It’s telling that the early videos made by Martin to support the launch of the SC-13E feature very electric guitar-style soundtracks. There are no delicate droptuned fingerstyle dabblings to accompany the images. It’s all a little unnerving, a perception that’s not helped in that no sooner do we catch up with Fred Greene than we’re discussing our mutual love of Joe Strummer and The Clash. What on earth is going on?
“I’m sitting here with my Telecaster,” explains Fred. “I have a Telecaster because of Joe Strummer. I always like that it feels good, stood up around my neck. I wanted an acoustic guitar that felt that way: not too big, not too heavy,” he explains getting back on topic. “Certain guitars when you stand up and play can either make you look better or look worse. It’s very hard to look cool playing a Steinberger, isn’t it? It might play great, but… On the other hand, some guitars make everyone look cool. So we tried to make a guitar that when you stand up makes you look cool. It didn’t look strange or weird, but it didn’t look overly traditional. But then it has to balance in the right place on your knee, so, again, a lot of thought went into that.”
It’s pretty obvious that “a lot of thought” went into this entire project, but it did start with that shape. “It was an outline I sort of had been doodling. I’m a notorious doodler during meetings and while you often just turn the page, this one kept coming up again and again. There was a feeling of wanting that offset look on an acoustic guitar. How would that work for Martin? You know, that sort of Jazzmaster, Jaguar vibe. It just felt quite organic and easy to draw.
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Denne historien er fra July 2020-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.
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Sonic Shaper
Electro-Harmonix revisits the effect that launched the company with the LPB-3 Linear Power Booster and EQ
Platinum Blonde
PRS has updated its Texas-voiced David Grissom signature amp with more features, lower wattage and a more approachable price tag
TAN LINES
Many of us regard straps as a bit of an afterthought, but to find one that matches the quality of a custom or vintage guitar, Rod Boyes of Pinegrove Leather can help
ELECTRIC STRINGS
Your tone starts with your strings - strike a balance between sound, tuning and durability with six of our favourites
DIFFERENT WINDS
While there's no end to repros of all the classic pickup styles, more and more pickup makers are mixing things up to move forward - Cream T is a good example
Long termers
A few months' gigging, recording and everything that goes with it - welcome to Guitarist's longterm test report
Top Guns
Chapman's new factory move coincides with a bit of a rethink. We track down the key players all around the world
the Wishlist
Dream gear to beg, borrow and steal for...
Reach For The Star
Earlier this year Guild reorganised its 70s-era Polara range. We spent some time with this mid-range 2024 model: a modern pawn-shop prize or a copy too far?
HIGH FLYER
Adrian Thorpe of ThorpyFX remembers the flight path - and turbulence behind Chris Buck's Electric Lightning overdrive/boost, named after a fighter jet and packing a bona fide valve