for making the journey from being a practicing Paul looked at me and said, “You know what?
musician to a performing professional? Whatever you need, we’re gonna do it!” And
a month later, I was doing the Grammys with
[Paul] Invaluable, I tell my students all the time Christina Aguilera and Chris Brown, and they
to always play in tune, and always play with a fixed me up with a 513 model. That was the
click or a drum machine or something, so you beginning of a very long relationship that is still
practice playing in time. going strong.
[WM] Intonation is a chop of its own, and a [WM] What are some of the things you learned
very important one. Guitars are finicky and from George Duke, both on and off the stage?
chords like an open position C major can be
a downright disaster given how sharp the C at [Paul] To push yourself, strive for excellence, the first fret on the second string tends to be on and don’t limit yourself. I remember there was a many instruments. What are some of the things song I played on for George called “Bus Tour”, amps. I like the Class A chimey-ness and the
you’ve done to work on intonation and what and to this day I think “Bus Tour” is the hardest EL34’s. I like Boogies. To me, they were always
are some of the tuning tweaks you use to get piece of music I ever had to play. I told George I like Fender on steroids. The amp that I used
your instrument to play in tune, even if just for a couldn’t play it and he said, “Yeah you can play for the Oscars was my forty-year-old Fender
section of a song? it!” So, he gave me the music, said to take it Vibrolux that was modified by Paul Rivera. I
Fuchs Overdrive Supreme
home and we’d record it tomorrow. And that’s still like that amp, and I love Rivera’s amps. I
[Paul] I actually owe a lot to Jay Graydon. what we did! And then, we played the song live. like Marshalls. I like Bogners because of the
Jay taught me that you tune up for what you’re He was an encouraging person, a great leader, overdrive sound, the tightness of the low end.
playing. What guitar players usually do is tune a great producer, obviously a great keyboard I like Fender Twins because they do one thing
their open strings, but then we don’t play in player, and just great to be around. really well, which is clean Jazz. I’ve used a lot
open position. So, you tune for what you’re
of things.
playing, I usually tune toward the middle of [WM] I’ve seen a number of photos of you the guitar to make sure all of the chords in the using Fuchs Amplifiers. Andy does a great job Then, I was led to start designing an amp with a
middle of the guitar are in tune. Also having an making great ‘D-style’ amplifiers that you don’t buddy of mine John Kasha, which will probably
instrument where the intonation is done really have to be millionaire to afford. Are you still be coming out in a few months. What we did
well is helpful. using his amps? In terms of special neck radius and all of that [Paul] Andy and I are friends, I still use his stuff, I remember someone asked Paul Reed amps, and he’s a great amp maker. There’s a Smith what he thought of the Buzz Feiten lot of hype around certain amplifiers that will go Tuning System, and he said he’s been doing nameless. But Andy is a very pragmatic guy, things like that since he’s been making guitars, great amplifier builder, and he and Annette are even before Buzz had come out with it. He said, really nice folks. He’s down to earth and a no “I just call that good guitar making.” So, when nonsense kind of guy. He’s like, “This is what you make a good guitar, when you have a good the amp does, there’s no mystery to getting a instrument and you know how to tune up, it great sound out of an amp. You design it well, should play in tune. you put good parts in it, and you’re able to pull
it off.” I have nothing but admiration for him.
[WM] PRS has become your electric guitar of
choice. Can you tell us about that relationship?
Kasha Ms. Mittie Amp
[WM] Between all the touring, TV work, and
studio dates you’ve probably used just about
[Paul] I used to be with Gibson, and we kind of every amp on the planet. What are some of
had a parting of ways. I was at the NAMM show your go-to amps and what about them do like
one day and I walked in and met Paul. I told him the most?
I was looking for a company to represent, to
represent me, and to have a relationship with.
[Paul] Let’s see… I have a couple Matchless
Kasha Miss Mittie Amp Demo
March 2019
Subscribe for Free...
105