The interview hinted at a couple posts ago goes to print next month. Here is the cover.
In this, our second interview, I did my best to not just talk about gear. I at least tried. Tell me what you think. Zac
Here are some out-takes from the Rowan shots that Rusty Russell did. I thought it quite interesting that he had stopped using a pedal board altogether. Brent would bring cases of pedals, and only plug in what was appropriate.
My dear wife got tickets to a tv taping at the Opry house for a Wynonna Christmas special. Being that it was at 7pm, we decided to meet there. What I didn’t allow for was the arrival of one of our presidential candidates into town. To help afformentioned candidate, they shut down I-40, and all the exits off of it. Needless to say I got to the taping late. Luckily, they had delayed the start due to the traffic conditions. Wynonna was great, but I was even more impressed with her longtime producer/guitarist Don Potter. I don’t think I have ever seen an acoustic guitarist play with a smoother touch. After the show, there was a major accident on 1-65 which shut down all lanes of traffic. What a night.
I am a Ry Cooder fan. I can’t help it. He is an old, cantakerous coot, but an amazing musician and storyteller. I bought his latest album/book I Flathead a week or so ago. The book highlights Ry’s sharply honed weirdness, and penchant for the normal, yet absurd. Aliens coming to earth and racing cars, and stories of rough and tumble country musician/hooligan Kash Buck. Then there is the cd, which has songs about “Steel Guitar Heaven,” and a song about Kash Buck’s dog, Spade Cooley. For those not in the know, Spade was the name of a very infamous western swing band leader, who spent time in prison for the brutal murder of his wife. As good as the album is, his “Chicken Skin Music” album is still my fave.
Watch out next month for my interview with Nashville sessioneer/producer Brent Rowan, and be on the lookout the following month for my cover story on Brad Paisley. I leave you with a teaser from the Brad interview.
VG: What is you name?
BP: Brad Paisley
VG: Is this your 1st interview?
BP: No I actually did one last week, I really like them.
VG: What is it about interviews that you like?
BP: I like it that someone is actually asking me questions, instead of me asking questions.
VG: What kind of questions would you ask?
BP: If I was going to do the interview? Hygiene.
That’s hard hitting journalism at its best!
I have been learning how to play the guitar with Arlen Roth for about 23 years now. I have bought his books and videos, and read his columns in old Guitar Player Magazines. About 2 months ago, I happened upon Gibson Guitar’s website, and clicked on Lifestyle, instead of Products. They have a wealth of music news, and of course the expected Gibson marketing.
Now for the really nice part. They have been posting short, 5-10 min lessons by Arlen, where he teaches you some incredibly insightful lessons. If you play electric guitar, please take the time to check out his lessons of the day on Gibson’s website. I have enjoyed every one of them. Arlen, you are still my hero, 23 years later.
The summer is blazing by, but I wish the blazing temperatures would leave us alone. Last weekend I played with a songwriter friend of mine, Paul Bogart, at Pucketts Grocery in Leipers Fork, TN. I had never had the chance to play there before, and its the only gig in town where you can have dinner, play, fill your car up with gas, and buy a half gallon of milk, all at one wonderful location. Why can’t every gig be like this? Later this month, my buddy Jay and I will attend Experience PRS. For those not in the know, PRS is a well respected guitar manufacture in Maryland. There will be guitar building clinics, new model demonstrations, and concerts by their top endorsers. Looking forward to it.
As with most things, I don’t do it half-way. After checking out the Les Paul’s at the Gibson Custom Shop, I became increasingly interested in the history of the man, the guitar, and the players who helped make it famous. My wife aided in my insanity by giving me the PBS documentary of Les Paul, “Chasing Sound.” The documentary focuses on Les Paul the man, and his years as a inventor, sideman to the stars, and star in his own right with then wife Mary Ford. I also picked up the book “The Les Paul Legacy,” which gave a good run down of the man, and an in-depth look at the guitar, and the players that use it.
As the illness grew, I bought the book “The Beauty of The Burst” a very in depth look at the sunburst Les Paul’s made from 1958-60. Finally I began looking at some of the players that had helped make the guitar popular, Duane Allman, Eric Clapton, and Mike Bloomfield. To learn about Duane, I read “Sky Dog,” by Randy Poe. It is hard to believe that Duane made such an impact in the very short time that he was a session guitarist in Muscle Shoals, AL, and as a member/founder of the Allman Brothers Band. He died in 1971.
The biography of Bloomers was quite sad as he was such a wonderful player, and died in such a tragic way. The book is a non-traditional biography as it is a collection of interviews with Mike and all the principal players in his story. Eric’s time as a Les Paul player was during the brief time he played in John Mayal’s Bluesbreakers, and his time in Cream.
Amy and I saw Mark Knopfler at the Ryman last month. He has one of the best bands I have ever seen, and Mark more than lives up to his status as one of the greatest living guitarists. Otherwise the Summer is blazing by, both in its speed, and level of heat. Been listening to an old friend, Tom Yarbrough. If you have a chance, catch him live here in Nashville.
Best,
Zac
VG just posted my interview with Keith Urban online. Check it out
They also posted my interview with Richard Bennett:
In the September 2008 issue is a reiview I did of the Gadotti King nylon string guitar. Hope you are having a good summer.
My dear wife took me on a surprise trip to Lynchburg TN. On the way, we passed by a wonderful sign. We had to take a picture.
To think, one stop shopping!!!!
A week or so later, got the chance to take a tour of Gibson’s Custom/Historic Division here in Nashville. It was quite fun to see how they make the Historic Les Paul’s from start to finish. Here is a picture of the racks of guitars that are being readied to ship out.
Notice that there are also cardboard bins going 20 feet in the air that are also filled with guitars. Here is a shot of my buddy Jay holding a maple top that will be used for an R9, or 1959 Historic Les Paul.
They put aside the best looking maple for the R9’s.
Here is a shot of a mahogany body that has had its maple top glued on, but has yet to see the CNC machine that will carve the top. 
The R8 signifies it will be a ‘58 Historic.
Here is a R7 Gold Top that has seen the CNC machine, but not the sander.
After going to the finishing department, some of the instruments get the “VOS” treatment. Its a compound that is rubbed on the finish. Here it is in all its funky glory.
The last step is of course final inspection. Here the instrument is tuned and tested, and given the OK
Looking through the racks, we found a R9 that had such a nice top on it, they had not put a pick guard on it
