Innholdsfortegnelse for Vol. 137 i Australian Guitar

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW AN INTERVIEW WITH BENJAMIN VERDERY Described by The New York Times as “an iconoclastic player”, Benjamin Verdery has been hailed for his innovative and eclectic musical career. He’s been the Professor of Guitar at the Yale School of Music since 1985, and Artistic Director of 92Y Art of the Guitar series (NYC) since 2006. As a recording artist, Verdery has released more than 15 albums. His most recent, On Vineyard Sound (released as The Ben Verdery Guitar Project), features him performing music composed by his colleagues at Yale, as well as one his own compositions. It was released on the ECR label, an online music platform Verdery co-curates with guitarist-songwriter Solomon Silber. In 2020, Verdery will release a new album of his own material, as well as the…

With their cool and crunchy sound drawing from equal measures of ‘70s cigarette-rock and ‘90s anarcho-punk, it’s no surprise that Sheer Mag have rapidly established themselves as one of the best bands on the circuit. If you managed to catch them on their 2016 tour of Australian dives, you’ll remember the spine-tickling waves of belting basslines, punishing percussion and gloriously gory guitar riffs, all tied together with some of the world’s most raucous and riveting howls courtesy of frontwoman Tina Halladay. But if you didn’t wind up getting sweaty as all hell with us back then (firstly, shame on you, and secondly) never fear, for you’re about to have a second chance at copping the inexplicable intensity that is Sheer Mag live in concert. The Philly-native powerhouse are back on…

At age 22, Tennessee trailblazer Sophie Allison – better known by her indie-rock alter ego Soccer Mommy – has lived through more than her fair share of ups and downs. Her music, often cool and charismatic as Allison herself, is defined by its heart-on-sleeve honesty, quips that cut straight down to the soul, and fretwork so fanciful it demands repeat listens. She’s been compared to artists like Mitski and Avril Lavigne (both of whom she also cites as major influences), but really, pairing Soccer Mommy with anyone else is doing Allison an injustice – she’s a Strat-wielding superstar all of her own accord; a luminary of the lowkey, and one to watch with a keen eye as she continues catapulting through the ranks. On her second album Color Theory, Allison…

Rounding out a trilogy of pop-rock scrapbooks that gripped the 2010s with fiery flurries of jangly guitars and pumping beats, Best Coast made inhumanly massive waves with their 2015 effort, California Nights. From triple j to Tumblr, anyone worth their bangs and bucket hat was head over heels for Best Coast. They were ready to rule the world. Alas, fate had other plans for the duo. In a press release, Cosentino described falling into a deep artistic slump after the California Nights cycle wrapped: “I felt creatively paralysed. I couldn’t write music. There was so much bubbling inside of me, so many things happening and so much to process, but I couldn’t get any of it out. I was miserable and felt like nothing was ever going to change.” Of…

Listening to Marigold – the fourth album from New Jersey alt-country titans Pinegrove – elicits a certain feeling of warmth; comfort; an affirmation that you’re not alone in whatever personal storms you’re currently weathering. The band achieve this by minimising the distance between us and frontman Evan Hall. On previous records, the outfit would revel in the breadth and looseness of a lo-fi mix – Hall says that 2018’s Skylight, for example, “was supposed to sound like you’re just in the room with us rehearsing” – which made them fun to listen to, but difficult to connect with. But on Marigold, Hall’s vocals are emphatically more distinct; it’s as if he’s singing directly to us, the instrumental backings merely a bed for us to lie on together as he does.…

A LINE 6 HX STOMP COMPACT PROFESSIONAL GUITAR PROCESSOR Pushing the limits of how much high-class tech can squeeze into such a small chassis, the Line 6 HX Stomp is a professional-grade guitar processor that delivers the sound of Helix amps, cabs, and effects in an ultra compact pedal. Whether you prefer to play through a traditional amp-and-pedal setup, or go direct onstage or in the studio, the HX Stomp seamlessly integrates into a variety of environmentsand applications. Utilising the same DSP and HX Modelling technology as its bigger Helix brethren, the HX Stomp nonetheless fits easily onto a pedalboard, or even in the pocket of a gig bag. There are over 300 amps, cabs, and effects onboard, including a looper. The HX Stomp containsall the same HX models found…

TOMMY IOMMI’S “MONKEY” GETS A CUSTOM SHOP CLONE Those who take their Sabbath like their coffee will be tolling the bell of doom in celebration with the news that Gibson has launched an Artist Series replica of Tony Iommi’s iconic 1964 SG Special. Nicknamed “Monkey”, and featuring a sticker depicting the eponymous primate just below the bridge, the new SG Special is the Holy Grail of electric guitars in Black Sabbath history. Besides its mahogany body and set neck, the Monkey features a pair of handmade pickups, which were wound by an apprentice of the late guru John Birch. It has been aged with a zero fret as per Iommi’s original, and sports the same stop tailpiece bushings and routing holes where the original tune-o-matic bridge and tailpiece would have…

GET YOUR FINGERS AROUND EIGHT NEW STRING TYPES Coming later this year will be Ernie Ball’s new Turbo, Mondo, Skinny Top Beefy Bottom and Mighty Slinky sets, offering users custom string gauges that have never been available through the brand before. All of the new sets will feature a nickel-plated steel wrap wire around a tin-plated hex core for that iconic Slinky feel and tone. The Turbo Slinkys fit neatly between Regular Slinkys and Hybrid Slinkys – great for those transitioning from 9s to 10s or back down. The Mondo Slinkys will be welcome news for those who tune lower, or want to get as much out of their instrument without going as heavy as 11s. Those looking to explore the more extreme, thicker gauges will be interested in the…

Over the last few years, a lot of extremely talented people that work behind desks in recording studios across Australia have revealed their tips, tricks and sound capturing secrets for our little column. Many of these have almost been lost to the pages of time, sitting in boxes, back issues or buried in hard drives. So, we decided to dig through the archives to bring you some of the best bits of professional advice that we collected from over 30 interviews. HOW TO BALANCE COMPRESSION AND GUITAR DISTORTION “Compression is extremely important for any song where you want a powerful sound, especially for the vocal tracks and drums. But the reason guitars are distorted to start with is basically due to the limitation of the signal, so it’s important not…

SIGNATURES Just like major keys, a minor key signature tells you which notes are likely to appear in the songs you play. What’s the difference between the two kinds of key? Well, just like major and minor chords, the major kind tend to sound bright and happy whereas minor keys sound darker and moodier. Vital info then! Knowing which notes to use and the general mood of the key signature will help you whether you’re writing your next song or playing along with a jam track. There are three vital notes and intervals that give minor keys their signature sound: the B third, the B sixth and the B seventh. Grab your guitar, stretch your fingers and read on – we’ll explain a bit more. EXAMPLE #1: E MINOR SCALE…

CABLE TIES Far Enough POISON CITY An eight-track exercise in blunt and unforgiving catharsis, the venomous second album from Cable Ties is inescapably gripping from the first gravelly strum on “Hope” to the last whip of feedback on “Pillow”. It’s brash and scrappy and loud as hell, and intentionally so – the Melbourne proto-punks are pissed off and fired up, and they translate their grievances effortlessly into fierce political poetry and punishing pummels on a fretboard. It’s a cracking listen on wax, no doubt, but with each biting howl and crunchy riff that passes, we can’t help but wish we were watching Cable Ties smash them out onstage; they’re an ace live band, and these cuts will make ace additions to their setlist. MATT DORIA INTROVERT Mending Breaking UNFD True…

Not satisfied with being the new millennium’s most popular bass amp range, the folks at Markbass continue to release products that are both innovative and entirely practical. Such is the Little Mark Vintage – a compact bass head with loads of character and plenty of power. The Little Mark Vintage offers preamp and master gain controls, an interactive four-band EQ section, a very musical limiter, and a three-way “preset” EQ switch. But the real business in this amp is the 12AX7 that adds all manner of harmonic content not available in solid state circuits. There are still some bassists who disregard the benefits of the vacuum tube, preferring the more pristine edge of a transistor-based circuit. But a great many are returning to the more vintage tones that were so…

LITTLE QUIRKS THEY ARE Three inhumanly talented folk-pop firestarters from the NSW Central Coast, dealing in soul-warming indie-pop song structures made all the more beautiful with mandolin riffs, off-kilter percussion and three-part harmonies that constantly threaten to steal the show. All three members share the mic equally, with sisters Abbey and Mia Toole behind the axe and kit, respectively, and cousin Jaymi on mandolin duties. THEY SOUND LIKE The perfect soundtrack for summer mornings spent road-tripping through the mountains en route to this ‘hidden gem’ beach your sister’s girlfriend swears by – it’s no shock at all Little Quirks are a coastal crew. YOU’LL DIG THEM IF YOU LIKE Boy & Bear, All My Exes Live In Texas, and the first few Mumford & Sons records. There was a little…

Smack bang in the centre of a venn diagram between ‘grandiose rock anthems that not even stadiums could hold’, ‘fervently passionate authenticity’ and ‘infectious larrikin spirit that makes them impossible to hate’, The Vanns deserved every second of their monolithic breakthrough at the turn of the decade. Last year’s debut album Through The Wall was an instant hit upon release, bolstered by colossally captivating jams like the lively and luminous “Mother”, energy-brewing “Deranged” and furiously fiery “How Was I Supposed To Know”. But much like the bands they draw influence from (see: Gang Of Youths, Kings Of Leon, Queen), something truly magical happens when The Vanns take to the stage. Their live show is a masterpiece in calculated mayhem – loose enough that you know it’s not choreographed, but so…

Whether it be for their unique collision of jazz guitar stylings and blistering metal, their pioneering use of Drop D tuning or the simple fact that most of their tracks go as hard today as they did three decades ago, there’s a good chance you’re either a Helmet fan (you are reading an article about them, after all), or you would be if you gave one of their records a spin. Since 1989, frontman (and noted ESP Horizon fanboy) Page Hamilton has been steering the ship in one of the world’s most revered alt-metal acts, delivering consistently crushing onslaughts of floor-shaking riffs and fist-pumping beats – and though their lineup has never been all too sturdy, Helmet have always rebuilt themselves to be stronger and more savage with each incarnation.…

The product of a mind so sharp and distinctive – that of frontman (and sole remaining founder) James Alex – Beach Slang are one of a select bands who don’t even need to sell listeners on the music their records contain, merely because the titles alone do it perfectly. Case in point: The Deadbeat Bang Of Heartbreak City. You read those six words on a record jacket and you’re immediately roped in. It’s poetic; political; powerful. You ask yourself, “What could such a gut-punching string of buzzwords possibly sound like? I need to buy this record and find out.” Okay, so maybe that exact scenario doesn’t happen in this current age of Spotify and instant gratification – but you just know that if Beach Slang were kicking 30 years ago,…

Our story begins at the 2017 edition of Australia’s biggest regional touring festival, Groovin The Moo. Headlining the mainstage is post-grunge powerhouse Violent Soho, still riding high on the waves made by their monolithic fourth album, WACO. For a post-internet music scene that seems to churn through a new set of obsessions every other week, that WACO was still on everybody’s lips a year after release was no small accomplishment for the Mansfield foursome. But as far as they were concerned, WACO had run its course – Groovin would be the last distortion-slathered nail in its coffin, and the band were eager to give it one hell of a send-off. “It was more like a party than anything we felt obliged to be at,” describes vocalist and rhythm guitarist Luke…

THE CAMBRIDGE50 MODELLING AMP IS A NUTUBE-EQUIPPED LIFESAVER Equipped with Vox’s Nutube and Virtual Element Technology, the Cambridge50 promises to capture tube-amp response for stage-ready sounds. 11 amp models and eight built-in effects are rearing to go, as is a tuner, while a Celestion 12-inch speaker delivers the tones. Other functions include an aux input, USB audio interface and headphone/line output with cab sim, plus a line mode for acoustic-electric guitars and keyboards, and a preset mode to recall existing tones. WORDS: MICHAEL ASTLEY-BROWN THE VALVENERGY PEDAL SERIES STARS FOUR NUTUBE-EQUIPPED GEMS After years of cramming its Nutube tech into tiny amp heads and even an Ibanez Tube Screamer, Vox has finally brought the miniature valves into its own line of overdrive pedals. The lineup is composed of four models:…

ORANGE’S TERROR STAMP MIGHT BE THE WORLDS MOST PORTABLE 20-WATTER Orange has launched the Terror Stamp: an ultra portable 20-watt electric guitar amp with the size (and functionality) of a pedal. Featuring an ultra compact form factor, this little powerhouse will fit easily onto any pedalboard, delivering what Orange calls “masses of Terror tone at the stamp of your foot.” Features include an 8/16-Ohm speaker output, a fully-buffered FX Loop, a cab sim/headphone output, shape control and a foot-switchable master volume. The amp also features a hybrid ECC83 tube/Class AB solid state design, offering users the best of both worlds. Orange even says the amp can be used to power a four-by-12 cab. And with stunningly robust casing, we expect these will be very popular with gigging guitarists. WORDS: SAM…

When it comes to sweep picking, the most commonly used arpeggio shapes involve either three or five strings. However, it’s also possible to use sweep picking to play arpeggios across all six strings. These are probably the most difficult sweep picking arpeggios to master. For this column, I’m going to look at the basic six string shapes for a minor triad (1-b3-5) and a major triad (1-3-5). EXERCISE #1 This is the standard six string minor arpeggio shape in the key of E minor (Bar #1). I’ve also included the recommended left-hand fingering. To play the notes on the same frets on adjacent strings, you will need to roll your finger on and off the strings in order to separate each note. Practice the shape slowly until it feels comfortable…

As a musician, you should treat your voice with the same care as your guitar, whether you’re a leader singer or just contributing the odd backup harmony. And it’s especially easy to overlook good technique when you’ve got two jobs to do at once. Voice coach (and guitarist, bassist, luthier, producer, etcetera) Peter Strobl has worked with musicians including Eddie and Wolfgang Van Halen, and Clutch’s Neil Fallon, on improving their technique as playing singers. Now he’s here to offer us a no-nonsense set of essential tips you can start using now. 1 THE WHOLE PROCESS STARTS WITH YOUR BREATH “Learn how to breathe properly. There appears to be massive confusion about this basic process. ‘Should my stomach go out? In? Should my lower back expand? Should my kidneys explode?’…

TAME IMPALA The Slow Rush ISLAND / MODULAR In the five years since releasing Currents – their major breakthrough into the universal mainstream – Tame Impala (or more specifically, its main brain Kevin Parker) has gone through a monolithic shift in public personality. Parker has become pop’s go-to guy for a dose of acidic idiosyncrasy, the peculiar-minded Perthian buddying up with everyone from Mark Ronson and The Flaming Lips to Kanye West and Rihanna. Such worldly adventures have rubbed off suitably on his main project’s unbearably long-awaited fourth LP, The Slow Rush, with a glittery, pop-consonant shimmer slicked over a solid bulk of the hourlong affair. “Is It True” could easily be a collaboration with the aforementioned Ronson, with its funky bass throbs, pulsing wah and handclaps in excess. Parker…

Considering that more than 50 companies offer USB audio interfaces, it can be very confusing to decide which one to buy. While the sound quality of today’s digital home recording products is significantly better than that of their analog counterparts from a few decades ago, all digital products are not created equal. The quality of the unit’s components – like A/D and D/A converters, preamps and filters – can make all the difference between a lifelike, dynamic recording and a flat, lacklustre one. Usually it’s wise to select a product from a company with a long history of making pro audio products as a lot of their high-end expertise goes into every product they make. Focusrite have done just that for more than three decades, which is part of the…

Ever since the first commercial guitar synthesisers were introduced back in the mid ‘70s, I’ve been fascinated by the possibilities of controlling non-guitar sounds with an electric guitar. However, over the years, numerous idiosyncrasies of guitar synth design made that prospect not entirely ideal for me. From specialised guitar controllers and invasive pickup installations to bulky proprietary cables and rack- or floor-mounted sound modules, a guitar synth seemed more like a separate instrument unto itself rather than something I could easily and painlessly integrate into my existing gear rig. Recently, Fishman introduced a few products that may finally convince even the most skeptical guitarists to explore the vast world of sounds that exist beyond our beloved six strings. The Fishman TriplePlay Wireless MIDI Guitar Controller came first, which offers a…

In case its Valentine’s Day release didn’t make it obvious enough, the title of Jack River’s new record should let you know enough about its subject matter. The seven-track Stranger Heart EP is another release jam-packed with ooey, gooey love songs that’ll make you feel like you’re 15 and falling head over heels for that one girl in your English class all over again. Except this time, you won’t be savagely rejected and embarrassed in front of all your mates, and Holly Rankin is upping the stakes by adding a piquant dose of peculiarity to the mix. Following on from the bright and buoyant debut LP Sugar Mountain – a proper sequel to which is already on the cards – Rankin has ditched the bubblegum sweetness, instead toying with seven…

Few things in this world are more powerful than the collective unity of the internet when a funny video starts to spread. When they dropped the low-budget video for “Smoko” – a belting bastion of blue-collar Aussie humour – in July 2017, The Chats didn’t think they would end up selling out theatres around the country, touring the world with their heroes or dropping their debut album at #1 on the ARIA Charts (with critical praise to boot). But alas, social media buckled under the hilarity of Eamon Sandwith and co’s loose and lively tradie-punk anthem, and two years later – the spark kept alight by follow-up gems like “Pub Feed” and “Identity Theft” – The Chats are all but engraved into the annals of Australian music history. According to…

With the exception of keyboardist Mick Schauer (who sadly passed away last year), Maryland metal titans Clutch have remained a tight-knit band of the same four brothers since their inception in 1991. Their strength behind the scenes is reflected in their output: a whopping twelve studio albums of thick ’n’ fierce guitar lovin’ without so much as an inch of fat around the edges. Ditto for their live shows, which have reaped lashings of (well-deserved) acclaim for their tight, catalogue-spanning setlists, top-notch banter, and performances so powerful it’s downright impossible to sit through them – moshing is a must for all able-bodied punters, no excuses. Four years since their stunning Psychic Warfare theatre tour (which some of us at AG still haven’t recovered from), Clutch are set to make the…

After kicking down the walls of the Australian pub scene with the raw, punchy rock ’n’ roll spirit of 2014’s Microscopic Wars, Kingswood set their sights to the world and, armed with a groovier, more electronically intoned pop-rock slant, made a monolith of themselves in 2017’s acclaimed After Hours, Close To Dawn. And though it showed a major stylistic shift for the Melbourne-native foursome, the album proved an instant hit with fans and critics alike. Before long, Kingswood were a household name, any venue they’d plaster on a tour poster sold out before the presales could end… And then they found themselves in a creative ditch. Throughout the bulk of 2018, the band wrote two albums worth of material, both of which they saw enough value in to draft up…

THE ICONIC HM STRAT IS BACK! Famously wielded by virtuoso guitarist Greg Howe on his 1992 REH Hot Rock Licks instructional video, the short-lived ‘88-‘92 run of heavy metal-friendly Strats were very much tailored to an era of super shredders. Famous for their extreme playability and bold color schemes, the line has finally been revived. The new models offer a basswood body, Gotoh tuners, a HSS pickup configuration with a coil split switch for the bridge pickup, a Floyd Rose locking tremolo and 24 jumbo frets. Of course, these latest versions wouldn’t be the same without a black headcap and that infamous ‘80s stylised Fender logo on the headstock. WORDS: AMIT SHARMA THE LEAD II AND III HAVE BEEN REVIVED St. Vincent, Bono, Eric Clapton and Steve Morse are just…

CHORDS SLASHER PICS! FOUR CHORD SHAPES TO GET YOU ROCKING “I’VE HEARD OF SLASH CHORDS, BUT WHAT ARE THEY?” It’s a simple idea – they’re chords whose lowest note isn’t the root. The root note in, say, an Achord would be A; in a G chord it would be G. Basically, the root is the note the chord gets its name from. Easy! It’s the same for any kind of chord – Am, Amaj7, A13 or any other kind of ‘A chord’ all have A root notes. Now, to come back to slash chords – if you played an A chord, but with a different note in the bass, then that would be a slash chord. Get it? “I THINK SO, BUT I DON’T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHY IT’S IMPORTANT.” Well,…

You would think there would be no way to improve upon a Telecaster. Heck, you can still walk into a store today and buy a Tele with the same specs as one made in 1952. It’s a design that works, and that continues to work even as new genres spring up around it. But Fender doesn’t rest on its laurels. The Fender of 2020 pays attention to what today’s players want to hang onto from the old days and what they want to have incorporated from more recent guitar development. Want a faithful ‘50s Tele replica? You can get that. Want a modern Tele that’s easier to play and more suited to the variety of tones a player in 2020 might require? That’s where the Fender American Ultra Telecaster comes…

To me, a Gretsch ranks as one of the top five essential electric guitars every guitarist should own, particularly since their models deliver a unique sonic voice that’s unlike most other brands. One setback for many players is that the best-known and most highly coveted Gretsch models like the 6120, Duo Jet and White Falcon start at prices above $2,000 and only go up from there. Fortunately, Gretsch also offers much more affordable Electromatic and Streamliner models that deliver impressive, genuine Gretsch style and vibe for about a quarter of the cost of the ‘professional’ models. The Gretsch G5220 Electromatic Jet BT Single-Cut is a descendent of the company’s timeless Duo Jet solidbody model, which has inspired players like Cliff Gallup, George Harrison, Malcolm Young, Billy Zoom, Jeff Beck, Chris…

Your tone is about more than just sound; it’s the things that affect playing feel and touch-sensitivity as well. Some players like a clear, glassy note that can punch through any mix. Others need a swampy, down-and-dirty drive tone to feel really at home. Others still need both, at the touch of a footswitch, to get their point across. Our goal is to get to those sounds deliberately and methodically, whenever we want them – not rely solely on random experimentation, as fun and useful as that can be. But you don’t need a degree in audio engineering to get to the point where you can make effective decisions about tone-tweaking. As with cooking, there are some simple building blocks that can be combined in different ways to create thousands…