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 Amaury Altmayer (Geoff Tate Band)
When you start guitar playing and do you remember your first guitar?
So I started studying classical guitar at age 6. I come from a family of professional musicians, my grandfather, father and brother are all drummers, my mom is a viola player. Apparently when I was 2 or 3 I was telling them I wanted to become a guitarist. On day I woke up with a small classical guitar standing next to my bedroom’s door. I still remember this morning very vividly.
What are your influences and which guitar players are your faves?
My influences have varied throughout my musical journey. I studied classical music in a national conservatory in France for 12 years so obviously it’s been a main one. But I grew up listening to jazz and world music but also weird avant guard style of music. Bands such as Troll or Magma. Around 2004 my dad made me discovered SymphonyX and Dream Theater which built the bridge between classical music and progressive metal. And I’ve been hooked ever since. Then I gotta say my focus switched to more extreme bands such as Animals as Leaders, Meshuggah, Car Bomb…But nowadays I gotta say if I listen to music it’s gonna more open, improvised music. I find that fusion really does it for me. In terms of guitar players I’m not so sure. Not to be cocky but I haven’t grew up listening to classic rock, or mainstream bands so I’m not familiar with all those guitar heroes. And I don’t really care for it. The players that really strike me are modern guys from Instagram. You know the technics and dialects have evolved so much through time, modern players are where it’s at for me ! For example I have the utmost respect for Tosin Abasi who pushed the narrative of guitar playing in the modern world. But you know I tend to listen to non guitaristic music most of all… If I wanna hear some guitar, I’m just gonna play it.
How many guitars do you own and what are your favorite models?
Alright, let me think… I think 15 or 16 ? I got an oud as well and a couple of basses.
I like all of them to be fair. I think throughout the years I’ve only picked guitars for specific purposes and they still hold up to the task !
What do you think makes the perfect guitar and amp?
I think what makes them perfect is their ability to serve a purpose. If you got the right tools for the job, they’re perfect. Simple as that.
How do you feel about the question of modeler or tube amp?
Is there still a question about it ?
Which guitars and amps were used on the new album or for recordings?
Ah let’s talk about it ! So I personally recorded all the guitars on it, except for Do You Still Believe and A Monster Like Me. I used my Ibanez KRYS10 for most of it. Some tracks I used a 7 string by Ibanez as well. And very fun fact the acoustic guitars that you hear on Ascension were made with my PRS equipped with piezo. As for the amps, I have no clue. I was not a part of the mixing process. I tracked all the guitars with John Moyer from Disturbed who was running me through stock plug-ins from Logic. I think they did re-amped some of it. Not sure what happened.
When you only can choose one guitar, which one will you take?
That would be my latest Ibanez AZ 7 String. I love the extended range instrument and I love a good tremolo ! Also that guitar is very particular to me because I recently repainted it myself, changed all the hardware to gold and put fishman pickups on it. It’s a killer guitar !
