For this month’s question, Breaking Benjamin guitarist Keith Wallen chimes in with reader Benoit Champagne and PG staff on where they’d like to see themselves grow in their musical pursuits.
Question: What’s one area you’d like to improve on in your music?
Guest Picker - Keith Wallen
A: I think there is always room for improvement for myself musically. The moment you stop trying to improve or stop caring about ways to innovate your skills or approach, you’ve kind of given up or resolved yourself to the level you’re at, even if it’s unconsciously. Playing guitar is such an amazing form of expression, but it can go hand in hand with writing, so I think songwriting is what I’d most like to improve upon. Finding that perfect combination of chords, melody, and lyrics is not easy, but I think all of us songwriters strive to come as close as we can. I know I do!
Current obsession: My newest obsession is my new signature ESP Custom Shop guitar that I got this fall. It is, for all intents and purposes, my “weapon” to go into battle with for all my solo/non-Breaking Benjamin shows. Shout out to Tony Rauser at ESP for helping me to create my ultimate dream guitar! It’s basically a souped-up E-II M-I, which is another ESP guitar that I’ve owned for almost five years now and absolutely love. I now have my own version of my favorite guitar, complete with Seymour Duncan Jeff Beck pickups, a unique crow design, a matte finish, and my logo set for the inlays.
Reader of the Month - Benoit Champagne
A: I’ve been working on practicing scales and modes at 40 bpm and lower. 60 bpm and higher is a lot easier. If you start very slow and gradually speed up, that’s where I see a lot of improvements and ease reflected in my playing—no matter the fingering pattern or speed involved.
Current obsession: Expanding on two-handed tapping. That’s something I have put aside for many years, but am currently getting back into with the scales and chord knowledge that I’ve acquired over the years. I find that this allows me to expand on my fretboard mapping knowledge with a different point of view.
Editorial Director - Ted Drozdowski
A: I’d like to establish a better, more disciplined practice routine, for chasing inspiration. When I was touring, everything flowed like water; now it’s more like pancake batter.
Current obsession: In almost every spare minute of the past two years, I’ve been working on a feature-length film called The River: A Songwriter’s Stories of the South with my cosmic roots band, Coyote Motel. Now, it’s screening at film festivals, winning laurels, and the soundtrack is coming out. I am obsessed with getting this trippy film into the world and having as many people experience it as possible.
Associate Editor - Jason Shadrick
A: It’s always a struggle to turn the microscope inward on your own playing. Plus, the target you are aiming for is always moving. Currently, I want to not focus so much on the craft of guitar playing, but more the art. A friend recently told me that I should look for the vulnerability in my playing—and I don’t disagree.
Current obsession: I’m binging on the original Broadway cast recording of School of Rock. My daughter recently was cast in a production, and it has become her gateway into the world of loud guitars. Next stop: AC/DC.
The latest collaboration between Jeff Loomis and Jackson Guitars.
Loomis’ relationship with the Jackson brand has spanned over two decades and reached an exciting milestone in 2020 with the release of his signature Kelly and followed up two years later by the release of a robust signature seven-string Soloist.
“It’s a seriously metal-looking guitar,” said Jeff Loomis. “My favorite feature is the heel mount truss rod wheel. As a touring musician, it’s perfect if I need to adjust the neck on the fly. The playability is truly superior and the single volume and pickup toggle switches make it simple yet effective. I’ve played Jackson’s from an early age so working with them again to create this signature model has been incredibly fulfilling. I just really love how this guitar turned out and I know fans will too.”
The through-body, graphite-reinforced neck with 12”-16” compound radius bound ebony fingerboard makes for a light and agile playing experience. The Seymour Duncan Jeff Loomis Signature Blackouts pickups give this metal monolith its roar of clear and articulate tones, even when under the heaviest distortion. A Hipshot HardTail Bridge will handle the rigors and ravages of the road, while a heel-mount truss rod adjustment wheel makes for quick and painless neck relief tweaks. Luminlay side dots on the neck allow for playing on the darkest of metal stages and the black sandblasted ash top finish with white binding gives the Loomis Signature Kelly a distressed and menacing look.
Jeff Loomis Unleashes His Signature Kelly HT | Jackson Guitars
“The Jackson team has delivered a guitar that perfectly encapsulates Jeff's identity as a musician: the intersection of technical mastery and raw power," said Jon Romanowski, Vice President of Product at Jackson. "Following the success of the last two Jeff Loomis signature models, it was clear that fans would be ecstatic to see his unique take on the Kelly model that embodies his preferences and specifications that set an industry standard.”
For more information, please visit jacksonguitars.com.
A limited-edition instrument that celebrates the career of multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer Bruno Mars.
About creating the guitar, Mars said “I don’t think of myself as a guitar player. I’m more of a frustrated songwriter. Every song is like a puzzle you have to solve, and a good guitar can bring something out of you that can help take you to the finish line. That’s what I wanted from this guitar.” He added, “It was also important to have a workhorse that I could depend on for performing live and writing in the studio, whether it be rhythm or lead.”
Fender Bruno Mars Signature Stratocaster - Mars Mocha
The Bruno Mars Stratocaster is crafted from resonant ash with sculpted American Ultra body contours for superior comfort and unparalleled access to the upper registers of the fingerboard. The Mars Mocha Heirloom nitrocellulose lacquer finish creates a gracefully aged aesthetic while allowing for maximum resonance and pure tone. The 9.5"–12" compound-radius maple fingerboard and stainless-steel frets provide a silky, polished feel for smooth bending and effortless playability. The custom Bruno Mars Stratocaster pickups are fine-tuned to achieve Bruno’s favorite tones for classic Strat sparkle and singing lead sounds. The 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo and Deluxe Locking Tuners provide enhanced tuning stability with modern convenience, while a full complement of Heirloom Aged Gold Hardware gives this high-performance guitar the broken-in look and feel of a well-used, treasured instrument. Also included are a custom leopard print strap and an extra 3-ply mint green pickguard.
For more information, please visit fender.com.
“We wanted to fashion a guitar that shows Fender’s respect for the artists marking today’s musical hall of fame, as well as displays Bruno Mars’s supernova qualities,” said Justin Norvell, EVP of Product at FMIC. “Bruno has been a tried and true Fender player since the early days of his career and we’re thrilled to include his signature among our roster. Between the all-new finish to the custom-voiced pickups, we’re confident this will be one of our largest signature launches to date.”