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John 5 on How He Gets Old-School Tones from His Metal-Friendly Tele | The Big 5

Plus, find out which guitar hero the Rob Zombie sideman “begs and pleads” with you to listen to.

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Photo by Stephanie Cabral

In our candid interview, the shredder offers practice tips, explains his tone and technique, and jaws about his ripping new album, Season of the Witch.

John 5 loves guitars, and that’s an understatement. Get him talking about anything guitar-related—practicing, amps, picks, Telecasters, great players, recording, metronomes—and his passion is palpable. He’s sincere, open, and oozes an almost childlike excitement. And he isn’t cynical or jaded, although as an industry veteran you’d expect him to be. He loves music. He loves guitar. And except for references to B-grade horror films that pepper his conversation, that’s about it.

John 5 is consistent, too. The music and TV shows that inspired him as a child—bands like Van Halen and Kiss, and the variety show Hee Haw, which featured country stars Buck Owens and Roy Clark—continue to inspire him today. He draws from their deep wells and pays homage in his songwriting and soloing.

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While on tour with Rob Zombie, Mr. 5 shows us his bevy of hot-rod Teles, including a "lava lamp" model and another inspired by Hee Haw legend Buck Owens.

Tele master John 5 met with Premier Guitar before taking the stage with Rob Zombie at the Bridgestone arena in Nashville on November 25, 2013, to talk tone, Teles, and what’s really in his “lava-lamp” guitar.

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