don’t know who Blake Mills is, then go find out. each player. And then Chris Greely, our front
He’s probably the best guitar player alive right of house guy, will mix one guitar player just a
now, in terms of playing and writing. I love John little bit left heavy and the other right heavy, and
Mayer and the way he incorporates feel into then for certain parts or solos where one guitar
melody. It’s genius and it really connects with player needs to stand out more he’ll just bring
the past six or seven years. me like few others do. I grew up listening to whatever side is quieter up so it’s more center.
church music too, so Stu G is in there, James It’s pretty standard mix theology there, nothing
[WM] What is your advice for players who Duke is there, guys like that, Daniel Carson too. too crazy.
MICHAEL POPE
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It really felt like this is what the Lord had called
me to do with my life for now, so I’ve been here
and have been doing it the best that I can for
are inspired by what you’re doing and want to
follow that path for their lives?
[Michael] My advice would be to find what
inspires you. Find what you feel the Lord’s
pleasure is on for your life. If it’s in music, then
music, but find what that is and go after it with
your whole heart. Do what it takes. Work at
a job that you don’t like to be able to afford
what you need to do what you love, and
then eventually dive head-first into it and give
yourself to it. I mean, there’s the obvious, if you
want to be a guitar player for somebody, then
practice and be good (laughs). You’re not going
to get a gig if you’re a terrible player. But, find
what inspires you and find what you feel called
to do and what you feel the Lord’s pleasure is
on in your life, and then give it everything you
have. There are never any guarantees with it,
but everyone that I’ve seen do that has always
I’m just all over the map!
[WM] How did you discover the Shure 545?
[WM] Is there a piece of gear you sold that
wish you still had?
[Michael] That was Chris as well. Normally
we just put Shure SM57’s in front of the amps.
[Michael] I mostly hang on to everything, 57’s are great - they’re a classic for a reason.
but I did give away a yellow Les Paul Junior. But one day Chris was like, “Check these out.
I bought it at Guitar Center, and then when I These are 545’s.” And I asked him, “What’s
first met Casey Marvin from Veritas he helped different about them, other than they’re silver?”
me relic it and he did a bunch of fret work. He And he said, “The top end response is a little
basically took this really basic, not so awesome more pleasant.” It’s one of those things where
Gibson Les Paul, and turned it into this super I’ve probably just gotten really used to them,
awesome-looking relic that was an amazing but now a 57 just sounds too harsh to me.
playing guitar. I gave that away to a guy that Or, if it’s another mic, it just doesn’t sound like
plays with Jesus Culture a lot. And then I think what I’m used to. The 545 is really similar to
he sold it too, so someone else owns it now. a 57, just with a nicer, more pleasing top end.
But I do miss that thing. I was just thinking I’m pretty sure you can get new ones for about
about it the other day! $10 cheaper than a 57, so it’s definitely worth
a shot.
[WM] What are using in terms of strings
had it pay off in some way, shape, or form. and picks?
[WM] We saw that one of the guys you follow [Michael] I recently started using D’Addario
on Instagram is J.D. Simo. We love J.D. and he
was just on the cover of our sister magazine,
Collectible Guitar. You also mentioned Trevor
Rabin and Butch Walker in the rig rundown that
Aaron Lehman at Worship Guitar magazine
(WorshipGTR.com) was kind enough to let us
use for this article. Who are the guys that have
[WM] You like the early 90’s, Korg-built
AC30’s, right?
NYXL strings. If I’m honest it’s because I saw
the packaging and it was black and I thought it
looked super cool. Everyone was kind of freaking
out about them and I thought I would give them
a try. I ended up really liking them! They have a
little bit more tension behind them. They’re not
quite as slinky as normal nickel D’Addario’s. I
had the biggest impact on you and why? use the 11-49 gauge. I use the green D’Addario
[Michael] Historically it’s probably just like can get them in large quantities from D’Addario
everyone else. Jimmy Page is just THE MAN,
and forever will be, just for his writing, his
tone, his riffs, and his feel. Billy Gibbons as
well, maybe because I’m from Texas and my
dad always had ZZ Top records laying around.
Angus Young too. . . honestly I kinda just love
everybody. As far as new guys like J.D., that
guy is just a killer guitar player! Blake Mills, if you
14
Duralin Standard - Medium (0.85mm) picks. I
Vox AC30 Head “Reboxed”
by Chris of Benson Amps
along with the strings.
[WM] With your stereo rig, are you hard right
and left front of house (FOH)?
[Michael] Yeah! Back in the early 90’s, or
maybe the late 80’s, Korg acquired Vox from
Rose Morris. That early Korg era has my
[Michael] Yeah, so the way we do things is
both guitar players will be in stereo, so that’s
like an amp hard-panned left and right for
favorite sounding AC30’s. They’re all a little
bit different, but if it’s a Vox made in the UK
from 1990 to about 2001, they’re the ballpark.
continued on 16
July 2017
WorshipMusician.com