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Greetings my friend and fellow strummers in this months column I will discuss that in my opinion that Artist
recognition is one of the most important aspect of guitar marketing. That is a statement I truly believe, and
in this column I will trace the popularity of certain guitars and the artists that I believe are responsible
for their success. I will also list some guitar players and the guitars I found to be intriguing. I will list
the guitars first and the artists that were associated with it.
Remember my friends knowing what guitars your favorite players play is part of getting a sound similar to them,
but it is only a small part of it.
Gibson SG
Tony Iommi
Angus Young
Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Frank Zappa
Eric Clapton |
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Fender Telecaster (stock)
Roy Buchanan
James Burton
Steve Cropper
Muddy Waters
Joe Messina
Telecaster (modified)
Mike Stern
Keith Richards
Danny Gatton
Clarence White |
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Gibson ES 335
Larry Carlton
Dave Edmunds
Johnny "Guitar" Watson
Gibson ES 345
Freddie King
Alvin Lee
Elvin Bishop
Gibson ES 355
Chuck Berry
B.B. Kink
Keith Richards |
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Fender Stratocaster (stock)
Buddy Holly
Jimi Hendrix
Jeff Beck
Mark Knophler
David Gilmour
Fender Stratocaster (modified)
Hiram Bullock
Robbie Robertson
Adrian Belew
Stevie Ray Vaughn |
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Gretsch 6120
Brian Setzer
Chet Atkins
Eddie Cochran |
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Gibson Les Paul
Mike Bloomfield
Slash
Joe Perry
Duane Allman
Jimmy Page |
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Gibson Firebird
Johnny Winter
Eric Clapton
Howlin Wolf
StevieWinwood
Pat Hare
Clarence Gatemouth Brown
Gibson Flying V
Albert King
Jimi Hendrix
Gibson Melody Maker
Joan Jett
Gibson Byrdland
Ted Nugent
Roy Clark
Eric Clapton |
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Gibson Les Paul Junior
Lesley West
John Lennon
Bob Marley
Johnny Thunders |
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Fender Jazzmaster
Elvis Costello
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Rickenbacker 12-string
George Harrison
Tom Petty
Roger McGuinn |
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Airline/Supro Resoglas
J.B. Hutto
Jack White |
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Epiphone Riviera/Sheraton
John Lennon
Otis Rush
George Harrison
John Lee Hooker |
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Gibson L5 CES
Wes Montgomery
Scotty Moore
Paul Simon (L5S) |
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Gretsch Country Gentleman
George Harrison
Steven Stills
David Crosby |
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Mosrite
(several models)
The Ventures
Joe Maphis
Rick Wilson (B-52's)
Johnny Ramone |
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Silvertone/Danelectro
Jimmy Page
Link Wray
Hubert Sumlin
Elmore James
R.L. Burnside |
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Kay Electrics
Jimmy Reed
Howlin Wolf
Lonnie Johnson |
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So if you are interested in getting a sound similar to any of these artists, a good place to start is with
their guitar choices. I would say that may be 20% of it, the amplifier would be another 20% and the rest is
technique, approach, and attitude.
There are some other aspects that would affect your sound, the type of picks you use, the gauge of your strings,
and any effects you might use.
In my world I would say use as few effects as you can, I know they are part of the song, blah,blah blah.
If you need a harmonic effect like a chorus but feel you need to flange at some point in the show get one
of those multi units like the Line 6. And remember the more pedals you use the farther away are you from
the sound of your guitar.
Now as far as the amps go, those of you who are familiar with my column know I am a traditionalist. As far as
I can see there are three categories of amplifiers.
Clean Amps:
These amps are clean sounding, with plenty of headroom and eq to pick from. Twin Reverbs, Ampeg, and Lab Series
amps are a few. Also some of the older Peavey solid state amps are real clean amps. You can always get a dirty
sound with your favorite pedal if you need it.
Dirty Amps:
Marshall JCM 800 and 900 Series amps, many tweed Fenders, the 100 watt army of amps like Crate, Krank,
Soldano, and Randall. These amps will give you the sound you are looking for, if that sound is a crunchy
compressed full sound.
Channel switching amps:
These amps are for cats that need both clean and dirty and like the idea of the two sounds coming from the
same amp. These amps are personified by Mesa Boogies, Rivera era Fenders, and combos like the Marshall TCM Series.
And remember folks - "got and questions?".."go lean on Shell's Answer Man".
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