One string guitars

Best Guitar Gear Reviews on Youtube

Generally the guitar reviewers from the youtube public are great for finding out tones of the gear you wanna know about and different opinions of the gear, but they usually lack the entertainment factor.

In terms of magazine reviewers Paul Riario is the best, for information and he does great demos, but its very formal and straightforward.. Then I found Phil X reviews for Fretted Americana, this guy is entertaining, and made me laugh countless times. Now I've found another.... gearmandude, he's not as funny as Phil but he has a certain Jack Black quality about him. Gearmandude specialises in reviews of distortion and overdrive pedals a nice niche as Phil X rules vintage guitar reviews. Enjoy the list, if you know anymore youtube reviewers similar to Phil X and gearmandude let me know. Heres the links to their channels:

Gearmanndude: Distortion pedal reviews

Phil X and Fretted Americana: Vintage Guitars

Heres my current favourite from gearmanndude:

Eric Johnson talks about his new signature guitar

From the first time I heard Cliffs of Dover I was an Eric Johnson fan, the blistering fast licks, catching riff, and smooth tone. Part of Eric Johnson's tone is his guitar, and now he's got another signature Fender Stratocaster out with a rosewood neck. One unique thing about this guitar the binding on the neck which you don't normally see from strats these days, Eric saw this in Fender catalogues in 1965. The shape of the Eric Johnson signature Fender stratocaster is based on Eric personal 1962 strat which he found had the perfect neck for him. Another unique feature tweeked by Eric is the headstock and tuners, they are at an angel to optimise tension and tuning without the need for string trees.

Phil X Studio Gear Tour Part I The Guitars

(Video below - www.guitarheroesgear.com)

Phil X has played and reviewed so many vintage and valuable guitars with frettedamericana that he definitely knows his stuff when it comes to gear and tone. The TONEMASTER baby! If you've never heard of Phil X then you've probably never searched youtube for vintage guitar reviews. Phil X rocks all the vintage guitars at frettedamericana and gives his take on the tone and feel. His bands The Drills and Powder play the circuit in LA, though not yet reached superstar status, I don't know why, I love the guy. It will be a sad day if he stops making those youtube videos with frettedamericana.

Anyway, Phil X recently done a video talking us through his personal gear, having played so many vintage guitars and getting a taste for TONE, what does he use? Theres another video on his amps aswell, but for now enjoy the Phil X Show - Studio Gear Tour Part I The guitars

White Hofner Violin Icon Bass Limited Edition

(Video below - www.guitarheroesgear.com)

Has anyone seen a Hofner violin bass in white? Hofner violin basses from the 60's have gone up in value, same as alot of vintage guitars. The Hofner violin bass was made famous by Paul McCartney from The Beatles and anyone who uses it can't escape the comparison and announcing that they are a Paul McCartney fan when using the Hofner violin bass.

I first saw a WHITE violin shaped guitar from Paul Gilbert who asked Ibanez to make him one, of course he was influenced by Paul McCartney's original sunburst Hofner Violin bass aswell. Hofner produced it's icon series and produced alternative colours as limited editions, one of the colours was white, and with the pearloid like scratch plate, I had to get one. The picture is of my personal bass which I just got. I'm so proud and excited about my purchase I wanted to tell the world, so I'm using this site, hope everyone doesn't mind.

Why I got the White Hofner Icon violin bass
After joining as the bassist for a band I needed a bass, and wanted something to stand out. My first thought was for a Fender P bass, it's a classic and can't go wrong, but it's so common I wanted something different, sure the playability and tone of the Fender P bass was gonna be a sure bet, but it wasn't for me. The next iconic bass that came to mind was Musicman stingray bass, now this is a seriously cool bass, but as I just started as a bassist I didn't want to fork out so much money, I haven't even got my Les Paul yet! Then thinking back to my bass heroes I looked up Hofner violin basses and came across the Limited Edition Hofner icon bass in white. No hesitation, bought it, in the post, and now arrived. Love it.

As I mentioned the Paul Gilbert white violin 6 string by Ibanez, and after all the site is about guitar heroes and there gear, heres a video clip:

Gibson Dusk Tiger - Marble Wood?

Gibson are stepping it up with their robot guitars, and seem like the only company that's releasing new ones relentlessly, Gibson guitars are definitely trying to get the market for robot guitars before everyone else jumps on board. Has anyone seen the new Gibson Dusk Tiger Les Paul!!!! Without even knowing about what it can do, it looks gorgeous!!

ToneWood
The choice of wood that Gibson chose for the Dusk Tiger Les Paul is no doubt due to it's looks, marble wood top, not commonly used on guitars, it reminds me of a tiger that's for sure, it must be able to give a decent tone aswell, Gibson wouldn't be that stupid to use that wood just for looks would they? Luckily the back is mahogany(more of a traditional tonewood) to retain the more tried and tested tone you would expect from a high quality guitar.

The rest of the updates apart from the looks are electronics, from a quick read of the Gibson website the tweaks are hard to judge without playing it and knowing what the previous robot guitars can do, I predict a slow and steady progress for the usability and function from the electronics and eventually when looking back at the first gen models we'll be wondering how we did without these new features. Just like when I got the original Zoom 505, I thought it was the most amazing thing ever (and it's still good), but now technology has developed so much that the original Zoom 505 is obsolete. Well anyway congratulations to Gibson for developing the way guitars are made.

My guitar Master Martin Ellins

Martin Ellins will remain the single most important guitar hero to me. His roots are in blues which was what inspired him to play guitar and is currently playing with a band called Roxi & the Blue Cats. Martin Ellins has gigged all over London including Barbican, Royal Festival Hall, Amsterday. He attended the London College of Music studying Classical guitar and composition.

Why is he my guitar hero? He was my guitar teacher for 6 years, from 11 to 16 years of age. Martin Ellins also tours London school giving "masterclasses". I remember when he had long hair and a Ibanez, them short hair, a gote and a Epiphone Sheraton, now he's bald with a Fender Strat. He must have tutored countless students and all must have as much of a fond memory of him as me.

Today I met Martin Ellins again after 8 years of leaving the school which he taught me at, and I never thought that I would feel so much respect for someone as I did today. The memories of him teaching me Eugenes Trick bag with a metrodome on the schools Encore Strat copies and Squiers.. I had the feeling of meeting my guitar master like Frank Zappa is to Steve Vai.

This is my tribute to him, and for all you guitar players that know him, and hope that anyone that suddenly has the urge to look him up may find this post and remember their own memories of being taught by him.

Brian May Stage Rig wth tech Pete Malandrone

(Video below - www.guitarheroesgear.com)

If you've ever wondered what gear Brian May uses, heres the answer. Brian May's gear is not just his homemade guitar now named the Red Special, a coin as a pick and a Vox amp. Theres alot more.

Pete Malandrone is Brian May's tech, he goes through his live rig in 2008. This is clip is taken from Guitarist magazine from the UK.

Guitars
Brian May is famous for his unique guitar which he made by himself as a kid, and that guitar has made many envious about its unique tone. Brian may would be mad to gig with just one guitar, so he has a few spares of his Red Special, made by Greg Fryer, these include standard tuning spare, drop D tunings, and E flat tunings. Greg Fryer makes the closest reproductions of Brian's orginal guitar and earnt so much respect in it even Brian May uses them as backup.

From the guitar the lead goes straight into a treble booster with the shortest connection, attached to his guitar strap.

Brian May's effects are all racks, no pedals, he uses the highest quality effects, and his tech has an easy job, no need to daisy chain effects.

Steve Vai Acrylic guitar - Ibanez Jem

(Video below - www.guitarheroesgear.com)

Steve Vai's Ibanez Jems have become one of the iconic guitars in history. It's based on the RG series shape but has so much more. The "monkey grip" on the guitar at first seemed like a joke and would never catch on, and it hasn't for other guitars, but for Steve Vai's Ibanez Jem somehow it just fits.

Steve Vai being the showman that he is introduced a new guitar to the Jem series, with the Ibanez Jem 20th Steve Vai signature guitar. This guitar is made of ACRYLIC!!! Steve probably only wanted this guitar cause, as it was made of clear acrylic, he could make it light up. This guitar has a switch to light up to luminous green.

I've recently gotten into tonewoods and different tones from acoustics, and then researched about tonewoods of electrics. Everyone is ranting and raving about this and that tone from a certain wood, and how vintage guitars are better because of how the wood ages. It led me to wonder, what about acrylic guitars?

Steve Vai's Ibanez 20th aniversary acrylic guitar seems to hold up on his live performaces, and it sounds great to me. So how much does the tone of the wood even matter, and what tones could acrylic guitars produce if someone put their mind to it. Also how will acrylic guitars age?

Vintage guitars are said to increase sustain, warmth, and character as they age, and theirs no doubt this is true, if you've ever played a vintage guitar you can feel something special in it. Vintage lovers always say something like "the wood has adjusted to the vibration of the strings and resonate better" or "vintage wood has stretched and contricted enough times and has settled into a stable state", something like that. Could this be the same for acrylic guitars?

Gary Moore Gear Video Archive

Gary Moore the guitar hero and legend talks about his favourite guitar’s pedals and amps. Gary Moore gear interview here

Gary Moore Guitar’s - Gary Moore talks through his Gibson Les Pauls, Gibson ES-335 and the tones he gets from them

Gary Moore Effects pedals - Gary Moore Demo on his pedals including Boss DS1

Gary Moore Amplifiers - Gary Moore and Marshall

Eric Sardinas Gear interview

(Video below - www.guitarheroesgear.com)

Eric Sardinas guitar gear is usually simple, a resonator guitar, and a slide. All other guitar gear inbetween wouldn't make a difference. Eric Sardinas is one of the coolest current blues players out there playing a resonator guitar usually a Dobro and a slide, and he's made it suit his image and sound. He also has a signature guitar model Washburn out. His new signature is a Gibson Dobro, wood bodied, single cone resonator.

Check out his amazing playing in the video below:
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I first saw Eric Sardinas live at a Steve Vai concert, I didn't know who he was then and to be honest thought he sounded terrible, not his playing but his live sound, it sounded too messy and loud, and you couldn't hear what he was playing. After listen to clearer versions his his music I became a fan. Eric Sardinas sound with his guitar gear and Resonator guitar is one of the most exciting players I've heard playing the blues. His image is also what you would expect, a raw American blooded white blues player from the country.

Eric Sardinas Interview with Dunlop TV about his gear:
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Guitars:
Eric Sardinas Washburn ES10 signature guitar resonator
Gibson Dobros

Slide: Dunlop Preachin' Pipe Brash Guitar Slide
This signature slide is based on Eric Sardinas original slide he used since he was 14 which after years of play sculpted itself to his fingers and playing.

Amp: Rivera sutom amp.
Effects: Dunlop Crybaby, MXR Phase 90,
Cables ect: Dunlop

1959 Gibson Les Paul: Various artists talk about the "HOLY GRAIL"

The 1959 Gibson Les Paul featured in the previous post showed it's great tone and why vintage guitars can't be matched. Due to my recent fascination and search for clips of the 1959 Gibson Les Paul, I thought I'd post another cool video I've seen.

This clip features famous guitarists including Slash and Billy Gibbons talking about why they love the 1959 Les Paul, everyone loves it, enjoy the video.

Oasis - Which guitar did Liam break?

Noel Gallagher announced the split up of Oasis on 29th of August 2009 after Liam broke Noel's guitar after an argument. Oasis have a reputation for arguments between the two brothers, I've seen numerous interviews of Noel and Liam saying they will never split. But it seems like it's finally happened.

I've been trying to find out which guitar Liam smashed up. I know if someone smashed up one of my favourite guitars I would be angry too. Noel Gallagher over the years has owned and made famous various guitars. His iconic union jack Epiphone Sheraton caught peoples eye and Epiphone even made a signature model of it. His acoustic of choice seems to be his Gibson J200, I remember when I saw a video of Noel playing Masterplan with that guitar, I wanted one so much! The Gibson ES 335 custom with a bigsby that Noel's been playing recently, seen in the clip below, that guitar looks gorgeous. If it was any of these guitar no wonder Noel went crazy and left the band.

I've been searching all over the net and can't find out which guitar was smashed up, anyone got any links or knows which one? The only other clue I've heard is that it was a Gretsch, I'd love to see a picture of that Gretsch, what kind of Gretsch has Noel been playing recently?

If it really is the end of Oasis, then it's the end of the best british rock band in recent years, Oasis was one of the first bands I loved, and "Don't Look Back in Anger" was the first guitar solo I learnt. What will happen now? Maybe Noel will go on to do a solo album and Liam Gallagher will continue with Oasis. Well, thats a lesson for you singers out there, don't smash up the guitarist guitar unless you have permission, especially if it's a 1959 Gibson Les Paul, you'll have every guitarist in the world out for your blood.

Yngwie Malmsteen buys a Vintage Fender 1963 Stratocaster

Yngwie Malmsteen the shredding king, this video clip looks like it was back in the 90's in London's famous guitar street, Denmark Street London in Andy's guitars. The start of the clip has Yngwie talking about music and singers he's worked with etc, if you skip to around 2 minutes 40 seconds you'll see him buy a vintage guitar for £3500, which was alot in those days, he test out the vintage Fender Stratocaster 1963Fiesta Red, plays a few licks, and tries to haggle. The seller probably knows it's Yngwie Malsteen buying soo doesn't budge in his price. You'll see how Yngwie respects the guitar like a true guitar rock n' roll legend would do at the end of the clip when you see how he carefull places it in his car after he leaves.

Enjoy the clip
(if you cannot see the video please refresh the page)

Richie Sambora

Richie Sambora from Bon Jovi talks about some of his favourite gear and guitars. This is the kind of video I like, when guitar legends test out their signature guitar and classic guitars and tell us what they think of it, and give some cool licks to demonstrate.

Richie talks about some of his favourite guitars and some vintage guitars from his collection. Here are the guitars featured:

1958 Gibson ES335
Richie Sambora gives a demo of the "mother tone" created by Eric Clapton by rolling off the tone. Gibson ES335's are smoth as hell and a classic blues guitar.

1959 Gibson Les Paul
This guitar is down in history not just by being a Gibson Les Paul, but the year it was made, something about the 1959 Les Pauls tone, everyone loves it, and Richie has one.

Richie Sambora Fender Signature guitar
A nice signature guitar, a Fender Stratocaster with a Floyd Rose Trem, what more can you ask for.

1963 Fender Stratocaster
Another one of Richie Sambora vintage collection, this 1963 Fender Stratocaster. Strats still have it's unique sound, glassy clear, the best guitar for funky rhythm playing in my opinion.

Peter Green - Guitar Collection

Peter Green is another one of those great british guitarists in history, he's a blues legend. His famous Les Paul has been sold on and circulated around. Peter Green over the years, however, has still build up a huge guitar collection.

About the Video:
I found this video of Peter Green going through his guitar collection which is locked up is a cage, he definitely keeps his guitars safe. He goes through various weird guitars he's aquired through the years. One thing about this video is, I don't know if it's just me but, Peter Green and the interviewer are so dull, this must be the dullest talkthrough of a guitar collection I've ever watched. Peter Green stumbles across some of his guitars which he forgot about and doesn't comment or play it to show it's tone and beauty, most his comments seem to be "oh, this is nice, this is interesting" or he just mumbles crap with no enthusiasm. Compared to John5's talking Telecaster collection, I could feel the passion in H5 when talking about his collection and the love for Telecasters, but Peter Green.....



I'm not even gonna post the second part to this video, you can find it on youtube.

Chet Atkins - Talks about his Gretch

Chet Atkins is no doubt a guitar legend, he revolutionise fingerstyle playing and thum bass lines. My favourite song by Chet Atkins must be Windy and warm.

Chet Atkins has various signatures out, but his electric of choice is a Gretsch. He talks about how he designed the Gretsch that he plays with Mr Gretsch. The f-holes are abit smaller and the nut had a zero fret at one time. His guitar then inspired the design of the Gretsch country gentleman, and various other Gretsch that came afterwards. Now Gretsch guitars are very popular with many famous guitarists are choosing to play one, famously, Gearge Harrison, and Brian Seltzer. A Gretsch is unique in that it can give another distinct tone and feel to the guitar that will make you play differently, different from a Gibson, of Fender, or a ES335 style hollowbody, they have something special.

I never used to follow Chet Atkins music much before and remember seeing him in guitar magazines in the 90's, then after Les Paul died I wondered how old Chet Atkins was now, then I found out he already died in 2001!!! I think I stopped buying guitar magazine in that period and didn't keep upto date, RIP to another legend. The old legends are getting old now, the innovators of guitar, at least their music and legacy will live on.

Robert Johnson Gibson L-1 vintage guitars

I went into a guitar store today in Denmark Street London, the shop is called Wunjo guitars. They have a collection of second hand guitars, and some of these are vintage. I saw an old Gibson L-1 with a tag on it that said it was from 1928 (picture on the left, taken from Wunjo's site). The most famous Gibson L-1 player in history must be Robert Johnson the so-called creator of the blues, the man that sold his soul to the devil at the crossroads to play the blues.

Well, back to the L-1, this guitar was beaten up and had been refinished, I've never played a vintage acoustic of this age before and didn't know what to expect.... however, the guitar was amazing. You can hear that the wood of the guitar had been played into and was soft and flexible absorbing the sound of the strings. The tone was a bit flat but had a warmth and character that nothing can replicate. It was a special experience, I could feel Robert Johnson and the soul of the whoever it was that owned and played it for all those years. I now see why vintage guitars are valued so much. I'm in love with vintage acoustics now, the price of the guitar was around £2200 which I think isn't that much for the a vintage instrument of that age.

What triggered me to write about this Gibson L-1 I played today at Wunjo was it's price, ok, the guitar had been refinished and had countless scratches dings, and marks, but if you look at a brand new Gibson L-1 Robert Johnson acoustic, it's $2793 as stated on the Gibson website. There's not too much of a price difference between the vintage instrument and the brand new one! I've never played a brand new Gibson L-1 Robert Johnson model, does it have the same vintage sound as a vintage guitar? Why is the price of this vintage one comparable? If I had the money I'd get the vintage Gibson L-1, I gonna be dreaming of it tonight.

Jason Mraz - Taylor Acoustic Guitars

Since I bought a Taylor acoustic recently I've been looking for artists I like that use a Taylor, and being an electric player it was actually not easy to find. Most top guitar heroes seem to use Martin acoustic guitars such as Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Elvis ect. After searching for some acoustic songs to learn I found Jason Mraz doing an acoustic set playing "I'm yours" and this man like me is a Taylor fan.

Jason Mraz uses various Taylor guitars from 612's, 714's and T5's. The T5 seems to be slowly gaining more and more popularity especially for it's versatility for acoustic and electric tones for live performances.

Jason Mraz also owns a rare vintage Taylor which his dad bought him, only about dozen of them were made, it's a J15 Jumbo like guitar, this is one of the main guitar that Jason Mraz uses for recording now.

Jason Mraz is taking his music back to the raw essential's, acoustic and vocals, with the success of Jack Johnson and others alike, this is not a bad move, I love this kind of music it's peaceful and earthly, and Jason is backing it up with Taylor guitars, the first video is of a Jason Mrazen interview with Mark Seal talking about his gear, Taylor guitars, and music, the second video is an unplugged performance of Jason playing I'm Yours, ejoy the videos.

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John5: The Greatest Telecaster Collection

John5 done a interview with Guitarworld showing his gear and his Telecaster collection, I started watching it thinking its gonna be a normal colection of guitars, but I was wrong. John5 must have the greatest Fender Telecaster Collection in the world!!! This guy collects the best of them, spending millions of dollars. John5's got the most vintage Fender Telecasters in guitar history and he only buys them if they are in good condition, it has to be nearly mint or he won't buy it. He's got the the Telecaster before it was called a Telecaster, the Broadcaster.

Respect to John5 for his collection and for sharing with us. John5 the Fender Telecaster addict.

Enjoy the video...
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John5 Gear Fender Telecaster