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Archive for the ‘GUITARIST INTERVIEWS’ Category

Find out more about Tim at www.TimMayGuitar.com

Tim playing an Epiphone once owned by the late, great guitarist/educator Howard Roberts (click to enlarge)

A closer view of the front. By the way, this axe has been tweaked by John Carruthers and “plays like butta” with great articulate tone.

The bookmatched maple back of the Guild Artist Award. Sweet. Now stop drooling!

A late 30’s Gibson Tim bought at Sam Ash. Funny story: the clerk said it was real old…probably from the 70’s. What does that make me? I guess I am an antique too.

-David Caris

The back and sides of Howard Roberts personal Epiphone is walnut. (click to enlarge)

Find out more about Tim at www.TimMayGuitar.com

I’ve met so many musicians over the years with limited abilities that were puffed up on ego trips. Then I meet Tim May and he is the antithesis of an egocentric player. He’s poised and confident and a really warm person. Let’s face it, the guy has nothing to prove, his accomplishments speak for themselves. I was in his him home for ten minutes and he made me feel like an old friend, not unlike Carl Verheyen did when I visited him. Of course, why wouldn’t I feel at home surrounded by all those great guitars and a passionate world-class player?

Tim played some great improvised jazz for me on a custom Gibson archtop through a vintage Benson amp. We proceeded to talk about studio work, playing with other musicians and his thoughts on music in general. He then told me about the Tim May Trio which has Abe Laboriel on bass and Bob Zimmitti on Drums and the new CD he has been working on.

In between chats he played some highly-melodic guitar with the kind of sophisticated chord soloing and single string runs that he does so well. There was nothing predictable or generic, just lush chords and evolved melody. It’s almost disturbing to think he can rock out too. Remember Michael J. Fox in Back to the Future when he jumps to his knees playing Chuck Berry riffs and then bursts into a metal-inspired solo? The actual playing was Tim May. I had a lot of fun during the interview. I hope you enjoy it half as much as I did.

-David Caris

Tim playing his 1980 Guild Artist Award

This is the first installment of the interview with Tim May

Here’s Tim doing some great improv playing

Tim in his family room surrounded by awards and vintage guitars. (Click to enlarge)

During the interview the only effect Carl used with his vintage blackface Princeton Reverb was a T-Rex Replica delay pedal. Then we went to his garage and there were stacks of flight cases and he showed me three of his pedalboards. From grab-and-go to larger, more sophisticated boards, he had whatever he needed to cover any gig. Here are some pictures I took. CLICK ON ANY PICTURE TO ENLARGE

Click on image to enlarge.

It was a beautiful sunny spring day and I was turning off of Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu to the majestic Topanga Canyon. As I winded my way through the mountains, I thought about all the musicians that had lived in the area since the 1960’s. Now I was going to interview a modern musician who had decided to move into the area some years ago.

I passed country stores and ranches, hovels and estates and then I got to Carl Verheyen’s lovely house where he ushered me in to his home studio and I set up to do the interview. He had two blackface Princeton Reverbs, shelves of effects pedals, and a beautiful original 1958 Stratocaster that he bought on the recommendation of pickup czar Seymour Duncan.

Carl proceeded to noodle in a way that would have silenced all those kids playing high-gain metal riffs at your local Guitar Center. His tone was pure, clean and magical and was only enhanced by a T-Rex Replica delay. Though he had just returned from a six-week tour of Europe with his own band days ago, he had been busy working on the soundtrack to a Will Ferrell flick.

Thankfully, he took time from his busy schedule to do this interview. There was so much great stuff there I decided to break it into two parts. I also made filmed him playing Goodbye Pork Pie Hat by Charlie Mingus. What a treat. Be sure you register for www.GuitarBandDVD.org and get his video lesson and 10 Minute Blues Bootcamp. His lesson should keep you busy for some time. It is brief, but packed with useful tips.

by David Caris

View Part 1 of the Carl Verheyen Interview here

View Part 2 of the Carl Verheyen Interview here