i leArned From thAt
Less Gain is your Gain
The greaT BriTish eccentric and tireless charity worker ‘Dancing Ken’ hanks, who sadly passed away on 1 april this year, told me a few months before he died that i was getting better at playing guitar, but i needed to slow down a bit and use a clearer sound. i don’t know if Ken played an instrument, but he was a massive supporter of live music and really knew his stuff. so i’ve decided to follow his advice, turning down the gain controls on my amp, raising the action on my guitars a little and, because everything is suddenly a lot more audible, watching my phrasing. i’ve also swapped from a strat to a Les Paul and the new, cleaner tone sits well with this guitar. Trying to nail the precise point when i want a note or chord to start and end is my current learning curve. i’m lucky to play in a band with a drummer and bassist who know way more about feel and groove than i do, so it’s a perfect time to put Ken’s advice on gear and music into practice. For me, less gain equals more tone. if i ever get complimented on my new tone, i’ll say, “i learned it from Ken.”