MEDIA
Preview
BY CHRIS KIES, MICHAEL ROSS AND JOE COFFEY
BOOKS
Hot Rod
Electronics for
Guitars
Just as hot-rodded guitars
evolved from
the inclination to
get away from
mass-produced
wares, Rocky
Lowther’s Hot Rod
Electronics For Guitar is a small scale publication that accomplishes a narrowly focused
objective: to document the basic ins and
outs of hot-rodding your guitar’s electronics
for your particular preferences.
The 48-page manual covers the fundamentals
of how to change and alter pickups, capacitors,
pots, jacks, toggle switches, pickup switches,
tapping and paralleling resistors. It starts with
a quick overview of terms, schematic explanations and other useful tips that can be utilized
on other guitar repairs or improvements.
Lowther then shows off his own arsenal of
stringed instruments, which includes old Strats,
Teles, Gibsons, banjos, mandolins, an original
Dobro and even an Emmons steel guitar. Under
each photo, he details the guitar’s alterations
(if applicable), new sounds/options and where
various schematics can be found in the book.
Also included are blank standard templates of
popular guitar schematics and pages for your
own notes, should you choose to document
your own attempts at modding. One version
of the book also comes with a DVD of video
demonstrations.
This how-to guide’s text and videos are simple
and informative. In fact, the publication is self-bound and printed from a word processor,
which keeps the intimidation factor low for its
intended audience of newbie DIY’ers. –CK
MSRP $15.95 (Book)
MSRP $24.95 (Book with DVD)
hotrodguitars.com
The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists
In today’s pop culture, anything involving an
ordered list of “greatest” or “best” items
tends to stir up a vigorous debate among
peers. This is by design,
obviously, but don’t tell
that to media audiences
who put a lot of energy
into denouncing such
lists while offering their
own blogged enumera-
tions in rebuttal. The 100
Greatest Metal Guitarists,
by Joel McIver, employs
this strategy to great effect while raising two
important foundational questions—who and
what is metal, anyway?
McIver is a veteran in the arena of rock and
metal book authorship, having penned ten
other titles of similar interest. Not pulling any
punches, he maps out the specific guidelines
used in his selection process and does a good
job backing up his arguments, knowing full well
that no two readers are likely to agree on a
hierarchy of historically significant metal artists.
The requisite back stories fortify each artist’s entry, but the real value of this book
is McIver’s own passion. His pure love and
appreciation for metal is apparent as he
dives into each player’s technique, style
and influences, reinforcing his logic for each
player’s ranking with colorful and insightful
quotes from the artists. He also lists “Genius
Moments,” particular signature riffs and solos
that epitomize each performer’s abilities and
contributions.
As an added bonus for us gearheads, the
list gets especially juicy as it winds down to
the top thirty; it painstakingly documents
signal chains for artists’ known rigs and
details the setups of noteworthy guitars.
Some nice appendices in the back are
worth mentioning, as they contain several
more lists: “The Next 50,” “Shredders, Not
Metallers,” etc. There’s also a breakdown
of the main list by country of origin.
The book’s central list is as diverse as the
musical genre it focuses on. It showcases
several shredders from the black, death, progressive, extreme, and doom subgenres. It
even throws an ample amount of spotlight on
shredders who have yet to spend a comparatively significant amount of time in the dark
side (Dragonforce and Trivium).
This book will provide hours of quality reading and drunken debate material for your
next band practice. Despite your personal
approval of the list and its order, one thing
that can’t be argued is McIver’s dedication.
He put more than a decade into this project,
personally conducting interviews with nearly
every player listed. –CK
MSRP $22.95
jawbonepress.com
joelmciver.co.uk
Video Releases
Rush: Snakes & Arrows Live
The much anticipated video release from the
Canadian power/prog-rock trio’s most recent
tour should be the disc
that prompts you to buy
a Blu Ray player… if
your den isn’t already
rocking one. Snakes &
Arrows Live is a 3-disc
set featuring a 2007
two-night stand in
Rotterdam, Holland, and
a few songs from a 2008 show in Atlanta.
The band is definitely “on” in Rotterdam, nailing a formidable set list of classics, and nine
songs from the new Snakes & Arrows CD. Alex
Lifeson’s new arsenal of Les Pauls (Customs,
goldtops, ‘58/’ 59 ‘burst reissues) is on full display, many of them equipped with Floyds. With
his Pauls piercing through a line of Hughes &
Kettner Switchblades and Signature Triamps,
he is both focused and playful, delivering signature licks with precision while straying just far
enough creatively to infuse some new excitement. The ‘bursts are equipped with Fishman
piezos that allow him to switch to acoustic
sounds seamlessly, although some actual acoustics make appearances, including a D12-28, a
Garrison and an Adamas. Not one to disappoint long-time fans, Lifeson breaks out his 335
for songs like “A Passage to Bangkok,” “One
Little Victory,” and “YYZ.”
The production is stellar, utilizing footage from
21 high-def cameras, including one on a Luma
crane that, for once, is used with restraint.
