I used to use a Fender Twin Reverb, but for
many years all I’ve used is the Vox AC30. I
switched to Vox because it was more complimentary to the sound of my Les Paul. With
Roger, even on big stages, I use an AC30. I’ve
got two, and I kick the second one in only for
solos—that’s it.
Are your AC30s new or vintage?
They’re new. The thing with Vox, for me, is that
they’re all good—a new one, an old one. As
long as it’s been looked after, they’re all great.
White keeps a separate pedalboard on
the front stage of The
Wall production. It features a Vox 845 wah,
an Ernie Ball volume
pedal, a Line 6 M9
Stompbox Modeler, a
Korg Pitchblack tuner,
a Morley ABY switch
that selects between
his two Vox AC30s, and
a Voodoo Lab Pedal
Power 2 Plus.
Photo by Snowy White
Let’s talk about your effects.
I don’t use a lot when I’m doing my own thing,
but with Roger I obviously need to use a few
bits and pieces. I’ve got this Line 6 M9 stompbox that I’m using for the first time. I can get
all my repeats and delays—it’s great and works
really well. For my basic sound, I use a little
Boss Blues Driver, which gives me a bit of an
edge. I haven’t got much else really: an Ernie
Ball volume pedal, a Boss OverDrive, and a
Boss Rotary Ensemble, and that’s about it.
What about strings and picks?
That’s a really good question, because I have
no idea what brand of strings I’m using—it
depends on what my guitar techs have. For me,
to be honest, all brands sound good. I do know
the gauges, though: On my Les Paul, I use a
light top and heavy bottom—.010, .013, .017,
.030, .042, and .052—since I hit the bass strings
really hard. The Stratocaster can’t really handle
those heavy strings, so I use a regular light set
on that guitar. As for picks, when I was with
Thin Lizzy the road crew made some little white
ones in the size I like with my name on them—
3000 of them. This was in 1980, and I’ve still
got a couple hundred left. But when I’m playing
my music, I hardly use a pick at all. Sometimes
I don’t even take one onstage with me. With
Roger’s thing, I use a pick most of the time.
What was it like as a more or less traditional
blues player working with huge rock bands
like Pink Floyd and Thin Lizzy in the 1970s?
It’s true that I’m quite a narrow person in my
playing. I’ve always been into blues and haven’t
Alabama
Bailey Brothers Music - Montgomery ....... 334-262-7827
Bailey Brothers Music - Inverness ............ 205-271-7827
Bailey Brothers Music - Southside ........... 205-714-7827
The Fret Shop ........................................... 256-430-4729
California
Alta Loma Music ...................................... 909-989-5757
Hertlein Guitars ......................................... 925-829-7167
Jim’s Music ............................................... 714-669-3600
Kaye’s Music Scene ................................. 818-881-5566
Matt’s Music, Stage, & School ................. 805-237-0054
Musicians Outlet ....................................... 760-341-3171
RickORama .............................................. 760-863-1359
West LA Music .......................................... 310-477-5432
Westwood Music ...................................... 310-478-4251
Colorado
Two Old Hippies ....................................... 970-925-7492
Wildwood.................................................. 303-665-7733
Connecticut
A Sound Choice ....................................... 203-315-8663
Delaware
Middletown Music .................................... 302-376-7600
Florida
Hoggtowne Music .................................... 352-271-4772
Leitz Music ............................................... 850-769-0111
Morningstar Music.................................... 239-403-4191
Rick’s Music ............................................. 239-549-1696
Wholesale Music ...................................... 321-751-1439
Georgia
Firehouse Music of Georgia ..................... 770-483-9508
Ken Stanton Music - Marietta .................. 770-427-2491
Ken Stanton Music - West Cobb .............. 770-429-8816
Ken Stanton Music - Roswell ................... 770-993-8334
Ken Stanton Music - Woodstock ............. 770-516-0804
Ken Stanton Music - Snellville .................. 770-979-0736
These premier dealers carry the widest selection
of Bedell guitars. For a complete listing of Bedell
dealers, visit bedellguitars.com.
Bedell Dealers
Georgia (continued)
Ken Stanton Music - Stone Mountain ...... 678-672-6742
Musicians Warehouse .............................. 706-548-7233
Portman’s Music Superstore - Augusta ...... 866-966-0101
Portman’s Music Superstore - Savannah ... 800-241-0101
Hawaii
Goodguys Music & Sound ....................... 808-732-4663
Illinois
Hix Brothers .............................................. 630-898-8840
The Music Room ...................................... 847-934-5440
Iowa
Rondinelli Music / Audio ........................... 563-583-8271
Kentucky
Doo Wop Shop ......................................... 502-456-5250
Owensboro Music .................................... 270-684-2156
Louisiana
Modern Music .......................................... 337-783-1601
Piney Hills Music ...................................... 318-232-3002
Maryland
Appalachian Bluegrass Shoppe ............... 410-744-1144
Massachusetts
Crossroads Music .................................... 781-826-1619
Sonic Creations ........................................ 413-325-8042
Michigan
Motor City Guitar ...................................... 248-673-1900
Minnesota
My Music Store ........................................ 763-525-0311
Rhapsody Music ....................................... 507-387-2562
Rocktown Music ....................................... 320-257-7676
Schmitt Music - Brooklyn Center ............. 763-566-4560
Schmitt Music - Edina .............................. 952-920-5080
Schmitt Music - Minnetonka .................... 952-546-0555
Schmitt Music - Burnsville ....................... 952-435-2454
Schmitt Music - Roseville ......................... 651-636-0801
Schmitt Music - Maplewood .................... 651-770-0091
Schmitt Music - Coon Rapids .................. 763-421-4430
Schmitt Music - Duluth ............................. 218-727-8341
Schmitt Music - Virginia ........................... 218-741-8488
Schmitt Music - Rochester ....................... 507-288-1960
Mississippi
S & S Audio .............................................. 601-736-2839
Morrison Brothers Music .......................... 601-956-0135
Nebraska
Russo’s Guitar Center .............................. 402-493-2116
Schmitt Music - Omaha ........................... 402-391-5588
North Dakota
Schmitt Music - Fargo .............................. 701-281-1828
New Jersey
Freehold Music ......................................... 732-462-6860
Laboratory Music ..................................... 856-384-2725
New York
Alto Music of Orange CO. - Middletown .. 845-692-6922
Alto Music of Orange CO. - Airmont ........ 845-352-6717
Ludlow Guitars ......................................... 212-353-1775
Ohio
Motter’s Music House .............................. 440-442-7470
Motter’s Music 2 ....................................... 330-533-3600
Woodsy’s Music - Kent............................. 330-673-1525
Oklahoma
Guitar House of Tulsa ............................... 918-835-6959
Pennsylvania
JH Guitars................................................. 610-363-9204
Meadowood Music ................................... 610-916-1285
West Chester Music ................................. 610-436-8641
South Dakota
Schmitt Music - Sioux Falls ...................... 605-339-6030
Tennessee
Corner Music ............................................ 615-297-9559
Texas
Guitar Tex ................................................. 210-822-1595
Virginia
Charlottesville Music ................................ 434-973-5859
Wisconsin
Dave’s Guitar Shop................................... 608-785-7704
Hartland Music ......................................... 262-367-5333
Madison Music ......................................... 608-257-5877
Schmitt Music - Eau Claire ....................... 715-832-5564
Online Dealers
Amazon ...................................................... amazon.com
American Musical Supply ............. americanmusical.com
JH Guitars.................................................. jhguitars.com
Music 123 ................................................ music123.com
Same Day Music ............................. samedaymusic.com
Zzounds ..................................................... zzounds.com
