Guitars

The £50 Squier strat-my main guitar

So called because I bought it at a party in 1987 for £50! This has been my main guitar for the last 14 years. It's cheap and cheerful but the neck is amazing. I think it's one of the first Japanese ones but I've been told it's not worth anything, though it's priceless to me. Over the last 25 years, I've bought and sold about 30 guitars, never really holding onto anything for more than about 5 years. The fact that I have played this for 14 years is all down to its playability. It took me an age to get used to but once I did, there was no turning back. I have had a Seymour Duncan hot-rail put in the bridge position and it absolutely sings. I also have a tone pot that pulls to make it out of phase but I rarely use it. The trem was taken off and a decent burial performed! The mirror scratch plate was added because I'm a huge Thin Lizzy fan and it was a mark of respect for Phil Lynott (RIP).

 

 

Jackson PC3 (Phil Collen model)

Bought very recently, I am still getting the hang of this guitar. I'm not a fan of 'pointy's', so I don't usually bother with Jackson but on seeing this, I fell in love! The neck is also different, as the frets aren't massive Dunlop style but more strat like, but the pick-ups are taking some getting used to. They are Seymour Duncan 'made' but I'm unsure of the spec-they sound very bright compared to the Squier. Also, the Line6 has been totally programmed for the Squier sound and so I'm gonna have to spend some time doing the same for the Jackson. (Who uses 32 different amp models in one gig anyway!) I did use this on the mp3 of 'The Bells of Lal' but it didn't get a chance to shine because I couldn't be bothered to undo the locking system and re-tune to Eb! (Lazy bastard!) That meant that all the natural harmonics stayed hidden as I played everything one fret lower down in the scale-don't try this at home kids…it hurts!) Nice looking guitar tho' and I intend to spend more time with her as I send the 50 pounder into semi-retirement (or have a new neck or frets done!).

Ibanez RG470ti

My spare guitar, this gets very little use. I very rarely break strings and I've found the frets on the neck very difficult to get used to. The sound however is very powerful and the trem responsive and stays in. I used this on the mp3 of 'Summersong', but I didn't feel very comfortable with it. I think I've had the Strat too long…

 

 

 

Full list of guitars past and present!

  • Fender Stratocaster 1978 wood finish
  • Fender 1961 Stratocaster-pre CBS-black
  • Ibanez Iceman-white-only model in country
  • Ibanez Paul Stanley Autograph-black, mother of pearl inlay, mirror scratch plate, autographed at 12th fret
  • Ibanez Destroyer-red
  • Ibanez Roadstar-'Gary Moore'. red/yellow sunburst
  • Ibanez RG470 ti-titanium ice finish
  • Ibanez Flying Vee-wood finish
  • Tokai brown sunburst Strat
  • Gibson Les Paul Goldtop-1974
  • Gibson Les Paul custom re-issue-1981-black-EMG pick-ups
  • Gibson Melody Maker 1971-cherry red-bigsby trem-P90 pick-ups
  • Washburn 'thing' (you tell me-see photo in library)
  • Kramer custom 'super tele' with Kahler locking trem and Seymour Duncans-black
  • Kramer Farrington (?) semi-acoustic-sunburst-strat shape with oval 'f' hole
  • Squier 'Japanese' strat-1983-black with mirror scratch and Seymour Duncan hot-rail in bridge
  • Jackson PC3 strat
  • Cairnes 'Chris Watson' custom built explorer-ash body-maple neck-sunburst blue-tele parts andmirror tele plate***

HELP!

Jim Cairnes custom ExplorerThis last guitar was custom built by Jim Cairnes from North-East England in 1982. I helped design it from the wood up and chose the custom tele parts as I'd seen Gary Moore playing an early Charvel with tele parts. The sunburst blue was my idea and shortly afterwards Aria brought something similar out. I sold it when I was pissed and I don't know where it's landed! Anybody who has seen this guitar, please e-mail me and let me know. Main features would be my name on the headstock, star inlays on the maple neck and the custom tele switch and mirror scratch plate. I would love to know who has this guitar so, if you see it, let me know!

 

 

Amplifier

Line6 Flextone II xl 2 x 12 combo

The Flextone is a pod in a combo. If you don't know what a pod is, go to www.line6.com to find out. In my opinion, this is the most flexible amp I have ever used (hence the name?). Not a valve in sight, all the sounds are computer generated amp 'models', (32 0f them) which behave the same way as their 'real' cousins. The beauty of this amp is that you can then add up to 16 different speaker configurations as well as effects, which gives you total control over your sound. The permutations are immense and it's a case of hearing what you have created to see if you wish to use it. The models themselves are based around Marshall, Mesa Boogie, Vox, Soldano, Fender, and Matchless etc and, are very close to the real thing. The range of features at the back of the amp allows you to do silent recording, plug into the A.I.R speaker simulation, use headphones etc. The floorboard (see below) is the brain to allow all these events to happen. Finally, if you don't wish to create your own sounds, you can download (via midi) user sounds from the very informative web site. Use your ears and not your preconceptions…


Software

Cakewalk Pro Audio 9.0

Cakewalk is a professional sequencer that allows you to use up to 256 midi tracks and 16 digital tracks (depending on PC processor power) to mix professional sounding demos. It also has high quality digital effects, which can be tailored to the overall or single track at mix down or in real-time on playback. It is very easy to use and you can hear it all pinned together in my mp3 section. I simply plug my Line6 into my soundcard, get a level and off I go. I can either import a wav (wave sound file) into a track and play along with it, or, do the MIDI work first and play alongside. Easy to use and good results. In the UK, Cubase is more popular but this is the top dog in America.

Line6 Floorboard

This is the nerve centre for the Flextone II combo. It will allow you to choose up to 32 different amp settings that are stored in 9 banks of 4. It also reverts to a 'manual' setting where the patch that you are using can be controlled like a normal pedal board. So, one amp setting can have overdrive, solo boost or effect settings added simply by pressing the corresponding button. The tuner works by holding down the tuner button (shock, horror!), the wah wah is immense and the volume pedal silky smooth. Best of all, the unit requires no external power, using a 'telephone' connector which takes it's power from the amplifier.