Worship Musician May 2018 | Page 32

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 32 May 2018 WorshipMusician.com