everyone around me was doing Strats or Teles,
and I didn’t want to do that. One of the things
that led me to use a PRS was that I wanted
to do something unique and different that
occupied a different space. That’s what led
me to even seek out something like that. I love
that the switch to a new guitar was inspiring
for you, but also that it was driven by the idea
of choosing something different to see what
would happen.
[James] People can get so caught up in
whatever is cool at the time and what the hot
new thing is. Sometimes it feels like that’s the
only thing that you can play, but I’ve always felt
like that was hogwash. You gotta play what you
gotta play, man. I might care more if people
like the shirt I’m wearing than if they like the
guitar I’m playing. To me, it doesn’t even matter
what people think; I have to have what makes
me inspired and what I can find my voice with.
That’s a big thing - finding what works for you
is so important, and not caring about all of that
other stuff. It’s so sad sometimes, watching
people criticize each other’s gear or guitars.
Who cares! Play what you want to play, and
like a Fender Strat/Tele kind of guy.
a lot different for you, James, was finding that don’t worry about what other people think. It’s
unique sound. sad nowadays, especially with so many outlets
[Jeffrey] If I can interrupt for a minute, there
was a day that you had a PRS Custom 24.
for people to voice their opinion.
When I was leading worship, and especially
when I switched gears to only lead from guitar,
[WM] Jeffrey, I watched a video that you
[James] That’s true! I was playing that for a
while too. But I started just playing a Strat. I
went to a PRS for a while, which I loved. And
then one day I just felt like it was time to go
back to a Strat. When I got the Gretsch guitar,
it was such a different sonic thing that it really
changed a lot of my musical tastes and the way
that I approached playing. I’ve been intrigued
by those kinds of guitars for a long time now.
The Penguin is a new one, and I think it’s going
to be one of those guitars that will inspire me
a lot.
[Jeffrey] I really track with what you were
saying, James. When you start as a guitar
player, there may be a specific model that you
start with. For me, it was a Strat. For others, it
may be a Tele or a Les Paul. What made that
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May 2018
WorshipMusician.com