Monthly Archives: May, 2009

Resonator guitars

May 26, 2009 — 1 Comment


The stunning resonator guitars featured in the pictures above are of handmade resonators made right here in Aotearoa, New Zealand by Russ Mattsen.

“Each guitar is built by myself, by hand, one at a time. This allows the freedom to get the best out of each instrument and allows changes so each instrument meets your requirements.”

For over 10 years Luthier Russ Mattsen has been handcrafting  Resonator Guitars, built to inspire the playing of the Blues. With design options across materials such as brass, copper and nickel or innovative or traditional body style options these resonators are absolutely amazing to play and there is one currently available at Mojo Sound in Wellington. If you would like to find out more then the best place is here on the Mattsen Website. Give Russ a call.

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White Stripes – delicious

May 25, 2009 — 3 Comments

1950 airline jack white b White Stripes delicious

Airline

If you like the tastes of the White Stripes, and let`s face it,  if you dont you must be mad, then these are the kind of guitars you oughta be on the lookout for! These airlines look like beautiful candy, humbug styled atomic surfboards designed with the best tonal flavours in mind. Delicious.

Just ask yourself  “What would Flash Gordon be playing?”.

I`d like to suggest that White and Co. are encroaching on Dylan`s hallowed territory with much of their quality lyrical composition – as well as divining riffs that instantaneously occupy the upper echelons of the rock riff cannon – for example the Seven Nation Army. Even when White puts the guitar down, he stills kicks out the greatest tunes and ideas – consider “My Doorbell”.

Best regards,

Jake Edwards

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Terry Robb – updated

May 18, 2009 — Leave a Comment

No description, introduction or eulogy required.

Terry Robb is a blues guitarist occupying a unique position in the guitar pantheon as an exponent of American Primitivism a style pioneered by John Fahey and derived from the country blues and string band music of the 20′s and 30′s. If you own a gramophone and are familiar at all with the old dance music from the twenties, thirties and forties then you`ll be able to hear this influence in his music. At the end of the day Robb plays in such a highly accomplished way it`s almost impossible to ignore.

Cheers,

Jake Edwards

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F Blues

May 13, 2009 — Leave a Comment

Hi Jake here,
finally after four years or more of travelling around without a guitar, bar my stratocaster, and relying upon borrowed planks to write songs, I have finally come across the kind of plank I`d like to own. Fortunately the gods here have smiled upon me and hooked me up with a producer and even with Mojo Sound in Wellington for recording…so I`m quite happy to play this crazy beast for a while! With a mellow, aged, ochre, molasses and diesel sound this baby is just built for percussive, skiffle styles, slide and bassy lead lines and despite having a huge action, is surprisingly easy to play bluesy licks. It`s great and it’s even got a rattle and hum.

I’ve written a a few posts on beginning slide guitar if you’re keen to find out more about draggin` that steel and choosing a glass-finger for yaself – CLICK HERE.

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Guitar Players

May 12, 2009 — 1 Comment

joesatriani Guitar Players

What kind of guitar player would you like to be?

A shredder?

A melodic guitarist?

A rhythmic, percussive jazz fusion master?

A groovy funkmeister?

A country hot shot?

neil young Guitar Players

I`ve been to plenty of great gigs since back in the day and I`ve seen some hot guitar players – Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Alvin Lee, Carlos Santana, Jeff Healy, Johnny Winter, Jennifer Batten, The Edge, Joe Satriani, Ron Wood and Bob Dylan,  Keith Richards and The Rolling Stones, Pete Townshend and The Who, Martin Barre (Jethro Tull), Joe Satriani, Zappa, John MacLaughlin, Jack White, and those are just the guys I can remember.

ragged glory Guitar Players

What actually makes them great guitarists, in my humble opinion, is the levels of individuality and personality in their playing – yes there is a certain degree of technique in their playing styles, with Satriani definitely being very highly accomplished. But of all these acts although Satriani was undeniably good his show was the least engaging. If you want to communicate it`s all about feel and in this sense substance above and beyond style. That`s why Neil Young really cooks on the guitar.

Have a read of my post on unique guitar players here

Cheers,
Jake Edwards

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