If I had the money, I’d buy a house that would include space for a sound-proofed music room. Then I’d load it up with guitars and a few amps, just to mess around on (when the weather’s inclement).
“Which guitars?” you ask.
Kim’s Top Five Favorite Electric Guitars
Fender Stratocaster
I like playing rock ‘n roll, and the Strat practically defines the genre. Also in rock:
Gibson SG Deluxe
This version, with the triple humbucker pickups, still sounds better than just about any other. For some reason, I just prefer playing it, over the
Gibson Les Paul
Don’t get me wrong: it’s #3 on my list, and I’m a really fussy listener when it comes to sound. And for a change-up in the sound, my #4 pick is the
Rickenbacker 350
That jangly, chime-like sound reminds me of the 1960s, and how bad can that be? But assuming I wanted a more stripped-down, basic sound (and I would), there’s nothing better than the
Fender Telecaster
I prefer the Thinline semi-acoustic body, as pictured.
For a practice amp, I’d actually have two, the Fender Twin Reverb and the Vox AC-30 for that old-fashioned (but still wonderful) sound of my youth:
…and the Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier, for the more modern stuff:
That’s about it, for guitars.
Now for my favorite noisemakers…
Kim’s Top 3 Bass Guitars
Rickenbacker 4001 (or 4003) S
Nothing compares to the Rick — not the Fenders, nothing — and frankly, I only need the Rick (as did the late Chris Squire of Yes). But just in case I ever got bored (unlikely) and wanted a different sound, then:
Gibson Thunderbird
It has a sound unlike any other bass guitar (listen to any Wishbone Ash album), and played loud, it sounds like a wild animal growling. Finally, I’d like a fretless bass — I used to play one occasionally when we wanted a “nightclub” sound for early evening sets in a restaurant setting, but the one I really want is the
Rickenbacker 4001 FL
Rickenbacker doesn’t make a fretless bass anymore (the fools) but I bet I could find a decent luthier who’d swap out the fretted neck for a plain one. (I don’t need the dots — just plain maple like the one pictured, or rosewood.)
As for amps, I’d need only two, the Roland 120XL, whose COSM simulator would give me room to play with different amp sounds:
…or, if I just wanted to plug in and forget about fiddling about, then the wonderful
Orange AD200B, with the BC 115 15″ 400w speaker cab
While I like the versatility of solid-state / transistor amps like the Roland, nothing beats the sound of valves; and I like the ability of 15″ speakers to push those deep bass notes (it’s all about pushing air, and a powerful amp and 15″ speakers get it done). I never actually owned an Orange, only played a three-month gig with a borrowed one — but oh baby…
…just looking at all the above makes me want to play in a band again.
Anyway, I thought I’d put this up just so people could realize that this website isn’t all gunsgunsguns. I have a gentler, more artistic side too. And it was sparked by this article.