" COOK ;-) ": 2015

Hey Everyone!

Obviously I have GREAT NEWS, especially for Guitar Fusion enthusiasts! I'll keep this short, but give a quick thank you to the Frank Gambale team for granting the interview request. AND AWAY WE GO...!!!

"Hi Frank and thanks again for coming on board for this new "venture" of mine. Speaking of new ventures, you seem to have more going on these days yourself...

Now I'm honored to help bring this first topic to light...because I feel it's a very much needed project for the simple reason of the difference of "can you do it" versus "are willing to learn how to do it."

So with that said, tell us about ISINA and how it came about, who's involved...and then we'll get back to that a little bit more towards the end of the interview.

ISINA is a competition basically with an incredible prize. For $15 people can upload their demo performance. There will be 30 winners chosen four times a year. They will win an all-expenses paid trip to Hollywood, Los Angeles to study for 6 weeks with mentors such as Walter Afanasieff, Kenny G, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmunds, Humberto Gatica, and yours truly, Frank Gambale among others. Universal Sony is also participating along with Rolling Stone Magazine. I believe the first winners will arrive in May 2015. It may turn into a music TV show of some kind.

The cool thing is that we want to inspire talent out there, the world over, and to give them something to reach for. I love that it is not only vocalists, it is open to all instrumentalists, engineers, producers, DJs every talent. We need to nurture new talent, the industry needs it, the world needs it. It’s a way to pass on the enormous experience of all the great mentors involved. So, it’s very exciting. Check it out at www.Isina.com.

Outside of ISINA for the moment, and it's been a couple of years since our last interview. How's that FG1 been working out...?

The CARVIN FG1 is a spectacularly beautiful instrument. Carvin is one of the finest guitar builders in the world and they are going from strength to strength. Every time I receive a new FG1, I’m am taken aback at how perfect it is in every way…absolutely faultless perfection. It’s impossible to find a better instrument….everything would be sideways by comparison or less than!

CARVIN guitars, just recently separated from the Carvin amps, PA side of the company and are autonomous. This works out great for me because it means I am able to do cross-promotions with my amp company DV Mark without conflict of interest. Carvin are wonderful people, a family owned company in operation since around 1950. They are in their 4th generation. I see myself staying with them for a very long time.

While we're on guitars, and over the past years, there seems to have been an escalation of analog pedals versus digital pedals...When it comes to sound and "tone" what are the primary effects that are your "go to,"...if willing to share? Are you digital, analog, or combined...?

Well, it depends. Sometimes an old tube amp sounds the best for a particular musical situation. I always say, why choose, just have one of each or several of each…;o)

DV Mark and I have just released an all-digital amp/preamp called the Multiamp FG. It’s phenomenal all the capabilities within. Huge array of amp modeling, huge number of effects built in. There’s speaker simulations right down to the mic placement…that’s pretty deep. Then you can store presets on an SD card. I can show up anywhere in the world with an SD card..DV Mark sends my Multiamp FG and in seconds I load my sounds and I’m ready to play!! It also sounds amazing direct into a PA or studio console for recording.

There will always be the argument of digital versus analog but there is no doubt that digital is NOT going away! Some folks still like vinyl records…I admit I am not a fan of vinyl…no nostalgia from me with vinyl, but that’s me…everyone has an opinion of what is or sounds cool.

I have a friend who loves vintage gear, he’s well off…every couple of weeks he calls and says…you have to hear this new Dumble…these hand made amps are $35,000 each if you can find one…there’s no denying that they sound great but it’s nowhere near as versatile as my DV Mark Multiamp FG…it’s very personal and subjective.

In general I prefer getting my effects from rack mount effects to pedal effects…again that’s personal preference.

There are reports that you’re starting an on-line guitar academy. What is your reasoning for taking on such a venture?

Yes, I’m very excited about this. It will be at

www.FrankGambaleOnlineGuitarSchool.com

We will be launching in the next month or two. I have been head of guitar departments at music schools, I have taught at most of the prominent music schools in the world, I have written some of the most popular instructional DVDs, I had 40 private students when I was 16…the point is…I love to teach!! I love sharing the information I have learned in my lifetime, I love to help raise the standard of musicians everywhere. The internet is the perfect outlet.

I intend to video record all the curriculum courses I have written for Los Angeles Music Academy where I taught for some time and many other lessons I have in mind to do. Courses such as Harmony and Theory, Composition, Technique, Improvisation etc. I want to provide solid, real musical education for people that is logically thought out and is designed to strengthen the fundamental understanding of music….comprehension is the most important part of learning.

It’s like teaching someone to fish rather than just feeding people bits of fish on a plate, if you get my meaning. Guitar players get a lot of bits of information here and there and everywhere and therefore, there’s a lot of holes in their understanding. My desire is to present informational courses that solidify their foundation and fill in all the holes in a logical, methodical approach to the courses.

The first course I am launching is 10.5 hour Blues course called Spicing Up The Blues. It starts right at the beginning, I want to include everyone, and then it proceeds logically through tons of ways to make the good old minor pentatonic and blues scales expand to a whole other level.

The follow up to this, which we will release later in the year is called “The Definitive Sweep Picking Course” which will bring up to date all the new discoveries I have made with the Sweep Picking Techniques since I did the first ever book and video on the subject ( Speed Picking and Monster Licks and Speed Picking ) back in the mid 1980s. After that it will most likely be the curriculum courses that I wrote.

I want it to be fun and informative…like an online university…a solid source of good info for guitar players and other musicians too.

With the academy, will there be a selection of artists that will be functioning as instructors? Will there be one-on-one opportunities? Guest Artists? How is your vision for making this work?

Right now I am doing all the videos. I have a particular style and understanding and extensive experience teaching guitar players. So, I wish to deliver the info in my own way. Eventually there may be guest instructors but really, the site is designed for me to empty out my head off all the accumulated knowledge of a lifetime playing the guitar/ writing music and touring the world performing…a legacy really, one the will hopefully inspire musicians to improve their skills.

Fusion has been something that has been around for quite some time. In my opinion, you're one of the champions in the demonstration of fusion. Is the artistic concept of fusion something you want to incorporate into your academy for change, both, or is it a conglomeration of concepts?

The online school is not really style based although the first two courses being a Blues course and a Sweep Picking course are specific. The courses to follow those such as Harmony and Theory ( it will be fun folks!!! ),

Improvisation etc…are non style specific.

To me music information from theory and harmony has nothing to do with style. If I had to give an analogy, I would say that theory is like learning about colours. Certain scales and intervals sound sweet, some sound sad, some sound tense and scary etc etc…It’s incredibly important to understand the moods that certain harmonies can create…this is the kind of thing I would like more guitar players and music students to understand.

My emphasis will be on giving musical examples of Harmony and Theory that they can relate to…it’s not just some esoteric info…I like to describe examples in terms of what is felt by this scale or that chord…what you do with Harmony info is up to you…how you mix colours is up to you…

People sometimes say, if I learn all that harmony I will play jazz…or if I learn all that information I will lose my feel man!! Hahaha…to me that’s comedic…it’s like saying I only want to use red and brown to paint…because if I learn about purple and yellow it will ruin my paintings…

Harmony is only information…it serves to expand one’s possibilities. The more you know, the better you can express yourself through music.

Not too long ago, you made a public post in reference to pulling your catalog from internet-based music stations, then from media reports other professionals seem to be catching up and following suit...

In your professional opinion and years of experience, do you feel that artists are taking more control of their business, or at least becoming more aware to protect their creative content?

I was reading an article this morning on how people of Norway have gone from 80% of the people downloading music illegally to 4% in the past 10 years or so…why, because they’re all using services like Spotify. The article seemed to suggest that this is terrific news for artists!!

Spotify pays .000006 cents when they play a song…it’s utterly pathetic. These streaming music services are just as bad as the file sharing was…it is NOT a solution. The article also suggested that now the police in Norway don’t need to arrest anyone for illegally downloading music…well, all I could think of was “ when are they going to arrest the folks from Spotify and the like for ripping of artists and musicians”…it’s utterly appalling.

I took off 98% of my music from Spotify and other streaming services because, until they pay a fair rate ( I’m not asking for much folks…the word I used was “fair” )…I will not support it. Not to shoot myself in the foot, I left a few songs up there. If people like my music enough, they will have to seek it out and buy it from my website, or iTunes or CDBaby…legitimately.

After my FB post I was really surprised at how many people had NO idea of the pathetically low rate Spotify pays musicians. Many cancelled their subscriptions. People actually thought that they were helping their favourite artists by monthly subscribing to these streaming sites. People need to hear the truth….INTERNET STREAMING SUCKS AND IS ANOTHER RIP OFF TO ARTISTS!!!

Part of the problem too is that musicians are not unified. Many new artists just want to be heard…even if they don’t get paid…”oh the exposure is what we need”…then what? This attitude brings us all to our knees…if everyone said…OK let’s withdraw ALL music until they pay a “fair” rate…perhaps 1 cent a spin…then we’ll let you have the music…but then I wake up and realize I was only dreaming.

We do have more control over our music these days…selling direct to the public is great for our websites for example.

With the last topic in mind and jumping back to ISINA, will these be some of the topics of the project? For example, not trying to post on-line your creative content? Sharing in the belief that if you "post on line" you'll be an instant success?

Most videos DON’T go viral! Most videos have very few views…At ISINA we want to find and nurture people with obvious real talent and help them to succeed by sharing our experience and wisdom.

Now I've saved the best for last...SOUL MINE!

Tell us all about the new Soul Mine coming out!!!...the upcoming tour, is the line up ready to go, who is it, and when does it kick off?

We are still in pre-production mode writing the songs and lyrics. I’m planning to be in the studio by April. We have a good number of songs to choose from. I’d like to write a few more to give us a great choice of what stays. My favourite thing is writing music. The music on the next Soulmine album is pretty strong so far…I love a well-crafted song. My challenge these days is to find the balance to feature enough guitar and still have a great vocal song all at the same time.
I’m not sure who will play on the album yet…when the music is done and sequenced, I will have a better idea of who would best suit the songs.

I also want to make another instrumental guitar album soon. It’s formulating in my head. I’m going to try to finish it and record it in April too…

I will be touring in July in Europe. A USA tour is lining up for October, the first US tour in a long while…and then other parts of the world in November. A I have a terrific new agent…www.sgentnation.com who are doing a terrific job. Very excited. This is going to be a wonderful year with my new amp line out from DV Mark, specifically the Multiamp FG, and a new combo to be released at the Frankfurt Music Messe trade show. I will be out doing clinics in Europe and the USA ( guitar center stores ) in March to promote it, new album, the online school launch and touring.

Once again Frank, I simply can't thank you enough for allowing me to be a part of helping to bring ISINA.com to light, your upcoming Academy, and as always, your conversation and professional insight. I'm awaiting the new release of Soulmine and that TOUR!!

So to wrap it up, is there anything else you would like to add for the listeners...?

I think I’ve said enough for now…see you out there on the road some time soon.

FG Out!"

" COOK ;-) "

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Wampler Pedals

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Cook Interviews: FRANK GAMBALE!!