The Players
News and happenings from the world of your favourite guitarists
Guitarist was saddened to hear of the passing of Vincent Nguini, longtime Paul Simon guitarist. He was 65.
The Cameroon musician became accomplished in a wide range of styles and began working with Simon in 1987, contributing guitar and arrangement to 1992’s The Rhythm of the Saints. As well as session work with artists including Peter Gabriel and his own solo material, Simon and Nguini continued to work together until the guitarist’s liver cancer diagnosis. “He was the most creative musician I’ve ever worked with,” said Simon in tribute, describing him as, “an extraordinarily melodic rhythm guitarist. By that I mean his rhythm parts were usually repetitive lines — very West African — rather than strumming chords. His style was unique and can’t be fully understood except by the most sophisticated players.”
Former Laura Marling guitarist Pete Roe will continue to evolve his Submarine pickup design with the new Submarine Pro after it met its £200,000 crowdfunding target last month. The second version gives acoustic and electric players the chance to expand the scope of the easy-to-fit original (no drilling or soldering required), allowing you to isolate sound from the six individual strings of your guitar. Drop your bass strings an octave, add gain for your solos and even
pan them in your mix at the same time. There’s more info at www. submarinepickup.com
Bon Jovi has confirmed he’ll invite former members Richie Sambora and Alex John Such to perform with the band at their induction into the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall Of Fame on 14 April. “I haven’t had the opportunity to hear from either of them but without a doubt, they both will be invited and asked to not only come and share it, but to perform,” Jon Bon Jovi revealed to USA Today. Bassist Such departed in 1994 and guitarist Sambora left in 2013.
We’ve seen and heard an Xotic BB preamp as a staple part of Andy Timmons’ pedalboard for 15 years, and now the guitar ace has secured his own signature version: the BB Preamp AT. It’s a recreation of the original 2005 BB Preamp, promising “natural sound and smooth compression” with +/-15dB two-band active EQ, and the ability to run at 9V or 18V.
Another virtuoso who’s been loyal to a brand for years is Paul Gilbert (left) with DiMarzio pickups; always fitting them in his Ibanez Fireman signature models. Now he’s got some new mini-humbuckers available to buy separately: the PG-13s. Paul describes the key character of the PG-13s as “clarity” with the beef he needs from ’buckers, gushing, “I just plugged it in, played it, and went, ‘Oh, this is good.’”