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QRD #68 - Guitarist Interviews XI
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Guitarist Interviews:
Chris Ruffolo
Greg Kozlowski
James Youngjohns
Chandra Shukla
Raine Liimakka
Shane de Leon
Aaron Snow
Lauri Hyvärinen
Rainstick Cowbell
Jasper Stadhouders
Marcus Skinner
David Dobbs
Bonnie Mercer
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Guitarist Interview with Chris Ruffolo
March 2014

Name: Chris Ruffolo
Band: Rocket Miner
Websites: rocketminer.bandcamp.com/album/elegysoundcloud.com/rocketminerbanditunes.apple.com/us/album/elegyfacebook.com/rocketminer

QRD – What was your first guitar & what happened to it?

Chris – Kramer 300ST stolen at a Thurston’s show in Chicago.

QRD – What’s your typical set-up from guitar to effects to amplifier?

Chris – DD3, Boss DD5, Ibanez Tube Screamer, Fulltone Fat Boost, Electro-Harmonix Sovtek Big Muff, Korg Pitch Black Tuner, Ernie Ball Volume Pedal, Boss OS-2.

QRD – What’s the most important part of your rig - guitar, amplifier, or effects?

Chris – I would say effects are the most important part of creating my sound.

QRD – What’s your main amplifier & why?

Chris – Vox AC30, great sound & power & easier to transport than a half stack.

QRD – What’s your main guitar & what are the features that make it such?

Chris – Fender Telesonic, great sound good weight to it.

QRD – How many guitars do you own?

Chris – I own 3 guitars - Fender Telesonic, Epiphone Kalamazoo, & a Martin Acoustic OMC-15E.

QRD – How much do you think a good guitar should cost?

Chris – Around $1,000.

QRD – How old were you when you started playing guitar?

Chris – 13.

QRD – Why do you think a guitar fits you more so than other instruments?

Chris – I think I can express myself the most through guitar.

QRD – Do you think guitar should be people’s first instrument as often as it is?

Chris – Either guitar or piano.

QRD – Do you see your guitar as your ally or adversary in making music?

Chris – Ally.

QRD – Who are the guitarists that most influenced your playing & sound?

Chris – Nick McCabe, Billy Corgan.

QRD – What type of pick do you use & why?

Chris – Jim Dunlop 1.0 Max Grip feels great.

QRD – What gauge strings do you use & why?

Chris – Been using tens, not too heavy not too light.

QRD – How often do you change strings?

Chris – Maybe once a month or so.

QRD – How often do you break strings?

Chris – Not very often. I can’t remember the last time I broke one.

QRD – Do you set-up your guitar yourself or send it to a guitar tech (or not set it up at all) & why?

Chris – Send it to a guitar tech.  I used to mess around with it, but never really learned.

QRD – What tunings do you use & why?

Chris – Standard tuning, never messed around with others.

QRD – Do you prefer tablature, sheet music, or some other notation system for writing down your own ideas?

Chris – We record our jams & play by ear.

QRD – Playing what other instrument do you think can most help someone’s guitar playing?

Chris – Piano.

QRD – What’s your favorite guitar gadget (Ebow, capo, slide, string cutter, etc)?

Chris – Ebow.

QRD – Did you ever take guitar lessons & if so, what did you learn from them?

Chris – I took guitar lessons in junior high for a month.  I would’ve liked to read music & learn scales, but I might be a different guitar player today.

QRD – Where can people hear your best guitar work?

Chris – Our latest album.  https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/elegy/id823993399