NEWS CLIPS
Slash Talks Goldtops at Guitar Center’s Session Series
A crowd of more than 2,000 Slash fans gathered outside of the Northridge, California
Guitar Center on September 3 to hear Slash
talk guitars in the latest of Guitar Center’s
“Sessions” series.
During an 80-minute Q&A session with Guitar
World Editor-in-Chief Brad Tolinski, Slash spoke
in detail about his playing with Guns N’ Roses,
Velvet Revolver and Slash’s Snakepit. Among
the topics covered were Slash’s new limited-edi-tion signature Les Paul Goldtop guitars, which
will be released by Gibson USA and Epiphone
later this year.
The Goldtops are recreations of the guitar
Slash used in 1991 when recording the songs
“Estranged,” “November Rain,” “Sweet Child
O’ Mine,” and “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.”
Slash explained, “For the solos, I turned the
tone knob all the way down and they would just
be these real notey, sweet creamy solos with
lots of sustain. And I found that the Goldtop
was the best for that.” He explained that at one
point, his home studio was robbed and all of
his guitars were stolen; though he eventually
got most of the guitars back, his 1991 Goldtop
remained missing. When he asked Gibson to
make him one recently, they decided to make a
whole line. “I have two at home,” he said, “and
they sound amazing.”
Slash also explained how he came to love Les
Pauls in the first place, which was perhaps
appropriately the way many people do today.
“I think I was attracted to the Les Paul probably
more than anything because certain individuals
played it, and I liked the way that they played,”
he said, listing Jimmy Page, Keith Richards and
Mick Taylor as examples of the bluesy style he
admired. Of course nowadays, Slash can add his
own name to the list that inspires young guitarists to pick up a Paul every day. He said the real
turning point was when he ended up with Steve
Hunter’s old ‘ 59 reissue. “That was it,” he said,
“It was my sound, it was my look, and I haven’t
ever changed since.”
Other topics Slash covered were his favorite
pickups, his thoughts on recording and mic’ing
and his use of Ernie Ball strings.
Explaining his choice of strings—Ernie Ball
custom gauge 11 through 46—Slash confessed, “I hit the strings really hard, so I need
something that bites back. I need something
that feels really solid and takes some work—
that just feels sturdy. Ernie Balls are the best
strings I’ve ever encountered. I never saw any
reason to change.”
He also talked about his use of Seymour
Duncan Alnico 2 Pro pickups, which are featured in the upcoming Gibson and Epiphone
Goldtops, saying, “Those pickups are an
important part of getting that sound. Sort of
lower output and gritty. They’re not totally
heavy metal sounding where the output is
really maxed—they’re a middle ground type of
thing.” He first started using the pickups during
the recording of Guns N’ Roses’ Appetite For
Destruction when his manager gave him a guitar loaded with the Duncans—“They sounded
really great so I’ve stuck with them ever since.”
The attendees were an incredibly enthusiastic
group who were eager to have a good time.
Numerous families were in attendance, with
parents and kids equally excited to hear Slash.
One younger attendee, Kyle Bagwell, said his
reason for coming was simple: “I just want to
see him play... to see it in person.” Slash did not
disappoint, breaking into some signature riffs,
including “Sweet Child O’ Mine” and more, to
the delight of the crowd.
The evening began with two up-and-coming
Los Angeles bands, After Midnight Project and
Divide the Day, both veterans of Ernie Ball’s
Battle of the Bands. The night ended with Slash
signing autographs for dozens of fans as the sun
set on a relaxed and enjoyable evening.
Ernie Ball Strings, Gibson and Real Deal
media sponsored the free event with
Guitar Center. The motto of Guitar
Center’s “Sessions” series is, “Education.
Conversation. Inspiration,” and all three were
found at this event. Previous sessions included
Joe Satriani, hip-hop producer Pete Rock and
hip-hop icon the RZA (Wu-Tang Clan).
Guitarcenter.com/events
