Pic: Larry DiMarzio
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 Gretchen Menn.
When you start guitar playing and do you remember your first guitar?
My first guitar was my Music Man Silhouette. I still have it, and you can see it in the video for “Valentino’s Victory Lap.”
What are your influences and which guitar players are your faves?
Eric Johnson was the first to truly inspired me to pick up the guitar. Shortly there after I fell in love with the playing of Steve Morse and Django Reinhardt. In more recent years, Jeff Beck became a god to me (as he has been to so many!), and Daniele Gottardo is a huge inspiration both on guitar and compositionally. And there are so many others as well—from Eddie Van Halen to Charlie Christian.
Pic by Mark Manion
How many guitars do you own and what are your favorite models?
I don’t intentionally collect them, but given the range of projects, it means I have quite a few. I think around 20. I could never pick a favorite, but my Music Man Silhouette Special has been my #1 electric for anything not Zeppelin about 10 years now. Of course I love my Les Pauls, too. And I have some acoustics that I don’t feel worthy of having—a stunning Stephen Strahm Eros and Kenny Hill classical. Recently Breedlove made me a custom steel string that is gorgeous.
Pic by Renee Jahnke
What do you think makes the perfect guitar and amp?
I think it totally depends on the player, the style… for me it’s whatever provides the least amount of resistance or effort in trying to get the tones I imagine.
Pic by Max Crace
How do you feel about the question of modeler or tube amp?
I often appreciate the convenience of plugins for quiet, quick recordings at home. But for albums and live playing, there is no substitute for the tones, responsiveness, and dimensionality that tube amps offer. I love my Two Rocks, Laneys, and Engl, and also have a couple of vintage amps— a 1966 Fender Deluxe and mid 70s Marshall JMP.
Which guitars and amps were used on the new album or for recordings?
On Abandon All Hope, my latest original album, that was mostly with my Music Man Silhouette and Engl SE670. I did use the Les Paul on the track “Beast,” and for the heavy riffs on “Shadows” and “Hound of Hades.”
When you only can choose one guitar, which one will you take?
I could never pick one… I’d at least need to narrow it down by genre. If it’s for electric playing, then my Music Man Silhouette. If it’s a desert island, I’d bring the Kenny Hill classical.
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