guitar – Notes from the Cape

Published June 9, 2011

Happy Birthday Les Paul

One of my regrets is not going to see Les Paul playing in New York. Now it is too late (he would have been 96 today). Not only did Les Paul pioneer multi-track recording which is fundamental to any recording studio in the world, he invented the solid-body electric guitar. The Gibson Les Paul electric guitar is probably the most famous guitar in the world.

Gibson Guitar Wall, shot at the Hard Rock café, Times Square, New York

Just some of the bands and artists that have used the Les Paul are:

Led Zeppelin
The Doors
Nickelback
Jeff Beck
Eric Clapton
Pink Floyd
George Harrison
Brian Jones
John Lennon
Bob Marley
Garry Moore
Paul Mc Cartney
Mike Oldfield
Keith Richards
Carlos Santana
Pete Townshend
Muddy Waters
Ronnie Wood
AC/DC
Frank Zappa
And of course Mike from tuesday’s child (my old band)

So next time you listen to your favourite band, spare a though for the man that helped make it all happen.

Thanks to Sally for reminding me of his birthday.

HDR

birthday guitar music

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Published January 23, 2011

Street Musicians in Kalk Bay

In the short walk that I took through the Kalk Bay Village, I saw five street musicians (ok, 2 groups of 2 and a solo guy).

This guy was just jammin’ away on his guitar, making up the solos and chords as he played. He was accompanied on the bongo’s by his mate.

On Bongos

They were really good, somehow that had convinced the shop behind them to supply some free power, and they were just playing for whomever walked past, and that is something that I love about Cape Town. There is almost no regulation of street music; you can just play wherever you want. I hope it stays that way. It keeps the city alive.

These Jazz muso’s were busking on the beach by the harbour. They were playing local versions of some old standards.

Cape Town South Africa

cape town guitar kalk bay music

Self-portrait

Self-taken shot of me playing my bass guitar. Her name is (and has been for many years) “Galadriel”, and she is a six-string solid through neck bass with active pre-amp. By the way if you are interested, you can listen to some of the stuff that Lois and I have done over the years here.

(I had to find something to test my new studio lights with :-)

Family

craig family guitar music self-portrait

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Published August 29, 2009

Gibson Guitar wall

Cds 2009 08 06 21 43 35 Canon Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT Edit 2
A wall at Planet Hollywood, Times Square. It contains a couple of hundred Gibson Guitars, mostly the Les Paul.

This is a fitting memorial to the famous Les Paul, who died on August 13 2009. He created the Gibson Les Paul guitar, which was played by almost every rock band in the world.

He also invented multi-track recording, which of course revolutionised the music industry.

Tech Travel

gibson guitar music new york

Paul McCartney’s bass guitar

Here is a picture of Paul McCartney’s bass guitar – yes the original (or so they say)! It was on the wall at Planet Hollywood on Times Square, New York.

Travel

guitar music new york the beatles

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Published April 24, 2009

Pictures of my new baby

Isn’t she beautiful?

She is a brand new Cort MP710F (Lefty) acoustic guitar. She has a solid spruce top, maple back and sides and rosewood fretboard.The electronics is very good-Fishman classic4 pickup, with build in tuner.

The sound is unbelievable – very full and clear. I am really looking forward to playing it at our gig tomorrow evening.

I haven’t named her yet, but in time once I get to know her, I will name her.

View from the head

My new baby
New guitar

Guitar electronics and pickup
Electronics

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