ELECTRICIZED

Duane Allman

1946-1971

Hard not be under the spell of the Skydog. The guitar prodigy that is Duane Allman has granted us with flawless studio work, sublime live improvs and electrifying slides, throughout a career interrupted way too early. Besides his talent, he made guitar playing look and feel so effortless, and that grants him a prime seat in the pantheon of guitar gods, very close to Hendrix. 

Duane Allman is mostly remembered as a Les Paul Standard player. He also played a 61 SG for slides and Strats during his pre-Allman brothers session work.

Photo: Richard Hombre

Bo Diddley

1928-2008

The Stones, the Beatles, the Who, Hendrix… You name it. Everyone has been influenced by the simple yet feverish rhythms of Bo Diddley. “The Originator”, as they called him, defined the genre and is unmistakably considered a cornerstone of blues rock. He was also famous for having female guitarists in his band. 

His two main instruments were the cigar-box shaped Grestch Twang Machine and the Gretsch Jupiter Thunderbird. Both were designed by Diddley himself, respectively in 1958 and 1959. Yes, Bo Diddley was a man, and a remarkable one.

Hound Dog Taylor

1915-1975
Flesh, Bones, tons of soul

From a guitarist point of view, having six fingers on your left hand is not a malformation, it’s a gift. Hound Dog taylor was definitely gifted. He has pulled more bewildering slide blues and raw boogie than anyone ever did out of a Teisco.

Hear him play “Wild about you Baby”

Poison Ivy

Cramps lead guitarist and femme fatale Poison Ivy recently lost her husband and band mate Lux Interior, but her love affair with Gretsch is still alive and kicking. Her favorite instrument is a 1958 Grestch 6120, used on countless occasions. Pictured is a Gretsch 6120W, the western variant of the 6120, that she has been playing during the nineties.

Photo: Kimigo

The World without Leo

Today is the 21st anniversary of Leo Fender’s death. 

Hard to imagine what the world would have been without Leo. For sure, there wouldn’t have been any tele, strat, or any other caster. In fact, there wouldn’t have been any Fender at all. If Clapton, Vaughan, Gilmour, Richards, Knopfler and hundreds of others didn’t come across one of his creations, perhaps they would not have managed to unleash as much talent as they did. Jimi Hendrix without his stratocaster?

Most certainly, the horde of guitarists that we are would have a very different shape, our record collection could be miles away from today, and this very present blog might not even exist.

Yes, M. Fender, Put aside a few slices of gratitude to the elders (thirties, forties) we owe you almost everything. You are very much missed.

theplanetofsound:

Jimi Hendrix (November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970)

In memory of Jimi Hendrix who died 40 years today.

On this pic, Jimi is holding a 1967 flying V, custom painted by himself. He used the V during his 67/68 tour in Paris. (what about that strat behind him?)

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