March 2012 Vol 23 No 06

REGAL RIFFAGE

COVERSTORY

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Immerse yourself in our cunningly-crafted seven-day course in the style and techniques of Queen’s Brian May lPutland/Getty ichae

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Interviews

Jack Bruce

28

The bass legend looks back on his Cream days – and forward to some jazz and blues to come Jon Amor 32 The ex-Hoax blues guitarist is back with a keen band and a raw, uncompromising new record Johnny Marr 36 Getting down to the nuts and bolts with a finely-honed, stage-ready signature Fender Rodrigo Y Gabriela 42 Re-recording some old songs with Cuban musicians led to a thrilling new direction

Workshops

Great amp modding tips 106 Does your amplifier have untapped sonic potential? Here’s how to release the beast

Play like Chet Atkins

112

Style, pure class and sweet melodies: examining the classic Guitar Man John Entwistle workshop 120 The British bass master’s playing on his band’s best-ever studio album, Who’s Next

36

JOHNNY MARR The Jaguar that jangles

Korhonen ina

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Regulars LETTERS 8 NEWS 10 SOUNDTRACK OF MY LIFE 13 TALES FROM THE ROAD 16 ALBUMS 18

6 Guitar & Bass MARCH 2012 IN THIS ISSUE Contents

Cover photo: Mayer/Pictorialpress

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GIBSON Rip-roaring Melody Maker Special

74

MARINER

48

FENDER

84

SANDBERG

56

HAGSTROM

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Gear

Fender Marauder

New territory for Fender with a triple-coil whammy-equipped modern/retro original

48

Gibson Melody Maker Special 52 As cheap as cut-price chips and with a pair of P90s, this budget blaster surely cannot fail

Hagstrom electrics

56

Dare to be different with the semi-solid Viking Rex Tone and the solidbody Ultralux

H&K TubeMeister 18

Hughes & Kettner cram 18 valve watts plus digital reverb into a weeny 1x10" combo

60

Avid Eleven Rack

64

Amp and FX modeller, recording interface and a whole lot more – this is one clever box

Mariner Cutter & Eunoia-OM 74 A sweet parlour and an all-rounder OM built with guilt-free timbers throughout

Lag Tremontane acoustics 78 With woody art nouveau looks and the option of a clever electro system

Sandberg California TT 5-string 84 A modern low-B take on a well-loved classic with superb quality and top sounds

Markbass FX pedals

88

Bumblebee-coloured fun with a bass octaver pedal and a valve-sounding distortion

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Vintage

Private Collection

90

Epiphones, Gibsons, Hondos, Columbuses and a host of ’60s weirdos: Tony Keen’s guitars might not be blue-chip, but he’s got an eye for a great instrument at a great price

Hooked On Classics

102

Phil Harris has had ’em all, but there’s nothing like a guitar that you love without any thought of rarity or value. Here are five players that are never going anywhere, ever

The Bishop of Denmark Street 105 In part 2 of Sid Bishop’s column on his days behind the counter at the legendary Top Gear, he remembers the point at which he hit a fork in the road. Something had to give…

TREASURED POSSESSIONS 46 SUBSCRIPTION OFFER 82 READERS FREE ADS 144 BACKSTAGE 146

MARCH 2012 Guitar & Bass 7