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BRIAN SETZER
And His Gretsch 6120 Stray Cat
+
MICHELLE TAYLOR
Blues Guitar Star Talks From Sweden
NEGUITARS
May 2024
Issue No:1
In Association With
& Sponsored By
MARK ABRAHAMS
Wishbone Ash & Rock Blues Session
Guitarist Under The Spotlight
East Durham Guitars
Introducing Our Sponsors & The
North East Guitar Building School
PILOT EDITION
www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk
Once in
Unit 6 , Front Street , Industrial Estate
Shotton Colliery. DH6 2ND
07546 656143
E. sales@eastdurhamguitars.com
W. www.eastdurhamguitars.com
a while...
...Perfection
Happens
NE GUITARS
Editorial
Paul George - Editor
Jane Shields - Assistant Editor
& Social Media Manager
East Durham Guitars
Martin Dixon - Director /
Luthier
Dave Olsen - Director /
Luthier
Mark Taylor - Marketing
Manager
Ricky Hutchinson - Luthier /
Technician
Unit 6 , Front Street
Industrial Estate
Shotton Colliery
DH6 2ND
07546 656143
E. sales@eastdurhamguitars.com
W. www.eastdurhamguitars.com
NE Guitars and East Durham
Guitars would like to thank
all contributors, authors,
photographers, advertisers
and all of our readers and
subscribers. Without you
this publication would not be
possible.
All intellectual property rights,
including copyrights, trademarks
rights and database rights with
respect to the information, texts,
images, logos, photographs and
illustrations NE Guitars and with
respect to the layout and design
of the website are protected by
intellectual property rights and
belong to NE Guitars or entitled
third parties. The reproduction
or making available in any way or
form of the contents of the website
without prior written consent from
NE Guitars is not allowed.
WELCOME...
Hello all and welcome to the
very first edition of NE Guitar.
A monthly online magazine specifically
for the guitarists and guitars in the
North East of England..
Every month we will bring you a packed
edition of the very best in guitar related
articles, information, news, tips, features
and all of the local action from our very vibrant music scene.
So let me introduce you to the NE Guitars team. My name is
Paul and I am the magazines chief editor with a long history of
professional magazine construction as well as quite a colourful music
background. I’m a bit of a rockabilly nut and blues guitarist, not to
mention a bit of an instrumentalist, you know, The Shadows, The
Ventures, that type stuff. I know, I’m an old fart!
Our social media guru is Jane, my long suffering partner who is also
the mag’s assistant editor. She’s also the one you will speak to if you
contact us on facebook. She’s very nice and doesn’t bite...normally.
Our guitar experts and associates/sponsors are the very brilliant
East Durham Guitars based at Shotton Colliery (much more about
them in this edition). When I say “very brilliant”, I mean it whole
heartedly. These guys have a great shop for all of your guitar needs
such as strings, straps, amps and of course a fine selection of guitars
on sale including their own branded instruments. They have a
full service and repair facility with top luthiers and the very best
equipment and tools. If that wasn’t enough, they have a purpose
built workshop where they run a variety of courses from basic set-ups
and maintenance to building your own guitar from scratch and much
more besides. You seriously couldn’t find a better guitar enterprise
anywhere else in the North East, maybe even the UK.
Anyway, here we are, at your service from this moment onwards.
Please do subscribe to us and follow us on social media.
Thanks all, Paul.
Issue No:1 May 2024
www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk 03
Contents
May/June 2024 Issue No:1
P12
NORTH EAST GUITAR
BUILDING SCHOOL
The North East’s unique school at East
Durham Guitars, just a few steps off the
A19 ready for you to build your very own
high quality instrument.
P26
LOCAL HEROES:
BLUES MOJO BAND
The amazing Delta & Progressive
Blues band live and in session from the
Headlands Premier live music venue.
P32
AXE IN FOCUS:
GRETSCH 6210 STRAY CAT
The story behind Brian Setzer’s prized
Gretsch and the turbulent journey it has
travelled through the years
04 www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk
In Focus
18 Mark Abrahams
Wishbone Ash & Session Blues Guitarist under the
Spotlight and in conversation with NEG.
32 Brian Setzer
The Stray Cat guitarist and vocalist talks about his
original Gretsch 6120 ‘Stray Cat’.
40 Michelle Taylor
Blues Guitarist and award winning artist in focus
on her amazing career
Reviews
12 North East Guitar Building School
An in-depth look at the North East’s Premier
Guitar Building Enterprise.
16 Southside Harbour Guitar Straps
The unique Guitar Straps manufacturer with an
environment friendly twist.
30 Mark Knopfler & A Brother in Arms
The Legendary Dire Straits front man’s in the
words of an old soldier
36 Flattley Guitar Pedals
Incredible hand built guitar pedals created in our
own back yard.
56 Tygers of Pan Tang
North East top Heavy Metal band gives an
exclusive on their brand new album ‘Live Blood.
Features
06 NE Guitars News
All the latest international, national and local
guitar news.
26 Local Heroes - Blues Mojo
Hartlepool Blues band under the spotlight while in
performance.
50 Local Heroes -Bluesburn @ The Fish
Celebrating the iconic Blues evening at the
legendary Headland live music pub.
56 White Wolf Recording Studio
Professional recording studio in the heart of the
North East providing top quality services.
60 North East Gigs Board
The best of gigs around the North East over the
coming month.
ON THE COVER
Wishbone Ash
& Blues Session
Guitarist
Mark Abrahams
www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk 05
NE GUITARS NEWS
STOP PRESS The Latest Guitar News From Around The North East STOP PRESS
Tributes To Allman Brothers Legend
As Dickey Betts Passes Away, 80
Co-Founder, Guitarist and Vocalist of the iconic Blues & Rock
Band Dies Following Battle with Cancer and COPD in Florida
Rock Legend Dickie Betts passed
away peacefully at his home in
Florida following a long battle
with Cancer and COPD, aged 80,
on 18th April 2024.
Betts, who co-foundeed the
Allman Brothers with Duanne
Allman will be fondly remembered
for composing the legendary rock
instrumental hit “Jessica” which
became the theme tune to the BBC
motoring programme ‘Top Gear’.
Former Presenter Jeremy Clarkson
paid tribute to the guitarist on X/
Twitter by saying “Dicky Betts
has died. You probably haven’t
heard of him. But he wrote a
song called ‘Jessica’. And you will
DEFINITELY have heard that,”
Betts shared lead guitar duties
with Duane Allman in the original
Allman Brothers Band to help give
the group its distinctive sound
and create a new genre – Southern
rock. Founded in 1969, the
Allmans were a pioneering jam
band, trampling the traditional
notion of three-minute pop
songs by performing lengthy
compositions in concert and on
record. The band was also notable
as a biracial group from the Deep
South. He was inducted into the
Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame with the
band in 1995.
RIP Dickey Betts - Allman Brothers
06 www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk
Mark Knopfler Auctions
Collection for charity
NEWS
A collection of Mark Knopfler’s guitars have
sold at auction for almost £9 million.The Dire
Straits frontman has auctioned off 122 of his
guitars and amps. ‘The Mark Knopfler Guitar
Collection’ included a 1959 Vintage Gibson Les
Paul Standard, which sold for £693,000. The lot,
which included electric, acoustic and bass guitars,
went under the hammer at Christie’s in London.
All of the items were sold, fetching in a total of
£8,840,160.. Read more...
North East Guitar Show:
A Rocking Success
East Durham Guitars
Launch Brand New
‘Pilgrim’ Guitar Range
The North East Guitar show
saw the launch of East Durham
Guitars latest creation ‘The
Pilgrim’ .
The new range comes in an
assortment of colours and finishes
ranging from £900 to £1650.
The next edition of NE Guitars
Magazine will feature the range
in detail but readers can visit
East Durham Guitars at Shotton
Colliery and take a detailed look
at the new guitars in the comfort
of the shop or go to their website
and check them out at
www.eastdurhamguitars.com
For 2024, THE NORTH EAST
GUITAR SHOW returned to
the superb, purpose-built event
complex at Rainton Arena,
Mercantile Rd, Houghton-le-
Spring DH4 5PH and was held
on Sunday 12th March from
10am to 4.00pm.
This prestige and spacious
location is close to all the North
East major routes, provides
first-class facilities and has the
advantage of easy load-in for
exhibitors, excellent catering,
licensed bar and free parking for
all.
Based on the style of USA tabletop
exhibitions, the North East
Guitar Show is first and foremost
a retail event. New, vintage
and pre-owned guitars, amps
and pedals made be available
to buy, trade and sell from a
host of retailers, distributors,
manufacturers, luthiers, boutique
makers and private collectors -
not to mention a full range of
strings and accessories.
www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk 07
Guitar played by John Lennon on Help!, lost for 50
years, going up for auction
A guitar played by John
Lennon and George
Harrison in sessions for
the albums Help! and
Rubber Soul, which has
spent the last 50 years
lying in an attic, is to go
up for auction alongside
other memorabilia items
such as a handwritten
concert setlist by Kurt
Cobain, a book of
handwritten lyrics by
Tupac Shakur and a
Fendi dress worn by Amy
Winehouse.
The 12-string acoustic
guitar, a Hootenanny
model made by Bavarian
firm Framus in the early
1960s, was primarily
played by Lennon and
also appears in the movie
Help!, used to perform
You’ve Got to Hide Your
Love Away. The studio
version of that song
also features the guitar,
as well as Help!’s title
track, It’s Only Love and
I’ve Just Seen a Face.
Harrison, meanwhile,
used it to play the
rhythm guitar part on
Norwegian Wood, and
it appears on another
Rubber Soul song, Girl
Dave Gilmour Releases First Album in 9 Years
David Gilmour has unveiled
his first album in nine years,
‘Luck and Strange’.
The Pink Floyd legend, 78,
will return with the follow-up
to 2015’s ‘Rattle That Lock’
on September 6, and the lead
single, ‘The Piper’s Call’, is out
now. Gilmour has once again
teamed up with his wife Polly
Samson on some of the lyrics
after she contributed to his last
LP. As for the lyrical content, the
pair tackle the heavy subject of
mortality. Samson, 61, said: “It’s
written from the point of view of
being older – mortality is the constant.”
Gilmour said: “We spent a
load of time during and after lockdown
talking about and thinking
about those kind of things.” The
musician joined forces with Alt-J’s
producer Charlie Andrew and
loved how “direct” he was with
him.
Article by Bang Showbiz UK.
Read more by clicking this link
08 www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk
Hartlepool music fans were
given a rare treat in March as
local Blues performers took to the
stage at the Fishermans Arms on
the town’s Headland.
NEWS
Famous North East Music Pub Gives The Blues A New Lease of Life
The once-a-month Bluesburn
evening is open to all standards
of Blues artists whether solo
artists, duo’s, trios or bands.
Regular local artists can also
be seen performing such as the
fantastic Blues Mojo band, blues
guitar legend Daniel D’Arcy, local
solo Delta Blues slide
guitarist Paul George to name
just a few.
Landlady of ‘The Fish’, Hazel
Whitlock told NE Guitars
“Live music has always been
at the heart of the pub but the
Bluesburn evening has always
been something a little extra
special. We have always loved
the blues here and the Thursday
evening blues night is definately a
celebration of the great blues
talent we have here in Hartlepool
and the North East.”
The Bluesburn is run on the
first Thursday of every month
between 8:30pm and 11:00pm.
A full PA system is supplied for
artist use and the house band is
always willing to provide a back
line if needed.
For more information, check out
the Fishermans Arms
facebook page.
Guitar Legend, Eric Clapton Returns To Newcastle
Eric Clapton has
announced several new
tour dates for 2024, and
this time, fans outside of
London will get a chance
to catch the guitarist live
on stage.
Clapton’s limited run of
UK and Ireland shows will
see him playing a total of
six dates, kicking off first
at Newcastle’s Utilita
Arena on 9 May next year.
The musician will also be
making stops in Liverpool,
Birmingham, and
Dublin, before wrapping
up the tour with a twonight
show at London’s
Royal Albert Hall. The
upcoming tour also
marks the first time the
former Yardbirds rocker is
playing a solo gig outside
of London since 2015, so
grab your tickets early.
Tickets go on sale are
on sale online and
bookingsdirect.com. There
will be no counter sales.
He will be playing at
Newcastle Utilita Arena on
9th May 2024.
Last year, Clapton released
a cover of Moon River,
featuring the late guitar
legend Jeff Beck. The track
– originally performed by
Audrey Hepburn in the
iconic 1961 film Breakfast
at Tiffany’s — was
recorded not long before
Beck passed away.
www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk 09
The Guitarist’s Choice
At Southside Harbour Guitar
Straps, we pride ourselves
in quality, style and comfort
at affordable prices. All
of our guitar straps are
handmade using top quality
components
Find us on
e. southsideharbourguitarstraps@gmail.com
w. www.southsideharbourguitarstraps.com
w. t. (+44) 07703663261
THE NORTH EAST
GUITAR BUILDING
SCHOOL
REVIEW
GUITAR SCHOOL
“BUILDING A
GUITAR IS LIKE
CREATING AN
EXTENTION OF
YOURSELF AND A
NEW FRIEND ALL AT
THE SAME TIME”
East Durham Guitars prides itself on
it’s ability to not only build guitars
for it’s customers but also allows
them to build one for themselves in
it’s very own purpose built school.
Talk about a no-brainer... So let me ask
you a serious question here. Bearing
in mind that money for our precious
guitars is not easy to come by these
days and also bearing in mind that we
want quality and value for our bucks, what would
you rather have? An off-the-shelf, mass produced,
over priced guitar built in a sausage factory style
warehouse in some far off land, transported to your
door by a container ship that has been chucked
around the sea like an egg in a barrel for a week or
have the pleasure of building your own top quality
instrument with your own love and dedication in a
school for the same price? As I said, no brainer!
13
Our courses are located in
County Durham at East Durham
Guitars and take place at various
times throughout the year in our
purpose built workshop. All tools
are provided. Tea and coffee is
provided too, but bring your own
lunch. Accommodation details
can be supplied if you live too far
away to commute. If the course
or skill you want to learn isn’t in
the list below please message or
ring us as we’re always happy to
accommodate you.
1 Day Set Up Course - £180
These courses are run on various
Saturdays throughout the year.
The day runs from 9am to 5pm
with a short lunch break. The
course covers how to set up
various types of guitars including
fixed bridge and trem guitars,
basses and acoustic guitars. You
can bring your own guitars to
work on but there will also be
instruments at the workshop to
use. This course will give the you
the ability to keep your guitar/s
in prime condition and save on
costly regular set-ups.
3 Day Assembly Course
£480 course fee, parts and
materials from £350
This course utilises high quality
bodies and necks made at East
Durham Guitars. You can choose
to build a Strat, Tele or P-Bass
style guitar. Hardware and
pickups are provided but you can
choose to upgrade these for an
additional cost or bring your own.
• Day 1 - Sanding, fret finishing
and initial assembly to check
neck alignment, and fit of
hardware and parts
• Day 2 - Staining and oil
finishing processes as well as
initial harness wiring prior to
final assembly
• Day 3 - Final assembly and
wiring, setting up the guitar,
testing it and possibly even a
bit of jamming
•
You will leave with a fully
functional quality instrument
and will have had a thoroughly
enjoyable experience!
5 Day Build Course
£800 course fee, parts and
14 www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk
materials cost dependent on
specification
This course is for those who
want to experience building an
electric guitar from scratch. You
can recreate an existing design or
create your own. These will be
solid bodied guitars and basses
with bolt-on necks and will
usually be fixed bridge versions,
though some trem options are
possible within the timescale. The
instrument will have an oiled,
and possibly stained, finish, and
there are some very attractive
timbers available at East Durham
Guitars to choose from. If you
want a paint or lacquered finish,
additional tuition can be supplied,
or we can apply the finish for you.
• Day 1 - Design layout,
template manufacture and
body routing
• Day 2 - Cavity routing,
neck routing, truss rod slot,
fretboard manufacture and
fretboard glued on
• Day 3 - Neck shaping, radius
fretboard, fretting
• Day 4 - Sanding and oil
finishing
• Day 5 - Assembly, set-up and
play!
You will leave with a high quality
instrument and probably an
appetite to build more!
10 Day Build Course
£1,600 course fee, parts and
materials cost dependent on
specification
This course is for more complex
builds such as carved tops, semis
and thru-necks. It is split into
two weekly blocks and is for those
who want to experience building
an electric guitar from scratch.
You can recreate an existing
design or create your own. You
can choose your hardware and
pickups, which we can supply,
or you can bring your own. The
instrument will have an oiled,
and possibly stained, finish, and
there are some very attractive
timbers available at East Durham
Guitars to choose from. If you
want a paint or lacquered finish,
additional tuition can be supplied,
or we can apply the finish for you.
• Day 1 - Design layout,
template manufacture and
basic machining of timber
• Day 2 - Body or neck routing,
dependent on design
• Day 3 - Body or neck routing,
dependent on design
• Day 4 - Fitting of cap/wings,
dependent on design
• Day 5 - Cavity routing, hole
drilling and top carving if
required
• Day 6 - Body sanding,
fretboard manufacture and
glueing
• Day 7 - Neck shaping, inlays,
radius fretboard, fretting
• Day 8 - Dry assembly and any
adjustments
• Day 9 - Final sanding and oil
finishing
• Day 10 - Assembly, set-up and
play!
You will leave with a high quality
instrument and probably an
appetite to build more!
Custom Courses
Prices & Details on Application
These courses are available for
those wishing to learn a variety of
construction methods and luthier
techniques and can be configured
to your specific requirements.
They are usually carried out in
weekly blocks and would suit
someone wanting more in depth
tuition. Contact us for more
details.
So what are you waiting for? Get
over and see the team at East
Durham Guitars or contact them
on the following details:
Unit 6 , Front Street
Industrial Estate
Shotton Colliery
DH6 2ND
07546 656143
E. sales@eastdurhamguitars.com
W. www.eastdurhamguitars.com
Or find them on facebook and
Instagram. You wont be sorry!
www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk 15
REVIEW
www.southsideharbourguitarstraps.com
e. southsideharbourguitarstraps@gmail.com t. 07703663261
Authors
Paul George &
Paul Dobson
In this day and age of looking after our planet, it’s
not unusual for us consider buying enviroment friendly
products. But let’s ask ourselves an honest question. How
many of you have actually considered this while buying
the humble guitar strap? I put my hands up to this one,
I have never considered the planet when buying my
straps. I look for the shiny objects that are going to look
good around my neck. But, no more!
Southside Harbour Guitar Straps in Bridlington have done
just this. They boast a whole range of enviroment friendly
straps at great prices that look simply stunning. Business
owner Paul Dobson tells us more.
My passion for all things guitar began when I was a teenager and led
to a hobby making bespoke, high quality guitar accessories later in life.
I initially started making acoustic guitar stands, something I still do today.
I produced my first guitar strap for one of my granddaughters when she
began guitar lessons a few years ago. And so Southside Harbour Guitar
Straps was born, allowing me to turn my passion and hobby into a small
business!
At Southside Harbour Guitar Straps, we pride ourselves in quality, style
and comfort at affordable prices. All of our guitar straps are handmade
using top quality components at our home workshop situated in
Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire. Our backing, for example, uses
recycled car seat belts which we salvage before they hit the landfill sites.
Our vegan straps are also based on our seatbelt backing, we use natural
cork inners and a hand stitched vinyl outer. Our polyester backing
comes in two colours alongside our cotton/hemp webbing.
Unique, eye-catching and long lasting, Southside Harbour Guitar Straps
are already the strap of choice for many high profile musicians. We
16 www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk
Southside Harbour Guitar Straps
George W E - Yonaka
Ryan Breslin - The K’s
Kiaran Crook - The Sherlocks
are also able to accommodate
bespoke commissions upon
request!
Southside Harbour Guitar
Straps are proud to support
The Sick Childrens Trust.
The Sick Children’s Trust is
something my family hold
close to our hearts. After my
daughter and son-in-law were
lucky enough to get a room in
Eckersley House back in 2012
when our grandson Harry was
admitted to Leeds General
Infirmary. Following this I did
a charity trek to Everest Base
Camp in 2013 and donated the
proceeds to Eckersley House.
We really do understand the
importance of the service they
offer to families facing such
difficult times.
As such, £1.50 from each strap
sold will be donated directly
to the trust. If you’d like to find
out more about the trust and
their mission you can find
their website by visiting www.
sickchildrenstrust.org
So by buying a strap or two from
Southside Harbour Guitar Straps
you’re not only doing a little bit
for the planet but you will also
be supporting a very worthwhile
charity. Not really much more to
say really,
You can find out more about
Southside Harbour Guitars by
visiting their website on:
https://www.
southsideharbourguitarstraps.
com/
There is also so much more to
check out on the Instagram page
https://www.instagram.com/
southsideharbourguitarstraps
or vist their facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/
pauldobbo12
Or you can contact Paul by
email.
southsideharbourguitarstraps@
gmail.com
Recycled Recycled Vegan Polyester
www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk 17
IN FOCUS
Mark
Abrahams
Wishbone Ash & Blues
Session Guitarist talks
to about his life,
guitars and career.
IN FOCUS
Mark
Abrahams
Yorkshire born, Wishbone Ash
and Session Guitarist Mark
Abrahams tells NE Guitars about
his incredible journey to become
a major name in the world of
Rock & Blues.
By Paul George,
Mark Abrahams &
mark-abrahams.com
PROFILE
Mark Abrahams is a name that
resonates throughout the music
industry, a virtuoso of the guitar
whose skill and passion have left
an indelible mark on the world of
rock and blues. With an assertive
tone that captivates audiences,
he has created a musical legacy
that spans decades. Mark is best
known for his association with the
iconic rock band Wishbone Ash.
Born and raised in the heart
of Yorkshire, England, Mark’s
journey as a musician began at a
young age. Inspired by the likes
of Mark Knopfler, Eric Clapton
and Wishbone Ash he developed
a deep passion for the guitar and
embarked on a lifelong mission
to master this instrument. With a
natural flair for melodic phrasing
and intricate solos, Mark quickly
gained recognition as a virtuoso
guitarist.
Influenced by various music
genres such as blues, rock,
and folk, Mark’s unique style
seamlessly blends these elements,
creating a captivating fusion of
sounds. His ability to evoke strong
emotions through the strings of
his guitar is truly something to
behold. Each note and riff he plays
carries a depth and sophistication
that sets him apart from his
contemporaries.
Mark’s musical journey took a
significant turn when he joined
the iconic British rock band,
Wishbone Ash in 2017 as their
lead guitarist. Carrying on the
legacy of the band’s founding
members, he brought fresh
energy and remarkable skill to
their sound. His contributions
20 www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk
In Focus: Mark Abrahams
helped maintain the band’s
distinctive fusion of blues, folk,
and progressive rock as well
as the bands signature twin
guitar harmonies, earning him
a dedicated fan base around the
world.
Beyond his contributions to
Wishbone Ash, Mark remains
an active musician in his own
right. He has collaborated with
numerous renowned artists
both on stage and as a session
guitarist, collaborating with a
wide range of artists and infusing
their music with his unique
style. His versatility and ability
to adapt to various genres have
made him a highly sought-after
musician, earning him respect and
admiration from his peers.
Mark Abrahams is a true icon in
the realm of rock music, whose
technical prowess, melodic
sensibility, and unyielding
dedication have left an indelible
mark. His contributions to
Wishbone Ash and his solo
ventures continue to captivate
audiences worldwide, solidifying
his status as one of the greatest
rock blues guitarists of our time.
In Focus
NEG - So reading your profile,
you started playing guitar at a
young age. How did it all get
started?
MA - Well I was obsessed with
guitars from being really young,
I remember as a small kid being
fascinated watching people on
television playing guitar. I think
I was 8 years old when one day
at school it was announced that
there would be an opportunity for
folk acoustic guitar lessons once a
week and I knew I had to do it.
A lady called Norah would come
in to school and teach a group of
us during our lunch break, I’m
still good friends with Norah, we
regularly catch up and sometimes
still play some of the songs she
taught me together at local open
mic nights, she also came to a
Wishbone show and hung out
with the band afterwards which
www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk 21
was just amazing.
NEG - What was your first
guitar?
MA - My first guitar was an old
sunburst steel strung guitar which
came from a family friend, an
Orpheus guitar which I now know
was a Bulgarian guitar company
in the 1960’s. We had the guitar
in the house as my dad was trying
to learn to play it – actually the
family friend was and still is a big
Wishbone Ash fan and showed
me how to play the intro to the
Wishbone song ‘Blowin Free’ on
that guitar when I was about 8
years old, later we would go to
watch Wishbone gigs together.
I still have this old guitar,
nowadays its set up for slide with
a humbucker installed over the
sound hole, it sounds pretty good
for slide too.
NEG - Do you have any favourite
memories of your early gigs?
MA - I do! We started a band
while at high school and we would
put gigs on in the local social club
that let us use their concert room
to rehearse in – we would sell
tickets to everyone at school and
also stick a poster on every lamp
post in the village and really pack
out the club, we had lots of fun
doing that. Eventually this lead
to us going out and playing the
pub circuit while still at school,
actually I remember going out
for my 18th birthday to a place
we had been playing at for a few
years, the landlord wasn’t too
impressed as he had also been
serving me beer for a few years
too . A few years later a very
memorable rock n roll moment
was when I thought it would be a
good idea to step from the stage
onto someone’s table to play a
guitar solo – the table leg broke, I
fell backwards, the heasdstock of
my Les Paul broke off and I broke
my left wrist! Luckily we only had
one more song to play which we
managed to finish before I was
taken straight to A&E for the
night!
NEG - You’re now a guitarist for
Wishbone Ash. How did this
start?
MA – I had been a big fan of
Wishbone since I was a kid and
learned to play a lot of the songs..
I got to know the band around
22 www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk
25 years ago and would hang out
after their shows, it was about the
same time that I briefly joined a
Wishbone Ash tribute band to play
at one of the annual Wishbone Ash
fan conventions playing before
Wishbone.
The guys in the band found out I
worked in a guitar store so anytime
they were local I would get a phone
call with a shopping list for strings,
picks, valves etc which again would
often result in hanging out after
shows and just becoming friends.
In early 2017 Andy Powell
messaged me asking if I would be
coming to a show in Sheffield and
offered me some tickets, which
I already had bought.. After the
show we hung out in the hotel bar
(for what I would now class as an
interview) and literally drank 2
bottles of very good Scotch whisky,
towards the end of the evening
Andy said to me “so if I asked
you to join the band. .?” Which I
replied something along the lines of
“just ask me!”.
A couple of days later I was sat in
my local pub when my phone rang
and it was Andy calling to offer
me the gig! A few weeks later we
met up in London to play together
for the first time, we got through
around 25 songs that day and then
flew from London to Sweden to
play my first show which was the
In Focus: Mark Abrahams
Sweden Rock Festival, with bands
like Aerosmith, The Scorpions and
Gothard.. I was still also playing
with a covers band at the time and
the following night I played a gig
with them at Heaton Buffs Club in
Newcastle.
NEG - During your career as a
guitarist, you’ve had quite a few
guitars. Any favourites amongst
them?
MA - I’ve been really lucky, due to
working in guitar stores for over
20 years I’ve had so many amazing
guitars almost find me. I’ve had
James Tyler guitars, a Pensa, loads
of Gibsons and Fenders and PRS.
My Long time favourite has been a
Gibson Custom Shop ’57 Gold Top
Les Paul, an amazing guitar with
the Peter Green out of phase pickup
mod, these days literally only the
wood is original on that guitar.
I have a beautiful Gibson ES335
which I used on the last Wishbone
Ash studio album ‘Coat Of Arms
01 OCT 2024
02 OCT 2024
www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk 23
but for the last 5 years I’ve been
lucky to own several vintage 1950s
Gibson Les Paul Juniors, most
recently a 1956 and I also have 2
1959s, which I love taking out on
the road and using.
NEG - East Durham Guitars tells
me they have made a guitar for
you. What made you turn from
a standard production guitar to a
hand made custom instrument?
MA - The idea for a custom Les
Paul Junior guitar first started 2
years ago when airlines would
regularly either lose or leave
behind my vintage Gibsons –
scary!
I’ve had quite a few custom
guitars, it’s a great experience to
see your guitar begin to take shape
from just pieces of wood.
One great reason to choose a
custom instrument is that you can
take everything you love about
a guitar design and make your
own improvements, for example
with the guitar made by East
Durham Guitars they were able
to make a very classic looking
Les Paul Junior and actually took
measurements from the neck of
my 1956 to base their neck on but
with the improvement of better
high fret access, which is great.
After all these years there is still
nothing more exciting to me than
getting a new guitar, getting a new
custom made guitar just takes that
to another level!
NEG - Have you any plans to tour
the UK with Wishbone Ash in the
near future?
MA - Yes, we tour the UK every
year in the Autumn. This year we
will start around the middle of
September on a tour lasting for
5 weeks, so we’ll be all over the
place, including a couple of shows
in the North East. The Playhouse
at Whitley bay on October 1st and
The Arc at Stockton on October
2nd.
NEG - Mark, thank you very
much for your time and good
luck with your future career.
North East Guitars Magazine is
extremely grateful to Mark for the
interview and taking time out of
his very busy schedule to talk to
us. In next month’s issue we will
be revealing Marks brand new Les
Paul Junior built by East Durham
Guitars and its journey from the
basic wood to the finished shape.
To find out more about Mark
Abrahams check out his website:
https://www.mark-abrahams.com
24 www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk
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www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk
www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk 25
LOCAL HEROES
The Blue scene in the North East is
definately a thriving and expanding world.
So many great players have originated
in our beloved corner of England such as
Chris Rea, our own Mark Abrahams and
even Mark Knopfler, not to mention local
heroes such as Daniel D’Arcy. But sat
modestly in the background and gracing
the music scene here in Hartlepool are the
amazing Delta & Progressive Blues band
we feature today.
By Paul George & Kenny Relton
So, to get the best out of this
article, we have travelled
to the Fisherman’s Arms
on Hartlepool’s historic
Headland to interview the
very underrated ‘Blues Mojo
Band’ in their native setting
of a local pub stage. The
date is 13th April 2024, its
currently 8:00pm as I start to
write this, the pub is filling
up well in preperation for
tonights entertainment and
I listen in to the mumblings
and excitement buzzing
around the stage area with
eager anticipation. Kenny
Relton, the lead guitarist and
lead vocalist has completed
his final tune-ups,
Harmonica player Tommy
‘Blind Boy’ Wilson has
sounded up, Drums - check,
Bass - check, all ready to go
at 8:30pm. So while we are
waiting for the first soulful
tones, let’s find out a little
about the band. Tonights
line up consists of four
musician, Kenny on guitar
and lead vocals, Tommy on
harmonica, Bryn Randall
on Bass and finally, slapping
the drumskins is Kenny
Ward who is standing in for
the regular drummer, Tony
26 www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk
Blues Mojo Band
Weller. But I hear the question on
your lips, what guitars will Kenny
be using tonight considering he
has about 30 odd in his arsenal,
well I’ve just had a quick look at
them with Kenny giving me a little
history of each and his weapons
of choice are a 1958 Gibson
225, single pickup hollow body.
National Steel Tricone (pictured
above), a Fender telecaster and
a 1966 Gibson Les Paul ‘Clapton’
Serial No:99. By the standard of
guitars, you can well imagine the
skill set about to be used.
So I’ve nicked Kenny for a few
minutes before he starts to find
out a little about the origins of
‘Blues Mojo’ and a little of his own
history with the Blues.
NEG: So Kenny, where did it all
start?
KR: The Blues Mojo Started about
2 years ago. Just before, Tommy
www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk 27
and I were playing around the
local pubs, quite a few of them in
fact when we just decided to form
a band. We had some open mics
in my house when Bryn (Bass)
came over and we asked him ‘Do
you fancy joining a band?’ So he
joined and then said that he knew
a drummer and that was basically
it.
NEG: So when did you start
playing the guitar?
KR: I started playing when I was
13. I actually stopped playing
for 18 years after my wife died.
But I started playing again at the
Nursery Inn in Hartlepool, then
the Causeway Inn. While there
we formed the Dirty Water Band
but that band ended up splitting
so I left and went to China and
Khazikstan, America and all over
the place. Everywhere I go, I play.
In 2019, Tommy and I won the
Great British Rythym and Blues
Festival. We were busking on a
street in a tent that the council had
put up for three hours solid and at
the end of the three hours, I was
so dry, I passed out. But I drank a
bottle of water and I was right as
rain again.
NEG: I’ve noticed that you and
Tommy (Harmonica) blend very
well together. How did this come
about?
KR: Me and Tommy? Well we
just work together. Tommy was
playing around the pubs getting
in with quite a few bands and
musicians at open mics and all
odds and sorts but, no we play
great together. He’s a great player.
He goes over to Spain twice a year
for a month at a time and plays
in all the bars over there. (As we
were talking an elderly gentleman
reminised about Tommy) “I
remember when he used to play
in the boathouse on the Marina,
He would stand at the end of the
Piano and wouldn’t move. He was
very shy.
NEG: So tonight you’re playing
with 4 members of the band.
KR: Yes, we got Me, Tommy, Bryn
on Bass and a stand-in drummer
Kenny Ward who is standing in
for our regular drummer Tony
Weller. We also have a great
keyboard player but he can’t play
on Saturday nights due to other
band commitments. So yes just
four of us. Tommy and I are
starting of the night with three
Delta Blues numbers, then the full
band will play the rest of the night.
NEG: Thank you for your time
Kenny, we’ll let you get back to it.
So we wait patiently for the start of
the show. We didn’t have to wait
too long as Kenny and Tommy, sat
on chairs, very casually with some
early Sunhouse and Little Walter
numbers. It’s a great opportunity
to hear the National being played
as it should do. For a few minutes
we were treated to the wonderful
sound of the Blues music of the
30’s 40’s and 50’s. Very rarely have
I heard blues music being played
as it should do. The way it was
played in the American South by
28 www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk
Blues Mojo Band
legends such as Robert Johnson,
Little Walter, Elmore James,
Muddy Waters and BB King.
Well, the band has now taken
the stage and I’ll let the boys
do their stuff and leave them in
peace to play. All I can say is
we are all in for a great night of
Blues music. The Fishermans
Arms is absolutely heaving in
appreciation and we are chilling
out with a few beers to the Blues,
Mojo style...
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
So, I’m now back at home
finishing off the article after a
really top class night. For our
pilot edition of the magazine,
I couldn’t have hoped to have
visited a better bunch of lads
from the North East. You can
catch up with Kenny and the lads
on their facebook page here.
https://www.facebook.com/
bluesmojo2018
www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk 29
LOCAL HEROES
MARK KNOPFLER
AND A
BROTHER
IN ARMS
By Paul George
Google Images free to share and use
I
really couldn’t write a
first edition of a North
East Guitar magazine
without featuring
the legendary Mark
Knopfler. Originally, I wanted
to promote his Guitar Heroes
release of ‘Going Home’ alas,
as at the time of writing this
article I still have yet to obtain
permission so I’ve decided to
tell another story about Mark
which goes back almost 40
years ago.
So to paint you a very quick
scene, the year was 1985 (I
think. The memory is a little
fuzzy) and I was serving in
the British Army in Berlin. A
friend of mine had managed
to obtain two tickets to
see Dire Straits at the city’s
Deutschlandhalle and asked
me if I would like to go along
with him. Who wouldn’t!
At the time, I was obsessed
with the anthemic ‘Brothers
in Arms’ track which as I
understood was written about
those who served and gave
their lives in the Falklands
conflict just three years before.
So to have the chance to go
to a concert with one of the
biggest bands of the time
was something I just couldn’t
turn down. The atmosphere
was electric, the gig was
magnificent and I walked away
a changed man, musically of
course. But to witness the
band performing, what was
described by some, as an antiwar
song was incredible. I
disagree strongly that it was
anti-war. When you hear it
played, you take on instantly
that it is a tribute to the men
who had to fight and the
brotherhood, regardless of
who was fighting, between
soldiers, sailors and airmen
in combat. For that, I thank
Mark and Dire Straits for the
wonderful tribute.
But I’m not going to bore you
all any longer with my story, I
30 www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk
Mark Knopfler And A Brother in Arms
face of adversity. Shortly after
which (2nd March) He performed
the track in front of 50,000 at
Newcastle’s St James Park.
Mark Knopfler has a history of
his incredible charitable work
including an auction sale of 122 of
his Guitars and amps at Christies
in London. The sale raised an
unbelievable £8.84 million of
which 25% was donated to The
British Red Cross, Tusk and Brave
Hearts of the North East.
At the age of 74, Mark has not
rested back on his laurels as his
new album ‘One Deep River’ is
very quickly heading for the top
of the charts as I write this. The
album has become Mark’s highestcharting
solo album in the UK.
would like to pay tribute to Mark
as a son of the North East and to
some one who does so much for
charitable causes including his
current project “Mark Knopfler’s
Guitar Heroes and ‘Going Home’
for Teenage Cancer Trust and
Teen Cancer America.” Now,
‘Going Home’ just happens to be
one of my favourite instrumentals
to play, of course, nowhere near
the standard of the maestro but
a really nice piece. But please do
click on the link, support Mark’s
project and support an extremely
good cause.
Recently, Mark visited the Teenage
Cancer Trust ward, at the Royal
Victoria Infirmary, and said he
was moved by the care they got
and their brave attitudes in the
So, let’s take this short article as
foreword for future articles about
Mark Knopfler in NE Guitars. You
never know what might happen in
the future. But for now, get on his
website and purchase the album
and definitely do listen to ‘Going
Home’ by Mark Knopflers Guitar
Heroes. It is simply brilliant.
Check out his website here:
https://www.markknopfler.com
www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk 31
AXE IN FOCUS
AND HIS
'STRAY
CATS'
GRETSCH
G6120
Article by Paul George
Gretsch 6120 Stray Cat
story told by Brian Setzer
Reverb Youtube Channel
Growing up
in the late
70’s, I found
myself hooked to the
Rockabilly Revival
listening to music from
bands like The Jets,
The Polecats, Crazy
Cavan and the Rhythm
Rockers to name a
couple. But right at
the top of the list was a
three piece band from
the States that moved
over to London to try
their luck on a British
audience. Lee Rocker,
Slim Jim Phantom
and, the guitarist and
lead vocalist, a young
Brian Setzer formed
the Stray Cats. Almost
immediately, they were
a smash hit with their
unique sound. As
a young fresh-faced
guitarist I loved the
Setzer guitar sound so
much I wanted to be
like him (Yeah, that
never happened!).
But the big thing was
the orange Gretsch
around his body. It
was so cool, really
Rock ‘n’ Roll. That
one guitar turned out
to be a major piece of
musical history with a
story of success, woe,
loss, theft and major
damage but still, to this
day it remains as one
of the most treasured
possession in Setzer’s
music arsenal.
“So what has this got
to do with a North
East Guitar magazine,”
I hear you ask. Well,
purely because for
the pilot edition of
our new magazine, I
thought I would talk
about my first real
influence as a guitarist
32 www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk
Axe in Focus - Gretsch 6120 ‘Stray Cat’
and the guitar which
still eludes me. Simple
really. I have loved the
Gretsch 6120 forever
and still live in hope
that one day I will own
one. Anyway enough
about my dreams, let’s
learn a little more about
Brian Setzer’s Gretsch
6120 ‘Stray Cat’. Brian
Setzer tells the story.
“I was about 17 when
I first bought it. I
bought it at the Bylines
were in a shoebox on
the other side of the
store. so I bought it.
So I asked the guy in the
store ‘Is this like Ediie
Cochran’s guitar’ and he
said ‘What, who?’.
So I put it back together.
It’s 1959 Gretsch, 6120
Chet Atkins model
and I’ve owned it since
I was 17 year old. It’s
been stolen, left on
aeroplanes, left at places
because we’ve were
features but with the
thicker body which it
shouldn’t have. It was
some kind of crossover
model which is really
one of a kind.
When I was putting it
together, there was no
knobs in the box so
I went into the closet
and got some dice from
some games and drilled
holes in them so they
would fit and glued
them on, so it then
guitars, one of them, my
Gretsch. The insurance
company said to me
‘I guess you want the
money’ and I said no,
I just want my guitar
back. So I got it back
and gave the insurance
company their money
back, which they said
never happens. No one
ever gives the money
back.
I’ve made a few
modifications to it,
when I first got it, I
chiselled off the zero fret
and set the nut back so
it would play normally.
I also raised the pickups
by taking it all apart and
put matchbook covers
under the pickups
to raise the height of
them. It’s had decals on
it, there was a cat on it
and then I put the lucky
lady decal on it which
I got from Ed’s Lawn
Mower repair shop and
the lucky lady was their
logo. But it looked cool.
Press. When I saw the
ad, it just said ‘Orange
Guitar - Gretsch - 100
bucks. A hundred
bucks was a lot of
monety for a 17 year
old kid but I scraped
together a hundred
bucks and bought the
guitar. When I went to
the store to pick it up,
the guitar body was on
one side of the store and
the electrics, the pickups
and all the other bits
drunk but it’s always
found its way back to
me.
Here’s a wierd thing,
This guitar was the
thickest guitar they
made and in 1960
they came out with
a new model which
had a thinner body, a
zero fret, enamel faced
Bigsby and was lighter
but the one I bought
had all of the new 1960
had dice as knobs and
they’ve stayed there ever
since.
It got stolen once and I
was without it for about
17 years until they
caught a guy who had
been stealing stuff from
shipping containers.
So the cops said bring
the stuff in that you’ve
stolen or you’ll go to
jail. So the guy turns
up at court with two
I recorded Stray Cat
Strut, Runaway Boys
and Rock this Town
with it and used it for
all the Stray Cat stuff
but when I got ‘Smoke’, I
kinda retired it although
it comes out every now
and then.”
These days Brian goes
on tour with around 7
guitars, but his first one
is never far away. Check
out more on Brian
Setzer on his website.
www.briansetzer.com
www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk 33
AXE IN FOCUS
GRETSCH 6120T
1959 ‘CHET ATKINS’
So we know from the previous article, Brian Setzer’s 6120 ‘Stray Cat’ was originally the 1959 Chet
Atkins model. Originally developed by Gretsch as a signature guitar for Chet Atkins in 1954 the
G6120 was more warmly embraced by rockabilly and rock ’n’ roll guitarists than the country and
western players Gretsch initially targeted. We find out more about the model...
The G6120T-59
Vintage Select
’59 Chet Atkins
is a hollow body
electric guitar featuring a
laminated maple body with
a beautiful arched top. The
guitar’s unique shape, known
as the “single cutaway,”
allows for easy access to the
higher frets and is one of the
distinguishing characteristics
of Gretsch guitars. The body
is adorned with a stunning
Western Orange Stain finish,
complemented by aged white
binding and gold hardware,
which adds a touch of elegance
and class to the overall
appearance.
The neck of this guitar is made
from maple and features a
comfortable standard U-shaped
profile. It is capped with a 12-
inch radius ebony fingerboard,
which houses 22 medium
jumbo frets and is adorned
with eye-catching Neo-Classic
thumbnail inlays. The scale
length of the G6120T-59 is
24.6 inches, providing a perfect
balance between playability and
tonal richness.
One of the standout features
of this guitar is the Bigsby
B6G vibrato tailpiece, which
not only adds to the vintage
aesthetic but also provides
players with the ability to
add subtle pitch modulation
and expressive vibrato to
their playing. The guitar
also comes equipped with a
pinned rocking bar bridge,
ensuring excellent intonation
and stability.
Electronics and Hardware
The G6120T-59 Vintage
Select ’59 Chet Atkins is
fitted with two TV Jones
Classic Filter’Tron pickups,
which are renowned for their
clarity, punch, and warmth.
These pickups are a perfect
match for the hollow body
construction, delivering a
well-balanced tone that can
easily cover a wide range of
genres, from jazz and country
to rockabilly and blues.
The guitar’s electronics
consist of a three-way pickup
selector switch, individual
volume controls for each
pickup, a master volume
34 www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk
Axe in Focus - Gretsch 6120 ‘Stray Cat’
control, and a three-way tone
switch. This setup allows players
to fine-tune their sound, blending
the characteristics of both pickups
to achieve the desired tone.
Furthermore, the master volume
control is conveniently placed near
the cutaway, making it easy to
access during live performances.
The G6120T-59 is equipped with
Grover Sta-Tite die-cast tuners,
providing excellent tuning stability
and precision. Other notable
hardware features include a gold
plexi pickguard with a Chet Atkins
signature logo, an adjustable truss
rod, and a zero-fret nut, which
contributes to better intonation and
sustain.
Playability and Sound
As expected from a high-end
Gretsch guitar, the G6120T-59
Vintage Select ’59 Chet Atkins
offers outstanding playability. The
comfortable neck profile, combined
with the smooth ebony fingerboard
and medium jumbo frets, make it
a joy to play for extended periods.
The single cutaway design ensures
easy access to the higher frets,
allowing players to explore the full
range of the instrument.
When it comes to sound, the
G6120T-59 truly shines. The TV
Jones Classic Filter’Tron pickups
provide a rich, well-rounded tone
with plenty of clarity and definition.
The hollow body construction adds
warmth and resonance, while the
Bigsby tailpiece allows for smooth
vibrato and pitch modulation. With
its versatile electronics, this guitar
can easily accommodate various
playing styles and genres, making
it an ideal choice for players who
value flexibility and adaptability.
Conclusion
The Gretsch G6120T-59 Vintage
Select ’59 Chet Atkins is a testament
to the company’s commitment
to quality and craftsmanship.
This guitar features a stunning
design, top-notch hardware, and
exceptional playability, making it
a worthy addition to any guitarist’s
collection. The combination of
vintage aesthetics and modern
performance makes this instrument
a true work of art, one that pays
homage to the legendary Chet
Atkins while providing players with
a versatile and inspiring tool for
their musical journey.
Whether you’re a fan of Chet
Atkins, a Gretsch enthusiast, or
simply a guitarist in search of a
high-quality instrument with a
distinctive sound, the G6120T-59
Vintage Select ’59 Chet Atkins is
sure to impress. Its unique blend
of vintage charm and modern
functionality make it an excellent
choice for players of all levels and
styles.
www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk 35
REVIEW
36 www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk
Flattley Guitar Pedals
www.flattleyguitarpedals.com
Intro: Paul George
Main Article: Paul Flattley
So, it’s only fitting for North
East Guitars Magazine to bring
on board a pedal manufacturer,
retailer and expert. I am so happy
to say we have that all rolled into
one. We bumped into Paul’s stand
at this years North East Guitar
Show and we were amazed by the
range and quality of these hand
built pedals, But please, do not
take my word for it. Just let Paul
give you a written tour of Flattley’s
Guitar Pedals.
Flattley Guitar Pedals is a family
run business established in 2016
and based in England. We do
all of our product processes and
manufacturing assembly within
small radius with the aim to keep
our carbon footprint as small as
possible ensuring Flattley pedals
are all truly made in England. After
repairing the electronics in guitars,
bass guitars, effects pedals and
amps for many years in my spare
time, I decided that it was time
to venture into something new,
making effect pedals. I had been
working in the Aviation Avionics
Industry for over 30 years after
starting my working career as an
avionics technician in the Royal
Navy Fleet Air Arm working on
helicopters. I was very confident
that I could produce a high-quality
product based on my aviation
quality assurance and standards
which would live up to my very
exacting requirements whilst
producing the sound and tone that
musicians are looking for. Each
effects pedal is hand built, hand
wired, and our enclosures are hand
finished giving our pedals that
personalized touch.
Being a musician myself, I know
what I like, and I know what
sounds and tones I look for. This
can be quite challenging when
playing in a band covering many
different genres of artists and
requiring a variety of sounds; I
make my effects pedals as versatile
and functional as possible and I
am constantly re-evaluating and
assessing our pedals to ensure
continuous improvement.
Each Flattley pedal is a work of
art as well as a tonal delight and
to get that very high standard
involves a great deal of hard work
and processes. A Flattley pedal
starts life as a concept schematic
diagram which is then tested in
basic prototyping formats, once
we are satisfied that the sound and
component values are right this
then goes off to our Gloucestershire
based PCB design and
manufacturer. Once we have our
un-populated PCB the hard work
begins, and we populate this with
www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk 37
REVIEW
Violet
Tremelo
Poison Ivy
Octave Harmonic
Fuzz
the highest quality components.
We then assemble the PCB to
the off-board components and
then hand tested in the product’s
build jig enclosure, once we are
happy that the completed circuitry
produces the tonal sounds that we
are known for this is then installed
into its hand finished enclosure.
Each hand finished enclosure is
prepared in exactly the same way
in our Gloucestershire based paint
facility whether it is a platinum or
silver range product, this process
usually takes five days from start to
finished enclosure.
They are hand abraded, then the
etch primer is applied to seal the
aluminium surface as an anticorrosive
measure and to allow
the base coat primer to bond to
the enclosure. Once the base coat
primer is dry it then has the base
coat colour applied and repeated
three times to ensure a deep lustre
of colour.
For our platinum range metallic
holographic chrome flake is then
applied using a clear inter coat
which adds that all important
Flattley sparkle. The pedal
enclosure is now ready to be hydro
dipped in its Flattley graphics.
This is the process whereby the
graphics are applied using water
activated film and the enclosure
is slowly dipped by hand through
the activated hydro graphic film,
the residual PVA film is then
washed off and the enclosure is
then allowed to dry naturally. Once
dried the lacquer process begins,
each enclosure has a minimum of
three coats of lacquer which are all
wet sanded between coats. Once
the lacquer has hardened, it is then
hand polished using three different
grades of polishing compounds
and it then has a final polish to
achieve a high gloss finish using a
wool finishing pad. This process
gives the smooth deep lustre finish
that is inherent in all Flattley effects
pedals.
Our silver range pedals then have
a minimum of three coats of
lacquer applied which are all wet
sanded between coats. Once the
lacquer has hardened, it is then
hand polished using three different
grades of polishing compounds
and it then has a final polish to
achieve a high gloss finish using a
wool finishing pad. This process
gives the smooth deep lustre finish
that is inherent in all Flattley effects
pedals. The graphics designed in
house by our graphics designer
38 www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk
Flattley Guitar Pedals
Plexstar
Plexi Drive
Nirvana
Analogue Delay
Phoebe Flattley are then
applied to silver range effects
pedals by UV direct printing
in our Gloucestershire based
printing facility.
The platinum range pedals
are finished with aluminium
control knobs which have
laser etched descriptive text
on them. Both the platinum
and silver range products have
LED halo ring lights installed
which dissipates the light
to avoid blinding musicians
whilst performing and
operating the pedal. We also
add Flattley logo laser etched
aluminium foot toppers
on the pedal switches as
standard across both ranges.
Finally, the product name
is attached to the enclosure,
this is a sublimated brushed
aluminium logo plaque as its
unique identifier.
All Flattley products
are RoHS, CE & WEEE
compliant, packaged in
sustainable recycled materials
and come with a 12-month
guarantee. We welcome all
feedback on Flattley products
as this allows us to evolve and
develop our pedals.
I would like to take this
opportunity to thank all
Flattley Guitar Pedals
customers, both new and old,
for purchasing Flattley Guitar
Pedals. I hope that you all
enjoy your pedal as much as
I did making it and that it is
a fantastic addition to your
pedal board.
Contact
Flattley GuitarPedals
w. https://flattleyguitarpedals.com
t. +44 (0)7802 455 127
f. https://www.facebook.com/Flattley/
i. https://www.instagram.com/flattleyguitarpedals
x. https://twitter.com/flattleypedals
www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk 39
IN FOCUS
MICHELLE
TAYLOR
Award Winning Artist,
Blues Guitarist
& Session Player
IN FOCUS
Michelle Taylor
Award Winning Artist,
Blues Guitarist
& Session Player
Michelle’s Website
Youtube
Writing this article I have the
best of all worlds. Not only
do we get to interview a genuine
North East talent but also
an International star who has
thrived and thrust herself on
to the big stage with grace,
determination and amazing
style. So let’s just get straight
into the interview and let Michelle
Tell her story...
Written by
& Paul George
42 www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk
In Focus - Michelle Taylor
NEG: So Michelle, Tell us how it
all began. Oh yes, please include
how you come to play a guitar
upside down.
MT: “I was born in the UK in the
seaside town of Hartlepool and
spent most of my younger years in
the Durham and Newcastle area
in the north east of England and
of course in Trimdon Village and
its surrounding areas where I grew
up . It was here that I “paid my
dues” playing in the vast amount
of “Working mens clubs” and pubs
in the area.”
Growing up there were mainly
artists such as Frank Sinatra, Tom
Jones and Shirley Bassey being
played on the turntable by her
parents along with the usual pop
and rock hits on the local radio
stations.
She said “it was great to practice
to these artists as I learned a lot
about dynamics, light and shade “
etc.
“I actually started my career as
a drummer, and so I would play
along with my parents’ records on
the drum kit that I had in the corner
of the room in my bedroom.
I was taught to read drum music
by Adrian Tillbrooke, a very well
known drummer at the time from
Hartlepool, I would visit Adrian
every Saturday “to read the notes”.
Every evening for a couple of
hours after school and usually
all afternoon on Sundays, I was
allowed to practice with full support
of the closest neighbors. My
parents had checked with all of
them beforehand to be sure that I
wasn’t going to annoy anyone with
my noise!
As well as my parents’ collection
I’d play along with my own Elvis
Presley albums too, this was quite
a challenge as Elvis had the amazing
Ronnie Tutt on the drums!
I bought myself a beat up nylon
strung guitar at some point too,
together with a chord book of
Elvis Greatest Hits and I started
to teach myself to play guitar (
apart from anything else I thought
it would improve my love life at
parties ) Ha Ha.
My main instrument was always
going to be drums but I fancied
learning a little guitar as a hobby.
I’m left handed but I’d bought a
www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk 43
normal right handed guitar, and
so it just felt more natural to hold
it upside down. I didn’t know at
the time that being left handed I
should have changed the nut and
restrung the guitar, and it wasn’t
until approx a year or so later that
a “Real Guitarist” told me that I
should restring the guitar as a lefty
player.
By this time I’d learned a load of
chords and could already play a
few songs, and so there was no
way that I was going to restring
and start from the very beginning
all over again ! Screw that ! :)
I think that this action actually did
me a favour, as I don’t see myself
as a particularly good guitarist,
but being this gender and playing
a left handed guitar with the
strings upside down (right handed)
and having a weird technique
is a little unusual and so it has
brought me a lot of attention :)
We had a school rock band and
from playing drums in that I was
“discovered” by another pupil at
the school who’s mother regularly
performed with a charity band
that played all kinds of covers (
including the hits of the artists I
practiced to in my bedroom) so I
already had an insight to what was
expected at the audition and I got
the job playing drums with them.
The members of this band were
all around 30 years old, and so at
around 14 I was very much the
baby of the band. We gigged at
least once a week with that band
and I practiced with friends during
other times trying to put our
own band together.
The guitarist in the charity band
also had a semi-professional band
called “Frenchie” playing covers
around the working mens clubs
and pubs in the north east, and
their drummer was leaving so they
needed a replacement, I auditioned
together with a few other
drummers and got the job.
For a while I even had the position
of resident drummer in the local
working men’s club which was an
invaluable training and learning
experience for me playing drums
for a wide range of artists with
varying styles.
From there I ended up playing
drums in other local bands including
the Gibson’s country band
( later I went onto playing guitar
in this band instead of drums ).
I even had a guitar duo with a
friend and we did a number of
working mens clubs together. Guitar
was still my second instrument
at this point but I always enjoyed
playing it.
NEG: Who were your biggest
influences and what kind of music
do you listen to ?
MT: Today I listen a lot to people
like Robben Ford, Kingfish and
Matt Schofield, although listening
to my playing you would never
think so, as my style is a mix of
both blues and country.
I love the playing of guitarists such
as Mark Knopfler and Vince Gill
and often listen to them too.
I still listen a lot to the guy that
first made me want to move
44 www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk
permanently over from drums to
guitar and become “a guitarist”
in the early 80´s.. His name is
Ray Flacke. Ray was playing with
Ricky Skaggs and Emmylou Harris
at the time and often featured on
their recordings. ( Listen to the
guitars on the Ricky Skaggs album
“Highways and Heartaches”).
Actually it’s funny how life can
be strange, as I’m now a friend of
Rays and we have quite regular
contact. So, these influences have
kinda made my style a mix of
Blues and Country depending on
the song I’m doing, the song will
determine which style I will lean
more into, although even my blues
style still does have a lot of elements
of country in it. My band
plays a Blues/Country/Rock style
and can feature anything from
traditional blues, modern blues,
fast country picking and anything
else that I feel fits with my style of
playing. However I can still be
found listening to things by Carlos
Santana, Be bop Deluxe, JJ Cale,
Johnny Hiland, Carl Verheyen,
and many others.
NEG: What guitars do you play?
Any favourites you may have
had?
MT: I play Gordon Smith Guitars
almost exclusively, but I do also
have a guitar that I received quite
recently which was handmade for
me by a lovely guy and a brilliant
luthier from just outside of Durham
called Trevor Spooner.
I use Trevor’s guitar a lot at the
moment as it both feels and
sounds great (and you know how
it is, It’s always nice with a change
no matter how great an instrument
is).
My main guitars have always been
Gordon Smith guitars and upon
getting my first one I simply didn’t
want to play anything else. At
the time I had a number of Gibson
Les Pauls and a collection of
custom shop Telecasters and other
amazing custom made guitars
( including one handmade for
me by Tom Mates who was Eric
Claptons guitar tech at the time
and who worked for the Gibson
custom shop ). Some of the Teles
had B Benders on them which I
always enjoyed using. I do also
have a lovely Ibanez Artcore
Expressionist 335 style guitar that
I use from time to time. The first
custom handmade guitar that I got
when I began my official endorsement
with Gordon Smith Guitars
was a guitar with an Olive top. It
was the first guitar that they had
ever made with an Olive top…
and so I called her “Olivia”. This
became a much loved guitar with
other guitarists all over the internet
and many still use that name
when referring to it, Olivia is my
most played guitar, it’s my “old
pair of shoes”…You know that
comfortable secure cosy feeling
you get when using them. :)
The second guitar I got from Gordon
Smith I promptly named “The
Owl” as I could clearly see the face
and shape of an owl in the Burled
walnut top. “The Owl” is probably
my most recognizable and well
known guitar by people on the
internet.
When it comes to Gordon Smith
Guitars. For those that don’t know,
Gordon Smith are the UKs oldest
running electric guitar manufacturer
and are often said to be
the “UK’s Gibson” (As Gibson
used to be in the past in terms of
top quality handmade premium
instruments).
I started gigging around age
14 with the cover band that I
mentioned earlier, they played
In Focus - Michelle Taylor
everything from Thin Lizzy and
Fleetwood Mac to Jim Capaldi and
the Cars to a wide range of musical
styles. I loved watching the
guitarists in the band and loved
the freedom they had onstage..( as
I was always stuck behind a drum
kit ). It was during this time that I
joined my first country band and
enjoyed watching the guitarists
in those bands playing that totally
different style of music. As a
drummer I really disliked playing
country music as it felt incredibly
boring and unemotional. However
things would change, and eventually
grow to like the music and
I would leave the drums and go
over to guitar because of it.
My name had apparently spread
out of the area of the north east
and somehow it had reached
a booking agent further down
south. I got a call one morning
from this agency telling me that
they had heard all about my playing
abilities and would I be interested
in going on an international
tour as part of a session band
playing for a number of American
country artists coming over to
Europe on tour, we would be playing
a number of the big country
festivals in a number of different
countries! I actually thought it
was a friend of mine winding me
up first thing in the morning and
so I promptly told him to F* off
and I hung up on him.
Luckily for me the guy called
back and had found it amusing
that I didn’t believe him and so he
offered his phone number and told
me to call him back. I did so and
discovered that it was all true, I
couldn’t believe it! and naturally I
accepted the offer.
NEG: Who are your sponsors?
MT: I’m incredibly lucky to have
www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk 45
a number of great music brands
that apparently like my playing
and have reached out to me and
offered me official endorsements
with them. Some of the brands I
had already been using regularly
for years in my gear arsenal (
which is maybe why they offered
me the endorsement).
Over the years as a session player
on a number of tours I have used
a lot of different brands of amp.
From Marshall’s and Fenders to
Peaveys and Mesas and a lot of
things in between, however the
most reliable of all were always the
Blackstar amps that I used. I loved
the sound, the look, the name,
and the versatility of their amps,
and so they were always my first
choice.
After a while I became known
as “the Blackstar girl” in these
groups etc and I would regularly
be tagged in questions, comments
and posts from people wanting
to know something about these
amps. In the end the amount of
posts, private messages and mails
that I was getting was becoming
crazy, and so I started my own
Blackstar Amp Appreciation
group on Facebook for people
wanting to swap tips, stories and
information etc. I am usually there
daily helping with comments and
questions, and over the years the
group has grown substantially.
I think that it was at some point
around this time that I was offered
an official endorsement, and I’ve
used their amps exclusively ever
since. I was always a fan of their
Artist series but over the past few
years I started using their brilliant
lightweight full tube St James
amps.
Around this time I was approached
by Gordon Smith guitars
and have used those ever since
too.
I have and use a number of pedalboards
( approx 9 or 10 of them ).
Some are placed out in studios or
rehearsal rooms, some are in my
own studio and practice rooms,
and I also have boards set for
particular amps. I love messing
around with pedals and pedalboards
and I even often build my
own boards, I find it relaxing.
I used pedals by both Mad Professor
and Wampler long before
being offered endorsements with
these two brilliant brands, they
both make great sounding pedals
that are built to be thrown around.
Another important thing for me
is that the people behind these
brands are really nice, friendly and
helpful people!
I regularly use the Deep Blue Delay,
Royal Blue Overdrive, Amber
Overdrive, Green Wonder Overdrive
by Mad Professor.
The Wampler pedals that I use at
the moment are the Mini Tumnus
( of which I have a few ) and
love it as a drive or a crystal clean
boost. The Triumph Overdrive
( I have a couple of these too )
The Velvet Fuzz ( A great fuzz for
both fuzz lovers and those that
don’t like fuzz ) and the Tape Echo
which has a few extra controls on
it together with tap tempo should
I ever need it. I contacted Free the
Tone Pedals a number of years ago
trying to get hold of a particular
pedal that I was having trouble
finding. After a few emails regarding
my search for a pedal they apparently
checked me out and I was
offered to be one of their artists
( and now I’m featured on their
website alongside Matt Schofield)
How cool is that! Free The Tone
are really great pedals and if you
haven’t tried any, then you should
do so. At the moment I regularly
use their SOV-2 Overdrive and
the Red Jasper Overdrive.
Other brands that I’m happy to
use pedals by are Flattley Pedals
(UK) . Paul Flattley ( another
great guy ) makes some amazing
handwired pedals. Paul made me a
couple of custom dual pedals that
I use from time to time. One is a
Chorus/Tremolo and the other is
an analog dual delay.
Hardy Pedals in Sweden also make
great handwired custom pedals,
sometimes based on well known
models. The KOT style pedal that
I use from them is really nice and
I often use that on my boards.
Recently I was sent a box of
approximately 9 pedals from a
company called Tone City which
is run by a lovely married couple
in China. These very inexpensive
pedals are often copies of well
known models, but some of them
are actually very good and definitely
worth checking out. I have
a “Tone City board” that Ive put
together using only their pedals
and has “The Mickey” a mini pedal
that sounds like a RAT, a couple
of their “Tape Machine” Delays
which are also mini pedals, The
Blues Man Overdrive mini pedal,
and a Model B dual overdrive
pedal ( based on a Mesa style amp
sound).
Another of the brands that I’m
proud to use is Walsall, they make
exclusive premium leather straps
with comfortable memory foam.
The straps and brand are by Richard
Cholerton of Richard’s Guitars
in Stratford upon Avon and I love
them! Richard is a lovely helpful
guy too ( and he often has a
number of Gordon Smith Guitars
46 www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk
in stock ).
I have used strings by Ernie Ball
from the start. I did try a few different
brands a long time ago but
I always came back to Ernie Ball,
and Iv’e used them now for many
years. Originally I used the Hybrid
Slinky 009-46 but this past
year I went over to their Turbo
Slinky which are 9.5-46. I thought
I’d try them for a while.
When it comes to guitar parts I
love the Black Graphtech parts.
I use both the nuts and string
saddles on a few of my guitars.
Everything feels smoother, it looks
cool, and there are less string
breakages. What’s not to like!
NEG: So you were inducted into
the Swedish Rock & Roll Hall Of
Fame. Tell us about that.
MT: A number of years ago during
a performance and in between
songs, I saw someone get up onto
the left side of the stage in the
theatre we were performing in. I
thought it surprising and concerning
that security had not stopped
this from happening as the guy
headed my way. The gentleman
was of later years and was holding
a few items in his hands. My
guitarist stepped forward and
handed the guy his wireless mic.
I thought to myself WTF is going
on ? Apparently my manager
and all the band knew this was
going to happen that evening. I
was handed a T Shirt, and some
other merchandise together with
a signed framed diploma inducting
me into the Swedish Nostalgia
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
My shows at the time were breaking
a few attendance records
among other things. It was totally
unexpected and a real honour for
In Focus - Michelle Taylor
me…. Although I was mad at the
band for not warning me beforehand
as I hate surprises.
NEG: What are you working on
at the moment?
MT: I’m in the process of putting
a new band together right
now, and so we are in the middle
of rehearsals at the moment for
upcoming shows and festivals in
Sweden this summer. The line up
is simple.
Me …(Rhythm / Solo Guitar and
Vocals).
Drums *Ola Strandsjö
Bass. *Björn Cruse
Keyboards. *Martin Jönebäck
*Rhythm & Solo guitar. *Thom
Som Monsieurs
NEG: Michelle, Thank you for
your time and speaking to us.
Good luck in the future.
www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk 47
STRING Talk
Award winning Flattley Boutique
Effects Pedals are hand built in the UK .
For more information, demo videos & stockists visit
www.flattleyguitarpedals.com
LOCAL HEROES
Bluesburn
@ The Fish
By Paul George & Hazel Whitelock
So to write this article, I have to
go along to the quiet little pub
that has been the heart of my
own social life for the past four
years. The Fisherman’s Arm on
Hartlepool’s historic Headland.
Seriously folks, I dare you to find
a friendlier spot in the North
East, not to mention the beer is
damn good, brewed in our local
Camerons brewery producing top
quality craft ales.
But we’re not here to talk about
the beers or how friendly the
pub is, we are here to talk about
a once-monthly ritual which is
carried out on the first Thursday
of every month called ‘Bluesburn’.
Now, I have been known to dabble
with a slide and a resonator and
I foolishly call myself a blues
player. What a load of old tosh!
And I only say that because of
the standards of Blues artists that
gather to exercise their demons in
front of the packed temple which
we have fondly come to know
as ‘The Fish’. To help me on my
ramble down the historic road
of the Bluesburn is pub landlady,
Hazel Whitelock. Hazel has been
barmaid and landlady of The
Fish’ for the past 15 years and has
witnessed the wonderful journey
Bluesburn has taken.
NEG: Hazel, when and how did
the Bluesburn begin?
HW: The landlord at the time,
Steve used to come up with ideas
for the pub. He decided along with
Matt to try out a Blues evening.
That was in 2015.
NEG: So as a landlady you have
inherited the Bluesburn, tell me
of your early memories?
HW: It started off as a tight-knit
thing but quickly expanded and
50 www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk
Local Heroes - Bluesburn @ The Fish
don’t cheer at the end of a players
session. But it does seem to work.
Graham took over from another
one of our legends, Tony Kramer
who sadly had to give up his spot
due to health conditions but he
still shows his face from time to
time albeit without a guitar. He
recently recorded a fabulous
instrumental album and donated
all proceeds to the British Lung
Foundation. If you pop in to the
‘Fish’, you can grab a copy behind
the bar.
just grew and grew. In the early
days there was ‘Smokin’ Matt
Harrison, he was also responsible
for teaching one of Hartlepool’s
finest blues players, Daniel Darcy.
Tommy ‘Blind Boy’ Wilson on
harmonica, now part of Blues
Mojo, Mick Spence on Bass, Tony
Shilson also played harmonica
and a guy called Dave who used
to come over from Leeds just to
sing. Phil Reay on Drums. Dave
unfortunately passed away around
2017 due to illness and we had
a massive charity Bluesburn to
celebrate his life.
NEG: These days it seems to be
thriving on a Thursday, has it
always been like this.
HW: It’s certainly had it’s ups and
downs over the years. At times it
has dropped off in popularity but
we have always managed to pick it
back up and push it back towards
authentic Blues. It has drifted off
at times where the Blues genre was
expanded a little too far and we
started to get a lot of rock, rock
‘n’ roll, country, you know, very
loosely based blues tunes. But
saying that we have had some
really great people who have taken
the reigns and brought it back
to life. Matt was the first of our
hosts, I think he was the one who
really established the evening.
NEG: Looking at Bluesburn
these days, it is very popular.
Who is hosting it now?
HW: We have a great host at the
moment, Graham ‘Ozzy’ Watson
who has a great sense of humour.
He has this thing of threatening
the audience with bad jokes if they
NEG: So what is the secret
ingredient of Bluesburn? What
makes it so successful?
HW: Now that is a question with
many answers. Firstly I have to
say the opportunities. Anyone
can get up and play regardless of
ability and experience. In fact,
we pride ourselves on getting
beginners up on to our stage. Our
audience is amazing, I don’t want
to say forgiving, more supportive
to all. Absolutely everybody gets
applauded. That settles a lot of
nerves, especially with our first
timers. You know, we also have
a wonderful tradition in the pub
www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk 51
that when any of our players,
artists, bands leaves the pub to go
home, they are clapped out of the
door. It’s quite a humbling thing
to see.
Another reason for it’s success is
the general friendly atmosphere
of the ‘Fish’. We do not tolerate
any form of trouble or unruly
behaviour of any sort and it has
a reputation for being so. It is a
great, safe environment where
everybody can relax.
NEG: Any players of note that
come along on a Thursday?
HW: Oh yes, a lot of the
established blues players around
Hartlepool have cut their teeth
at Bluesburn. One in particular,
Daniel D’Arcy. He used to come
up in his early days and Matt took
him under his wing. These days,
you have to say that he is probably
the most talented Blues player in
Hartlepool, maybe even the North
East and that is no exaggeration.
We have had so many great
artists in on the Bluesburn I can’t
begin to name them all but the
best thing is simply to pop over
and see for yourself. We always
have something or someone who
lets loose and becomes a star, even
if it is just for the night.
NEG: Hazel, thank you very
much for your time and good
52 www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk
luck for the Bluesburn and the
‘Fish in the future.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Local Heroes - Bluesburn @ The Fish
The Thursday night Bluesburn,
as I said at the start of the
article, has become something
of an institution and certainly a
highlight in the monthly music
calendar.. I, myself get there
whenever I can and yes, I do
like to try a few things out but
I class myself in the beginners
category when it comes to blues
talent. But regardless and as
Hazel mentioned, there is no fear
of being booed off stage if I hit a
bum note or two, in fact I do get
a lot of good feedback which just
encourages me to try more and
more. Eventually I’ll get there but
for now, I’m happy on the learning
curve.
Regular faces at the Bluesburn are,
of course, Graham (Ozzy) with
the house band who always open
the evening, Kenny and Tommy
from Blues Mojo can be regularly
seen and heard dishing out
unbelievable Delta blues, Barry
and Derek aka The DekkaTones to
name just a few of the great artists
who grace the stage.
Finally, I would like to thank
Hazel and Glenn for the amazing
images from Bluesburns early days
and for giving us years of great
memories. Check out more on the
Fish and Bluesburn on Facebook
or by going to their website:
www.thefishhartlepool.co.uk
www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk 53
Feature
Welcome on board, White Wolf Recording Studio to the
NE Guitars network. Finding quality and affordable recording
studio’s in this day and age can be challenging
but fortunately NEG has the answer with our new friends
By John M Tobin.M.A. (Pro
Media Composition) B.A Hons
L.T.C.L(T)
If you are musician, podcaster,
voice actor, or audio
enthusiast looking to take
your recordings to the next level,
finding the right professional
recording studio is crucial to
achieving the high-quality,
polished results you desire.
While home recording setups
have become increasingly popular
and accessible, there are still
many benefits to recording in a
professional studio. The White-
Wolf Professional recording
studio offers top-of-the-line
equipment, acoustically treated
rooms, experienced engineers,
and a creative environment that
can elevate the quality of your
recordings. Whether you’re
looking to record a demo, EP,
album, podcast, audiobook, or
any other audio project, The
White-Wolf professional studio
can provide the expertise and
resources needed to bring your
vision to life.
Location
The White-Wolf recording studio
is conveniently placed just off the
A19 and is within easy reach of
the three major conurbations on
Tyneside, Wearside and Teesside.
(See our map)
Equipment and Technology
The White-Wolf professional
studio is equipped with highquality
recording equipment,
microphones, mixing consoles,
monitors, and software. At the
beginning of 2024 I upgraded the
computer system to incorporate
some of the latest technology to
help make a significant difference
in the quality of your recordings,
and ensuring the studio is up-todate
with industry standards.
Acoustics
Acoustics play a crucial role in the
sound quality of your recordings.
White-Wolf Recording Studio, has
built its reputation on delivering
the highest quality sound
recordings possible. The rooms
(built only 8 years ago) provide
perfect acoustics for any recording
session.
We Have 2 distinct ‘Audio’
recording areas. The Large
recording room is big enough
to comfortably accommodate
groups of 25 to 35 performers
at once! Brass Bands, Local
Choirs, Dramatic societies etc.
Our second room is specifically
designed as a ‘’dead’’ room…
perfect to record singers and close
up performance in perfect detail.
Your Project
The music is written, the lyrics
are great, the band is ready, you
are fully rehearsed, the script is
up, your masterpiece is ready
to be laid down for posterity
and hopefully an appreciating
audience.
54 www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk
What’s next?
The first step is always the
hardest. To help you make your
choice of professional recording
studio contact me to discuss
your ambitions needs and
requirements. Over the phone, by
e-mail, You are always welcome
to pop in for a consultation (by
appointment)
DH6 3QZ
Contact Details
Web: www.white-wolf.studio
Tel: 07531536080
Email: john@white-wolf.studio
FB: @white-wolf professional
recording studio
Address:
White-Wolf Recording Studio
Unit 6, Wheatley Hill Ind Est.
Front Street
Wheatley Hill
Co. Durham
www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk 55
Tygers of Pan Tang
REVIEW
TYGERS OF PAN TANG
Live Blood (album)
Mighty Music
Radio Impact: 6 February 2024
Release: 26 April 2024
56 www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk
Album - Tygers of Pan Tang
Mighty Music are proud to
announce the release of a live
album by the Tygers of Pan
Tang, to be called “Live Blood”.
Stalwarts of the NWOBHM, the
Tygers are currently celebrating
eight years with Mighty Music
during which time they have
released
three well received new albums,
the most recent of which
“Bloodlines”, was met with
universal critical acclaim in 2023.
The band, with guitarist Robb
Weir at the helm, along with
long-serving members Jack Meille
(vocals) and Craig Ellis (drums),
includes their two new recruits for
“Bloodlines”: guitarist Francesco
Marras and bass player Huw
Holding. “Live Blood” includes
material from across the band’s
career, including songs from
their first four albums with MCA
Records plus their last four albums
of new material.
Jack Meille comments: “Recording
a live album after all this time
with the Tygers? I never thought
I would experience it but with the
Tygers Of Pan Tang I have learnt
that the “impossible” is possible.
“Live Blood” captures all the
energy we deliver while playing
our favourite songs live and raw!”.
The recording was made at The
Patriot venue in Wales UK during
the summer of 2023 and will
arrive as a single CD and a double
vinyl featuring additional tracks.
The album will be preceded by
the release of two singles: the live
favourite “Gangland” from their
legendary “Spellbound” album
and the hidden gem “Keeping Me
Alive” from “Ambush”.
We will leave the final word with
Robb Weir: “Every time we play
a show we are asked when we
are going to record a new live
album. Our live show adds a new
dimension to the old songs and
allows us to stretch out a bit on the
newer numbers”.
“Live Blood” will be released on
double LP (black vinyl, including
three exclusive bonus tracks), CD
and digital formats on April 26th,
2024 via Mighty Music.
Lineup:
Robb Weir - guitar
Francesco Marras - guitar
Jack Meille - vocals
Huw Holding - bass
Craig Ellis - drums
Webshop:
https://bit.ly/tygers-shop
Digital:
https://tygerspantang.lnk.to/live
www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk 57
NORTH EAST GIGS BOARD
• Onsite Shop
• Set ups
• Repairs
• Custom Builds
Find us at
Unit 6 Front Street
Industrial Estate
Shotton Colliery
County Durham
DH6 2ND
Tel 07546 656143
www.eastdurhamguitars.com
sales@eastdurhamguitars.com