of 54%. Reduces string breakage an average of 85%. MSRP $19.95 www.guitaristonly.com 888-788-BEND ...

RockStand Curved Multiple Stand: RockStand by Warwick.(Product Spotlight)(Advertisement)
October 1, 2004... Now Available The new RockStand curved multiple guitar stand is perfect for storing and displaying your guitars in hard-to-fit spaces such as corners or around bulky objects--like your drummer! SRP: 5 guitar stand $79.95, 7 guitar...

IMIX: LR Baggs Corporation.(Product Spotlight)
October 1, 2004... Launch Date: April 2004 The innovative LR Baggs Co. has developed the ultimate onboard mixing system for acoustic guitars. The IMIX pairs the award winning IBeam and new undersaddle pickup, the Element, with a miniature all discrete class...

Custom Embroidered Leather Guitar Strap: Double Treble Custom Guitar Straps.(Product Spotlight)(Advertisement)
October 1, 2004... Now Available Stand out in the crowd. Personalize your very own guitar strap online with words, custom graphics or choose from over 14,000 designs. Handcrafted and finished using the finest leather. The perfect gift. SRP: From $95 ...

NexTune 6z Guitar & Bass and 12z Chromatic Tuners: Sabine.(Product Spotlight)(Advertisement)
October 1, 2004... Launch Date: July 2004 NexTunes feature Sabine's superior tuning accuracy and fast automatic note sensing. Both the chromatic 12z and the guitar & bass 6z include dual tuning displays (LCD and LED), tone generator, tilting stand, and free...

i-5: Audix.(Product Spotlight)(Advertisement)
October 1, 2004... Launch Date: June 2004 The i-5, a dynamic instrument mic able to handle extremely high sound pressure levels without distortion, is perfectly suited for miking percussion and guitar amps on stage or in the studio. SRP: $179 ...

Power Factor Pro: Furman Sound, Inc.(Product Spotlight)(Advertisement)
October 1, 2004... Now Available Furman Sound introduces the Power Factor Pro which uses Clear Tone Technology to deliver the purest power available, It also features Maintenance Free Series Mode Protection against surges, spikes and extreme voltages. ...

Bass Guitar Wireless Microphone System / Encore 200: Nady Systems.(Product Spotlight)(Advertisement)
October 1, 2004... Launch Date: August 2004 A wireless microphone system specially designed for use with bass guitars, Offers all the advantages of wireless operation plus Enhanced Headroom[TM] for optimal clarity and distortion free audio, and Bass...

Guitar Backsaver: Leathers-n-Feathers.(Product Spotlight)(Advertisement)
October 1, 2004... Now Available Tired of scratched-up electric guitar and bass backs? The patented Guitar Backsaver protects your instrument from belt buckles and buttons. The leather pad slips on/off in seconds with elastic straps. SRP: $39.95 ...

Mark Farner on the guitar's identity crisis.(Testimony)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... "I believe the main difference between most guitarists today and the players from the '60s and '70s has to do with identity," says Mark Farner. "These days, everything sounds kind of the same, and a lot of the guitar music you hear on the radio...