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 Kris Barras.
When you start guitar playing and do you remember your first guitar?
I started when I was 5 years old. Just on a ¾ size classical guitar. I had to prove to my dad that I would stick with it before he would buy me an Electric Guitar. I did stick with it, and he got me one for my 6th Birthday. It was a copy of a Fender Strat in Candy Apple Red.
What are your influences and which guitar players are your faves?
I’ve had lots of influences over the years. My first Guitar hero was Gary Moore, that was the guy I looked up to for most of my childhood. Once I was in my teens, I got more into heavier music and some of the more technical instrumental players like Vai, Satriani, Greg Howe, Shawn Lane. These days I’d say my favourite Guitar players are Andy Timmons, Richie Kotzen, Nuno and Guthrie Govan.
How many guitars do you own and what are your favorite models?
I don’t own a ton of guitars, I’m not a collector or anything. Maybe like 7 or 8 in total. I’ve got my three Seth Baccus Guitars, two of them were custom made for me and they’re my favorites to play. I’ve also got a custom shop Fender Tele, a 1984 Strat, Martin Acoustic and a couple of basses.
What do you think makes the perfect guitar and amp?
Whatever feels best for you! It’s a very personal thing, especially when it comes to the guitar. I don’t get too caught up on the details of a guitar, like radius of neck, wood used etc. I just play it and if it feels good and sounds good…then it is good!
How do you feel about the question of modeler or tube amp?
I think the standard of Neural Quad Cortex and Kemper now is just incredible. Especially in a live setting in bigger venues, where the audience is only really hearing the sound through the PA. I love using mine live, knowing that I have the same consistent sound every night. Also, as we are all on in ear monitors, the sound is so much better for me than a mic’d up guitar cab. I was using Kemper for many years, but I have recently started using the Quad Cortex and I feel like that is better suited to what I need. I love using tube amps in the studio though. I like how you have limitations of an amp. It has its settings and its sound, and you make it work. Sometimes with profilers, there are too many options, and you spend half the day scrolling through!
Which guitars and amps were used on the new album or for recordings?
We used an EVH 5150 and a Cornford Rich Kotzen 100w. Those two were the basis for pretty much all the guitar tones on the album. We used a few Neural DSP plugins for extra ‘colour’ type production parts, but the bulk of the guitars were those two amps. Guitar wise was a mix between my Seth Baccus Nautilus, Seth Baccus Baritone and my custom shop Fender Telecaster.
When you only can choose one guitar, which one will you take?
I think I’d have to go for my custom-made Seth Baccus Nautilus.
