All Kinds of Perfect
Guitars...
The guitars and amplifiers used to make the AKoP sound has always been ‘vintage’ or ‘vintage style’. This is what was used...
Nearly all the songs began life on a late 60’s/early 70’s Eko E85 that I’ve owned and enjoyed as a constant companion since just before my sabbatical – when I exchanged my last electric for it from a guy in Leamington in the late 80’s.
An all-black with black double-sided scratchplate guitar that benefits from lashings of mother of pearl and gold plate produces a sound that isn’t matched by four-figure-sum jumbo alternatives.
The origins of the electrics are unknown. I have no idea if they were a factory fit or added later. I’m going to guess it was a bit of both – i.e. a factory custom job – by the quality of the finish and the sound… which, incidentally is stereo as there is a pick-up situated somewhere in the body (hence the four controls and two outputs).
When plugged, the sound is simply just an amplified version of the acoustic noise… it hardly ever feeds back – which is a real bonus!
Click here to visit the Eko website
When it comes to the electric department, the bright single pick-up sound is satisfied by a collection of Danelectro’s – namely, two ’56 U2 Pro’s and twelve-string DC59 semi-acoustic.
The ‘baby blue’ was purchased in Hereford and the ‘black' in Liverpool. Both have custom scratch plates from a company in Fort Myers, Florida – red tortoiseshell and white pearlescent respectively. The ‘black’ one has a higher action and I tend to use that for slide – whilst the ‘baby blue’ is my ‘go-to’ guitar.
The twelve-string was a gift from the woman of my dreams – so I have no idea where it came from… but it sounds sooooooo sweet!
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Click here to learn more about these great guitars.
When it comes to the full-fat mellow sound, a natural Epiphone dot (with a few little custom features – pots and headstock) fits the bill.
Click here to learn more about epiphone Guitars.
Bass is supplied by non-other than a tobaccoburst Hofner violin bass – also purchased in Liverpool (but on a different trip to the ‘black’ Danelectro). It really needs no introduction, however, I will effervesce over the short-scale; narrow neck; woody sound – that definitely gets woodie as the years go by.
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Click here to learn more about these classic guitars.
There are a couple of very early Squiers in the colletion too… I cannot honestly understand why you’d by a vintage fender for a number with a few zero’s after it when the shape, feel and sound is available for less. Somedays, there’s nothing better than ragging the cherry-red Stratocaster or booming out bass on the tobaccoburst Jazz.
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Click here to go to the Squier website
Amplifiers are Vox, Vox and Vox… Nothing else will do! And for recording, I simply mic’ them up with a USB microphone straight into the studio software and mix. If it was good enough for Buddy Holly, it’s good enough for me!
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Click here to go to the Vox website
