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 Raffaello Indri (IT’sALIE)
When did you start playing guitar and do you remember your first guitar?
I started to play guitar seriously at the age of 14 ( before, I only played it in my dreams). My first guitar was a cheapy classical one, I don’t remember the brand, but I still have it in the only neck version (I cut the body to bring the neck everywhere to make practice 🙂 ) Anyway, my first electric guitar was a Fender Strat HM.
What are your influences and which guitar players are your faves?
I like every kind of music included jazz, ethnic and classical music, but my heart still beats fast for the Hard Rock and Heavy Metal classics.
My favourite guitar players are: Steve Morse, Ritchie Kotzen, Adrian Smith, Shawn Lane, Daug Aldrich, Mark Knopfler, Nuno Bettencourt, Gary Moore, Greg Howe, Kiko Loureiro, Al Di Meola…the list is longer, in general I like all the guitarists with an own soul and with a great sense of melody.
How many guitars do you own and what are your favourite models?
I have more than 20 guitars and my favourite are the strato shapes. I still have my first Fender Strat HM and my favourite one is the Jackson – Adrian Smith model…in all aspects, it is a super strat.
What do you think makes the perfect guitar and amp?
The ears and the artistic sense of the guitarist… only when we have the sound in our head and fingers, then it will materialize in any guitar or amplifier that we will take. I have my favourite amplifiers, but when I tried different ones my research always led me in the same direction and result.
How do you feel about the question of modeler or tube amp?
I’m not a big fan of modeler even though I recognize their advantages in size and versatility. I’ve never used them in any of my records. I use a small modeler for some rehearsals with some bands made of friends, but as long as I can I will always bring the tube heads and my speakers to the concerts or in the studio to make albums.
Which guitars and amps were used on the new album or for recordings?
I used Wizard Head for the rhythm guitars with my Gibson Les Paul, an
hancrafted amp with my Fender Stratocaster for clean sounds, arpeggios and strumming; the Diezel Head VH4 for lead solos with my VGS radioactive guitar and in the end I used my Breedlove Focus and a beautiful Jumbo Gibson for the acoustic guitars.
When you only can choose one guitar, which one will you take?
I‘ m in love with my Jackson Adrian Smith model. it is extremely comfortable and versatile to go from blues to heavy metal.
