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 Marcus Jidell (Avatarium).
When you start guitar playing and do you remember your first guitar?
I started at 12 years old. My first electric guitar was a cheap black shitty guitar from a company called Ranger. My brother and I bought it together, he chooses it and bring it home. It was really hard to play on it. But before that I try on my father’s nylon string guitar. My mother and my father had one nylon guitar each, so we had both a guitar to learn. I learn some chords on it myself and watch my brother to play. AI also watch guitar players on TV to look how they play.
What are your influences and which guitar players are your faves?
Before I play guitar, I try Cello, so I listened to a lot of classical music. Later I heard a lot of 80ties pop music but also Rockbands like Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple or Jimi Hendrix. The Yngwie Malmsteen was very important for me, he was my big idol. When I read that he is practicing 8 hours a day, I figured out when I will be as good as he was, I must learn 8 hours a day too. That`s what I did then. Today I love Eric Clapton and a lot of blues players. Eric Gales is fantastic, Derek trucks also. I love blues orientated music and flamenco stuff like Paco DeLucia or al DiMeola.
How many guitars do you own and what are your favorite models?
I think I had 25 guitars or so. I f I buy a guitar, that I do not often, I try to find one with a unique sound or vibe. I got most the classic ones like Teles. Strats, ES, Les Paul or SG. Last Tour I play mostely on a Gibson Les paul studio I bought 1995. I put P90 Pickups on it and it sounds fantastic. The neck brooke last summer and after my repairman fixed it it sounds better than before. I got a 59 fender Stratocaster that is great.
What do you think makes the perfect guitar and amp?
Best sounding Amp I had is my Marshall Super Bass from 1973. And I got Amps from Swedish company Ollson, they sound great. A good Guitar and a good amp is all you need, and some cool pedals.
How do you feel about the question of modeler or tube amp?
For me only tube amps, no question. I never like digital stuff.
Which guitars and amps were used on the new album or for recordings?
For Amps my Super Bass, Ollson, a Marshall JCM 800 from the 80ties and a Marshall from 83. For guitars a Gibson SG for mostly rhythm guitars. Then Gibson Les Paul Studio, a Standard and some Hagstroms.
When you only can choose one guitar, which one will you take?
I choose my Les Paul Studio with the P90 pickups.
