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 Spencer Mackenzie.
When did you start playing guitar and do you remember your first guitar?
I picked up guitar at the age of five. My first guitar was a small classical guitar that was right handed. My parents after a while noticed I was holding it upside down, so they went and got me a left handed one after that.
What are your influences and which guitar players are your faves?
There are so many to list but starting out I idolized players like Stevie Ray Vaughn, B.B King, and Jimi Hendrix which led me listening to people now like Joe Bonomasa, Marcus King, and Gary Clark Jr.
How many guitars do you own and what are your favorite models?
Eight guitars currently. My favourite most recently is my new Les Paul standard. It’s been my number one for the last 2 years. Also my gibson hummingbird is very sentimental to me. It’s my favorite acoustic that I do almost all my writing on.
What do you think makes the perfect guitar and amp?
For me what makes a guitar and amp combination is a guitar that feels comfortable that allows you to express ideas without any hesitation especially playing blues rock music that has a lot of improvisation. Then a simple tube amp that you can get to break up when you open up your volume and when you dial it back has a good rhythm tone. I love touring with My Vox AC30 with celestion speakers. It’s simple and has a good amount of power behind it. Plugged into the Top Boost channel.
How do you feel about the question of modeler or tube amp?
I personally love the sound of a tube amp. It’s what I grew up on and continue to play. I’m not totally against modelers but given the choice I will choose a tube amp every time.
Which guitars and amps were used on the new album or for recordings?
For my newest album I’m working on I used a Vox AC30, a Hiwatt 50 & 100, a Marshall Super Lead 50, and a Fender Tremolux 50 . Some tracks used a combination of amps and some just used one amp. From the amp I ran a tuner and an Analogman King of Tone. Then for guitars I used my Gibson Les Paul standard primarily but also used my Gibson ES 335, Fender Startocaster, and Gibson Hummingbird.
When you only can choose one guitar, which one will you take?
A few years ago I would’ve said My Gibson ES 335 but now it’s my Les Paul Standard. Playing live the last few years, the guitar plays almost the entire show. It breaks up perfectly for what I’ve been doing and feels great.
