There have been some changes in my set up over the last few months so I'll update you on those in a minute but first the most important thing... yes the TROUSERS!
The trousers have been designed by artist Hannah Thurman. They depict dragons (a la Jimmy Page unashamedly.) The dragons are Hannah's own design. I have to say I think she has done a great job and would highly recommend her work to anyone. As soon as she sends me the link to her website I shall put it here. I suppose it is something different to the jeans and t shirts that we and everybody else have worn. Lord knows what the rest of the band will start to wear in response!
Once again anoraks on...The next big change and very much still a work in progress has been the introduction of the pedalboard. This has replaced scrabbling about on the floor to try and get the pedals ready for the next song! Switching is based around loop boxes bought from "The Little Black Box Shop" - Jon who runs it I found through ebay and has proved and friendly and knowledgable chap (who builds good kit.) Although the board is quite big really it allows for some fairly simple fundamental sound changes
In from the guitar
Box 1
Loop 1 Wah Wah & sometimes Carlsbro Suzz Phase
Loop 2 Line 6 Echo Park delay and Boss Pedal Tuner
or Bypass
Box 2
Loop 1 TS9 reissue tubescreamer
Loop 2 TS10 Old tubescreamer
or Bypass
Out to the amp
I'm still trying to decide whether the TS10 is up to the job....and resisting buying another larger matamp to use with the band see www.matamp.co.uk their gear really is built as it should be built
have fun
-----------------------
I use two guitars for Helter Skelter.
Morris Hurricane (Red)
This guitar is sometimes mistaken for a Fender Strat but is actually a copy (headstock shape is a giveaway.) I do not know much about these guitars but think they are Japanese from the late 70s/ early 80s? It is stock as far as I know. Best £65 I ever spent!
Gibson Les Paul Custom (Black)
I have had this guitar for a long time. It is a 1987 I think. When I got it it had a Kahler tremelo system on. This was a nightmare!! I had it removed and the top refinished in 2000 by Leeds luthier Paul Hession. The bridge was replaced with stock Gibson parts. From what I’ve seen it has quite a narrow neck compared to other Les Pauls from that period.
Other Guitars & Bits
Nearly all the gigs are done with the two main guitars, however, once in a while I have used other guitars - these are an old customised Sunn Stat (when the red one was broken), Fender Telecaster and a Epiphone Explorer. Cheap aluminium slide (Paul in normal tuning.) The strings are Ernie Ball standard 10s and the picks tortex heavy.
Pedals
I’m a real tone fan and if possible I’d like to do all the songs just with the tube screamer and the amp, however, it is good for the set to have a variety of sounds – so hey anything to please!
(see above for switching)
Old Jen Crybaby Wah Wah that Carl gave me
Ibanez Tube Screamer TS9 (reissue) (on nearly everything!!)
Ibanez HyperTubescreamer TS10 (solos)
Carlsbro "Suzz Phase" - Fuzz and great old phaser
Line 6 Echo Park (Police, Red Hot Chillis and U2)
Boss TU9 tuner – very useful especially as it mutes while tuning.
Amp
Fender 94 Twin Amp. Made in the USA, looks like an old “blackface” twin 2x12 but actually is a three channel modern amp. Valve of course. For me it has to be valve; the tone is much richer and the overdrive brings the best out of my playing. It weighs a ton but once again anything to get the right sound! 90% of the set is run on the crunch channel. I set the input full up (gain 10) back the master off. The tones are roughly bass 5,mid 7,treble 4. No reverb and adjust presence to the room. Interestingly the band sometimes moan about it being loud but the master has never been run on over 3 ½!
The twin needs occasional maintenance as it has a habit of doing slightly unpredictable things once in a while. On the two occasions that the Twin could not attend I used my Hiwatt Custom 100 (great but too clean).
Thanks to Bob Frankish, Mark Hearn, Jerome Dineen and Nick Lunn for their invaluable expertise and assistance during the last year.
