Name: Robert Anthony Navarro
Years played: 23 years
Home turf: Los Angeles, CA
Current/former bands: Trip, Velvet Moon, Billy Mummys, Eccentromanics
Website: raaudio.com
First guitar: '80s Gibson Kalamazoo hand-me-down
Favorite guitar: '80s Japanese Fender Squier Strat (with vintage tuners, vintage single coil pickups in the neck and middle, and a Seymour Duncan Invader in the bridge)
Favorite amp: Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier, Rectifier 4x12 cab
Favorite effect: What are effects?
Favorite strings: Rotosound Roto Reds 11 gauge
Favorite cable: My Star Sound
Favorite Pick: Dunlop Delrin 500 (Purple) 2.0 gauge
Other gear in my stash: Marshall JCM 2000 TSL 100W Head, Marshall Vintage (bottom) 4x12 cab, VOX AD30VT 30W 1x10, SWR Working Man's 15 Bass Combo, Danelectro Nifty Fifty, Dunlop Crybaby Wah.
Give us the back story on an item in your gear stash that you’ve sent a photo of: Back when I was in a punk band, my lead guitarist and I bought Marshall JCM 2000 TSL 100W amps. For some reason, we had the worst luck because both of the heads we bought did not work properly and had to be taken back to Guitar Center. This happened three more times! Apparently the shipment of Marshalls to GC were all bad, and we got stuck running back and forth returning the faulty gear. Eventually I hooked up with Hugh Gilmartin (now of Korg USA), and he promised if I sent my head to Marshall it would come back amazing. Hugh is a man of his word, because they put their best guy on it and bench tested, biased and tweaked my amp until no Marshall 2000 series would ever be its equal. Angus himself would drool if he played his SG through it!
Share a gear or gig story with Premier Guitar readers: I once played live on national television with my band Trip. We were invited to perform on Ed McMahon's Next Big Star, live from the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Next Big Star was the last incarnation of Star Search, and we had a blast. We got the royal treatment, and lived like rock stars for the weekend. We even landed clothing endorsements from Johnny Suede and Sha-Sha Shoes!
What’s your philosophy on tone? No effects! Aside from reverb, I don't really use effects. Let the guitar, amp and your hands make it happen. I have never been a big fan of pedals or effects processors. I rarely even use the tremolo bar. If you need a specific tone for a track, then do what you gotta do to make it happen, but at the end of the day... it's all in the hands.
Photos by Tommy Francis
CLASS ACT PHOTOGRAPHY
Premier Collector #12: Vintage Grails & Boutique Beauties
Premier Collector #11: Unique & Custom Basses
Premier Collector #10: One of Everything
Premier Collector #9: Pre-Gibson, Pre-Samick Valley Arts
Premier Collector #8: Vintage Strats and Custom Colors
Premier Collector #7: Martins and More
Premier Collector #6: Custom-Built Strats and Fender Tube Amps
Premier Collector #5: The Vintage Room
Premier Collector #4: Oddballs
Premier Collector #3: Vintage Fender Amps and Guitars
Premier Collector #2: Gibson Customs and Modded Marshalls
Premier Collector #1: Kramers, Coronados and More
Years played: 23 years
Home turf: Los Angeles, CA
Current/former bands: Trip, Velvet Moon, Billy Mummys, Eccentromanics
Website: raaudio.com
First guitar: '80s Gibson Kalamazoo hand-me-down
Favorite guitar: '80s Japanese Fender Squier Strat (with vintage tuners, vintage single coil pickups in the neck and middle, and a Seymour Duncan Invader in the bridge)
Favorite amp: Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier, Rectifier 4x12 cab
Favorite effect: What are effects?
Favorite strings: Rotosound Roto Reds 11 gauge
Favorite cable: My Star Sound
Favorite Pick: Dunlop Delrin 500 (Purple) 2.0 gauge
Other gear in my stash: Marshall JCM 2000 TSL 100W Head, Marshall Vintage (bottom) 4x12 cab, VOX AD30VT 30W 1x10, SWR Working Man's 15 Bass Combo, Danelectro Nifty Fifty, Dunlop Crybaby Wah.
Give us the back story on an item in your gear stash that you’ve sent a photo of: Back when I was in a punk band, my lead guitarist and I bought Marshall JCM 2000 TSL 100W amps. For some reason, we had the worst luck because both of the heads we bought did not work properly and had to be taken back to Guitar Center. This happened three more times! Apparently the shipment of Marshalls to GC were all bad, and we got stuck running back and forth returning the faulty gear. Eventually I hooked up with Hugh Gilmartin (now of Korg USA), and he promised if I sent my head to Marshall it would come back amazing. Hugh is a man of his word, because they put their best guy on it and bench tested, biased and tweaked my amp until no Marshall 2000 series would ever be its equal. Angus himself would drool if he played his SG through it!
Share a gear or gig story with Premier Guitar readers: I once played live on national television with my band Trip. We were invited to perform on Ed McMahon's Next Big Star, live from the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Next Big Star was the last incarnation of Star Search, and we had a blast. We got the royal treatment, and lived like rock stars for the weekend. We even landed clothing endorsements from Johnny Suede and Sha-Sha Shoes!
What’s your philosophy on tone? No effects! Aside from reverb, I don't really use effects. Let the guitar, amp and your hands make it happen. I have never been a big fan of pedals or effects processors. I rarely even use the tremolo bar. If you need a specific tone for a track, then do what you gotta do to make it happen, but at the end of the day... it's all in the hands.
 ACOUSTICS (from left to right): Washburn EA20 Acoustic Electric (1990s), Ovation CC245 Celebrity 12-String (2000s), Martin D-42 Acoustic (2000s), Chinese Pipa (1990s), Ramirez Classical (1990s), Mexican Miniature Acoustic (2000s). |
 BASSES: Ibanez Soundgear 4-String Bass (Green, 2000s), Fender American Standard 4-String Jazz Bass (Tobacco Sunburst, 2000s), Hofner 500/1 Vintage '63 Reissue Beatle Bass (2000s). |
 AMPS (from left to right): Marshall JCM 2000 TSL 100W Head & Marshall Vintage 4x12 cab; Danelectro Nifty Fifty & VOX AD30VT 30W 1x10; Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier & Rectifier 4x12 cab. |
 ELECTRICS (from left to right): ESP Viper LTD 7-String (2000s), Carruther's Guitar Shop Custom Telecaster Semi-Hollow Body (2000s), Danelectro '59 Dano Semi-Hollow Body (1990s), Gibson Les Paul Studio Lite with Seymour Duncan Burst Bucker Pro pickups (1990s), Fender Japanese Squier Strat with vintage pickups in the neck and middle position and a Seymour Duncan Invader pickup in the bridge (1980s). |
 ELECTRICS (from left to right): Gibson Les Paul Custom (1990s), Ibanez RG-560 (1980s), Danelectro Convertible Reissue Acoustic Electric (1990s), Fender American '62 Reissue Strat (2000s), Joe's Guitars Custom "Diner Series" (2009). |
CLASS ACT PHOTOGRAPHY
| To join Robert as a Premier Collector, send an e-mail with photos and a description of your gear to rebecca@premierguitar.com |
Premier Collector #12: Vintage Grails & Boutique Beauties
Premier Collector #11: Unique & Custom Basses
Premier Collector #10: One of Everything
Premier Collector #9: Pre-Gibson, Pre-Samick Valley Arts
Premier Collector #8: Vintage Strats and Custom Colors
Premier Collector #7: Martins and More
Premier Collector #6: Custom-Built Strats and Fender Tube Amps
Premier Collector #5: The Vintage Room
Premier Collector #4: Oddballs
Premier Collector #3: Vintage Fender Amps and Guitars
Premier Collector #2: Gibson Customs and Modded Marshalls
Premier Collector #1: Kramers, Coronados and More
