Why Dean DeLeo loves using “toy guitars that you have to wrestle with”: “There’s something to be said for guitars that are challenging to play”
While most players may prefer guitars that play smoothly and effortlessly, Dean DeLeo finds inspiration in the opposite. The Stone Temple Pilots guitarist says he often reaches for “toy guitars” you have to “wrestle” with, because their quirks bring something unexpected to a performance.
Earlier this month, DeLeo introduced his latest project, One More Satellite, with the release of the debut single Paper Over The Cracks. Speaking to Guitar World about the gear behind the upcoming album, the musician shares his love for instruments that challenge the player, noting how the real magic often comes when a guitar fights back.
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“Robert [DeLeo] and I love using toy guitars that you have to wrestle with,” says DeLeo. “They can have a specific sound. Sometimes with nice guitars, you don’t get that. You will pick one up and realise it almost sounds too good.”
“There’s something to be said for guitars that are challenging to play. Things like that can add to the performance because you are pulling from the instrument.”
One such guitar appears right on One More Satellite’s latest track: “On Paper Over The Cracks, the guitar on the right was this entry-level Kay,” says the guitarist.
Originally produced by the Chicago-based Kay Musical Instrument Company, Kay Guitars were known for their low-cost builds, with legends like Brad Whitford, Jack White, Mark Knopfler, and Eric Clapton among its users.
“I’m good at knowing what gear will give me the sound I am looking for,” DeLeo continues. “Before I address recording, I have a tonality in my head and know what sonic adventure I want to go on.”
This mindset guided his gear choices throughout the record. Alongside the Kay, DeLeo namechecks a double-cut Danelectro from the 1960s – praised for its “chime” – and a Gibson J-50 acoustic. On stage, he’s also been using custom-built guitars from luthier Bruce Nelson.
“The best thing about his guitars is that they play beautifully no matter where I am on the neck,” he says. “When you start overdubbing with older guitars, there can be a battle with tuning. We all know the G-string is the naughtiest of all strings! With newer instruments like the Nelson guitars, everything’s perfect.”
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
