The13th AÑO: 4 | NÚMERO 44
UNA R E VISTA IMA GINARIA
THE SOUND GUEST OF TODAY:
RALF AUSSEM
THE SOUND All musicians have the fantasy of knowing what effects, what accessories, what instruments (brands or models) those artists we admire use. How he connects his accessories, in what order, to achieve that magic that makes us enjoy something as beautiful as the sound of an artist. The idea of this new space is to talk with musicians and let them tell us about their instruments and their loves, memories, advice from their experience, their dreams, their way to consolidate the sound in a project in which they have participated. In a way, to reach his essence as a musician and discover that Sound that makes him so unique, discover that secret that makes his sound unique and unrepeatable.
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Guest of Today:: Ralf Aussem (Twelve Drummers Drumming, Dead Guitars)
What does it mean for you to play the guitar? I really don’t know. Playing guitar for such a long time, nearly 50 years, makes it hard to say. But during the past 15 years it feels like an addiction to me… when you don’t wanna talk to somebody but you wanna communicate, it’s easier to express your true emotions through music… under the shower, with a mixtape or a guitar in a hotel room
deffects. So it must have been Dave Gilmour (& Syd Barrett). Cause later my parents gave me a cassette of Floyd’s ‚Piper at the Gates of Dawn’ and that was (by accident ) Barrett’s guitar on that album. What musicians were the referents in those years of initiation in the world of the guitar? When I started as a kid: Gilmour, Barrett, Hendrix, Prokoviev, Beatles, Missa Luba, The Allman Brothers, Brian May, Wishbone Ash, Thin Lizzy, Moses Mo, Andy Summers …
When did you decide to take this instrument for the first time? Must be around the age of six or even earlier. My dad was a guitarist (and he still is). He Did you study with a teacher or acahad his band-rehearsals in our living room, demy? back in the 1960’s. So I could pick up his guiNo teacher. Self-taught guitarist. Some piatar anytime. no lessons with theory of harmony at early age. Advanced course in music at grammar What person or musician has generated school. in you the desire to be a guitarist? What do you remember of that first wish? Do you remember your first guitar? Do Watching ‚Pink Floyd - Live In Pompeii‘ at you still keep that guitar? the age of 10 on TV with my mum in 1973. Started with my dad’s 60’s Framus Stratos. And I was really impressed. Loved the soun- Then bought myself a cheap Telecaster re-
plica. First better guitar with sixteen: Fender Starcaster 1976. A rare offset semi-acoustic model. I still have that guitar and use it on stage from time to time.
How long has it taken you to get to the sound you use today? Got my first pedal (EHX small stone) in 1976. First bigger amp VOX AC30 in 1978…
At what point did you feel that you had found the desired sound? Hm, that really depends on the song and the band. I got my privat taste in basic guitar sound, but it’s so complex. Being a session musician on tour or in studio production. With all the effects and amps. Personally I really dig a twangy single-coilish sound of a Telecaster, Jaguar, Danelectro or Rickenbacker as a basic-sound. Seems that I like the sounds from that time I started with guitar. But the signal’s got send through a lot of stompboxes. Got a straight to the Amp signal (just slapback echo and crunge) & one effects modified stereo signal at the same time. So it’s never just ‚one‘ sound to me and the two pedalboards are always developing…
With what guitar effects and with what guitar do you feel most at ease? Hard to say. I got a lot of pedals & guitars but trying not to depend on just special gadgets. Sometimes it’s just a Marshall amp on maximum volume… Before, at the beginning, I asked him about his referring musicians to be a guitarist. Now your guitar heroes are still the same or have you changed names? Yes, but there are a lot more now ;) . I love music from all genres. For instance I listen to The Fall at the moment & a lot of world music and it’s not nessesary a need for a guitar hero… just enjoying excellent music
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What pedals do you use in Dead Guitars and now in your new project Projekt? How do you connect them? Signal splitted and routed to 3 different amps. 2 pedal boards loaded with ca 50 boxes,… wanna name them all :p . Write a book ;) I love the Diamond Compressor, EHX POG2, EHX MEL9, EHX Ravish Sitar, EHX Canyon & Memory Boy, Fuzzface, Boss Fender Deluxe, DD2, DD7 & Space Echo, Jamman & Boss Looper, Strymon Bigsky, Crybaby, MXR Univibe & Blue Box + several Ibanez 80s pedals … all stompboxes cause I don’t like 19“racks anymore… for studiowork I like my late 60s Marshall wahwah & Roger Mayer Octavia Amps: Marshall 800, Fender Blues Deville, Vox AC30, Ampeg ss70 … What is the guitar that you always carry with you? For some years I prefer a Vintage Tommy
Special Telecaster from ca 1985 with very heavy maple body modified with 51 Nocaster pickups & Bigs by Tremolo. This Tele was built by a friend, a german guitar luthier who passed away three years ago… so I always take that guitar as first option. Tuning: E H E a b# e When they invite you to play as a guest, to jam, what is it that you should never forget (guitar and effects)? Just to jam: Telecaster, Boss Fender/Deluxe, Fuzzface, Univibe (or Flanger), Space Echo What projects do you have for this 2018? Gigs of course, and the album release of our new band. Thanks for the interview. lg.r
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The13th U NA R EVISTA IMA GINA RIA