Pics by: Matt Barne
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 Philip Sayce.
When you start guitar playing and do you remember your first guitar?
I started playing guitar around the age of 15 or so. My very first guitar was an acoustic guitar from the department store, Sears, and the guitar strings were about a foot off the fingerboard! It was really difficult to play, but helped me to start building up my callouses right away.
What are your influences and which guitar players are your faves?
My influences are really anyone and everyone that plays and expresses their feelings though music from their heart and soul. My all-time favorite guitarists are Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jeff Healey, Robert Cray, Albert Collins, Freddie King, BB King, Eric Johnson, Magic Sam, Albert King, and many others.
How many guitars do you own and what are your favorite models?
I have somewhere between five and ten guitars and I cherish each and every one of them. My favorite models are vintage original Stratocasters, and I have an amazing sounding mid 1960s Gibson SG Junior. I also am really enjoying Paul Reed Smith Silver Sky guitars, they are wonderful.
What do you think makes the perfect guitar and amp?
For me, when I’m looking for an amplifier it has to have lots of headroom, and stay clean and clear, yet gives me sustain and stays interactive with my dynamics. The same goes for the guitar, something that I can hit really hard, and also play extremely light, and stay clear, open, and articulate. And, especially, stay in tune.
How do you feel about the question of modeler or tube amp?
I think this is a totally personal choice, and there is no wrong answer here. Sometimes a tube amp is what is required, and in other situations, a modeler can do a really good job as well. For me personally, I almost always prefer a tube amp, but I have used a modeler on occasion, and, they can sound really quite amazing – for instance, the Neural DSP products are great.
Which guitars and amps were used on the new album or for recordings?
I mainly used my two 1963 Stratocasters, my mid 1960s Gibson SG Junior, a Yamaha acoustic guitar, and a Mule resonator. For amplifiers I used a range, but mainly my 1960s Super Reverb, a Cesar Diaz amplifier, and a number of custom amplifiers designed by Tommy Cougar.
When you only can choose one guitar, which one will you take?
This is a tough question, but usually it is „Mother“ or „Big Daddy“, which are both 1963 vintage Stratocasters. I am deeply grateful to have both of them as part of my musical family.
