Ravi is a singer/songwriter who shot to worldwide fame at a young age as the guitarist for the ’90’s band Hanson, playing guitar in front of millions of screaming teenage fans in scenes reminiscent of “Beatlemania.” Hanson’s triple Grammy nominated chart-topping songs catapulted the band into the music stratosphere, taking Ravi to stages at the White House, Jay Leno, David Letterman, Saturday Night Live, Today Show, Good Morning America, Madison Square Garden and the Louisiana Superdome as a solo artist. His autobiographical book written on tour as guitarist of that year’s top-selling band in the world was published by Simon & Schuster. His voice has been likened to a young Steve Winwood or Peter Frampton.
Ravi’s frequent “Integrity” based lectures and articles have positioned him as one of the most outspoken advocates for social responsibility in the industry. Electronic Musician, Music Inc., and other magazines publish his articles. Berklee College of Music, NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) and other universities and music conferences/conventions host his lectures and keynote addresses.

Ravi is also a pilot and an aviation activist, writer, and lecturer. Bringing a little rock ‘n’ roll to aviation in order to make “one of humanity’s greatest achievements” more accessible to a new generation, he has been a featured speaker at AirVenture/Oshkosh, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Air Transportation Association of Canada, and others, and is published in AOPA’s Flight Training magazine.
Ravi, born in Washington DC and raised near New York City, is a member of the Nehru-Gandhi family, India’s political family dynasty who governed the world’s largest democracy for over 40 years and continues to exert strong influence today. Combining his musical talents, public speaking skills, and family heritage, Ravi actively works with non-profit organizations to eradicate poverty by reshaping the model of education for underprivileged youth around the world.
Why did you change out your stock pickups?
“Early on as a teenager, I swapped the out the stock pickups of my Strat for some hotter SD’s and just fell in love with them. Since then I’ve experimented with other brands, but always feel more “at home” within the SD product line. So, even when I get a new guitar with stock pickups that sound decent, I immediately know which SD’s will make it sound even more to my liking.  Now having my own folding signature guitar from Voyage-Air, I know it needs to have SD’s since they have become part of the “signature” of my sound.”
Which pickups do you use and for which guitars?
“In my Brian Moore Custom C-90, I have an Alnico II humbucker in the neck, a single coil version in the middle, and possibly my favorite SD pickup, the JB, in the bridge. I also have Alnico II and JB humbucker pairing in several of my less expensive Greg Bennett Concord guitars. My Seymour Duncan pickups really makes them sing! My new signature Voyage-Air has the Tele humbucker rails, STHR-1, but the ones that mean the most to me are the custom Vintage Strat SDs in my Valley Arts California Pro, and that’s because Seymour and I built those pickups together!”

How would you describe the sound of those pickups?
“Hot, clean, punchy, and pure. I like pickups that react to me, yet are transparent in terms of maintaining my own tone. That is what all of these do. With my pickups I have reliability, quality, purity – three of the most important advantages of a Seymour Duncan pickup. Seymour Duncan’s have become part of the “signature” of my sound, and no guitar of mine is complete without them.”
How has it changed your playing?
“Reactive transparent pickups mean that I can truly be me in terms of how I express myself through my instrument. So, it hasn’t necessarily changed my playing, but has certainly influenced the development of my own sound.”
How would you describe your music?
“I’m a pop/rock singer/songwriter. Nothing outrageous or controversial, just honest and thoughtful writing, both lyrically and harmonically. I also enjoy doing unique versions of famous covers. I have a strong commitment to the sound of my music, not just the composition. So, all the more reason why SDs are an important part of my equation.”

Whose career would you most want to pattern yours after?
“I have new respect for how Bret Michaels reinvents himself and stands up for causes that he believes in (and we just did a project together with my Learn Guitar in 21 Days method, with him having his own special edition of my course!). I also appreciate the evolution and explorations of Clapton and Sting; and the longevity/commitment of AC/DC and the Rolling Stones. I’m not sure that there is one particular artist whose career fits as a blueprint for me, but even though I enjoy constantly exploring new ideas and opportunities, I admire those who have stayed true to course and remained on top for the bulk of their careers. Ok, push comes to shove: Paul McCartney–brilliant artist, stable career, honorable activist, and truly a legend.”
What bands or musician influenced you and your career?
“AC/DC and Angus Young was the earliest influence (I still love them today), but Eric Clapton, Robert Cray, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Mike Stern, Sting and Steely Dan were more influential in terms of how I developed as a player and songwriter.”
What is your craziest gig?
“Hmm, depends on your definition. I wrote a book about a lot of crazy gigs (Dancin’ with Hanson, Simon & Schuster) the standouts for me were Madison Square Garden with Aerosmith mostly because it was my dream gig, and well, Aerosmith hanging in our dressing room pushed it over the top! President Clinton’s White House Christmas party was also crazy, in the surreal sense of the word. There were some where we needed police escorts to get us out because fans were blocking the vans and rocking them back and forth with us in them! And then there was the Rosemont Arena in Chicago, where the power clicked off quickly two or three times during the show causing all keyboard settings to default and chaos on stage.”
Any words of advice for newbies?
“Commitment. Stay true to yourself. Be a good person every step of the way and always go the extra mile. Perhaps most important: don’t chase success, but pursue excellence and let success chase you.”
To visit Ravi, please go here:
http://www.HeyRavi.com
http://www.MyGuitarSherpa.com

The legend of Tenacious D is a long story dating back to early times. John Konesky has played electric guitar for the D, and Kyle Gass’ band Trainwreck. When not shredding out the devil’s guitar solo in Beelzeboss, John can be seen with Kyle Gass in the YouTube show Guitarings. He has played on, and co-written music for Tenacious D on their feature film The Pick of Destiny and the corresponding soundtrack and film score. One of those songs, “The Metal”, was picked up for use in the hugely popular video game “Guitar Hero 3.” John’s record of solo acoustic material entitled “Kones” was released in 2008, and is available on iTunes. A few tracks have been featured in independent movies, short films, and documentaries.
Currently, John is playing on the third Tenacious D record, as well as working on another record with the newly formed Kyle Gass Band. John also plays bass for Big Talk with Ronnie Vannucci from The Killers.

Why did you change out your stock pickups?
“My main guitars, that I was using for live shows with the D, never seemed to cut it in the studio, so we’d end up borrowing some great old Les Pauls or Teles, or renting stuff. It started to make sense that I should be using better pickups if I wanted to get the best possible tone out of my favorite live guitars.”
Which pickups do you use and for which guitars?
“I have two natural wood Mockingbirds that I use for my main guitars. In one, I have a ’59 in the neck and a JB in the bridge, and in the other one I have a set of Pearly Gates. The one with the ’59 and the JB is warm and vintage with moderate output, they’re great for clean responsive stuff, and gritty overdrive, but never get too overbearing for me. I like to keep things classic sounding. The one with the Pearly Gates gets a little punchier in the mids, and it’s slightly higher output. It’s great for pushing the gain a little more than usual.”
“My Seymour Duncan pickups give me really good tone. Simply put, it’s the best upgrade you can possibly do to your guitar. Sure wood and construction makes a difference too, but the pickups are really what delivers the tone of an electric guitar.”
“Great pickups are all about how they respond to a player’s touch, and touch is what makes each of us different as guitar players. I think that pickups should accurately grab what you’re doing with your hands, every delicate nuance, and send those tasty nuggets to your amp with a bow on it. Every note should be delivered with loving care. If your pickups can do that, then it will change your playing by allowing you to experiment with more nuance in your playing style. That’s what I noticed right away when I played my Duncans for the first time; they seemed to listen a little more closely.”
“My SD’s really brought out the best in my favorite guitars. Don’t put off what you know you need to do. Swap out those crappy stock pickups and just get some Duncans!”
How would you describe your playing?
“I’ve had to make myself very versatile through the years having done a lot of different types of sessions, not to mention there’s a lot of styles I really love playing. The guitar has made itself so useful in so many different universes of music, so I’ve always tried to pick up a little bit from everywhere. That said, I really love classic rock, and that’s a lot of what I do with an electric guitar.”
How would you describe your music?
“I try to solo like it was 1972 and I was standing in front of a couple Plexi stacks. I play a lot of different styles though, and there’s even a lot of variance when I play with the D. I also play pretty much all fingerstyle or hybrid picking, so that influence comes into a lot of what I do as well.”
How did you get the gig with Tenacious D and Ronnie Vannucci?
“The Tenacious D gig came around after I had already spent a few years as lead guitarist in Kyle Gass’ side project Trainwreck. In doing that, I had gotten many chances to prove myself, and more importantly develop a great friendship with those guys, and when it was time to make Pick Of Destiny, I was the first one they called.”
“With Ronnie Vannucci and Big Talk, I got the call from my good friend John Spiker (bassist for Tenacious D) who happened to be playing guitar and keyboards for Ronnie, saying that they were looking for a new bass player. I’ve played bass before in bands, and quite enjoy how it changes the way you listen to the band and the music, so I told them I was interested. Ronnie and I hit it off and had a lot of music in common that we liked, so we tried it out, and it turned out to be a good fit.”
What’s the weirdest or worst thing that has happened on a gig?
“The worst thing is definitely when United lost my pedal board when I was flying to SF for a gig with the D at Outside Lands. It’s about 80,000 in the crowd, and no soundcheck, and we hadn’t really even rehearsed for a while, and my flight got in about an hour before the gig. Fortunately we have techs, and they pieced a board together out of borrowed pedals from other artists. Nothing on it was familiar in the slightest, and I had to figure it out, live on stage, during the performance. It was hectic, but we pulled it off. Here’s a video of a band that also had a nightmare experience with United: United Breaks Guitars
Any advice?
“Practice a lot, and always make sure you’re having fun. If you want to play guitar for a living, you don’t have to be a virtuoso, but you have to be solid, dependable and creative, and someone that others are going to want to be on the bus with.”
Tour dates with Tenacious D/Foo Fighters AUS/NZ tour:
Nov 28: Perth, nib Stadium
Dec 2: Melbourne, AAMI Park
Dec 5: Adelaide Oval
Dec 8: Sydney Football Stadium
Dec 10: Gold Coast Metricon Stadium
Dec 13: Auckland, Western Springs Stadium
To visit John please go to:
http://www.JohnKonesky.com
http://www.guitarings.com
http://www.TheKyleGassBand.com
http://www.TenaciousD.com

Voices of Metal is a new series dedicated to finding the best of Metal. We scour the earth looking for the most intense bands and then we get to the bottom of their story, how they get their sound and what inspires their playing styles. If you’re looking to discover how some of the worlds heaviest metal bands get their tone, you have come to the right place. Today, we talk with Swedish Death Metal band Vomitory.
 

Vomitory was formed in 1989 by guitarist Urban Gustafsson during the birth of the brutal Swedish Death Metal scene. Ever since, they have constantly and brutally delivered straightforward grinding Death Metal. While being a part of the phenomenon that was the Swedish Death Metal scene, the early and most important influences were spelled Sodom, Slayer, Entombed, Bolt Thrower, Napalm Death, Grave and Carcass.
Vomitory has consistently refused to change their style to something more “marketable” and continue to make powerful Death Metal. They have toured with Cannibal Corpse, Vader, Marduk, Nile, Malevolent Creation, Hypocrisy, Deicide, Krisiun, Dark Funeral, Amon Amarth, among others. They have also played many of Europe’s major festivals. In 2009, Vomitory celebrated 20 years as a band with the release of their seventh album Carnage Euphoria. They currently are planning a tour in support of their new album Opus Mortis VIII.

How did you get into playing guitar?
“I´ve being intressted in music since I´ve been a little kid. My father built a toy guitar for me when I was 5-6 years old. As I had to perform with for my parents. Guitar has always being my favorite instrument. So the dream of starting a band I think started when I was 6 years old. But it took till i was 19 when me and another guy started Vomitory.”
How would you describe your style of playing guitar?
“I have a very rough and maybe little dirty style of playing guitar. I´m not so very technical, but I can really use my guitar for playing heavy and brutal death metal.”
What kind of gear do you use?
“ESP- “Standard V” with Seymour Duncan “Blackouts” Pickups
ESP-“LTD V-500” with Seymour Duncan “Blackouts” Pickups
ESP- “EXP Custom” with Seymour Duncan “Blackouts” Pickups
MESA BOOGIE -“Single Rectifier Solo Head 50″
MESA BOOGIE – 4×12  Rectifier”
What is your advice to those trying to make it in a new band?
“The most important I think is to have patience. Belive in what you doing, because one day it happens. Rehearse a lot, for being a team together with your instruments. It’s much funnier to listen to then. Don’t release a demo after one week as a band together. Enter a studio when your stuff delivers. When it´s really blow all other s%#t on the market away (at least in your opinion).
Tour dates:
2011.10.28
GER, Essen, Turock
2011.10.29
NL, Steenwijk, Braindead Festival @ de Buze
2011.10.30
NL, Roermond, De Azijnfabriek
2011.10.31
GER, Osnabrück, Bastard Club
2011.11.01
GER, Hamburg, Marx
2011.11.02
GER, Oldenburg, Amadeus
2011.11.03
GER, Berlin, K 17
2011.11.04
GER, Bischofswerda, East Club
2011.11.05
GER, Bamberg, Live Club & Bar
2011.11.06
CZ, Prague, Matrix Club
2011.11.07
CZ, Brno, Faval Music Circus
2011.11.08
SLV, Bratislava, Randal Club
2011.11.09
AT, Wien, Escape Metal Corner
2011.11.10
SLOW, Ljubljana, Channel Zero
2011.11.11
IT, Rome, Traffic
2011.11.12
IT, Bari, Target club
2011.11.13
IT, Marciano Della Chiana (Arezzo), Brujeria Club
2011.11.14
IT, San Donà di Piave (Venezia), Revolver
2011.11.15
GER, Lahr, Universal Dog
2011.11.16
GER, Darmstadt, Steinbruch Theater
2011.11.17
FRA, Paris, Glazart
2011.11.18
FRA, Valenciennes, LA peniche igelrock
2011.11.19
CH, Zizers, Eventstage
2011.11.20
BEL, Louvain-la-Neuve Mass, Destruction Festival
For more information on Vomitory, please visit:
www.vomitory.net
www.facebook.com/vomitoryband

Today, we are announcing our sponsorship of the Frets of Fury tour. Greek metal band Firewind is going on tour on October 9th with Arsis, Nightrage & White Wizzard. Firewind features Gus G. fresh off his tour with Ozzy Osbourne and ready to provide a show to remember for his fans.
Gus G. states: “We couldn’t be happier to announce our first full North American tour! It’s been over three years since FIREWIND toured from coast to coast across the U.S. and we’re coming back stronger than ever with a killer package. We put a lot of thought into who we wanted to go out with us and truly believe that each band on this bill brings something special to the table making this a very diverse line-up. However, shredding guitar driven metal remains the prominent feature across the board.”
“In fact there’s more to it than just that, as this package is somewhat of a musical family tree. Not many people know this but Arsis’ guitarist James Malone and I went to Berklee together back in 1998. We had an instrumental band together for awhile, which later became FIREWIND. James is a kick ass shredder and I’m glad our bands are finally touring together.”

“Also, most people don’t know that I played in Nightrage for a few years. I did two albums with them and their main-man Marios Iliopoulos is a phenomenal guitar player. He also filled in on bass for FIREWIND this year, when Petros was unable to tour. Nightrage is one of my favorite bands and you definitely got to come down early to check them out. White Wizzard are currently making noise worldwide and they’re definitely a band to watch out for as well. We’re proud to have these great bands on board with us, making this such a high quality package for all metal fans.”
Tour dates for the tour:
Oct 09 St Petersburg, FL @ The State Theater
Oct 10 Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
Oct 11 Springfield, VA @ Jaxx
Oct 12 New York, NY @ The Gramercy Ballroom
Oct 13 Hampton Beach, NH @ Wally”s
Oct 14 Montreal, QC @ Les Foufounes Electriques
Oct 15 Ottawa, ON @ Maverick”s
Oct 16 Cleveland, OH @ Peabody”s
Oct 18 Joliet, IL @ Mojoe”s
Oct 19 St Paul, MN @ Station 4
Oct 20 Winnipeg, MB @ The Osborne Village Inn
Oct 23 Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theater
Oct 24 Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven
Oct 25 Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theater
Oct 26 San Francisco, CA @ Slim”s
Oct 27 Hollywood, CA @ The Whisky A Go Go

You can also enter the Firewind ‘Frets of Fury Giveaway’ for a chance to win two tickets to a venue of your choice. Click here to enter.

At Seymour Duncan, we are all about the players and their quest for the right sound. For every band that has achieved critical mass, there are thousands more who are putting in their dues at local bars and coffee shops. Seymour Duncan Underground is a new continuing series to showcase unique musicians and bands that have not quite reached the mainstream. Today, we sit down with Frode Andreassen of Testpilot.
How did you get started playing guitar?
“I started playing guitar when I was 16 and drums when I was 12, and I still play both instruments almost daily. Heavily inspired by Angus Young, Slash, and Scott Ian. I started out with simple rock and heavy riffs. I believe the first song I tried to learn was Symphony of Destruction by Megadeth.”
“Since I’m left handed it was very hard to find a lefty guitar where I lived, so I bought a right handed Hondo Strat and set the strings up left handed. That was my first guitar, and the year was 1992.”
Tell us about Testpilot.
“Testpilot started in Bergen, Norway in 2005 and our goal was to take the music back to the alternative rock scene in the 90’s, which I believe we have accomplished. We’ve been told in many reviews that our music is very inspired by the alternative hard-rock and grunge scene from the mid 90’s, but with a more up-to-date modern sound. We’re very happy to read such reviews.”

“Last year we released our debut album called You Never Know When which has sold almost 1,000 copies. That’s a good number for an underground band with no record deal, booking agent or manager. In 6 months we will hit the studio again to record our second album. I’m the drummer in Testpilot but I also write 50% of the music we play, that might be a bit weird situation for some, but for me and the guys in the band it’s no problem. There are many guys out there playing drums in a band that also write most of the bands music.”

“I guess I’m in the same boat as Charlie Benante, Dave Grohl, Joey Jordison and Tommy Lee.”
What kind of gear do you use?
“Since I’m a left handed guitar player the guitar market is not exactly the biggest out there, but I’ve found some great companies that build fantastic lefty guitars, one of them being Gaskell Guitars in Sydney, Australia. I recommend all lefty players out there to check them out. I have a black Gaskell Huntsman, a red Gibson SG Standard, a white ESP Eclipse and a black Schecter Blackjack Solo-6 guitar for my songwriting.”

“I’ve just ordered myself a lefty red Dean ML USA guitar, made in Dean’s Custom Shop in Florida, can’t wait to get my hands on that one. All my guitars have Seymour Duncan pickups and I mainly use the Duncan JB in the bridge and either a ‘59 or a Jazz in the neck. But a few months ago I tried the Duncan Custom Shop El Diablo pickup, and after 2 minutes of playing I had found my new favorite pickup. It’s the best rock and metal pickup out there, no doubt! That pickup has it all, it’s amazingly crunchy, fat, bright, and also super-responsive to my pick. Not to mention the tightness in the bass area – unbelievable! It’s actually so crunchy it’s like stepping on a bag of corn flakes! It’s perfect for the music I play, I love it!”

“I only use Randall amps, different kinds of models, but only Randall. I love the fat bottom ‘bassy’ character their amps have, plus the fact that many of my guitar heroes today also use Randall. The guitar players in Testpilot use ESP and Jackson guitars, all with Seymour Duncan JB and ‘59 pickups. They’re also super happy with Duncan pickups and will never use anything else.”

What bands have inspired you?
“My biggest guitar influence for the last 7-8 years have been Tony Iommi and Black Sabbath. Being lefty myself I feel this weird connection to him and his guitar playing. Plus the fact that no guitar player on this planet has ever made so many amazing riffs as he has, he truly is the guitar riff meister of our time.”
“In my teens I was inspired by Anthrax, Ugly Kid Joe, Nirvana, AC/DC and Soundgarden. I still listen to those bands today but I’m also heavily inspired by Disturbed, Sevendust, Black Sabbath, Alter Bridge, Dream Theater, Foo Fighters, Alice In Chains and Tool.

For more information on Testpilot, please visit:
http://www.myspace.com/testpilotband

Immersed in music since childhood, Anthony was born and raised in New Jersey, and started playing guitar at the age of 8, with the encouragement of his father who was an accomplished and professional recorded singer. His grandfather, originally from Italy, was a professional concert violinist. Anthony’s musical journey was already charted before he stepped on stage, or entered his first recording studio. Anthony plays all styles with creative, soulful passion – a crisp, distinct, clean and fresh sound. From fusion, contemporary jazz, rock, R&B, funk and country; his versatility, smooth vocals, amazing tones and melodic composing are his signature.
His unique and creative guitar sounds have been heard on TV movies on Discovery Channel, NBC, ABC & TV commercials, radio jingles, theme songs for talk radio shows and children’s albums. He has been a session player on over 400 projects. His performances have been seen on VH1 with Richard Elliott & Tower of Power; he has toured domestically & internationally, and played at countless concert venues. While living in Nashville, he worked on Music Row writing with hit songwriters.
With 2 CD’s Higher Ground (2003) & Return to Spirit (2008) both self-produced and recorded in Blue Knight Studio (his 24-track studio), Anthony is focusing on writing music for his 3rd release. Several songs are written and the first song is recorded, entitled “Confunktion”. Anthony has recorded, engineered and produced many other local artists. To promote his music, he performs with his original band, Anthony Terrezza & Triple Espresso, and also performs and tours with 6 other projects, including “The Springsteen Experience” as Miami Steve.
Why did you change out your stock pickups?
“I was in search of tone/feel for playing in studio sessions and for concert/live environments. My first guitar pickup was changed around 1985/86. I installed a JB Humbucker! I currently play 4 Kramer Pacer USA Guitars (1985/1987). 3 of them have SH14 Trembucker & 2 have Vintage Rails. 1 has JB Trembucker & 2 Alnico Single Coils. I also have 3 vintage Fender Stratocasters; all 3 have Vintage Rails in the neck and middle position. 2 have a ‘59 Jr and 1 has a JB Jr.”
“They all have smooth, quiet beautiful tone & perfect articulation  – I want to hear every note. With my Seymour Duncan pickups, I am able to shape my tone with the incredible amount of pickup choices that Seymour Duncan provides. I have tried many Seymour Duncan pickups and in my search for tone I have found what works best for me. Seymour Duncan Pickups are 110% perfection! What’s great is, I don’t think about noisy pickups at shows anymore. I am at peace.”

How would you describe your playing?
“I play rock/jazz/R&B/gospel/country/funk/fusion/blues (clean/mean/sweet & articulate). I also write music that is a blend of rock/pop infused with contemporary jazz. Some of my songs are instrumentals, though some of my songs also have my vocals.”
How did you get into composing for TV?
“I was hired by friends who were writers & producers for TV & film. They hired me to play guitar and bass, sometimes reading charts, sometimes creating the parts on the fly.”
Advice from Anthony:
“Just remember to focus on being creative 100% & keep your reading chops up. Sometimes it’s about reading and playing the music, sometimes it’s about creating the music on the spot.”
What advice would you give someone who was wanting to be a session player?
“Be prepared to play all styles of music and keep your cool under the pressure!”
For more information on Anthony please go to:
http://www.AnthonyTerrezza.com
http://www.reverbnation.com/anthonyterrezza
http://facebook.com/anthony…..terrezza

 

Tommy Anthony has been a fixture of the Miami music scene for over 25 years, starting in the early eighties playing all the bars before breaking into studio work, predominantly with producer Emilio Estefan. From 1993 to just a few years ago, Emilio had Tommy and a few other guys do all the guitars for his projects, (and Tommy also got the chance to do vocals as well) easily over a couple hundred different productions at various levels of development, from demos to top ten singles. That led to touring and all sorts of other opportunities that changed his life.
The Estefan connection led Tommy to work with names like Jon Secada, Shakira, Ricky Martin, Steve Winwood and of course, Gloria Estefan. After 7 years as Gloria’s guitarist, she announced her retirement from touring, and then came the call. Santana was looking for a second guitarist/vocalist, and Tommy’s name came up. The classic, legendary band, has been combining Afro Cuban rhythms with rock and blues for over 40 years. With over 80 million records sold, 10  Grammies, and a rock n’ roll hall of fame induction, joining Santana was a no brainer for Tommy.
Seven years later, Tommy stands as only the 2nd full time guitarist in Santana’s amazing history, a role previously held by none other than Neal Schon of Journey fame. When not touring with Santana , Tommy still works with Gloria Estefan, and does production and writing for Disney, Univision and Comcast.
 

Why did you change out your stock pickups?
“Aside from the woods on a guitar and a players hands, the pickups are the next critical step in your tone, prior to the amp of course. Regrettably, that’s overlooked sometimes by manufacturers. Other times there may be a particular facet [more/less gain, more high end, add midrange. That may take a good guitar, and make it sound great. Swapping pickups can do that.”
Which pickups do you use and for which guitars?
“I loaded a Quarter Pound single in my first Strat back in ’78. I’ve since gone to Seymour Duncan whenever the stock pickups in a new guitar were falling short of my needs. Among my choices, the JB , Screamin’ Demon, TB 14 and TB 15, and Pearly Gates models. With the Duncan pickups I know what I’m getting and have a good understanding of the offered lines. They’re consistent, even,  and the performance is always as expected.”
“Duncan pickups perhaps haven’t changed my approach to playing, technically speaking — but I will tell you this – my tone, whether in the studio or live, dramatically affects my disposition, inspiration and mood in general. Good mood = good playing. Duncan helps me get there. I’ve always said, get it right the first time. Seymour Duncan.”
How would you describe your playing?
“I guess my greatest assets are my time, tone and versatility. There are better improv guys and technically advanced players than me. That’s ok, that’s fair, but I can more than hold my own in half a dozen styles, play them legit and with a strong pocket. A lot of guys can solo plenty fine, but unless you’re playing true jazz, bebop or fusion, soloing is good for about 15 seconds on most songs. I always focused on the other 4 minutes too, and making stuff move.”
How would you describe your music?
“My own writing is varied. Radio was different when I was coming up, and far less segregated than now, so I’m comfortable writing and arranging in diffferent styles. That’s been huge, because my publishing deal with Sony was greatly increased in value by my range. I’ve landed straight up rock tunes, classic pop, blue eyed soul and even r&b influenced songs on soundtracks and albums. If you just do one bag well, you’re limited.”
For more information on the upcoming tour dates for Santana:
Santana Tour Dates

For more information on Santana and Tommy Anthony
http://www.santana.com
http://www.redrockstudios.net/Tommy_Anthony.html

Originally from the east coast, Jimmy has recorded and/or performed with Rod Stewart, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jeff Beck, Stevie Nicks, Bon Jovi, Clarence Clemons, Little Steven, Billy Squire, Julian Lennon, Bernie Taupin and more.
Jimmy is most recognized as a member and co-writer of Aerosmith from 1979 – 1984. His work with Aerosmith appeared on 1979’s Night In The Ruts, Classics Live, 1989’s Gems compilation and 1991’s Pandora’s Box compilation. Crespo formed a writing partnership with Steven Tyler, co-writing and producing the Rock In A Hard Place album.
He toured 3 years as lead guitarist for Rod Stewart. Having completed the Rod Stewart gig, he moved to Las Vegas. Jimmy’s style is an all-encompassing one, flowing seamlessly from R&B rhythms, to Hendrix-flavored blues, to modern rock styling, all with the patented Crespo originality that makes you wanna keep your day job!

Why did you change out your stock pickups?
“I could not get the sound I hear out of stock pickups.”
Which pickups do you use and for which guitars?
“For Les Pauls or guitars with humbuckers, I prefer the Antiquity Humbuckers and the 78 Humbucker. For Strats I prefer the Antiquity II Texas Hot with the custom bridge. I like to put a JB jr. in the bridge of a Strat when I want a Strat with more gain. I also like the Antiquity surf for Strats that are a little boomy and the JB for Strats that take humbucking pickups.”
What is the advantage of your Seymour Duncan pickups?
“Versatility. For me, Seymour’s pickups have for the last 30 years given me the sounds I hear and are attainable in his arsenal of pickups. Growing up with old school pickups, PAF’S for humbuckers and old single coils, I was use to those wide frequency responses and feel of those pickups. Seymour’s pickups always feel comfortable when I play them. Seymour Duncan gave me choices which lead me to expand and reach out to other styles of playing freely, that otherwise would have been difficult to get.”

“Whatever sound I have or you may have in your head, it’s at your fingertips, literally, with Seymour’s pickups. Also, I love to experiment, try new sounds, see where they take me creatively. Lock me up with 100 pickups and a soldering iron!”
How would you describe your music?
“Classic Rock is what I’m associated with, classical & blues are serious passions of mine.”
Tour dates with the Hit Men All Stars:
http://www.HitmenAllstars.com

To learn more please go to:
http://www.JimmyCrespo.com
http://www.HitMenAllstars.com

At Seymour Duncan, we are all about the players and their quest for the right sound. For every band that has achieved critical mass, there are thousands more who are putting in their dues at local bars and coffee shops. Seymour Duncan Underground is a new continuing series to showcase unique musicians and bands that have not quite reached the mainstream. Today, we sit down with the members of Immune.

Immune is Rob Shulze (vocals/guitar), Drew Worsley (bass/vocals), Mike Longworth (lead guitar/vocals) and Johnny Skaare (drums).
How did you get started playing guitar?
Rob: “My mom bought me my first guitar on the last day of school in 8th grade. I had a close friend who had started playing guitar and I was extremely envious, so I followed suit. I had a great first teacher, an incredibly talented stoner who really made learning guitar a lot of fun. My first guitar was an Ibanez Explorer with three humbuckers – I believe one of the guys in Def Leppard (not sure if it was Phil or Steve) used to play something similar.”

Mike: “I saw the movie Crossroads years ago, and Steve Vai was so badass in that movie that I had to learn to play guitar.”
Drew: “I was a singer in a band that could never find or keep a bass player, so I decided to just play bass myself. I loved it so much I never stopped and have played bass in many bands since then.”

Tell us about your band Immune and your music.
Rob: “Immune started as a trio in Providence, RI when Rob moved there after attending Berklee College of Music in Boston. The band went through a few lineup changes before deciding to head for Los Angeles. Mike and Johnny were already living in L.A. and they had played together with Rob in a different band on the east coast, so when we needed to replace our drummer and lead guitarist it worked out perfectly. Drew is originally from Virginia and was introduced to us by a promoter. He was the first person we called when it was time to find a new bassist. Our sound has developed as a result of a lot of rehearsals, shows, and plenty of trial and error. We each have different influences and different bands we like but we are all on the same page as far as wanting to write great songs while creating a unique sound and style. L.A. has been great to us so far – the weather is amazing and as a band in L.A. you are surrounded by some of the best and most famous venues in the world. There is a lot of competition in this city and it helps to motivate and inspire us. You also never know who you might meet and be able to network with because so many musicians, producers and other industry types live here.”

What kind of gear do you use and what kind of tone do you find yourself trying to achieve?
Rob: “I play two Mexican Strat reissues which have both been retrofitted with Seymour Duncan Hot Rails, a PRS SE, and an ESP EC-10 through a VHT Deliverance 120 hooked up to a variety of different speaker cabinets.”

Mike: “I love the sound of a great tube amp! I’ve been using a Framus Dragon for about 5 years, but recently I picked up a Line 6 DT50 amp and I love it! With guitars, I stay pretty standard. I have a couple Les Pauls and a Tele. I also just got a great guitar custom made by Joe Bochar Guitars. I’m a big fan of P90’s (Rob is too!) and in one Les Paul I use a Seymour Duncan Phat Cat.”
Drew: “I play a Fender Precision bass through an Eden World Tour 800 head with 2×10 and 2×15 cabinets. I also use a SansAmp Bass Driver DI pedal for some distortion. I’m all about bass tone that you can feel so deep in your chest that it is almost uncomfortable but beautiful at the same time.”

What bands and musicians have personally inspired you?
Rob: “John Fogerty, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Pink Floyd, AC/DC, U2, Linkin Park and Avenged Sevenfold.”
Mike: “These days bands like Jimmy Eat World, Angels And Airwaves, Opeth and A Day To Remember have been playing a lot in my iPod. As far as individual musicians, I love listening and watching many different guitarists and drummers like Alex Skolnick, Steve Vai, Thomas Lang, and my favorite – Paul Gilbert!”

Drew: “Kings X, Doug Pinnick, Faith No More, Soundgarden, Living Colour, Helmet, Sevendust, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Robert Johnson and Howlin’ Wolf.”
What defines a “good performance” for you?
Rob: “A feeling that we’ve blown the crowd away, given them more than they expected, or “won over” a hostile crowd (we managed to survive and actually thrive when we played at Ozzfest, Mayhem Fest and with Infectious Grooves – it was encouraging to be able to impress fans at shows like that). Crowd response trumps personal opinion. I’d rather play an imperfect show and get a great response than play a perfect show to a dead or disinterested audience.”
Mike: “It’s an all around thing for me. Good sound, good lights, good gear and a good look. If that all comes together, it makes for a good performance. Also, making eye contact and staying personal with the crowd is very important to a good show. Did I also mention great songs?”
Drew: “It’s all about having a good time and feeling confident in what you’re doing.”
For more information on Immune visit:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Immune/309731665421
http://www.myspace.com/immunerock
http://www.twitter.com/immunerock
http://www.youtube.com/immuneca

The John Butler Trio (“JBT”) are one of the most respected and successful bands on the world music scene. Over the years, JBT have been fortunate enough to open shows for several international artists at the incredible Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado. In June, 2010, John and his band mates Nicky Bomba and Byron Luiters were elated to perform their biggest headlining concert to date with 8,000 adoring fans at this remarkably iconic and internationally renowned venue in what was a mind blowing concert event.
The John Butler Trio just launched Live at Red Rocks, their first live CD and DVD release in five years. This spectacular two and one-half hour show was captured in its entirety and is now presented in a two CD/DVD package.
Reflecting on the Red Rocks concert experience the American-born but Aussie-raised John Butler said, “As an Australian band, it’s hard to explain what it feels like to pull off a gig like this, we played hard and fast, like our lives depended on it. We gave it everything we had and everything this special place and its people deserved.”

One of things that make John Butler such an engaging guitarist is his unorthodox use of an acoustic guitar. John uses a Seymour Duncan SA-6 Mag Mic in the soundhole of his Australian-made Maton 12 string guitar (with the high-G string removed). He can deliver pristine acoustic tones. But when he wants to get heavy, he sends the Mag Mic’s signal to a Marshall JMP Super Lead Head and 4×12 cabinet colored by a pedal board filled with effects.
Says John about his choice of pickup, “I’ve been using the Seymour Duncan Mag Mic pickup for quite a few years now. They’re clear, have lots of gain and head room, and give me everything I wanna hear from my guitars, both acoustically and through my screaming Marshall.”
If you’d like a sneak preview of the new DVD, check out this video.


The John Butler Trio returned to Red Rocks in August 2011 for a wonderful night of entertainment. Evan Skopp, Seymour Duncan’s head of Artist Relations was there to catch the show and catch up with John backstage. “What an amazing experience,” said Evan. “To hear the band grooving under the stars in such a beautiful venue and to hear such amazing tones come from John’s guitar and to know that Seymour Duncan is a part of it… Well, it’s just something that really makes one take pride in their work.” John continues, “The team at Seymour Duncan have always been great supporters of the JBT and we’re stoked to be working with them.”
If you like what you see, pick up Live at Red Rocks and experience the amazing music of the John Butler Trio in a beautiful outdoor setting.