What was it about the Epiphone Casino that first attracted you to it?
“The Epiphone Casino and Gibson ES-330 are kind of the same guitar, apart from a few cosmetic things like colour, for example. When I got into music, the first people I saw got me fascinated with this whole semi-acoustic thing. It was all about the image of that. Also, the record I fell in love with was The Stone Roses [1989], and John Squire had a Gretsch Country Gent. It was that and seeing Chuck Berry, the whole f-hole guitar thing.
“Then I saw some footage of The Kinks and early Keith Richards or Brian Jones – I think they both used Keith’s guitar. But there were also contemporary bands like Teenage Fanclub, so eventually, I had to go to a shop to try one, even though I had only just started playing. But I was already hankering after that kind of thing.
“Over the years I’ve had a few Casinos, including cheaper ones. Sometimes I’ve upgraded with various bits and bobs, but the thing I liked about it, when I actually got to try one, was not only how good it looked but how great it sounded. It sounded excellent. And I also liked the way it sat. And after seeing a few and trying them out, Casinos and 330s, I realised they just worked for me.
“Also seeing that footage of The Stones from the Hyde Park gig in 1969 when Keith used a 330, and seeing Paul Weller on TV in the 90s playing his Casino – I thought he got a really great sound out of it. Things like that got me interested, but when I started trying them out, I just realised that with hollow-body guitars with P-90 pickups, you can’t go wrong.”
Do you struggle with feedback playing live because there’s no centre block?
Denne historien er fra Summer 2021-utgaven av Guitarist.
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Denne historien er fra Summer 2021-utgaven av Guitarist.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
BASIC INSTINCTS
The sophisticated range of Swedish-designed guitars made by .strandberg* has lured thousands of players over to the headless side. But the company's new stripped-back Boden Essential model is its strongest play yet for the hearts and minds of mainstream players
Second String
As PRS's more affordable USA-made S2 line moves into its second decade, the series gets a revamp with - at last - USA-made pickups and electronics. What took so long?
PABLO VAN DE POEL
When a band from The Netherlands describes themselves as 'raw, psychedelic Southern rock', it may take a little cognitive processing to work out what that might mean. One listen to DeWolff, however, and you will be duly transported to the 60s for some fuzzed-out rock 'n' roll
THE BERNIE MARSDEN COLLECTION
With a fabulous collection of the late Bernie Marsden's guitars, amps and other highly collectable music gear going under the auctioneer's hammer on 11 June, we were thrilled to have the chance of a sneak preview
LENNY KRAVITZ
Some 35 years since the release of his debut LP, for his 12th record, Blue Electric Light, Lenny Kravitz is back again with equal doses of vigour and vibes, using vintage guitars and the purest valve amps
GEORGE VJESTICA
You may not know him at first glance, but the work of Stoke-on-Trent native George Vjestica has probably impacted some of your favourite albums and movies
DICKEY BETTS
Emerging from the shadow of Duane to write signature hit Ramblin' Man, the Allman Brothers guitarist was a hard-living pioneer of Southern rock
NICK GUPPY
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of our highly valued amplifier guru, who died suddenly in April
Lucky Break
Alex Bishop blends old wood with new in an attempt to fix a severely damaged guitar headstock
Tones Behind The Tracks
Cedric Burnside learnt at the knee of his fabled grandfather, but his latest album is a hill country blues masterclass on his own terms