
From left to right: Brian Marshall, Myles Kennedy, Scott Phillips, and Mark Tremonti together form a supergroup bolstered by Tremonti and Kennedy's fierce guitar playing and Phillips and Marshall's powerful rhythm section.
On the band’s new album, Pawns & Kings, its creative leaders prove the virtues of deep songwriting, tube amp tones, PRS guitars, and hard work.
On top of having all the trappings of an epic rock band, Alter Bridge, who’ve just released a new album called Pawns & Kings, has the necessary talent and magnetism to back them up. Just look at the lineup: Their charismatic frontman, singer/guitarist Myles Kennedy, is considered among the best vocalists in modern rock; guitarist Mark Tremonti is not just heroic on the instrument, but virtuosic; and together, Brian Marshall’s melodic bass playing and drummer Scott “Flip” Phillips’ Bonham-like power generate megawattage.
Tremonti, Marshall, and Phillips are also founding members of Creed, one of the biggest rock bands of the past few decades. Kennedy is the singer for Slash’s solo band. And, Kennedy and Tremonti have also been enjoying successful solo careers: Tremonti just released Tremonti Sings Frank Sinatra, recorded with Ol’ Blue Eyes’ surviving bandmembers and benefitting the National Down Syndrome Society.
Alter Bridge - Holiday (Official Video)
Clearly, Tremonti and Kennedy have their creative engines in high gear. “It’s an addiction,” Tremonti explains. “You write that song that makes your hair stand up, and you want to do it again. It’s the same with anything creative, whether writing a song or book, or painting a picture. It is like a drug.”
As Kennedy points out, the trick is balancing that addiction with the signature sound they’ve created for the past 20 years. “We’re nearly two decades in, and we have a good understanding of what boxes to check and what our fan base wants to hear. It’s that delicate dance of making sure that they’re content and that we’re also still pushing ourselves.”
“I started as a guitar player. Lead, in particular, was my big passion growing up.”—Myles Kennedy
For many fans, Alter Bridge’s second release, Blackbird, defined the band’s sound. It took everything they loved about the first record, One Day Remains, and made it bigger, darker, and more complex—epic, in a word. The title track clocks in at over 7 minutes long and pits Kennedy and Tremonti against each other in one of the best guitar duels in recent rock history. Since then, each Alter Bridge record has kept on this path, piling on more and more heavy, melodic elements. But there is a limit, and on Pawns & Kings, the band was ready to make a change.
“If you listen to some of the prior records, there were a lot of textures and elements weaving through,” explains Kennedy. “The other day, I was reviewing one of the songs from [2016’s] The Last Hero. I was listening on headphones and was like, ‘I didn’t even know that keyboard part was in there!’ We pulled all that out of this record. ‘Less is more’ was the motto.”
Tremonti adds, “We decided, ‘Let’s get back to our old way of doing things.’ We want it to be more just the guys playing their instruments. No orchestration underneath. No pads. Just us. It gives it more depth, and everything else has more room to breathe.”Alter Bridge - Pawns & Kings (Official Video)
That choice worked out in their favor, and on Pawns & Kings, Alter Bridge’s songwriting, musicianship, and crushing guitar tones are more in your face than ever. The band’s longtime producer Michael “Elvis” Baskette—who has also worked with Creed, Mammoth WVH, Sevendust, and Slash—was crucial to the creative process.
“[Elvis is] such an important element,” says Kennedy. “He’s an incredible producer. He can get great tones, and he has a really great arrangement ability. More than anything, he understands the psychology of making records. That’s so much of what this process is about.”
Baskette, who’s manned the board for Alter Bridge since Blackbird, knows exactly what the guys are capable of, and he had them dig deep. “I think it’s our densest record by far,” says Tremonti. “It’s a lot to take in on first listen.”
Kennedy adds that “we’ve integrated more of a demoing process, where each guy will go to his corner and spend time on the ideas that he feels strongest about before presenting them to the band.” He names the new track “Sin After Sin” as an example of this recent dynamic. “It was this musical bed that Mark had, and then I came up with some lyrics, melodies, and whatnot.”
“Usually, when it’s the heavy, chunky stuff, I’ll track that first, and then Myles will track a lot of his atmospheric, effected stuff.” —Mark Tremonti
Although both musicians have a similar writing process, how their diverging styles meet creates the band’s trademark sound. For Tremonti, a die-hard metalhead, it’s about exercising those tendencies outside the band while opening the floodgates for Alter Bridge. “Usually, when I write for Tremonti [the name of his solo project], I try to put on my speed-metal hat. That’s when I get to pull out all my childhood metal influences. I love that stuff, so it’s always fun. Other than that, I like to write whatever comes out.”
Kennedy tends to follow a more traditional singer-songwriter approach, as heard on Alter Bridge’s acoustic staple, “Watch Over You,” from Blackbird. But he’s not afraid to branch out, even lacing his debut solo album, The Year of the Tiger, around gritty resonator-guitar blues. But this time, one song, “Holiday,” with its old-school rock vibe, seemed like a step too far.
“I almost didn’t even present it to the band,” he admits. “I played the demo to our producer, and he’s like, ‘Oh, that’s going on the record! It’s got that swing and that swagger.’ I’m glad he helped.”Mark Tremonti's Gear
Tremonti digs into one of his PRS signature guitars, which are made from mahogany with a flamed maple top, have a thin set neck, medium jumbo frets, and PRS Tremonti Humbuckers.
Photo by Chuck Brueckmann
Guitars
- PRS Mark Tremonti Signature
- PRS Custom Baritone
- Martin acoustics
- Taylor acoustics
- Ramirez classical
Amps
- PRS MT 100 Signature prototype
- PRS MT 15 Signature
- Dumble Overdrive Special
- Cornford RK100
- Mesa/Boogie Oversize 4x12s
Effects
- Morley Mark Tremonti Wah
- Ibanez TS808HW Handwired Tube Screamer
- MXR Uni-Vibe Chorus/Vibrato
- Boss OC-5 Octave
- MXR Smart Gate Noise Gate
Picks and Strings
- Dunlop Flow 1.3 mm
- D’Addario (.011–.052)
The guitarists trade leads on tracks like “Dead Among the Living” and “Last Man Standing,” and Tremonti says they take very different approaches to the stage and studio. “I was never one of those guys who likes to stay up late at night, break out a million pedals, and experiment with tones. So, usually, when it’s the heavy, chunky stuff, I’ll track that first, and then Myles will track a lot of his atmospheric, effected stuff.”
With Tremonti and Kennedy at the top of their game as guitarists and vocalists, one constantly pushes the other, elevating the band. “Stay” stands out as an example, “because it’s a major key, it’s very anthemic, and you have Mark singing,” relates Kennedy. “He was insecure about his vocal, and I remember telling him to stop that nonsense [laughs]. His voice is great, and because I’m more of a tenor, there’s a nice blend there.
“I started as a guitar player,” Kennedy continues. “Lead, in particular, was my big passion growing up. The only reason I ever started singing was that it was easier to sing [my own songs] once I started writing them. When Mark discovered that I played lead guitar, he always pushed it. It’s the same nudging I did with him and his vocals.”
For their latest album, Alter Bridge scrapped their usual textured approach for a stripped-down-but-strong framework. “We want it to be more just the guys playing their instruments,” Tremonti declares.
"I know that everything I throw at Myles, he's capable of doing," Tremonti adds, "and he's going to fill a different sound. He's got a signature sound. It adds another layer for the band."
Guitar tone is a big deal in Alter Bridge. Tremonti was Paul Reed Smith’s second signature artist and helps design every piece of gear that bears his name. Although his PRS Mark Tremonti Signature rarely leaves his hands, a different PRS delivered Pawns & Kings’ heaviest moments. “I have a baritone that we used almost all the time,” Tremonti says. “Anything tuned low is that guitar. When I brought it into the studio, Elvis was like, ‘No shit! I used that when I recorded Limp Bizkit.’ Then, I was doing a show with Limp Bizkit, and Wes [Borland, Limp Bizkit guitarist] came over. He’s like, ‘Is that what I think it is? Is that the baritone? Shit, that’s a great guitar!’” Tremonti and PRS have also collaborated on the MT 15 amplifier. The lunchbox-style head is a favorite for its percussive high gain and clean channels. Pawns & Kings also offers the first hearing of the upcoming PRS MT 100, a 100-watt signature version that even dethroned Tremonti’s beloved Mesa/Boogie Rectifiers for the sessions.
Myles Kennedy's Gear
Myles Kennedy is a double threat: a great rock vocalist who can also shred like a maniac when called upon to do so.
Photo by Chuck Brueckmann
Guitars
- PRS SC245
- PRS Custom Singlecut
Amps
- Diezel VH4
- Diezel Herbert
- Dumble Overdrive Special
- Diezel 4x12
Effects
- Custom Audio Electronics Wah
- EHX Micro POG
- Boss RV-6
- Foxrox Octron3
- Reeves Klon clone
- Line 6 MM4 Modulation Modeler
Picks and Strings
- Dunlop Ultex 1.14 mm
- D’Addario (.011–.052)
“I just approved the final version,” Tremonti says. “The clean channel, to me, is the ultimate clean channel. I pulled out all my Fender Twins, played through them one by one, and found my favorites. But when I played them back-to-back with the MT 100, I preferred the MT 100. The third channel is the overdrive channel, and it’s badass. I wanted it to be all I’d ever want at my home, studio, and on tour. And I made the middle channel an overdriven Dumble-ish kind of thing."
Kennedy is also a PRS devotee, and has leaned on his trusty tobacco burst SC245 for years. While he did experiment with a Fender Telecaster for Alter Bridge’s 2019 Walk the Sky album sessions and tour, he’s replaced that instrument with another PRS. “There’s this one-off PRS made me last year,” he says. “It does a lot of the things I wanted it to do in the Tele realm. It’s a black Singlecut, and that is what I played on 80 percent of this record.”
“We decided, ‘Let’s get back to our old way of doing things.’ No orchestration underneath. No pads. Just us.” —Mark Tremonti
Rig Rundown - Alter Bridge's Mark Tremonti & Myles Kennedy
Tremonti also notes, “I did half of a tour with a Kemper at one point, just to try it out. I never found the right lead setting that made me comfortable. I always felt some digital weirdness in there. When I switched to my MT 100, I wouldn’t go back. So, on the road, it’s just the one MT 100 now.”
All in all, Alter Bridge are still decidedly old-school in their business strategies: record, tour, work hard, repeat. “It was hard enough once people stopped buying physical copies of records, and then you add the way the world’s changing,” Kennedy says. “Being a musician … you got to work hard. But we’re in Munich right now, and it’s like, ‘So far, so good.’ It’s kind of blowing our minds that people are showing up. It’s been great!”
From left to right: Scott Phillips, Mark Tremonti, Myles Kennedy, and Brian Marshall make for a powerhouse collective that shows no sign of relenting in their epic delivery of hard rock.
Photo by Chuck Brueckmann
But does that kind of work ethic have a breaking point? “To be totally candid, there was a period when I was afraid that could happen,” admits Kennedy. “I was like, ‘You know what, I did three records back-to-back-to-back. I’ve got to shut this down for a little while and let the well refill’—which is weird for me. Usually, once a record’s done, I’m already on to the next one.”
Tremonti hasn’t stopped long enough to think about it. “I remember watching an interview with Carl Verheyen,” who was a member of Supertramp and has recorded with Dolly Parton, the Bee Gees, and a host of others. “He’s like, ‘I’m a professional guitar player. I don’t go a handful of days a year without playing the guitar.’ That struck me. Now, I try to make sure that when I’m gone from home, I’m working all the time. Every day I’m practicing for the next Sinatra shows. I’ve got two coming up after this tour, and I have another one in March. I’m trying to book as many as I can. I’m also writing a book, which is taking up most of my time at the moment. Then, I’m writing songs for whatever happens next, trying to stay ahead of things.”Alter Bridge Blackbird Live From Amsterdam
This version of Alter Bridge’s classic “Blackbird” features solos from both Mark Tremonti and Myles Kennedy, who make their PRS models work hard for their living.
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Takamine Guitars unveils their annual Limited Edition acoustic-electric guitar, the LTD2025.
Takamine Guitars (NAMM Booth 210D) has unveiled their annual special Limited Edition acoustic-electric guitar. Available in very limited quantities and created for serious musicians and instrument collectors alike, this year’s model is the LTD2025.
“The LTD2025 is a guitar with looks that match its superb sound,” says Tom Watters, Director Product Development for Takamine Guitars. “Each of these guitars are built one at a time, completely by hand, by Takamine’s renowned luthiers. We’re sure that this distinctive instrument will be coveted like our previous LTD models have been.”
Painstakingly handcrafted in extremely limited quantities by Takamine’s respected luthiers in Japan, the Takamine LTD2025 is an OM Cutaway guitar that features a top that’s crafted from solid Engelmann spruce, and a body made of exquisite Hawaiian koa, offering a rich and dynamic tonal quality. Its Antique Evergreen gloss finish not only highlights the guitar's aesthetic appeal, but also gives it a timeless and distinguished look.The LTD2025’s body boasts stunning tortoise binding along with abalone purfling, adding a touch of sophistication to its classic design. Its mahogany neck offers an ebony fingerboard that’s adorned with brass position markers, designed to age beautifully over time, enhancing its vintage charm.
The LTD2025 offers electronics that are equally impressive, featuring Takamine's renowned Palathetic pickup system and the retro-inspired CTF-2N FET preamp, providing both excellent sonic fidelity and a natural, warm tone.
For more information, please visit esptakamine.com.
Takamine Guitars introduces six new additions to its G Series acoustic-electric guitars at the 2025 NAMM Show.
The new GD21CE, GY21E, GN37CE, GD49CE, GN73CE, and GD74CE-12U will be available soon at Takamine dealers worldwide.
“We feel that the latest batch of new G Series guitars are among the most exciting Takamine has ever offered,” says Tom Watters, Director of Product Development for Takamine Guitars.
GD21CE
The GD21CE is a dreadnought cutaway guitar in Satin Molasses finish. Created with a solid spruce top and sapele back and sides, this affordable and attractive guitar includes Takamine’s TP-3G preamplifier with 3-band EQ, volume, and chromatic tuner for easy and efficient use for live performance and recording. The new GY21E offers a similar set of features, including the great-looking Satin Molasses finish, in Takamine’s compact New Yorker body shape.
The new GN37CE, available in a brilliant Pearl White finish, is now viable in Takamine’s popular NEX shape. This guitar offers a solid spruce top with maple back and sides for a shimmering, punchy, bold sound that is great across a wide variety of musical styles. It also features the TP-3G electronics system. The FX cutaway GD49CE is one of the most distinctive guitars in the Takamine lineup, with its Cosmic Black Sparkle finish that’s highlighted with red binding and accents. It features a spruce top with sapele back and sides.
GN37CE
GN73CE
Available in a striking Satin Black finish, the GN73CE is an NEX Cutaway-shaped guitar with a solid spruce top and sapele back and sides. Accented with white multi-ply binding and an attractive tortoiseshell acrylic pickguard, the GN73CE also features exciting ivoroid/abalone split-block fingerboard inlays, as well as Takamine TP-3G electronics. The GD74CE-12U is a very distinctive 12-string dreadnought cutaway designed for players who prefer the requinto style, and it is robustly constructed with double X-bracing, a reinforced 3-piece neck, and a unique bolt-on bridge to properly handle the extra tension of the unison double-course string setup. It offers a spruce top, flame maple back and sides, and includes Takamine TP-3G electronics.
For more information, please visit esptakamine.com.
GD74CE-12U
Silvertone Guitars introduces the new Silvertone Lipstick pickup and 1373 Baritone guitar.
Silvertone Guitars is thrilled to announce a groundbreaking collaboration with Rio Grande Pickups to introduce a new Silvertone Lipstick pickup. This partnership combines Silvertone’s iconic legacy with Rio Grande’s expert craftsmanship to create a pickup that delivers a bold, traditional single-coil tone while retaining the classic Lipstick look.
The original Lipstick pickup, invented by Nathan Daniels, is celebrated for its distinctive sound with a bright, trebly top end and scooped midrange, offering a unique sonic character that stands out both in recordings and live performances. While the classic Silvertone Lipstick pickups are known for capturing this vintage tone, the new Silvertone/Rio Grande Lipstick pickups provide an exciting twist for players seeking a higher-output, traditional single-coil sound.
Designed and handmade in Houston, Texas, the new Silvertone Lipstick pickup features an Alnico 5bar magnet, plain enamel 44AWG pure copper wire, and a shielded 2-wire connection for versatile wiring options. This pickup strikes a perfect balance between a '60s Strat®-style sound and the powerful punch of a P90, offering a beefy midrange and enhanced output for dynamic lead playing and driving effects pedals.
“We’re thrilled to be working with Rio Grande Pickups on this new Lipstick design,” says Rick Taylor, Guitar Product Manager at Silvertone Guitars. “This collaboration has allowed us to expand the tonal palette of our Lipstick pickups while preserving the visual appeal that players love. The new pickups deliver rich, powerful sound that will inspire musicians to explore new creative possibilities.”
These new pickups are the perfect way to supercharge your guitar, combining the distinctive look of the Lipstick design with the versatile, high-output tone that modern players demand.
Pricing is $279 for the calibrated set, and $159 for the neck or bridge alone.
Silvertone Guitars proudly introduces the 1373 Baritone, a contemporary reimagining of the iconic 1958 6-string bass.
In 1958, Silvertone made waves with the revolutionary 1373 model, a 6-string bass tuned low E to E, paving the way for the distinctive tic-tac technique in Nashville. This technique involved doubling acoustic bass lines with the six-string bass played with a pick. This unique tuning was also famously featured in Glen Campbell's iconic six-string bass solo on the hit single "Wichita Lineman."
With the 1373 Baritone, Silvertone pays homage to this rich history by transforming the instrument into a baritone tuning marvel. The 28” scale neck is meticulously designed for B to B tuning, echoing the popular baritone tuning that left an indelible mark on 1960s surf rock and spaghetti western soundtracks.
Crafted with a solid mahogany body, the 1373 Baritone delivers unparalleled punch and sustain. The string-through body bridge enhances resonance, and the 28” scale strikes the perfect balance, allowing the lower strings to resonate authentically without sacrificing the comfort of standard tuning guitars.
Equipped with the new Alnico 5 Silvertone Lipstick pickups, the 1373 Baritone retains the clean tones and bell-like top end of the original pickups, with a bit more output. This additional output provides the flexibility to comfortably drive pedals, tube amps, or digital modelers, making the 1373 Baritone a versatile instrument across various musical genres.
The 1373 Baritone carries a $449 street price and is available in three striking colors: Black SilverFlake, Pelham Blue, and Silver Metal Flake.
For more information, please visit silvertoneguitars.com.