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 Tom Shemer (The Damn Truth).
When you start guitar playing and do you remember your first guitar?
I started playing guitar when I was 12 years old before that I played the violin for 8 years. So I already had some understanding of music especially lead playing as it is closer to the violin. Chords came to me a bit later. My first guitar was a Squire Stratocaster. The string were so high above the neck but I didn’t know any better. I played that thing everyday all day hahah!
What are your influences and which guitar players are your faves?
It all really started for me with Jimmy Page. Those first 4 zeppelin records totally changed my life when I first heard them as a kid. The tone the playing and the feeling it gave me was insane. Jimmy page totally opened the door for me to all the blues greats – Muddy Waters. BB King, Eric Clapton of course and my favorite blues guitar player of all time ALBERT KING. At the same time I LOVED the heavier players like Slash and Kirk Hammett Billy Corgan as well! After that I discovered Eric Johnson and I just couldn’t believe the tone and the phrasing. I fell I love with his playing!
How many guitars do you own and what are your favorite models?
I own a „few“ guitars hahaha. What can I say I just love em SO MUCH! I got a couple of „Bunting guitars“ that were literally made for my hands. A Melody Queen with TV Johns pick ups a really great guitar for all things FUZZ those pick ups and the wood choice is sublime for driven sounds! The AMAROCK is kinda their version of a 59 standard a phenomenal guitar! And currently my favourite to play. It’s fast the neck is slim and fits my hands perfectly and it has a fat tone that still cuts through the mix perfectly! One of the best luthiers in canada, Jeff Demers built a beautiful V for me! If all my other guitars are like vintage hot rod cars then this thing is my Ferrari! Just super fast expensive and hi if as they come. I love that guitar so much! The attention to detail is next level insane! The latest addition to my arsenal is a gain another boutique guitar from Montreal SPADA by Morifone guitars It’s So unique And the time is like somewhere between a jazzmaster and a Les Paul. Very very very cool guitar I love it! I also own a couple of strats from the 70s. And a few Gibsons as well One model I really enjoy is the Gibson VEGAS. Made for only one year in 2006 it was considered a total flop. No one wanted it. (I did?) it’s a semi hollow body but much smaller then a 335 It has gold frets that I love! This model is considered to be one of the most collectible recent gibsons out there There is really not too many out there but it’s a Great little guitar!
What do you think makes the perfect guitar and amp?
The player…
I can’t tell you how many times I played festivals with some blues greats who just show up with a cheap guitar and a back line amp and they sound BETTER than anyone else.
It’s the fingers!
For me every guitar I own inspires something different out of me. The riffs and solos I write on my bunting are so different from the ones I write on my strats for example. As long as the guitar is comfortable to play on and the amp has a unique tone…IM HAPPY!
How do you feel about the question of modeler or tube amp?
I personally never owned a modler but I have absolutely no problem with digital technology I think it’s cool! Especially for the young people who might want to try a lot of different sounds but can’t afford real amps.. I wish I had that luxury when I was a kid! But like I said I never recorded or toured with a modler so I can’t really give you an honest opinion
Which guitars and amps were used on the new album or for recordings?
Funny story…
We recorded „now or nowhere“ at the west house in Vancouver canada with Bob Rock. Just before we started our session richie sambora was there and he left some of his guitars in the studio. I was lucky enough to track a couple of songs on his 1961 fender strat what a dream guitar Wow just amazing. Bob owns a real 59 lees Paul burst I tracked one of the songs on that beast (tomorrow) listen to that tone! Of course I used mainly my Buntings and my V For most of the record!
Amp wise
I brought my Retro king 45. That amp was given to me when we were supporting ZZ TOP on their Canadian tour. Chuck Dean is the mastermind behind Retro king amps the man is brilliant and the 45 is kinda like a Bluesbraker with a top boost built into it Perfect tone!
I also used a Vox AC30 a Fender Princeton. And a little amp labeled „Paul“ It’s by a small company that existed in Montreal in the 60 and they built clones of fender champs and Supros. Little 5 watt amps that spun INSNAE! I have a collection of those amps that’s how much I LOVE THEM!
When you only can choose one guitar, which one will you take?
You know it changes…I fall back I love with one of my guitars every few months. At the moment I’m totally I love with this double neck 70s Ibanez it’s a 12 string on top and a 6 on the bottom. It’s an amazing guitar and I’m totally in love with it!
