Eric Clapton - Sessions for Robert Johnson with Martin Acoustic

(Video below - www.guitarheroesgear.com)

Robert Johnson is a true guitar legend with a story to match. His guitar playing and music isn't just amazing its magical. Eric Clapton was one of the first mainstream artist to make Robert Johnson's music more widely known with his cover of Crossroads, puttings a modern twist to an old school blues song.

Eric Clapton recorded performances of Robert Johnson's music "Eric Clapton - Sessions for Robert Johnson", he tried to play note for note and sing at the same time. Eric admitted it was the hardest thing he ever done, and still after many years of studying Robert Johnson he admitted he still can't play it note for note, in fact he said "it would be a lifetimes work", and Eric Clapton is Robert Johnson's number one fan, however, his attempt was undoubtely close and the feel of Robert Johnson is there, he done a great job. If you haven't got the DVD then your missing out.

In the video below you'll see Eric playing "Love in Vain" with his Martin 000-ECHF Belleza Bianca Acoustic Guitar, this guitar is beautiful, finished in white, grand piano like. Amazing tone, spruce top and big flamed maple back and sides, along with Eric Claptons playing, this guitar does Robert Johnsons Love in Vain song justice.

Brian May Stage Rig wth tech Pete Malandrone

(Video below - www.guitarheroesgear.com)

If you've ever wondered what gear Brian May uses, heres the answer. Brian May's gear is not just his homemade guitar now named the Red Special, a coin as a pick and a Vox amp. Theres alot more.

Pete Malandrone is Brian May's tech, he goes through his live rig in 2008. This is clip is taken from Guitarist magazine from the UK.

Guitars
Brian May is famous for his unique guitar which he made by himself as a kid, and that guitar has made many envious about its unique tone. Brian may would be mad to gig with just one guitar, so he has a few spares of his Red Special, made by Greg Fryer, these include standard tuning spare, drop D tunings, and E flat tunings. Greg Fryer makes the closest reproductions of Brian's orginal guitar and earnt so much respect in it even Brian May uses them as backup.

From the guitar the lead goes straight into a treble booster with the shortest connection, attached to his guitar strap.

Brian May's effects are all racks, no pedals, he uses the highest quality effects, and his tech has an easy job, no need to daisy chain effects.

Steve Vai Acrylic guitar - Ibanez Jem

(Video below - www.guitarheroesgear.com)

Steve Vai's Ibanez Jems have become one of the iconic guitars in history. It's based on the RG series shape but has so much more. The "monkey grip" on the guitar at first seemed like a joke and would never catch on, and it hasn't for other guitars, but for Steve Vai's Ibanez Jem somehow it just fits.

Steve Vai being the showman that he is introduced a new guitar to the Jem series, with the Ibanez Jem 20th Steve Vai signature guitar. This guitar is made of ACRYLIC!!! Steve probably only wanted this guitar cause, as it was made of clear acrylic, he could make it light up. This guitar has a switch to light up to luminous green.

I've recently gotten into tonewoods and different tones from acoustics, and then researched about tonewoods of electrics. Everyone is ranting and raving about this and that tone from a certain wood, and how vintage guitars are better because of how the wood ages. It led me to wonder, what about acrylic guitars?

Steve Vai's Ibanez 20th aniversary acrylic guitar seems to hold up on his live performaces, and it sounds great to me. So how much does the tone of the wood even matter, and what tones could acrylic guitars produce if someone put their mind to it. Also how will acrylic guitars age?

Vintage guitars are said to increase sustain, warmth, and character as they age, and theirs no doubt this is true, if you've ever played a vintage guitar you can feel something special in it. Vintage lovers always say something like "the wood has adjusted to the vibration of the strings and resonate better" or "vintage wood has stretched and contricted enough times and has settled into a stable state", something like that. Could this be the same for acrylic guitars?

Digitech Artist Series Pedals - Jimi Hendrix and Brian May

When I first saw the Digitech Jimi Hendrix pedal I thought it was just a gimmick and wouldn't give real Hendrick tones, but after watching numerous video and sound clips I found that Digitech done a great job, they captured Jimi Hendrix's tone and sounds into one pedal. Then, I learnt that there was a Brian May model out, I had to check it out, and yes, again it had Brian May's tones spot on.

Heres some examples of the tones and sounds the Digitech Artist Series Pedals can replicate:
Hendrix tones



Brian May Tones


It's been 3 years since Digitech released it two artist series pedals, and I'm still waiting for more! Theres probably numerous difficulties in producing one such as licensing and endorsement ect, as most artists are probably already locked into contracts with certain manufacturers. Not to mention Digitech will have to task of replicating the tone of that certain artist and make it work with any combination of guitar and amp. Theres also an Eric Clapton Crossroads pedal, but I haven't seen enough of that to comment, it may be good, but why didn't Digitech just go for a full Eric Clapton pedal with more of his tones like the Jimi Hendrix or Brian May one?

Heres some clips by World Music Supply from NAMM 2006 at the Digitech booth, you can judge for yourself:
Brian May Digitech Pedal at NAMM 2006


Jimi Hendrix Digitech Pedal at NAMM 2006