This article series is about the tools of popular guitarists. What are their favorite guitars and how is it related to them? This time with Chris Tapp (The Cold Stares).
When you start guitar playing and do you remember your first guitar?
It looks like a BC.Rich Warlock Guitar from a company named Hondo. I was 13 when i started. From the age of 4 to 13 i learned some piano. After the Hondo i got a Purple Telecaster and sold the Hondo.
What are your influences and which guitar players are your faves?
I always loved Jimmy Page and Paul Koshoff. I also loved singers, i never love just guitar music only. I has to be the songs and the singers first. I am a big fan of acoustic stuff. From Robert Johnson to Nick Drake. A lot of folk stuff. I love the guitars a little sloppy and noisy. I like when guitars are dangerous. It must be angry and emotional. I love Steve Vai for his unpredictable playing.
How many guitars do you own and what are your favorite models?
I had a lot. Sometimes i got 45, but over the years i sold many to pay the bills. Now i got 25. I got a Silvertone that Peter Green owned. I got 3 Guitars that he has owned, included a great National Guitar. I got a green Les Paul that Gibson made for me. I got a Fender Metiora, that i like. I loved guitars.
What do you think makes the perfect guitar and amp?
I see the amp as a tool and guitars as a piece of art. The guitar must fit like a jacket and the amp must don`t mess up. I love the Fender Subro that breaks up a little bit but not lose the dynamics. But i got problems in the past with tube amps get`s out of order, especially on tour. I want a good rock blues sound with no problems.
How do you feel about the question of modeler or tube amp?
I love modellers, there are so easy to use and they don`t makes problems. I the last years they want so good. I use the Fender Tonemaster, it is great. When you on the road every time it is so much easier.
Which guitars and amps were used on the new album or for recordings?
I used an old Ampeg Gemini, it is an amp with input for Guitar and accordion. When you plug the guitar in the accordion side it drives a little bit. I use the amp on all the song and mix it with the Fender Tonemaster Pro in stereo. When you mix two great amps, the resuld was not so good. One amp must be not so good by itself. So you get a big sound. For guitars i used what i got. We recorded the album live in just two days. The whole band in the same room. We really worked hard to sound like a great 70ties record.
When you only can choose one guitar, which one will you take?
I will take my Green Les Paul from Gibson.
