Photo by Tammy Vega for Pop Evil | www.tammyvega.com
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 Nick Fuelling (Pop Evil).
When you start guitar playing and do you remember your first guitar?
I first picked up a guitar in 1999 or 2000 I believe when I was 12 or 13 years old. My mom and older sister bought a used Squier Stratocaster and a tiny practice amp for my dad because he was interested in getting back into the guitar after not playing for a few decades. My dad played when he was younger, so he showed me a few chords on his new Strat (well, used but you know what I mean) and my passion for the guitar was born.
What are your influences and which guitar players are your faves?
My influences as a player have definitely shifted as the years have passed but as I was starting out I was listening to anything that had an interesting guitar riff. Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Nirvana, Metallica, Offspring, Papa Roach, etc. I remember spending hours and hours night after night just searching for new songs to learn to play. My biggest influences would have to be Dimebag, Zakk Wylde, Joe Satriani, Mark Tremonti, James Hetfield, John Petrucci, the list goes on but that should give an idea.
Pic: Nick Fancher
How many guitars do you own and what are your favorite models?
I currently own 10 electric guitars, 3 acoustics and a crappy Ibanez bass. My favorite ones are my Schecter SLS Elite models. I have a 6 string C-1 with a Floyd rose and a 7 string C-7 multi-scale that are just incredible instruments. Other than my Schecters, my Les Paul Standard in matte finish will always be a mainstay in the live arsenal. It is just one of the most solidly built Les Pauls that I’ve played and sounds stellar.
What do you think makes the perfect guitar and amp?
The perfect guitar and amp are different for every player, so I’d never be able to pick a specific guitar and amp and say they are the perfect combo. So, for me, the perfect guitar and amp are whatever gives the player the most inspiration. A guitar can check off all the features one might expect from a top tier instrument, but it might not “feel” right. I always recommend trying out as many guitars as possible (even of the same model) to find the one that just makes you want to keep playing. The same goes for amps. Just try everything until you find the combo that inspires you to play.
How do you feel about the question of modeler or tube amp?
If you asked me this question even 10 years ago, I’d have said that nothing will ever replace the tube amp for tone, response and “feel”. Solid state amps just weren’t great, and modelers were not even close. That said, the past decade has been very exciting in the amp modeling world. Companies like Fractal and Kemper have finally blurred the lines between tube and modeling amps. I currently use a Fractal Axe-Fx 3 and it handles everything I can throw at it. My tone chasing went from searching for physical amps from shop to shop to just flipping through settings and models on the Axe-Fx. I can’t wait to see what’s next in amp modeling!
When you only can choose one guitar, which one will you take?
If I had to choose one guitar to play for the rest of my life, it would have to be my Schecter C-1 SLS Elite. It was between that and my Les Paul, but since I can only choose one, I’ll take the one with the 2 extra frets and the Floyd Rose.
