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 Marcelo Gelbcke (Landfall).
When you start guitar playing and do you remember your first guitar?
Well, I started playing guitar around 13 or 14. My first instrument was the keyboard but as soon as I discovered rock and roll and metal I went to the acoustic guitar than to the electric guitar, right after. My first guitar was a cheap Strinberg strat, with single coils. After a while, I sold it to buy an Ibanez GRG that I still have.
What are your influences and which guitar players are your faves?
I am a rock and roll guy, so all the legendary bands, especially from the 70s, 80s and 90s are influences. My favorite guitar players are Eddie Van Halen, Steve Lukather, John Petrucci, Andy Timmons, Nuno Bettencourt, Paul Gilbert and the list goes on and on.
How many guitars do you own and what are your favorite models?
I currently have 6 guitars. My main one is a strat H-S-H with a floyd rose from a very famous brazilian handmade company called N. Zaganin. This guitar has been with me for more than 10 years and I really love it. I also have a Fender Telecaster Special that I usually use in local and traveling gigs, super reliable and versatile.
What do you think makes the perfect guitar and amp?
I have an EVH 5150 III 50w and I absolutely love it! So if I could choose I would go for 2 5150 III 100w with 2 4×12 cabinets (using it as stereo) and I for the guitar I would choose a Fender Strat, Charvel or Jackson – With floyd rose and humbuckers. Yes, I am a very 80s influenced guitar player.
How do you feel about the question of modeler or tube amp?
Well, if I could choose, I would always for a tube amp, live and in the studio. But for matters of traveling I think the modelers are the future: Lighter and easier to transport. So I really think it depends on the situation. You can get good results with both options. I still use guitar rig and plugins for pre production though.
Which guitars and amps were used on the new album or for recordings?
I used my 5150 III for the whole album, for both distorted and clean sounds. For the distortion, I always go for the red channel and usually use a Tube Screamer or a BOSS SD-1 in front of the amp, just to push it and open the highs a little bit. For the clean sounds I use the green channel straight to the amp (sometimes I use a compressor in front of the amp). All the effects (delays, reverbs, compression) were used in Logic Pro X (Waves plugins). I used a bunch of guitars: Ibanez Prestige, Ibanez RG and my N. Zaganin Strat.
When you only can choose one guitar, which one will you take?
Well, I would take my N. Zaganin Super Strat! I´m so in love and so close to it: that guitar has been through a lot with me!
