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Rig Rundown: Brian Fallon

The former Gaslight Anthem frontman shares amp-mod electrocution tales, and shows off both impressive Mark Knopfler chops and his thick-necked custom Teles.

Facing a mandatory shelter-in ordinance to limit the spread of COVID-19, PG enacted a hybrid approach to filming and producing Rig Rundowns. This is the fifth video in that format, and we stand behind the final product.

In this episode, we catch up with New Jersey rocker Brian Fallon. The Gaslight Anthem founder just released his third solo album, Local Honey, that broadens his solo sound with polished storytelling cast over an Americana backdrop. The charismatic frontman virtually welcomes PGā€™s Perry Bean into his home studio for a 50+-minute hang that covers the various custom Fender Teles, explains the triumphs (and agony) of reconstructing amps, and details his holy-grail drive.


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Join PG contributor Tom Butwin as he explores all-new versions of the Framus Hootenanny 12-string and 6-string acousticsā€”made famous by John Lennon and now available with modern upgrades. From vintage-inspired tone to unique features, these guitars are built to spark creativity.

This Japan-made Guyatone brings back memories of hitchinā€™ rides around the U.S.

This oddball vintage Guyatone has a streak of Jack Kerouacā€™s adventurous, thumbing spirit.

The other day, I saw something I hadnā€™t noticed in quite some time. Driving home from work, I saw an interesting-looking fellow hitchhiking. When I was a kid, ā€œhitchersā€ seemed much more common, but, then again, the world didnā€™t seem as dangerous as today. Heck, I can remember hitching to my uncleā€™s cabin in Bradford, Pennsylvaniaā€”home of Zippo lightersā€”and riding almost 200 miles while I sat in a spare tire in the open bed of a pickup truck! Yes, safety wasnā€™t a big concern for kids back in the day.

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There's a lot of musical gold inside the scales.

Intermediate

Intermediate

ā€¢ Develop a deeper improvisational vocabulary.

ā€¢ Combine pentatonic scales to create new colors.

ā€¢ Understand the beauty of diatonic harmony.
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Improvising over one chord for long stretches of time can be a musician's best friend or worst nightmare. With no harmonic variation, we are left to generate interest through our lines, phrasing, and creativity. When I started learning to improvise, a minor 7 chord and a Dorian mode were the only sounds that I wanted to hear at the time. I found it tremendously helpful to have the harmony stay in one spot while I mined for new ideas to play. Playing over a static chord was crucial in developing my sense of time and phrasing.

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Building upon the foundation of the beloved Core Collection H-535, this versatile instrument is designed to serve as a masterpiece in tone.

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