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 Richie Faulkner (Judas Priest, Elegant Weapons)
When did you start guitar playing and do you remember your first guitar?
I was around 7 years old and my first guitar was a Stratocaster copy. I was stoked because it looked like Jimis guitar and I was and am a huge fan of Hendrix.
What are your influences and which guitar players are your faves?
That’s a great question because I have many guitar players that are my favorites and influence me in someway, but there are just a few which really shaped the way that I play. Players like Brian May, David Gilmour, Tony Iommi, Randi Rhodes all have an influence but when it comes to the players that really changed the way I play there are five main ones. Jimi Hendrix, Michael Schenker, Zakk Wylde, Dave Murray and James Hetfield.
How many guitars do you own and what are your favorite models?
I don’t actually know how many guitars I own. With Priest we have multiple touring rigs so some are with touring rig A some are with touring Rig B for example. I have some in storage in the UK some in the US, some at home, so I lose track. My favorites are of course the guitars that I tour with. My signature Gibson flying V‘s, my Gibson explorer customs and Les Pauls. I have some old Stratocaster‘s also that I’m fond of. I have a fantastic Gibson V that I have owned since joining Priest and its been a good friend since then. It’s evolved with me since joining the band and spawned a signature model with epiphone and what is to become a custom shop model with Gibson.
What do you think makes the perfect guitar and amp?
I think the pursuit of the perfect guitar and amp is never ending. It always depends on our never-ending tastes and influences and what we hope to express and achieve sonically both in the studio and live. If I had to pick combination for a desert island I would say Gibson Les paul through a Marshall plexi or JCM 800.
How do you feel about the question of modeler or tube amp?
I’ve always been an advocate for a tube amp. I think that if you’re fortunate enough to have the space and the budget to allow real amps, then I think you should use them. If there are limitations on budget, space etc. then modeling amps are fine and I’ve seen many bands use them. I’ve used modelers like the quad cortex in the studio as a tool to capture ideas, to then go back and record them properly with a real amp, so I think I can definitely serve a purpose. But I’m a big, loud, smelly tube amp guy.
Which guitars and amps were used on the new album or for recordings?
For the „Horns for a Halo“ record, it was a really simple approach in the studio. I used one amp and one guitar. The guitar was a prototype for the flying V I have coming out soon with Gibson and the amplifier was at 35th anniversary Marshall plexi. Simple.
When you only can choose one guitar, which one will you take?
I think I’ll take my Pelham blue signature Flying V for sure. It’s become a good friend of mine and allows me to express what I wanna say at the moment so I’ll take that one.
All Pics by Thorsten Seiffert (https://www.rocknroll-reporter.de/)
