Anyone who’s ever caught Ted Nugent on tour has seen this instrument, and during the Summer of 2003 it was intended to be the only guitar used by the Motor City Madman’s during his one-hour slot. “That was pretty much due to time restraints,” said Dean Mitchell, who has been Nugent’s guitar tech for a [...]
Monthly Archives: February 2005
Sonic Machine Factory 15 Watter
With tube amp gurus like Mark Sampson and Rick Hamel piloting the crew, we had a sneakin’ hunch that the Sonic Machine Factory’s 15 Watter we received for review was going to sound kick-ass. We weren’t disappointed. Sampson, fresh off a designing stint with the attitude-laden Bad Cat amp (VG, August ’02), and Hamel, who’s [...]
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Eric Clapton
A Return To The Crossroads
In many ways, 2004 marks a return to the crossroads for Eric Clapton. With his latest disc, Me And Mr. Johnson, the guitarist pays homage to one of his principal influences – the incomparable Robert Johnson. For Clapton, Johnson is the true master of blues guitar, and completing this album was a mammoth achievement. Although [...]
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Rick Derringer
Different Directions
For all of his decades of experience as a guitarist, producer, and singer, Rick Derringer recently took his avocation in yet other musical directions. Among the classic instruments Derringer played throughout his career was a late-’50s Gibson Explorer. And nowadays, Derringer garners acclaim and chart action for his new recordings in the “smooth jazz” genre. [...]
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Ted Nugent’s 1962 Gibson Byrdland
Anyone who’s ever caught Ted Nugent on tour has seen this instrument, and during the Summer of 2003 it was intended to be the only guitar used by the Motor City Madman’s during his one-hour slot. “That was pretty much due to time restraints,” said Dean Mitchell, who has been Nugent’s guitar tech for a [...]
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The Bangles
Yesterdays... and Today
The Bangles are back! After a 10-year separation, the band that rose to prominence in the 1980s with such hits as “Manic Monday” and “Walk Like an Egyptian” reunited in ’99 to record “Get the Girl” for the second Austin Powers film The Spy Who Shagged Me. A club tour followed in 2000 to test [...]
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Parsons-White String Bender
On September 20, 1983, Jimmy Page re-emerged into the public eye after the death of John Bonham and the breakup of Led Zeppelin with a thundering ovation at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Instead of a sunburst Les Paul, the model synonymous with his onstage persona with Zep, Page chose as his primary instrument [...]
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Crowsong – Western
Western
Crowsong’s first album was very atmospheric, with all sorts of guitar sounds flying about. This one has a more definite band feel, with songs that feel a little more familiar. That said, I thought both albums were quite good. Randy Clark plays the guitars, does some vocals, and appears to be the leader of Crowsong. [...]
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Anson Funderburgh and The Rockets – Which Way Is Texas?
Which Way Is Texas?
Anson Funderburgh is one of the few – if not only – blues guitarists I’ve ever seen get an ovation for a chorus solo. Such applause might be common for jazz shows, but rare in a seedy blues club, where folks are more focused on dancing. The venue was the old Blues Saloon in St. [...]
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Norman Blake – Old Ties, The Singer Songwriter Collection
Old Ties, The Singer Songwriter Collection
Rounder’s Heritage series specializes in new anthologies of previously released work – the musical equivalent of old wine in new bottles. Norman Blake’s Old Ties features selections that span from 1971 to 1990. Musical collaborators include his wife Nancy, dobro pioneer Tut Taylor, guitar virtuoso Tony Rice, fiddler James Bryan, and a few others. Most [...]
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