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 David Julian.
When did you start guitar playing and do you remember your first guitar?
I started at age 11–Once I heard EVH and Eruption for the first time I was hooked. My first guitar was a department store hand me down (Heit) but eventually my parents bought me a black Tokai Les Paul copy.. I played in bands and toured up until about 2007. I was signed to a label owned by the Goo Goo Dolls and opened for national acts including Bon Jovi, Counting Crows, Goo Goo Dolls, Everclear, Queens of the Stone Age, and Zwan. Recently I’ve written eight songs for the new Tommy DeCarlo record (singer of Boston) as well as three songs for a new project–also on the Frontiers label (TBA)–Shout out to Ale! I’ve done session work, recorded, mixed, and produced for the last 15 years.
What are your influences and which guitar players are your faves?
Early influences are EVH and Randy Rhoads. I’m also a huge fan of Elliot Easton of the Cars (who is highly underrated) as well as Neal Schon, Hendrix, Page, Frampton and Warren Dimartini of Ratt. I tend to gravitate towards guitarists that have a strong melodic sense and flash.
How many guitars do you own and what are your favorite models?
I have about 15 guitars–My favorites are a 1976 Les Paul Natural, Fender Hot Rod Tele, Fender Highway One Strat (Satin Finish), and an EVH Wolfgang.
What do you think makes the perfect guitar and amp?
For guitar it’s feel and tone–it has to feel great whether you’re flying around the fretboard or playing rhythm. The tone has to be balanced (unless it is a gnarly tone for an overdub in the studio). A good guitar actually makes me more creative–I just write better. The perfect amp sounds balanced in the lows, mids, and highs but also allows the details in your playing to come through. It should sound great at almost any setting without having to tweak it a lot.
How do you feel about the question of modeler or tube amp?
I recently did a record for Tommy DeCarlo (singer of Boston) and for rhythm and lead sounds I used a combination of the Neural DSP plug-ins as well as a 1973 Marshall SLP 100 watt modded by Trace Davis at Voodoo Amps. With distorted rock tones, the modeling technology has gotten so good it’s hard to tell the difference between the software and the amp. However, with clean or slight break-up tones, I’m tube amp all the way!
Which guitars and amps were used on the new album or for recordings?
For the Tommy DeCarlo (singer of Boston) project: Guitars:;1976 Les Paul Natural, Early 2000’s Highway One Strat, EVH Wolfgang, Gretsch G5420T, Gibson Hummingbird Acoustic, Takamine 12 String Acoustic
Amps: Neural DSP Software, 1973 Marshall SLP 100 (Trace Davis Voodoo Modded), Fender Deluxe Reverb (Celestion 25 Watt Greenback Speaker), Two Notes Torpedo Captor, Orange 2×12 Cabinet (V30 Speakers).
When you only can choose one guitar, which one will you take?
Definitely my Wolfgang–plays and sounds great and it’s a tribute to my favorite guitarist–miss you Ed.
David Julian began his music career touring the US in the Buffalo-based band Last Conservative. The band opened for many national acts including Bon Jovi, The Goo Goo Dolls, Counting Crows, Queens Of The Stone Age, and The All-American Rejects. It was during that time that David began honing his writing and production skills at GCR Audio, a studio owned by The Goo Goo Dolls. David then went on to do film and television work as well as session work for a handful of Nashville-based producers. In addition, he co-wrote and co-produced two songs released on Spinnin‘ Records. One song, „If You Would“ reached #1 on the overall Beatport charts and was later released by world renown DJ Paul Oakenfold on his „We Are Planet Perfecto, Vol. 2“ compilation (Armada Music). The song went on to receive worldwide airplay and 500,000 views on YouTube.
Worked with:
Mike Shimshack (Britney Spears, Laura Bell Bundy)
Zac Maloy (Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Jake Owen, Parmalee)
Scott Stepakoff (signed to Black River Publishing-Jake Owen, Kip Moore, Brandy Clark)
Nikita Karmen (signed to Black River Publishing-Bobby Bones)
Additional production work:
Robby Takac of the Goo Goo Dolls
Kevin Griffin of Better Than Ezra
