Pic: Enzo Mazzeo
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 Stef Burns (Heroes & Monsters. Huey Lewis & The News, Y&T).
When did you start guitar playing and do you remember your first guitar?
– I started playing my dad’s acoustic when I was 6 years old. My parents bought me my first electric at 7 years old. It was a red Winston. But a few years later I they bought me a Fender Mustang and we put a humbucking pick up in it! 🙂
What are your influences and which guitar players are your faves?
– I have many influences and faves though out the years. The main two are Jeff Beck and Jimi Hendrix. B.B. King was the first and Pat Metheny is also huge for me.
How many guitars do you own and what are your favorite models?
– I think I have about 18 guitars, My Strats became my favourites but I love Les Pauls, SGs, and Telecasters.
What do you think makes the perfect guitar and amp?
– I think it depends on the player and on taste. There’s so much variety in sound that you can go many directions. For me the combo of a Strat, with or without humbucker, through a great Marshall is hard to beat.
How do you feel about the question of modeler or tube amp?
– I am a bit old school and I like a tube amp miked in a room, but the technology is so good now that often you can’t tell the difference. I don’t like to tweak sounds and go through settings much. I like simple.
Which guitars and amps were used on the new album or for recordings?
– I used my Marshall JCM 900 modified by Massimo Mantovani at M-Tech Audio in Modena Italy. I used may main yellow 91 Custom Shop Strat with hum bucker on most of it. also my white one sam configuration with the hum bucking at the bridge. And my SG for the parts tuned down to B and my black 68 Les Paul Custom.
When you only can choose one guitar, which one will you take?
– The yellow strat 🙂
