The stunning resonator guitars featured in the pictures above are of handmade resonators made right here in Aotearoa, New Zealand by Russ Mattsen. 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.
Author Archives: Jamorama
White Stripes – delicious
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 surfboards designed with the best tonal flavours in mind. Yum.
Terry Robb – updated
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 […]
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 (with Bob Dylan), Keith Richards (with The Rolling Stones), Pete Townshend with The Who, Martin Barre (Jethro Tull), Joe Satriani, John MacLaughlin, Jack White
Blast from the Past
Here is the unbelievable Merle Travis beating Angus Young to it, but only by around 40 years or so!
Chet Atkins
About twenty years ago I went out to buy a Chet Atkins record and what I came back with contained the impressive instrumental Kicky.
Peter Green Frank Zappa.
Here it is. Snowy White ? or Peter Green? You decide, but this piece of guitar playing is an absolute triumph of phrasing, tone, meter, understated elegance and power.
Robin Trower
Here`s English guitarist Robin Trower, formerly of Procul Harem, playing the title track from his 1974 classic rock album Bridge of Sighs. Robin plays his own signature stratocaster which is an EXACT version of the on eyou can buy through Fender although when playing live Robin tunes his guitar a full step down, to a DGCFAD tuning. Robin`s tone is achieved through playing into several Marshall heads at high, high volume. Hendrix comparisons have plagued Trowers work but anyone who knows their onions will notice that Hendrix` rhythmic legacy from his days playing with Curtis Knight and Little Richard for example is not present in the fluid legato and unhurried melodic content of Robin Trower`s playing.
1990`s “In the Line of Fire” is a great album
English Blues, British guitar
Leaping about Ten years forward from the last post today sees us focusing upon the purely British talents of Mick Taylor and Keith Richards, Peter Green and Danny Kirwan, and Paul Kossoff. What is it that`s in the British Water? It must be Mud, but, I don`t know – I`ve been drinking it for most […]
Rock and Roll
1960 the year in which the Studebaker Hawk I saw this morning was manufactured, was a big year – the U.S. sent troops to Vietnam and Elvis returned from Germany. Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Sam Cooke, Chuck Berry and Duane Eddy all released records. Also featured in 1960 was the great Chester Burnett, or Howlin` Wolf who had been making records for since 1951. Wolf had a great ear and since `55 had been working with the awesome guitarist Hubert Sumlin. It`s likely that Hubert Sumlin`s electric playing brought Chicago across the Atlantic and into the hands of the Great British Blues Players such as the incandescent trio of Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton – all members briefly of The Yardbirds.