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 Cord Pool (guitar), Rado Romo (bass) and Nevada Romo (guitar) from the band TEXAS HIPPIE COALITION.
Who am I interviewing?
Cord Pool
When you start guitar playing and do you remember your first guitar?
I started playing guitar when I was 12. My first guitar was a black Takamine acoustic that was my mom’s that she gifted me.
What are your influences and which guitar players are your faves?
My biggest influences growing up were Eddie Van Halen, Slash and Zakk Wylde. Nowadays I have a different favorite guitar player everyday, every player has their own unique style and approach so it’s too hard to pick just one.
How many guitars do you own and what are your favorite models?
I’ve lost count on how many guitars I own so I’m going to guess about 15. I’ve always had an attraction to the Gibson Les Paul and the Gibson Explorer.
What do you think makes the perfect guitar and amp?
There’s probably many combos of guitars and amps that I would consider perfect but I’ve learned to love the gear I own, the mesa triple rec through a Les Paul.
How do you feel about the question of modeler or tube amp?
I’ve never owned a modeler amp so I guess I’ll be biased and go with tube amps.
Which guitars and amps were used on the new album or for recordings?
The guitars I played my Gibson Les Paul, Gibson Explorer, PRS Mira and a Les Paul style DBZ on the new album. As far as amps go, it was the Mesa triple rec through a Marshall 1960 cab.
Who am I interviewing?
Rado Romo aka the Hired Gun from the Texas Hippie Coalition
When you start bass playing and do you remember your first bass?
I started playing bass when I was 11. So about 20 years now. My first bass was a guitar center store brand „rogue“ bass. Fired truck red. Only $150. But honestly played like a champ. Still have it but now it’s painted to look like the Texas Flag. Pretty damn cool.
What are your influences and which bass players are your favs?
My favorites as a kid were Mudvayne, Audioslave, Led Zeppelin, Corrosion of Conformity. Any many many more. Really anybody that was good with fatass riffs and heavy vocals. As a bass player Ryan Martinie from mudvayne definitely influenced me. I don’t play like him. He’s way better, but seeing what somebody could actually do on bass and how much of a key role he plays in the music, plus the insanity he brought to his stage performance had a massive effect on me. And same for Tim Commerford, he was another one that just stole the spotlight. Although I play much more like Rex Brown and Jason Newsted. I’ve always loved the way those guys stay in the pocket and compliment the sick riffs when it comes to more riff driven music.
How many basses do you own and what are your favorite models?
I own 6 basses. Hands down my favorites are My Fender Jazz Bass and My Fender P-Bass. You just can’t beat the sounds you get out of em‘. I’ll always be a fender man.
What do you think makes the perfect bass and amp?
I need a bass head that will dominate. I go Ampeg all the way. Plus Those 8×10 cabs just melt people. . And it’s hard to get a more clear and powerful sound than an Ampeg Head.
Which basses and amps were used on the new album or forrecordings?
The Jazz bass. All the recordings I’ve done I use the Jazz Bass. There’s just nothing like it for me. Not even close. When it comes to amps, nowadays there’s a lot of going direct in and slapping plugins on em. It’s efficient and sounds better than almost anything I’ve found. But this is a new era of recording.
When you only can choose one bass, which one will you take?
Fender Jazz Bass with a pair of Ernie Ball 110s on it for drop tunings. No question.
Who am I interviewing?
Nevada Romo
When you start guitar playing and do you remember your first guitar?
My first guitar was a Yamaha erg 121. It was cheap but I loved it.
What are your influences and which guitar players are your faves?
I Listen to a lot of country, southern rock. Classic rock. Little bit of metal. I’m a big fan Of whiskey Myers . Turnpike troubadours. Mayleen and the sons of disaster. Joe Walsh is definitely one of my favorite guitar players, pepper Kennan too.
How many guitars do you own and what are your favorite models?
I have no clue. A bunch lol I’ve got some tele’s ( there my favorite) couple of hollow body’s. Couple of gretchs
What do you think makes the perfect guitar and amp?
That the amp is real. And the guitar has all the strings. How do you feel about the question of modeler or tube amp? A: Tube amp all the way.
Which guitars and amps were used on the new album or for recordings?
A mesa F 50
When you only can choose one guitar, which one will you take?
My turquoise tele it’s gotta dirty finger in the bridge.
