We recently caught up with Petty and Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell, with whom Petty has been working since the earliest days of the band. Once I get in the studio and get working on something, I get inspired and can do all kinds of things, but it usually has to wrap up in a nationwide tour, which is a whole other mindset. All Mike Campbell Photos: Andy Tennille. If Im showing the band a new song, its based on rhythm guitar, and they fill in around that. 8,062. We took it to Rickenbacker, and they called it a mystery. They didnt know what it was. That was a real exciting time. So I always use that guitar on that song. Boiled down, the music of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers is defined by a handful of essential elements: their leader's character-filled voice, songs about life and its toils, swirling B-3 organ, and - much as anything - Mike Campbell's . The Official Mike Campbell Reverb Shop Chicago, IL, United States Send Message Preferred Seller Listings 89 Feedback 58 Info & Policies Oops, Something went wrong. Theyve cloned it for me and are going to reissue that soon. There are some very desirable amps going on sale, including the very first amp Campbell got a Heathkit TA-16. I think its better that they get used. Theyre both difficult in their own way. He augments that with a custom Fender Excelsior and a Fender Vibrotane for Leslie-type effects. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, And all of those Beatles records always have beautiful solos, with good tone and not much noodling; every note serves a purpose to the song, not to the players. There was a whole different viewpoint for me. So weve got to have a Gibson on this one. You write songs primarily on guitar right? H eartbreakers' guitarist Mike Campbell vividly remembers the first time his star bandmate Tom Petty heard a recording of him singing. We started out playing those big Super Beatle amps made by Vox. I think especially the singing sounded really young, Campbell says when we ask him what, after making so many albums, was different this time around. The bottom line is about tone. Get the latest and greatest Guitar news with one of our guitar magazine subscriptions. Except for the signature models, were talking 60s guitars, or. "But I also have a 59 kind of Jimmy Page one thats really great, and I have one thats a 56, too. All rights reserved. I studied it quite a bit at slow speed and tried to figure out what he was doing. Pettys partner in nearly every step of the music-making process, Campbell is the epitome of the musical right-hand man. As we begin our nearly two-hour conversation, Mike Campbell admits that even after more than 40 years as the lead guitarist in the venerable Heartbreakers band, the pressure is still on him. (November 18, 1999 -- Please note: Mike looked over the questions and answered the ones he could. 24) Mark in GA asked: What kind of guitar, pick-ups, amps, any effects pedals, etc. "This '54 Tele - it's a favorite Tele. or Best Offer. Tom Petty and Mike Campbell change guitars like some people change radio stationsafter damned near every song, but they do have certain favorites that they keep returning to: Les Paul Gold Top, Fender Strat, California "This is the input right here. Whereas, the other direction is just going by the seat of your pants and jumping on with the band and riding the wave. The acoustics were all Martins the Tom Petty signature models which we had just got. Then I got a 64 Strat, which I still have, and weve played on almost every record weve done. You should pick up a set of Virtuoso Cleaner and Polisher. Campbell's guitar tech, Steve Winstead, walks us through every guitar, amp, and pedal and lets us in on Campbell's time-tested formula for great tone. Lisa asked: How old were you when you started playing the guitar and what kind of guitar was it? Then it splits off. Instead of playing music in the living room, we took it to the studio. Here he's playing a late-'60s Dan Armstrong lucite model. Well, typically, a Heartbreakers record will be the whole band setting up and tracking at the same time. Whens the last time you couldnt get a guitar that you wanted because you just didnt have the cash handy? Highway Companion I think I wrote entirely on guitar. So it has the same wiring and sound as Georges. Youre joining this band. And thats where everything changed. Its a big chunk of work. Mike Campbell is selling a trove of vintage gear on Reverb, including a number of electric guitars and amps he has used through the years with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Don Henley and Fleetwood Mac. If there was three of us playing, one of us might play that. And theres something to be said for the aesthetic qualities of a bunch of them, as opposed to one. Later, I took it to Rickenbacker, and they said it was the next guitar off the assembly line after George Harrisons. In fact, some of the band members werent cutting it in the studio, and the deal fell apart. He was a member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and co-wrote many of the band's hits with Petty, including "Refugee", "Here Comes My Girl", "You Got Lucky", and "Runnin' Down a Dream". The first couple of albums, I had a Broadcaster and Les Paul, and Id gotten a Rickenbacker 660/12 for 120 bucks its the one on the Damn The Torpedoes cover. Overview A phenomenal reproduction of a great guitar. The legendary Dan Erlewine, luthier Gene Imbody and Berklees Tomo Fujita have shot a 6-point lesson video to help, Sample diggers use Google Assistant to reveal the source of previously undiscovered samples in music from Daft Punk, "We are changing vintage guitar collecting forever": Gibson officially launches Certified Vintage program, Producer Mura Masa says that PinkPantheresss Boys A Liar was made in a couple of hours, and that he didnt know about the Ice Spice 'Pt 2' remix until he saw the video. I bought that Gretsch on tour for $200 one day from a video store, he says with a laugh. Photo by Lindsey Best Do you need specific headspace? Today, nearly 50 years beyond Love Me Tender and Love Me Do, he is the personification of the rock star created by the Beatles appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. And 30 years after his band, the Heartbreakers, formed in Gainesville, Florida, he is still making an impact, still being a force in a medium famous for devouring all but the biggest of its stars. The laconic raconteur of rock very much appreciates that his style never goes out of style, and in selling some 50 million albums he has pandered to nobody not fans, not managers, not record labels. He uses Jazz III nylon picks, 10s during the week, 9s at the weekend, and shamefully still struggles with rhythm figure one of Van Halens Panama. Thanks a lot! That may or may not happen," says Mike Campbell's guitar tech about the Way Huge Camel On page 3 of his interview in Tone Quest Report Vol. Contact our experts for a recommendation of great alternatives. It's the epitome of picking a niche theme, going all in, and nailing it. It kinda moved us up to headlining status. We were floundering. In fact, over-the-top great. Yea she got the sugar, oh yes she does. I just try to write a good song, which requires enough effort. On a lot of records, you hear certain chords, and thats what makes the record, that tone. According to Leilani Laca, Tazzy founder, the major impetus for Mike and Marcie . 5 ways to get more out of your power chords, Matt Bellamy is working on a new Manson Stratocaster-style guitar and hes already played it live with Muse, Watch Marty Friedman perform with Megadeth for the first time in 23 years, Melbourne Guitar Show 2023: Phil Manning on his five favourite guitars. If the Heartbreakers are tracking, and all playing at the same time and trying to get a performance on the song a live performance and theres a call for a guitar solo, I like to try to get it within the performance of the band or at least get the essence of it. BA1 1UA. No, we were pals. No,I had a three-speed turntable, so I could slow down 45s to 33 r.p.m., and 33s down to 16. On almost every song there was at least one or two acoustic Martins. I realised that when you produce somebody, you really need to give it 100 per cent of your energy. The hits keep coming. Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers guitarist and Petty songwriting partner Mike Campbell was recently on tour in Australasia with the new version of Fleetwood Mac, proving to the doubters that the Neil Finn/Mike Campbell combination works a treat as Lindsey Buckingham's replacement. The Calhoun V2 is a collaborative signature pedal for legendary guitarist, writer, and producer Mike Campbell. I had a Gibson Dove, and he had the Stratocaster. Pretty much, yeah (laughs)! He uses Jazz III nylon picks, 10s during the week, 9s at the weekend, and shamefully still struggles with rhythm figure one of Van Halens Panama. I was watching a Rig Rundown and I saw the settings listed below. Hes been a co-producer on some of the most successful albums in rock history. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). "Then there were certain songs that were done on a 12-string, so you kind of need the 12-string to make those songs sound special. Mike has been using a small collection of amps with his rig for a while. Mike Campbell Roles Guitarist Genres Rock Pop Groups Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Fleetwood Mac show all ALL 84 Guitars 32 Amplifiers 12 Effects Pedals 22 Studio Equipment 8 World Instruments 2 Cables 1 Microphones 3 Strings 1 Bass Guitars 1 Studio Monitors 2 Sort by: Most Relevant Hide incorrect submissions The cool thing about the guitars on that record, the electric guitars anyway, was that some were recorded direct. Tom played it on American Girl and used it for rhythm parts on several albums. All those albums probably had a whole bunch of guitar licks or guitar parts that jumped out at you? A subscription makes a thoughtful gift for both family and friends. Aug 9, 2015 - Mike Campbell's (Tom Petty's Lead Guitarists ) Gator Guitar . It makes a beautiful sound. "For instance, on I Wont Back Down, I have the Gretsch Clipper tuned to an open tuning that I use for that slide part. In your eyes, whats the difference between a Tom Petty solo record and a Heartbreakers album? Blair has a different kind of tone very clear. But I love em, ya know? guitar pick jewelry, which is proving to be a big seller. This is for 'You Wreck Me,' which is tuned up to F, half step up," explains Mike Campbell's guitar tech about the Fender American Vintage '59 Stratocaster Electric Guitar in Sherwood Green. So far, has everything on tour gone as planned in terms of crowd response, especially to the new tracks? Jan 19, 2019 - Explore Janet's board "Mike Campbell" on Pinterest. I was walking around in Hartford, Connecticut and saw they had an SG Junior and the Gretsch Clipper. Tom said, This isnt bad. Pinterest. At Gil Southworths shop. YouTube Link: Mike Campbell Continue reading "Mike . That guitar has the tone. Mike Campbell [left] and Tom Petty back in 1977. I met him years later and told him I had that book, and he said, Really? Heres how it works. I love playing with them theyre the best rock and roll band there is, I think. What do you remember about opening it up on that Christmas Day? Elsewhere, his album reviews and essays have appeared in Louder (opens in new tab) and Unrecorded (opens in new tab). And the song I gave to Rick and Mick, which was You Wreck Me, was the same one Tom had forgotten about. Although Campbell wrote and recorded with Tom Petty for over 40 yearsthrough Petty . I love the Fender Deluxe, and I play the Vox AC30 quite a bit. It was me and Smokey Hormel, Matt Sweeney, and Johnny Polansky. Its got so much history. And he played his Les Paul a bit. Some were iconic, on his wish list from his earliest days playing the guitar. Ive done several things with Rick, including the last Johnny Cash albums that are all acoustic-based. First of all, I dont have that much time. Well, the new Martins we used on Highway Companion are very nice-sounding. It also inspired him to write Good Enough from Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers' 2010 album Mojo. He plays it pretty much in the set. Jimmy Iovine came in to produce it, and we had a big hit (Refugee). CD LOT - Hard Rock, Pop, Metal: Stewart, Aerosmith, Elton. And my first acoustic was also given to me it was a Gibson J-45 I got after a gig when some kid came up and said, I loved how you played. Well, they all make a different sound, you know? How did that happen? Though Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Fleetwood Mac electric guitar legend Mike Campbell slightly thinned his enviable guitar collection with a Reverb.com sale last summer, his stash of vintage six-strings is still world-class. Heres how it works. I mean, I have them on my wall to look at. We found three of them. Most of the record is acoustic-guitar based. His favorite 12-string is the Tom Petty solidbody, which we did use on the record quite a bit. It had a weird kind of Formica finish when I got it, but I put a pale blue finish on it.. And those are the things I end up going back and listening to again, more than the newer stuff. In the history of the band, what are the most important guitars? When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. So I suggested to the drummer from my band, Go try out. And he brought them over to our house and it turned out they had lost their guitar player, so he said, Theres a guy here who plays. So I sat in, and we both joined Mudcrutch that same day. Yeah, because Id been a bass player before the Heartbreakers, I didnt really have an electric guitar. But thats how I hooked up with Rick, and the good thing about working with him is that wed just done a couple of records with Jeff, which is a really fun process, but is a lot of building tracks as opposed to playing rock. Jonathan Horsley has been writing about guitars and guitar culture since 2005, playing them since 1990, and regularly contributes to MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitar World. This guitar looks like the tail of a 1959 Cadillac. Well, I have complete control of a solo album; the democratic process is gone. So I feel pressure to be at my best. So he got this guitar to me to let Tom check it out and it stayed in a case for two weeks, we were at the Hollywood Bowl, and Nathan came back and said 'Hey, what about that guitar?' Tom played it on a couple of tours in the 80s, and if you look at it closely, even though its been painted black you can see where it used to be red underneath. "[Out of] all these guitars, [the 'Burst] is the only one I put back in the case when I'm done with it.". But looking at it closely, we figured out that it was probably a red guitar thats the same model as the small-body one from the Torpedo cover. Well, I thought it was kind of a strange call, but interesting. I like the Broadcaster just because the way it is, I mean that's what was done on American Girl and all the first recordings was all Tele sub. Are there a couple of especially fond memories of those recording sessions? Or are you more likely to buy something because you need a certain sound for a certain song. $3.39 to $5.99. Here are some highlights. The truth is, I could do our whole show with one guitar if I wanted to, he admits. Just paring it down to a song and a story. Find album credit information for Voodoo by D'Angelo on AllMusic And I go, It sounds like Clapton and Jimmy Page, Peter Green, Mike Bloomfield, like it reminded me of those tones. Well, it sort of built. They know what works to achieve a particular sound, and there's a little bit of room to see what else might be interesting. Im very much in love with the early-60s Fenders. AceShowbiz - Tom Petty 's longtime sideman Mike Campbell will always regret not going back to the Free Fallin' singer after completing his "The Boys of Summer" demo, because he wanted . Its just a magic guitar. Well, that may be true, Im just not nuts about putting that much time in on the road. I just dont like the way they look never really wanted one. And if its a track were building, the guitar solo would probably come later. Yeah, well is was back in days of the Vietnam draft, and I had drawn a really low number, so I knew I was going to be called if I dropped out. Itll probably be a long time before I get to do another one. I think when I was a teenager, there were probably dozens I wanted but couldnt afford. I finally just threw it in the corner and got an electric Kay. But there was no specific discussion when we came to make Hypnotic Eye that were going to draw from a specific part of the well, because each song just comes in from wherever it comes. I think the first thing I learned to play was Wooly Bully.. Well, I think that has been exaggerated I think I said that in a very tired moment one day, and its become something thats hounded me all year (laughs)! "The Deluxe is probably a '54 or a '55," says Mike Campbell's guitar tech about the Fender Deluxe Amp. Its kind of a noble pursuit, in a way. But George is probably my pinnacle of inspiration he and people like him. So sometimes you pick one up and it feels friendly, and sometimes it doesnt. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). But there were others. Through that experience, I got some records and really got interested in 50s rock. And speaking of reverence, one listen to Petty and Campbell as they discuss vintage guitars and amps, and its obvious these are two guys who make no bones about what has inspired them. I Walk The Line. He also played Buddy Hollys Thatll Be the Day, Fools Paradise, and lots of Elvis all the great Elvis/Scotty Moore records. I focused on everything. Another favourite we have to ask about is his mysterious pale blue Gretsch. In your early days, did you buy guitars more out of necessity rather than an Oh, Ive gotta have that! mentality? As for effects, there is a Boss GT6 multi-effects unit on sale, but don't spend all your money on that until you've considered the MKII Watkins Copicat tape echo, which would look nice in your home studio, right? Mike Campbell was best known as Tom Petty 's right-hand man for decades. So we pooled our money and drove to Tulsa on our way to L.A., where we met up with Denny and signed to Shelter. He is quoted as saying "I have a Fender Telecaster I call Red Dog. A pair of 50s Teles follows those as well as a Gretsch 6186 Clipper tuned to open-G for "I Won't Back Down." No, I like em both. $24.99. Thats where the 62 Gibson SG Junior and Runnin Down A Dream comes in It also just goes to show that sometimes you can pickup the best guitars in the weirdest places. We had some Fender amplifiers, they made a pretty cool sound. Well, I dont know its over 100, and theyre all really good ones. He was an amazing person. That album cover sort of put Rickenbacker back on the map. Which guitars, amp rigs and setups did you use on Highway Companion. Ive refinished it since that day. But I stick really closely to the groove with the instrument. Yeah, absolutely Carl Wilson was absolutely an influence. Yes, I always loved Luther Perkins. But there are certain songs where I use a certain guitar on the record that just has a certain colour and when I use the same guitar as I did on the record, it just sounds better because its perfectly right for that song. It was a very collaborative we worked together, wrote together, thought things through, and we were even together when we werent playing. Its a 67, which I actually bought a couple of tours ago in New Jersey, Campbell says. I just like to step out every decade or so. Watch Jack White showcase some of his wildest Fender custom builds in explosive Saturday Night Live performance, Zoom unveils new B2 Four bass multi-effects pedal, with Multi-Layer IR, 300 patches and a 60-second looper, Satchel: Malcolm Young influenced more guitarists than Eddie Van Halen or Eric Clapton, Watch Journey perform Black Magic Woman with Steve Lukather and original vocalist Gregg Rolie, Exploring Brad Paisleys awe-inspiring acoustic country playing. The tour includes a headlining show at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on April 28 and at the UK's Isle of Wight . Sold on 03 Oct 2017 Price guide for collectable Vinyl Records, CDs, Cassettes, Reel-to-reel tapes, 8-Track cartridges, MiniDiscs and more! The truth is that to have a harmonious group is not easy to do, and we do, Campbell says, evidently feeling lucky at the longstanding and successful relationship he has with Petty and the other Heartbreakers. Campbell is famed for the wide variety and sheer number of guitars he brings along to a show. There were some long friendships made there. Still, we took the music quite seriously. I think I gave it to a friend when I got a Stratocaster. Please try again. Look around you. He came over with Mick it was the first time I met Rick and I gave him a couple of tracks. Ive played on several things over the years with Rick most of his acoustic records, and on the new Johnny Cash record, American V, I played on the whole thing. In the course of making that record, we realized that we were so green. They really throw it out nicely onstage. Clearly, he knows a thing or two about what it takes to make great records. Yeah. Each day, wed bring a new one to check out. And he plans on doing likewise with The Dirty Knobs guitarist Jason Sinay, whom Agnesi has just hooked up with a matching white Firebird.His was not signed by Johnny Winter, though! retorts Campbell. And then I started to move forward. Pictured here is a sort of reissue Firebird V. On pgs. She showed up one day and said, Remember that $200? I said, You caught me on a good day! (laughs). He handed it to me and I pressed the strings down and was like, My God, you dont have to bleed!, Soon, Campbell graduated to electric and met Petty. So Ive been really lucky that way. Sometimes, however, youve got to make some radical home improvements before you can house all of them safely. Tom Petty &The Heartbreakers 2014 Hypnotic Eye 2 Guitar Picks &. There was a lot of energy, a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of laughs. I told Tom that and he was really happy. Like Neo., See Eric Clapton make a surprise guest appearance with Jerry Douglas to pay tribute to Jeff Beck and play While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Larry Carlton demos his $641 Sire signature guitar, Nuno Bettencourt explains his secret to playing difficult guitar solos it involves getting his leg up, Music meets gaming in the Beat Machine, the world's first music-making arcade machine. Aria Pro bass 7. I use that on American Girl because its got the right tone, and we lowered the key on that song a half step over the years. We get them because we love them as pieces of art and we use them on our records. Well thats a lot. For more information on Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers and the Mike Campbell guitar series, please visit TomPetty.com. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. But my favorite Rick is the semi-hollow blond one I played [on The Tonight Show]. "This is one of my favorites. Thats my favourite, Campbell admits. The stuff no one in their right mind would part with, and it offers a fascinating perspective from which to trace the career of a guitarist and producer who has worked with Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Fleetwood Mac, Don Henley, and now of course fronts The Dirty Knobs. Mike Campbell Heartbreaker American Standard Telecaster Electric Guitar We're sorry-this item is unavailable. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited. Guitar World is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Fenders doing a reissue of that Broadcaster. And Dunlop was going to do a version put out by Dunlop called Campbell Toe for Mike Campbell - a smaller version. Aug-16-2009, 3:58pm #4. I try not to (chuckles) because thatll wear you out. I dont know if it was an homage to the guitar, but we thought there should be at least a token instrument. That was a nice feeling, like nobody was carrying the whole load. 24) Mark in GA asked: What kind of guitar, pick-ups, amps, any effects pedals, et Campbell himself mentions the Daddy O in this September 1999 "Spotlight on a Heartbreaker" interview from the official Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers website. Here are some highlights. Amongst his peers today, Petty is revered. I gave him a hard time for keeping his guitar tech, Steve, so busy during the live show. You cant just walk away from a dot-neck 335 that nice.. You guys are doing Handle With Care on this tour. But this is a great-sounding guitar, and a real workhorse. Wake is easily my favorite album of all time. "Sherwood green Strat. How old were you when you started writing songs? Yeah, the Red Dog. We bought that in Florida from an old guitar student of mine.