Pic by Thomas Von Der Heiden
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 Todd Sharpville .
Credit: Jennifer Noble
When you start guitar playing and do you remember your first guitar?
I was 12 years old. Had just heard my first blues album (Freddie King) and was immediately inspired to take up the guitar. My first axe was a black “Satellite” Les Paul copy.
Pic by : Thomas Von Der Heiden
What are your influences and which guitar players are your faves?
My influences are pretty varied because I love a plethora of different genres. But my earliest passion was very much centred around the blues: T Bone Walker, Freddie King, BB King, Albert King, Magic Sam, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Peter Green, and of course my early mentor Joe Louis Walker & my 2-time producer Duke Robillard.
Pic by Thomas Von Der Heiden
How many guitars do you own and what are your favorite models?
In total, somewhere around 30 guitars… I love Strats, Telecasters, the Gibson ES series, Les Paul’s, Gibson acoustics, Martin’s, and Lowden’s.
Pic by Thomas Von Der Heiden
What do you think makes the perfect guitar and amp?
Like lovers, guitars and amps are so uniquely individual; every player has individually different needs and personal tastes, so I wouldn’t like to generalise. But personally, I prefer old-school guitars that possess plenty of character & personality. Especially vintage instruments that have stories to tell… As for amps, I’ve always dug the original Fender early 60’s black face era and a few of their 50’s tweed amps. Also the original old Marshall Bluesbreaker was lovely. Though I’ve never understood why so few reissue amps (from ANY manufacturer) sound much like the originals do. I’m a fan of certain custom amps too: I often play a 50 watt Redplate “Todd Sharpville” model (from Arizona). And I love my late 90’s Fender custom shop 100 watt Tonemaster head & its accompanying 4X12 closed cabs (they have Celestion Vintage 30’s in ‘em). And I’ve never played a Category 5 amp that wasn’t amazing (though they’re hard to find these days). And of course, Dumble’s are always gorgeous sounding.
Pic by Chris Griff
How do you feel about the question of modeler or tube amp?
I’ve messed around with modelling amps but struggle to feel happy with any of ‘em. Nothing quite beats the mojo of a raunchy tube amp! I’ll never use anything else. As the saying goes: “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”
Pic Chris Griff
Which guitars and amps were used on the new album or for recordings?
For the “Live at RockPalast” album I mainly played an all-original 57 strat, a late 70’s Tokai “lawsuit” Springysound, and a Gibson “Lucille” through a 65’ Fender Super Reverb on stage at the Harmonie in Bonn where we filmed the show for WDR television. The Lucille was actually one of BB King’s own personal guitars too, on loan from a close friend who promoted many of BB’s shows over the years. BB gave it to him before he died. It was such an honour to work a neck that originally had BB’s fingers all over it; the guitar still reeked of his mojo. For “Medication Time” I used my 57 strat, an original 72 Fender thinline Tele (with humbuckers), a Gibson custom shop gold top Les Paul, and one of Duke Robillard’s old Telecasters. All played through a cranked 1966 Fender Super Reverb of Duke’s.
Pic by Thomas Von Der Heiden
When you only can choose one guitar, which one will you take?
My 57 Strat.. Always! She originally belonged to Eric Johnson. I’ve had her for at least a couple of decades now. My guitar tech originally nicknamed her “The Slut” because all my friends have played her at some point or another. I don’t go anywhere without her!
Pic by Thomas Von Der Heiden
Pic by Thomas Von Der Heiden
Pic by Thomas Von Der Heiden
