Koentopp Guitars has launched a new website showcasing its new line of handmade guitars. The new website incorporates beautiful pictures of Dan Koentopp at work as well as high definition pictures of each instrument from his line of Archtops, Classicals, and Electric Guitars. Dan makes it evident that each guitar is meticulously crafted by hand with the customer in mind from the very beginning.
Lou Volpe has an outstanding professional resume. He has appeared as a sideman with many great jazz and pop artists. A partial list includes Herbie Hancock, Chet Baker, Herbie Mann, Peggy Lee and the Manhattan Transfer. Volpe was a student of Sal Salvador and spent quite a bit of time in jam sessions with Les Paul.
I wonder if Metallica knew how big their fifth album was going to be when they recorded it, which was self-titled but is often referred to as the “Black Album” due to its all black cover. Already at the top of the thrash-metal world at the time, after Metallica was released the band became international stars in the rock world as well, as the album’s singles and videos received massive airplay on radio stations and video channels across the globe. Though the album was a bit of a departure from their previous, more thrash oriented, releases, it still remains a fan favorite to this day, and helped land the band in the upper echelon of rock stardom.
Originally written by ‘80s metal band Diamond Head, the song “Am I Evil” has had an interesting journey over the years as it rose from relative obscurity to a metal powerhouse, helped along the way by some of the biggest names of the Thrash era. The song was given little acclaim when it was released on Diamond Head’s 1980 album Lightning for the Nations, but, in 1988, after it was featured on Metallica’s reissue of their album Kill ‘Em All, the song found mainstream success and has since gone on to make enough royalties for Diamond Head that the band has credited it with allowing them to continue as a band.
Whether you’re a fan of Southern swamp rock or not, you have to admit that Lynyrd Skynyrd’s album Lynyrd Skynyrd (pronounced ‘lĕh-‘nérd ‘skin-‘nérd)is one of the best debut albums by any rock band of all time. With “Gimme Three Steps,” “Tuesday’s Gone,” and of course the iconic arena-rock anthem “Free Bird” all finding spots on the record, it’s no wonder that the album launched the band to national fame, a career which through many ups and downs continues to this day. For instance, the album cover features 7 members, though at the time of its release the band only had 6 members since bassist Leon Wilkeson had quite even before the first record was released.
“Since I’ve Been Loving You” has always been known as a song that showcases Jimmy Page’s great blues-guitar chops, but few people might realize that it was tracked live in the studio by the legendary rock band Led Zeppelin. Because it was tracked live, you can still hear the squeaking of John Bonham’s bass-drum pedal during the song, and it was also one of the hardest songs to record during the Led Zeppelin III sessions. At the time, Page wasn’t happy with his guitar solo on the song, he just couldn’t find the tone he was looking for. So, he decided to take a walk to clear his head, and he stumbled upon an old, unused amp lying around the studio, which he would later use on the song as he loved the tone that it produced.
When one hears the words “one-man band,” they often get a comical picture of a cartoon like character dancing around with a bunch of instruments strapped to his back. While this may work for the movies or in TV shows, it is musicians like Claude Hay that take this term and turn it into an art form. Utilizing modern technology such as loop pedals and effects, Hay is able to bring together multiple layers of instruments and sounds into his songs, both in the studio and live, all without hiring a band. He is a DIY musician in the purest sense.
Whatever you may think of John Mayer’s recent comments in the press, or his breathy vocals, or his songwriting you have to admit that the guy can really play the guitar. Originally written for his duo LoFi Masters, his hit song “Neon” later appeared on his album Room for Squares. Since that first appearance, it has remained as a mainstay in his live sets, where he sometimes adds an extra verse as a tribute to the cousin of his songwriting partner Clay Cook.
Featured on his 1987 smash-hit album, and the one that he is probably best known for, Surfing with the Alien, instrumental guitar master Joe Satriani reached number 22 on the charts with his shredtastic song “Satch Boogie.” Featuring many of the technique that Satch has since become a legend for, including tapping, lightning fast hammer-ons and pull-offs and a deep, deep groove, the song has since become one of his best known pieces, and has been featured on just about every guitar or rock band based video game in the last few years.
Written by Dino Valenti, and originally recorded by The Leaves, “Hey Joe” is the song that started rock guitar down a path that it has never fully recovered from when a young Jimi Hendrix released it as his first sing with The Experience in 1966. After discovering Hendrix at the Café Wha? in New York City, Animals bass player Chas Chandler, who had been looking for a band to record a rock version of “Hey Joe,” found his man with Hendrix and the rest is history. Though it was the first single to be released with his new band, The Experience, it remains to this day a staple of classic rock radio, and is one of the songs that is most associated with the left-handed guitar genius.
