INTRO INTERVIEW
A minute’s all it takes to discover what makes a great guitarist tick. Before he jumped into his limo for the airport, we grabbed a quick chat with Dan Reed Network’s guitarist,
GT:
Do you have a type of pick that you can’t live without?
BJ: Yeah, toothpick … no, I just use Fender 0.88s I prefer the teal colour.
GT: If you had to give up all your pedals but three, what would they be?
BJ: Well, I don’t use pedals much but when I do, I use Mutron II phaser, Soul Food overdrive, and TC Flashback delay.
GT: Do you play another instrument well enough to do so in a band. If so, have you ever done it? BJ: I played drums in a reggae band in Honduras for six months. Damn, that’s hard! Blisters on your hands, worn out after the show, eyes burning red from sweat, legs feel funny. I won’t do that again and I have mad respect for all the drummers of the world!
GT: If a music chart were put in front of you, could you read it?
BJ: Sure, if it’s in English.I can read chord charts with simple leads. I’d have to have a reason to go any further.
GT: Do guitar cables really make a difference? What make are yours?
BJ: Well, that’s a dumb question. How else are you going to hook it to the amp? LOL. They do! Shorter cables are better. There’s a bunch of science that goes with it. The bottom line is it makes a difference in the studio but live it’s almost imperceptible. PHOTOS BY JSTEVE THORNE/REDFERNS/GETTY
GT: Your house/studio is burning down: which guitar do you salvage, and why?
BJ: The Beast. Made by Steve Spalding in Oregon. It’s my first guitar made for me. Plays great, sounds great. We have been together over 30 years. I played her on all the early Dan Reed Network albums. I’ve removed the fur and lace since then. It’s still my favourite guitar!
GT: What’s your favourite guitar amplifier, and how do you set it?
BJ: My favourite amp is the old Fender Bassman and Fender Bandmaster (brown). Turn all the knobs to 10, connect the two channels with a patch cord (not sure what that does but do it) plug in a distortion pedal and use it as the rhythm sound. Then, turn it off and witness the full power of the dark side … for leads! I’d run the amp into one 10-inchJBL (or Celestian) in a milk crate sized box. It sings!
GT: What kind of playing action do you have on your guitars? Any particular quirks, like extra high or super low?
BJ: A lot, I know
