May 2012 Vol 23 No 08

HIT SINGLES 20

Nothing – not the humbucker, not the active preamp – can dent the popularity of the passive single-coil. How can veteran technology be so cutting-edge? We find out…

COVERSTORY

Interviews

Steve Morse

36

With a brand new all-star cast, the master technician is back with a pop-prog treat Walter Trout 40 An unstoppable force of blues-rock guitar if ever there was one… we talk to the Strat man

Rich Robinson

46

The Black Crowes guitarist has a top new solo record, but don’t expect guitar histrionics Miles Kane 50 The ex-Shadow Puppets man tells us about his love of garage music and his favourite guitars

Workshops

Tranny Tricks

108

This month Huw Price jumps into three cheap and easy transformer-based DIY projects

Play like Mark Knopfler 114 We take you through the techniques behind Dire Straits seminal Brothers In Arms album

30

BONNIE RAITT

A US treasure slides again

Play like Bob Daisley

Gareth Morgan examines the bass magic behind the mega-hit album Blizzard Of Oz

120

Regulars LETTERS 8 NEWS 10 SOUNDTRACK OF MY LIFE 14 TALES FROM THE ROAD 16 ALBUMS 18

6 Guitar & Bass MAY 2012 IN THIS ISSUE Contents

54

GRETSCH A divine duo

58

FENDER

62

AMPEG

66

LAZY J

76

ALVAREZ

SUBSCRIPTION OFFER 96 READERS FREE ADS 144 BACKSTAGE 146

Cover Photo:

Gear

Gretsch Electromatic CVT-111 & Double Jet With Bigsby 54 Two affordable lookers from Gretsch – a quirky three-pickup model and a semi-solid goldtop

Fender Blacktop Jaguar 90 & Blacktop FSR Jaguar HH 58 Two simple new Jaguars that open up tonal options for lovers of classic styling

Ampeg GVT15H

Ampeg successfully return to the six-string arena with their retro-styled all-valve GVT

62

Lazy J 40 Combo

Jesse Hoff’s new 40W combo lives up to its predecessors with a truly stunning sound

66

Digitech iStomp

71

An impressive new innovation from Digitech that puts a library of effects at you fingertips

Alvarez AP70 & AG75CE

76

Alvarez offer quality builds and top tone with their Artist Series. Here are two of the best

Sigma 000M-18 & DM18 80 A pair of great-sounding spruce-topped acoustics from the now-independent line

Gretsch Electromatic Junior Jet Bass II

84

Gretsch’s weighty new short-scale bass has a charming design and a chunky rock growl

PJB D-600 Bass Amplifier 89 600W of low-end power, all crammed into a lightweight twin-channel lunchbox head

Zoom B3 Bass Multi-FX

91

Effects, amp simulations and a looper in one

Rapid Reviews

A fine new bass bridge and a guitar cleaner

92

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PAGE 96

Vintage

Hooked On Classics

94

Are there any good reasons to sell vintage gear? Phil Harris ponders the perils involved

The Bishop of Denmark Street 99 Sid Bishop recalls the golden days when trips to the USA bore some particularly good fruit

Private Collection

100

With vintage models, reissues aplenty, neat homebuilds and some stranger fare, Quo-lover Martin Dufficy has all the options covered

MAY 2012 Guitar & Bass 7