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 Laura Cox.
When you start guitar playing and do you remember your first guitar?
I started playing guitar when I was around 14, with a cheap classical guitar that belonged to my aunt. A few months after, I switched to acoustic guitar, then not long after this, to electric guitar. I knew I wanted to play rock, and I was really motivated by electric guitar. My first electric guitar was a Squier Showmaster, that I ended up selling to buy a Stratocaster. I’m not really sentimental when it comes to first guitars.
What are your influences and which guitar players are your faves?
When I started playing, I was influenced by guitar heroes like Slash, Mark Knopfler and Joe Bonamassa. I think they brought a lot to my playing and kind of made me the guitarist I am. Right now, I’m mostly listening to recent artists like Tyler Bryant or Jared James Nichols. They are part of this new generation of Rock n‘ Roll, and it feels great to hear that there’s a future for this music. It’s very refreshing and gives hope .
How many guitars do you own and what are your favorite models?
It’s hard to give you a precise number, but I would say I own about 10 guitars. I’m not a big collector, and I’m not particularly fan of really expensive guitars. My favorite ones are my 2019 Gibson Les Paul Junior. I like that it’s simple, raw, and also lighter than a traditionnal Les Paul. My other go-to model is my Gibson Les Paul Classic Plus from 1997. It was my dream guitar, and I bought it with my first paycheck almost ten years ago. These are two guitars I’ll never sell.
What do you think makes the perfect guitar and amp?
I think it’s about how they feel. You don’t need the most expensive gear, as long as you feel comfortable playing. The looks are important, and your guitar should make you feel like a rockstar, whether you’re playing stadiums or in your bedroom!
How do you feel about the question of modeler or tube amp?
I think they sound great and are a very practical solution when you’re touring, you’re saving so much space and energy loading and unloading… But with the type of music I’m playing, I feel really attached to the “old school” tube amps, and I’m not ready to give up on them! For me, it’s important to feel the headroom, the air and the push coming out of your cabs when you’re playing, it’s a different kind of feeling.
Which guitars and amps were used on the new album or for recordings?
Of course, I used my favorite Les Pauls, but also a Bacchus Telecaster type guitar. I found out it sounded great for some rhythm sections, coupled with Mathieu’s SGs, the other guitarist. For the amps, I used the combination of my Orange Rockerverb 100 on a vintage Orange PPC412, with a Marshall 2204 JMP combo.
When you only can choose one guitar, which one will you take?
My Gibson Les Paul Junior, it’s the one which feels best between my hands!
