Alex Cora -- Reader of the Month
What am I listening to?
Genesis Revisited 2 by Steve
Hackett. I can’t believe he
went back and did all my
old favorites with modern gear—some parts
sound better than the originals!
You’ve just been granted a dream guitar
makeover from the guitar gods. What’ll
it be?
The Crystar: a crystal, crescentmoon
guitar that amplifies itself by tuning
into peoples’ brain frequencies. It’s played
through telepathy, adding its own effects/
tone. A sphere of light green aura surrounds
the player as sparkles of gold dance around
its majestic shape.
Andy Ellis -- Senior Editor
What am I listening to?
George Marinelli, Believe.
The new album by Bonnie
Raitt’s longtime lead guitarist
is packed with great tones and superb songs.
You’ve just been granted a dream guitar
makeover from the guitar gods. What’ll
it be?
I’d ask to have a TV Jones Magna’Tron
installed in the neck position of my
beloved ol’ G&L ASAT. Toss in a Hipshot
B-Bender—no routing required—and I’d be
in honky-tonk heaven.
Shawn Hammond -- Editor in Chief
What am I listening to?
Dick Dale and His Del-
Tones, Surfer’s Choice. Tauttoned
twang, attitude for
miles, riffs that just won’t quit, and glorious,
glorious reverb!
You’ve just been granted a dream guitar
makeover from the guitar gods. What’ll
it be?
See p. 66.
Nick Ireland -- Marketing Manager
What am I listening to?
“The Boys are Back” by
Dropkick Murphys. This
romper had me stomping
my foot so hard at my desk, I’m pretty sure
I hyperextended my knee.
You’ve just been granted a dream guitar
makeover from the guitar gods. What’ll
it be?
I’d love to clean up the wiring
on my Squier Affinity Series Tele (from
my last mod attempt), install a Fishman
Powerbridge with a piezo pickup, new frets,
new nut, and have the body refinished in
the colors of Ireland’s flag. Signature model!
Chris Kies -- Associate Editor
What am I listening to?
Two new releases from
old favorites—Dropkick
Murphys’ boisterous,
whiskey-swilling Signed and Sealed in Blood
and Clutch’s Earth Rocker, featuring some
of the band’s heaviest material since Clutch
and Pure Rock Fury.
You’ve just been granted a dream guitar
makeover from the guitar gods. What’ll
it be?
I’d upgrade the pickups in my current
rig—either some Duncan Dimebuckers
for my Jackson Dinky Pro or a Fralin P-90
Alnico neck model for my Squier Vintage
Modified Telecaster Special.
Rich Osweiler -- Associate Editor
What am I listening to?
Darlings, Perfect Trip. With
whiffs of Sonic Youth, Joy
Division, and Pavement,
the ultra-sludgy, lo-fi garage rock of this
second full-length effort is full of fun,
catchy jams and shenanigans.
You’ve just been granted a dream guitar
makeover from the guitar gods. What’ll
it be?
My first electric, a ’75 strat-style
Epiphone that first belonged to my dad, is
all original. But I would happily allow
the guitar gods to replace its lifeless
humbuckers with a set of Seymour
Duncan SH-55s.
Richard Fortus -- Guitarist, Guns N' Roses
What am I listening to?
Ariel Pink, Atlas Sound,
the last ZZ Top EP, Fiona
Apple’s Idler Wheel, Grizzly
Bear, Knife Party, Jim Jones Revue, xx,
new Crazy Horse, Imagine Dragons, Tame
Impala, Frank Ocean, Japandroids, Yuck, etc.
You’ve just been granted a dream guitar
makeover from the guitar gods. What’ll
it be?
James Trussart is making me a strattype
with a reverse-angle bridge pickup, a
left-handed neck, steel top, and ash body.
The Arcane pickups are based on a ’60 slab
board. I shunned Strats for years and have
recently fallen in love all over again.
Charles Saufley -- Gear Editor
What am I listening to?
The new split 7" from Kurt
Vile and Meg Baird, Sic
Alps by Sic Alps, and demos
from the forthcoming Feral Ohms LP.
You’ve just been granted a dream guitar
makeover from the guitar gods. What’ll
it be?
Definitely a magical little dude
that changes the strings on my 12-strings.
Other than than, just a nice new neck
with a rosewood fretboard for my old
Squier Telecaster.
Jason Shadrick -- Associate Editor
What am I listening to?
Jonathan Kreisberg, One.
Kreisberg goes it alone and
places the focus squarely on
the guitar. With some acoustic textures and
subtle effects, he creates what could possibly
be Virtuoso for a new generation.
You’ve just been granted a dream guitar
makeover from the guitar gods. What’ll
it be?
I would take my old Mexi-Tele and swap
the current pickups out for some Lollars.
Then I would go all “Brent Mason” and add
a middle pickup with a blend control.
