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| about
this issue
Guitarist Interviews with: Francesco Candura Justin O’Connor C Joynes Brandon W Pittman Killick Hinds Kyle Arthur Miller Mark Wol Dan West Olaf Rupp Lorne Hind Mark Nelsen Jordan Ferreira Willy B Andrè Erbyeah Shane Handal Interview Series Updates: Andras Fekete Martin Newman |
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January 2013
Name: Jordan Ferreira
Bands: Mindwalk Blvd, Vigilant, Elixir on Mute
Websites: http://mindwalkband.com
QRD – What was your first guitar & what happened to it?
Jordan – First guitar was an Ibanez G10. It’s still in my closet. May just use it again one day.
QRD – What’s your typical set-up from guitar to effects to amplifier?
Jordan – Setup varies slightly on each guitar, but generally I use 11s with relatively normal action. At the moment I’m switching between my Axe FX 2 & Hughes & Kettner Switchblade. Depending on what I’m using the setup will vary, but in both cases I feel like my guitar sound is smooth & warm without being over saturated or compressed.
QRD – What’s the most important part of your rig - guitar, amplifier, or effects?
Jordan – My hands.
QRD – What’s your main amplifier & why?
Jordan – Hughes & Kettner Switchblade. It covers everything I need & I love the way it responds to my playing.
QRD – What’s your main guitar & what are the features that make it such?
Jordan – Main guitar at the moment is a beat up Carvin 7 string. It’s the guitar I’ve played for the longest time. I’m very very used to it.
QRD – If you had a signature guitar, what would it look like & what would some of its features be?
Jordan – It would be a crazy bright color like pink or purple, have a Kaoss Pad/killswitch button, & probably be shaped like a dragon.
QRD – If you had a signature pedal, what would it be & what would some of its features be?
Jordan – Never been huge on pedals.
QRD – How many guitars do you own?
Jordan – 6.
QRD – How & where do you store your guitars?
Jordan – In my studio.
QRD – What do you wish guitar cases had that they usually don’t?
Jordan – More space to put stuff.
QRD – What features do you look for when buying a guitar?
Jordan – Sound. Playability & look.
QRD – How much do you think a good guitar should cost?
Jordan – No more than $800 honestly.
QRD – Do you upgrade & customize your guitars or just stick with what you get?
Jordan – All my guitars right now are stock. I kind of like sticking with what I get & making it work for me.
QRD – How thoroughly do you research or test a piece of equipment before buying it?
Jordan – It completely depends. Sometimes gear gets bought on a whim, sometimes I’m very careful. Depends what it is & what it’s for.
QRD – Do you change your rig around often?
Jordan – Barely at all. Only changes in my setup I’ve made in 5 years was adding a wah pedal.
QRD – Are you after one particular guitar tone & locking into it, or do you like to change your tone around a lot?
Jordan – Both.
QRD – What are some guitars, amps, & pedals you particularly lust after?
Jordan – I don’t really lust after gear. Gear isn’t the point, they’re only tools to communicate. Although I like Strats.
QRD – What do you think are some important features to be on a person’s first guitar that aren’t always there?
Jordan – Everyone’s interests & goals are very different, I wouldn’t presume to suggest what everyone should have on their first instrument.
QRD – What have been the best & worst guitar related purchases you’ve made?
Jordan – Don’t really regret purchasing any of my gear.
QRD – What are some effect, amp, & guitar brands you particularly like or dis-like & why?
Jordan – Pigtronix, Hughes & Kettner, Suhr, Vigier, Carvin. Because I like moving forward, & these companies are forward thinking.
QRD – What’s the first thing you play when you pick up a guitar?
Jordan – Depends on the moment.
QRD – How old were you when you started playing guitar?
Jordan – 11 years old.
QRD – At what age do you think you leveled up to your best guitar playing?
Jordan – Still leveling up.
QRD – Why do you think a guitar fits you more so than other instruments?
Jordan – Never really thought about that. Probably because it is so expressive.
QRD – Do you think guitar should be people’s first instrument as often as it is?
Jordan – I think people should play whatever they want.
QRD – Do you see your guitar as your ally or adversary in making music?
Jordan – Definitely ally. It’s the instrument I’m most comfortable on.
QRD – Who are the guitarists that most influenced your playing & sound?
Jordan – Allan Holdsworth, Ron Bumblefoot Thal, Guthrie Govan, Shawn Lane.
QRD – Do you think people anthropomorphizing their guitars is natural or silly (e.g. naming their guitar)?
Jordan – Not for me. But people are free to name their guitars if they so wish.
QRD – What’s the most physical damage you’ve done to a guitar & how did you do it?
Jordan – I’ve broken strap locks by jumping around. The screw just eventually popped out of the guitar. Made all kinds of gashes & marks on my guitars for the same reason.
QRD – What do you do to practice other than simply playing?
Jordan – Focus on what I’d like to improve on & working on that.
QRD – How many hours a week do you play guitar & how many hours would you like to?
Jordan – Depends entirely on what I’m working on.
QRD – What type of pick do you use & why?
Jordan – Dunlop Ultex 73 Sharp. They help me achieve the sound I hear in my head.
QRD – What gauge strings do you use & why?
Jordan – 11s. I love the way they respond & feel to play.
QRD – How often do you change strings?
Jordan – Depends. As often as I feel I need to.
QRD – How often do you break strings?
Jordan – Surprisingly not that often.
QRD – Which do you feel is more proficient, your strumming hand or fretting hand & how does that effect your style?
Jordan – I think they’re about equal actually. Interesting question.
QRD – Do you set-up your guitar yourself or send it to a guitar tech (or not set it up at all) & why?
Jordan – Neither, I just play it.
QRD – What tunings do you use & why?
Jordan – So far 90% standard tuning. Although I play 7 & 8 string guitars also.
QRD – Do you prefer tablature, sheet music, or some other notation system for writing down your own ideas?
Jordan – Sheet music is fun.
QRD – How high do you hold your guitar when playing (strap length)?
Jordan – I always hold it at a place where I can easily reach all the notes on the fretboard & also not worry about it hitting my chin. Seems to be working so far.
QRD – What’s a bad habit in your playing you wish you could break?
Jordan – Playing set patterns & motifs.
QRD – Playing what other instrument do you think can most help someone’s guitar playing?
Jordan – Anything will help greatly. Drums especially.
QRD – What’s a type of guitar playing you wish you could do that you can’t?
Jordan – Anyone can do anything.
QRD – What’s a guitar goal you’ve never accomplished?
Jordan – I’m accomplishing everything I need to be.
QRD – What’s the last guitar trick you learned?
Jordan – I’m not really interested in tricks.
QRD – What’s your favorite guitar gadget (ebow, capo, slide, string cutter, etc)?
Jordan – Gonna have to say Ebow! Brian May is a hero of mine & the idea of building layer upon layer of sound with the Ebow is very appealing.
QRD – What’s a guitar technique you’d like to master, but haven’t?
Jordan – I want to keep mastering everything.
QRD – Did you ever take guitar lessons & if so, what did you learn from them?
Jordan – I took private lessons for about 6 months. More than anything else, I think that kind of just kickstarted my interest in music.
QRD – What would you teach someone in a guitar lesson that you don’t think they would generally get from a guitar teacher?
Jordan – I don’t deal with generalizations. I would do my best to help them in any way I can.
QRD – What’s something someone would have to do to emulate your style?
Jordan – Listen to Bumblefoot & Allan Holdsworth.
QRD – What’s your take on tremolo systems?
Jordan – Don’t know anything about them.
QRD – How often do you adjust your tone knob?
Jordan – Constantly.
QRD – What do you see as the difference between lead guitar & rhythm guitar players?
Jordan – I don’t. It’s all music.
QRD – If a band has good guitar work, can you ignore the rest of the band not being good?
Jordan – No, I’m interested in artistry. I’m not really concerned with playing of any instrument for it’s own sake.
QRD – What famous musician’s guitar would you like to own & why?
Jordan – I have my own gear. I’m all set.
QRD – Who do you think is currently the most innovative guitar player & why?
Jordan – May have to go with Guthrie Govan. Remarkable mind.
QRD – Where can people hear your best guitar work?
Jordan – ElixirOnMute’s “The Long Halloween” & Vigilant’s new album.
QRD – Anything else?
Jordan – Check out Vigilant’s debut record. It’s an honor to be part of this band.
