Just like words, sounds are important. I’ve always cared about them. Sound quality has been a ‘must’ for me ever since I discovered hi-fi. I’m not an expert audiophile, nor am I a sound technician or sound engineer. But I have developed a certain ear and a certain sensitivity to the quality of the sound source. I haven’t listened to a great many hi-fi components, nor have I tried out various guitar amplifiers or guitars themselves. But even so, if something’s not quite right, I can tell. Now, when it comes to the purity of an electric guitar’s sound, there’s plenty to discuss, given that we’re often using overdrive – that is, distortion – so a few things need clarifying. But the quality of the audio experience is important to me, yet I see that people are losing both the need for it and the ability to notice it. Even in the world of live music. Continue reading  

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  

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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