| Johns' Guitars |
Notes by John |
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My main stage guitar. The PRS has a warm, well-rounded tone but also has a nice bite to it. It combines the best of Gibson and Fender tones- a Strat with a nice bottom end and a Les Paul with an edge. The humbucker pickups can be switched to single coil and it rarely goes out of tune. You can whammy all day long and it will still be in perfect pitch! The guitar has been professionally modified by Barrie at Machinehead Music to include a built-in Roland midi pickup, which I use in conjunction with my Roland Guitar Synth. You don't really need any other guitar than this
BUT.......... .........
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1990 - Paul Reed Smith Custom 24 with built-in roland midi pickup
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Gibson ES335 vintage sunburst. Only seven years old, it looks like it could be forty seven years old. A timeless design, this guitar is a work of art and possibly my favourite in the collection. It's the one I have out the case at home. I once bought an old battered 335 not realising how much work needed doing on it. When I got it home I found out it was a 1964 one. I should have spent a bit more money on it and got it repaired and refinished, but I traded it for my PRS. I later saw photographs of the 335 after it had been put back to its original state and it looked beautiful ..... and now worth a fortune!!!
www.Gibson.com |
2001 Gibson ES335 |
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If you play sixties music, you've got to have a 12 string and it has to be a Rickenbacker. Looks to die for, it has no equal but unfortunately, it is not the easist instrument to play due to the slim neck and 12 strings. You need to put your fingertips into a pencil sharpener first! Saying that, if you do persevere, you will be rewarded with the best 12 string sound anywhere. Instantly recognisable from hit after hit after hit from the sixties to today, the Rickenbacker is still at the forefront of guitar taste and fashion.
www.Rickenbacker.com |
Rickenbacker 330/12 |
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The' Les Paul' is a long standing favourite of mine. In the seventies when everybody was playing strats, I wanted a 'Les Paul'. My first electric guitar was a 'Les Paul' copy and when I was old enough to borrow money, I got my dream guitar - a 1975 Les Paul Custom. I wish I knew where it was now . I traded it in 1989 for a top of the range keyboard which is now worth nothing, just because I was playing a Strat and my Les Paul was just lying there.! The things you do. So, a few years later I rectified my mistake by buying this guitar. I love the contrast between the wine red and the cream colours and of course, it plays like a dream - still a bit heavy though. |
1997 Gibson Les Paul Standard |
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Playing in a sixties band, it seems that it is a condition that you have to own a red Fender Stratocaster and I'm no exception. This is the third Strat that I've owned. I've had a love / hate relationship with them over the years.My first Strat was an Elite model, which was Fenders eighties answer to new technology incorporating active pickups, TBX tone and a revolutionary trem system. Then I bought one with Texan pickups and gold hardware. I was never completely happy with them as I wanted a warmer tone and a tremelo system that stayed in tune and I found that in my PRS. However, I still love Strats - another timeless design - and my collection wouldn't be complete without one. I bought this quite recently and it is the Strat that I was probably searching for twenty years ago! |
Fender US Standard Stratocaster |
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I bought the Fender Telecaster for a Roy Orbison tribute that we were putting together and was heavily influenced by James Burton on the DVD Black and White Nights where he plays a Tele. I had to have one. Previously, I always thought the Tele was like a poor mans Strat and didn't really bother with them but how wrong I was. It is so easy to play and is so comfortable to have round your neck, you just want to play and play and the tonal variation is amazing. It has it all. The twang on the bridge pickup and the roundness on the neck. Every string plays crystal clear and is the most versatile of them all. Just listen to Roy Buchanan, early Jimmy Page and Clapton, Danny Gatton, Jerry Donahue, et al. If I only had to have one guitar, this would probably be it. |
Fender US Standard Telecaster |
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The Gibson SG Standard. An icon among young budding rock gods in the 1970's who wanted to be Tony Iommi, like me. Unfortunately, I never got the chance to own one until a couple of years ago when I got this to complete my guitar collection. I thought it would play like a Les Paul but it doesn't. It has its' own character and is a lot brighter, due to the body being so much lighter, and really is a great guitar to play. The temptation to put lots of gain on the amp and play 'Paranoid' is sometimes too great to resist! There is much more than that though to this guitar...listen to 'Taxman' and 'Paperback Writer'. I still don't like the double pickguard and sometimes wonder whether I should have paid more to get the 61' re-issue. However, the heritage cherry is the only colour to have. |
Gibson SG Standard |
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I bought this Takamine acoustic in the mid 1990's new from a music shop in Morecambe. I didn't go to buy anything, but I just saw this on the wall, gave it a try and got out my credit card. This model is a lower end Takamine and for just playing round the house, it's great. I've used it to record with as well, it has a built-in pre-amp, and it does the business. |
Takamine EG-40C |
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The Crafter CTS150-12N is a thinline, 12 string acoustic with a built-in pre-amp. Crafter are a Korean make and their quality has come on leaps and bounds. Because it is a thinline body, it is resistant to feedback and sounds good even when not plugged in. When it is, it sounds like a whole band! I got this guitar direct from Sutherland Trading, who are the importers of Crafters into the UK, on the advice of Maart Allcock, a top man in the world of folk music. I wasn't disappointed and would recommend Crafter guitars to anybody. (Check out Maarts site - it's another world out there) |
Crafter CTS150-12/N |
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I have just recently been getting into folk music and I am amazed by the level of musicianship involved. I've always loved Fairport Convention from the late 60's and have now caught up with all their catalogue and the mandolin figures heavily in their music. The Ozark 2255 is used by Chris Leslie from Fairport so that's why I bought this one. I love this instrument and it is great relaxation to play. I am currently learning from the maestro Simon Mayor, through his books and CD's. This mandolin has been fitted with a hidden pickup and has a jack input on its' side and you can only admire the intricate designs on its head and neck. It's also ideal to take on camping holidays! |
Ozark 2255 Mandolin |
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I needed a bass for my home recording projects, so I went to my local music shop and had a look round. I only wanted something cheap that would do the job, so I picked up a Fender Highway Jazz. Not bad, I thought, I wonder how it compares to the more expensive US Jazz next to it? Well, the picture on the left is the more expensive Fender US Jazz bass! It has everything you want from a bass, from punchy, bright Rickenbacker type tone to a deep growling bottom end. The neck is slim and the action is low , and is so easy to play. It looks wonderful... I love maple necks...it makes me wish I was the bass player. |
Fender US Jazz Bass |
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I always uses D'Addario guitar strings. I have used most types of strings in the past and finds that D'Addario are the best for me and my instruments. Great tone and great sound that lasts. On the electrics I use EXL110's ,on the acoustic EJ16's and on the Crafter 12 string EJ38's. |
| Garys' Guitars |
Notes by Gary |
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This guitar resembles Eric Clapton's faithful 1957 'Blackie' Stratocaster, which became Eric's main guitar when performing live in the 70's and 80's. This 97 Strat is my main guitar when performing live. All similarities with Eric Clapton end there. |
1997 Fender US Stratocaster |
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Great guitarists like James Burton, Keith Richards and Muddy Waters are all renowned for bringing the best out of their Telecasters. Oh, and I own one too. This is my back-up guitar when performing live. |
1998 Fender US Telecaster |
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With one of these you could sound like THE BYRDS, THE BEATLES, or even THE SEARCHERS. Yes, I said you could sound like..... .....mmmmm I'd better stick to six strings. |
Yamaha 12 String Electric |
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Nice guitar, great workhorse. When playing songs like 'A Little Lovin' and 'Hello, Little Girl', I show how I am at one with my acoustic guitar by leaving it safely in the van! |
Yamaha APX900 Acoustic |
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Primarily a studio guitar, this APX 12 string has appeared on several major recording sessions featuring top artists from the 60's and 70's. It's a pity I wasn't playing it. |
Yamaha APX 5 / 12 String Acoustic |
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Need we say more. It's a Fender Bass. I bought this guitar so I could give Graham a few bass lessons. All that expense for nothing. |
1997 Fender US Jazz Bass |
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Mr. McCartney played one of these down the Cavern Club. I play one of these down the Labour Club. |
1961 Reissue Hofner Violin Bass |
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