Where the light is

 

It was a rather dark period in my life. Dark clouds were gathering on the horizon; the company I worked for was about to close down and I didn’t know what to do. On a day just like any other, as I was trying not to despair and telling myself that things would work out, my wife cheered me up by showing me a video of an American guitarist playing in front of thousands of people with his band. I was struck by how young he was (the video was from 2007, almost 10 years earlier, and he was certainly young at the time) but above all by the way he played: very well, of course, but he played the guitar (a Stratocaster, no less) in the ‘old-school’ style. In short, you could tell he was inspired by the greats of the past – Hendrix, Clapton, Steve Ray Vaughan – but he was good because he also brought his own style to it. And he had a great voice too – a singer-guitarist who also plays remarkable solos, just like in the old days. I was pleased that there was still a young man who played the guitar in this way. Many of you will have realised that I was talking about John Mayer… Continue reading  

A Trip to the Cold North!

 

Romans in Milan? No problem! Just make sure you’re prepared for the cold (fur hats and thick coats), and if in doubt, ask the traffic cops (“noio volevan savuar…” – read caption of B&W picture below*). Here in the north, the climate is different—try explaining that to the African heat wave that’s engulfed Europe these past few days: it’s practically melting…

Joking aside, a week-long trip to Milan got me thinking about a number of things. From how much I enjoy this city, despite being a Roman of Samnite origins (i.e. a ‘southerner’), to how I generally find the Milanese quite likeable (though it always depends on the individual). Apart from the fact that when dealing with the public (and I’m told this is the case in Naples too), you find a level of courtesy that’s increasingly rare in Rome (though perhaps things are improving), it’s still a major Italian city (albeit far smaller than Rome), and as such, it’s splendid in the city centre but has the usual problems in the suburbs. Specifically, I was at the Politecnico di Milano, not for work but to accompany my teenage son to a summer course offered by the prestigious institute named after Leonardo da Vinci. It was the second time: last year it was just the two of us (a wonderful father-son trip) and this year the whole family came along. As was the case last year, I had to carry on working remotely. This year my wife was able to come, but she had to go sightseeing on her own. Working within a university provided me with my first opportunity for reflection.

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Integrity is a rare commodity these days even among audiophiles

 

I’m not saying anything new, and in a way, I brought this on myself. Buying used is a risk. You spend less and accept that, in order to save money. And sometimes also because new items of that quality don’t exist or you don’t like them. I do this with cars. When I’m really forced to replace it, I go for a used one. I don’t like today’s cars, and the costs are so high that used cars are a whole different story. I do the same with guitar effects: you can easily resell them for the same price, so you can try out various ones without losing anything. With guitars, a used instrument is even better—one with a history—it actually sounds better precisely because it’s used. But with hi-fi, I’ve been burned. It’s worked out well for me many times, but I knew the risk was higher with CD players…

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Digital and guitar – not for me

 

Guitar effects pedals pile on Craiyon

On this website, you can find comparisons between digital and analog formats in both the Hi-Fi and Photography sections. Recently, I found myself facing this same dilemma when it comes to the guitar. Digital technology and computing are, of course, taking over every field. Even in cars (another section of this site), where screen size now counts more among the features to advertise than the type of suspension (and yet using your cell phone is prohibited). Generally, digital technology is supposed to simplify things for us, come to our aid, and allow us to do things we couldn’t do before. It used to be impossible for someone to call us while we were out and about. Are you sure it’s better today to receive work calls—or worse, aggressive marketing calls—no matter where we are? Sure, it’s nice to be able to call in an emergency; sometimes it’s vital. But in general, without discounting the life-saving cases, digital technology rushes us, overwhelms us with choices, and ends up making us enjoy things less (think choosing a movie or series on a streaming platform). And what about the guitar?

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Tube scream or not tube scream…?

 

That is the question!
My love-hate relationship with the famous green pedal…

It took me a while to appreciate it, but I finally got there. That’s normal—there are legions of fans and critics of the Tube Screamer, the iconic pedal created by Ibanez in 1979 and made famous by countless professionals and guitar stars. Like most guitar effects, its effectiveness depends (heavily) on the amplifier. A pedal like the Tube Screamer can sound amazing on some amps and terrible on others. And that can be misleading, making you think the pedal is the problem. Instead, it’s all about pairing. In fact, in my ignorance, I initially found myself among the detractors, but then something changed…

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How could this happen?

 

If I were to describe my journey as a guitarist (obviously a very amateur one, of course), I would have to start with my youthful passion for the Italian band The Pooh. Yes, The Pooh, that’s right., the name comes from the famous cartoon… But what do the Pooh have in common with blues-rock, with Hendrix, Clapton, and the likes of John Mayer, which I am currently covering? How did I go from Italian melodies to playing the John Mayer Trio’s production? Well, it may seem surprising at first glance, but there is a connection. First of all, it should be emphasized that these are four musicians of the highest caliber. One might think, okay, you’ve grown up and your tastes have changed. But that’s not really the case. It may seem strange, but there is a consistency, a logical thread that can be found…

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