By: Robert Cavuoto
Zakk Wylde
At a super secret location on the outskirts of Anaheim, California, far away from the hustle and bustle of the NAMM convention center, I was driven by limo to a hotel room where Zakk Wylde had been held up most of the day.
Zakk had been meeting with the press to promote his new line of guitars and amps. My mission…to have Zakk give me the scoop on his newest business endeavor – Wylde Audio!
Wylde Audio is the brainchild of the former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist and founder of Black Label Society. It’s an idea where simplicity rules the day – from the product names to their ease of use.
To explain – Wylde Audio Amps sound great as soon as you plug them in, without the need to rummage through a manual.
The new Wylde Audio guitars have a full rich sound with great tone and attack. Zakk left out no detail overlooked on these guitars, from the big block inlays to the EMG pick-ups to the quality of the wood and their unique designs.
Zakk’s business strategy for success is equally as simple – “Beat the crap out of competition.”
It’s quite clear that Zakk poured his heart and soul into this new venture and like everything he does, it will be a success!
During our meeting, I was able to try out some of his guitars and amps. They all sounded great.
It was also an incredible experience to watch Zakk play his new gear while savoring every note like a proud father! Not only did I get to meet one of my guitar heroes, but I came out a wiser man from all his “Zakkisms.”
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Robert: Congratulations on starting your own brand of guitars and amps – Wylde Audio, tell me how it all came about.
Zakk Wylde: Let me put it this way. If I played for the Yankees, after a while I would want to be a coach, after that I would want to be a General Manger. The next logical step would be a team owner.
Marshall and Gibson are still my family; I’ve been with them forever. Wylde Audio is anything audio, not just guitars and amps; it can be studio output gear, microphones, or a Pro-Tools plug-ins. If we can imagine it, we can make it. The sky’s the limit; we are looking to improve everything.
Robert: Is everything made in the USA?
Zakk Wylde: Yes, without a doubt.
Robert: Tell me a little about what makes these amps different?
Zakk Wylde: For me it’s all about simplicity, like with the amp names; “Wylde Audio Master 100” is the 100W head and the 50W head is the “Wylde Audio Master 50.”
Like with your TV remote, you can turn the TV on, off, or change the channels. [Laughing] Some amps out there are so technical; you press a button and find yourself in another dimension [Laughing].
I don’t drink anymore, but I do sniff a lot of glue, take steroids and use the Kim Kardashian Quick Trim Kit, so after the third batch of that, when I can’t remember my name and plug in my guitar – I can’t mess things up [Laughing]. This is more the Angus Young model amp. There are two guitar sounds “clean” and “dirty.” [Laughing]
Robert: Does it go to “11” too?
Zakk Wylde: Yeah!
Robert: Do you see the future of these amps getting more technical with tone modeling?
Zakk Wylde: When I first started with Ozzy, I would do the whole thing of rack effects, and I would joke that I had $10,000 of effects to sound like one really good amp! This is the really good amp.
Robert: Will you be taking these on the road with you on your next tour?
Zakk Wylde: Once we go into production, I’ll retire my Les Pauls’, my Marshalls’ and my Gibsons’ and just be playing my Wylde Audio equipment.
Robert: Did you road test these amps making improvements as you went along?
Zakk Wylde: No, this is the first I have seen them. I’m really happy with them so far. I’m sure there will be some tweaks here and there, but so far they sound great!
Robert: Do you foresee this equipment changing and improving your tones on future BLS CDs?
Zakk Wylde: I’ll be using them on my next CD. The whole point is the worst you want it to be is as good as your best amp. To have the fidelity bigger and fatter with shimmering highs. The mids are better and bottoms even tighter. That’s always the goal.
Robert: What are you packing in the cabs?
Zakk Wylde: My EV speakers all the time!
Robert: I wasn’t expecting that you would have guitars under the Wylde Audio umbrella, they look great.
Zakk Wylde: I have the Viking V and the War Hammer and the Odin. They’re all designed by me from the wood to the shape of the pickups to the hardware. The wood makes a guitar great. These are ebony fret boards, maple necks, maple tops and mahogany bodies. These necks play super smooth. The inlays are extra big because I remember Django Reinhardt’s jazz guitars had the big block inlay and thought they looked killer. When I designed these guitars I wanted those same big blocks.
Robert: How will the amps and guitars be priced?
Zakk Wylde: The whole point is to see if we can get the guitar and the amp head under $1,000. It’s about quality for the money.
Robert : How will you compete against all the big name guitar and amp manufacturers out there?
Zakk Wylde: I do a lot of swatting and a lot of the bench pressing. I want bigger breasts and a bigger J Lo booty than all my competitors.
GALLERY
Charlie McKinney (9 years ago)
Some really sweet guitars, and amps. Can’t wait to try them out, waiting for them too reach stores in this area. Keep jammin, me and the wife love your stuff. Alien aka “the three finger guitarist.”