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Guitarist
Interview
with Matt Northrup June 2012 Websites: gnrthrp.tumblr.com QRD – What was your first guitar & what happened to it? Matt – It was an old Danelectro. One of the ones with sweet lipstick pickups. QRD – What’s your typical set-up from guitar to effects to amplifier? Matt – It’s guitar into a bunch of effects into a bass rig & a guitar amp. QRD – What’s the most important part of your rig - guitar, amplifier, or effects? Matt – I have an RC-2 that means a lot to me. QRD – What’s your main amplifier & why? Matt – Peavey Classic 50. Sick tweed covering, bro. QRD – What’s your main guitar & what are the features that make it such? Matt – Fender Cyclone. Sick pickup switching action, bro. QRD – If you had a signature guitar, what would it look like & what would some of its features be? Matt – Just take the J. Mascis signature & put my name on it. QRD – If you had a signature pedal, what would it be & what would some of its features be? Matt – It would be a Digitech Bass Synth Wah with an expression pedal out. QRD – How many guitars do you own? Matt – Just the one. QRD – How & where do you store your guitars? Matt – I have one of those cases like in Wayne’s World. QRD – What do you wish guitar cases had that they usually don’t? Matt – Humbuckers. QRD – What features do you look for when buying a guitar? Matt – Humbuckers. QRD – How much do you think a good guitar should cost? Matt – About six humbuckers & a nickel. QRD – Do you upgrade & customize your guitars or just stick with what you get? Matt – I put a new humbucker in my guitar, but I only use the neck pickup. I should have stuck with what I had. QRD – How thoroughly do you research or test a piece of equipment before buying it? Matt – If it’s got a blue led I’m all over it. QRD – Do you change your rig around often? Matt – No. QRD – Are you after one particular guitar tone & locking into it, or do you like to change your tone around a lot? Matt – Don’t touch my EQ, bro. QRD – What are some guitars, amps, & pedals you particularly lust after? Matt – That J. Mascis guitar is sick. QRD – What do you think are some important features to be on a person’s first guitar that aren’t always there? Matt – Floyd Rose. QRD – What have been the best & worst guitar related purchases you’ve made? Matt – Every time I go into Guitar Center I leave with another Yngwie instructional DVD. QRD – What’s the first thing you play when you pick up a guitar? Matt – “CARRY ON MY WAYWARD SON”! QRD – How old were you when you started playing guitar? Matt – 11. QRD – At what age do you think you leveled up to your best guitar playing? Matt – 11. QRD – Why do you think a guitar fits you more so than other instruments? Matt – This is a really thorough interview. QRD – Do you think guitar should be people’s first instrument as often as it is? Matt – Tuba was actually my first instrument (this is the truth). I would suggest starting with that. QRD – Do you see your guitar as your ally or adversary in making music? Matt – It is important. QRD – Who are the guitarists that most influenced your playing & sound? Matt – Satriani. I surf with the alien. QRD – Do you think people anthropomorphizing their guitars is natural or silly (e.g. naming their guitar)? Matt – Totally natural. Matt Jr. is like a son to me. QRD – What’s the most physical damage you’ve done to a guitar & how did you do it? Matt – Never done anything to physically damage a guitar. Emotions are a whole different ballgame. QRD – What do you do to practice other than simply playing? Matt – Mental exercises. QRD – How many hours a week do you play guitar & how many hours would you like to? Matt – 8-10hrs a week, but I would like to be playing for 8-9hrs a week. QRD – What type of pick do you use & why? Matt – Ruffles potato chips. No trans-fat. QRD – What gauge strings do you use & why? Matt – 14s. I have the fattest tone, bro. QRD – How often do you change strings? Matt – Every day. QRD – How often do you break strings? Matt – Once a year. QRD – Which do you feel is more proficient, your strumming hand or fretting hand & how does that effect your style? Matt – Ha! Trick question, huh? QRD – Do you set-up your guitar yourself or send it to a guitar tech (or not set it up at all) & why? Matt – I prefer to let my guitar’s neck slowly bend until it produces sounds that are completely unique. QRD – What tunings do you use & why? Matt – Standard tuning. If it’s good enough for Satch it’s good enough for me. QRD – Do you prefer tablature, sheet music, or some other notation system for writing down your own ideas? Matt – Ipad QRD – How high do you hold your guitar when playing (strap length)? Matt – Waist level. I’m a casual dude. QRD – What’s a bad habit in your playing you wish you could break? Matt – I exaggerate the twist in my body when driving. I’m slicing & hooking like crazy! QRD – Playing what other instrument do you think can most help someone’s guitar playing? Matt – Texas instrument. QRD – What’s a type of guitar playing you wish you could do that you can’t? Matt – Slap bass. QRD – What’s a guitar goal you’ve never accomplished? Matt – I only have one humbucker in my guitar. I wish I had at least two. QRD – What’s the last guitar trick you learned? Matt – When I was 11 my dad taught me how to make cat noises with my guitar. Meow! QRD – What’s your favorite guitar gadget (ebow, capo, slide, string cutter, etc)? Matt – Humidifier QRD – What’s a guitar technique you’d like to master, but haven’t? Matt – I thought I already said slap bass. QRD – Did you ever take guitar lessons & if so, what did you learn from them? Matt – Yngwie instructional DVD. Already covered this one too. QRD – What would you teach someone in a guitar lesson that you don’t think they would generally get from a guitar teacher? Matt – Parallel parking, 3-point turns, how to correctly shotgun a beer. QRD – What’s something someone would have to do to emulate your style? Matt – More humbuckers. QRD – What’s your take on tremolo systems? Matt – More like trem-oh-no! QRD – How often do you adjust your tone knob? Matt – Once a week. QRD – What do you see as the difference between lead guitar & rhythm guitar players? Matt – One has no respect for my feelings. QRD – If a band has good guitar work, can you ignore the rest of the band not being good? Matt – Yes (I’m a big Dave Matthews fan). QRD – What famous musician’s guitar would you like to own & why? Matt – J. Mascis, purple sparkle guitar. QRD – Who do you think is currently the most innovative guitar player & why? Matt – Two words: Joe Satriani. QRD – Where can people hear your best guitar work? Matt – The bass section of your local Guitar Center. QRD – Anything else? Matt – No, this was quite thorough!
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