the Golden Hinds
Hi, just wanted to write and thank you for introducing me to the work of Allen Hinds; I just bought one of his albums and his virtuosity just blew me away! Let’s hope he comes to the UK some time soon… Nick Brylka, via email The pleasure was ours, Nick. Allen is one of a few superb guitarists working today who really shine in that virtuosic zone between jazz, blues, country and rock that might be termed ‘fusion’ but is really just a natural, satisfying confluence of all the major touchstones of guitar music. We’ve passed on your praise to Allen and question about UK tour prospects, so fingers crossed! If you like Allen, check out Oz Noy, Jimmy Herring, Wayne Krantz and Jim Campilongo – and, on the heavier side, Allen’s colleague at LA’s famous MIT guitar school, Doug Rappoport, who will be sharing his best chops with readers in issue 416, on sale 13 January.
BrinGin’ it on home
I was interested in your reply to David Simpson’s query about an amp for home use in the latest Guitarist [Q&A, issue 414] as I was about to ask a similar question. Like David, I’m after an amp for home-use only, with an effects loop and a £1,000 limit, apartment volume, playing blues and classic rock type stuff. The Yamaha THR10C would be perfect if it had a loop, and the THR100 would be absolutely perfect if it wasn’t 100 watts! The Roland Blues Cube would be okay, but only the larger ones have a loop. I was wondering about the Matchless SC Mini: six watts, single channel, effects loop, but is that too limiting? I have good boost and drive pedals, so maybe not. The Bogner Atma, Carol-Ann HS2 and the Milkman Half Pint are just too much money. Engl Rockmaster, Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister 20 with their attenuator/master volume could work, and maybe even a Roland JC-40… I suppose my question is, would a master volume/ attenuator still give a true, warm, valve sound at really low volumes? Grahame Smith via email Hi Graham, we direct your attention to this month’s Q&A (p134), in which a fellow reader has asked about compact, attenuated amps – but the short answer is, yes, quality attenuation can help you unlock the girthy sound of your amp running at full chat, with the chunky power-valve clipping that helps harddriving amps sound so good, albeit at the expense of shortening the life of your valves. Tone King’s Iron Man II attenuator is one great example, while Fryette’s Power Station offers even more options, including scaling up the power of low-wattage amps if required. You don’t mention what kind of tones you like most, but if we catch your drift correctly it sounds like you prefer bluesy crunch tones, warm cleans and the occasional foray into out-and-out rock. If flexibility at a sensible price is your goal, the H&K TubeMeister range is hard to beat, with extensive powerscaling options, decent tones and silentrecording choices. For a bit more loot, the GrandMeister range usefully lets you save all your favourite output level, onboard effects and pot settings for instant recall of favourite sounds at whatever volume the situation requires.
LeSSonS from SLade
Dear Guitarist, my manager was Chas Chandler who, as you know, brought Jimi Hendrix to fame. He said something to me early on: “Don’t try and sound like someone else, unless you can do it better than them.” Wise words, as he believed in my personal style of guitar playing. It’s in the dream as well as in the fingers. My first guitar was from Kay’s Catalogue – £7.50 – came in a cardboard box and it was a magic moment when I opened it. I held it upside down as I’m left-handed, but was told to play right-handed, which I did and it worked for me. I would not have known then, from that dreadful guitar, the amazing journey it would take me on – and I’m still on it! Dave Hill, via email Hi Dave, many thanks for writing in with valuable advice from one who’s packed out stadiums around the world in his time. It’s heartening to know that everyone starts with the same delight in simply owning and playing a guitar, while your point about sounding like yourself can’t be emphasised enough. Every player becomes so familiar with their own playing style that it’s easy to forget it’s unique and that having distinctive character is what makes you memorable, not an also-ran. Long may your adventures in guitar continue.