Your solo records have a more laid-back feel because youre not subject to the input of everybody pushing or pulling at you. A pair of 50s Teles follows those as well as a Gretsch 6186 Clipper tuned to open-G for "I Won't Back Down." I need different guitars for different things. would be able to answer every individual question.) I think they made it in a few different shapes theres a teardrop and a 335-style. I bought those two guitars for $200 a piece. The Official Mike Campbell Reverb Shop Chicago, IL, United States Send Message Preferred Seller Listings 89 Feedback 58 Info & Policies Oops, Something went wrong. Fellow songwriters from Stevie Nicks to Bob Dylan have waxed fervently on what Petty songs mean to them. I think its a Supro, but dont know the model it was just some weird-looking thing (laughs). We had some Fender amplifiers, they made a pretty cool sound. Then, of course, that turned around years later, where the old ones became much more expensive than new ones. So I feel pressure to be at my best. The hits keep coming. Mike Campbell: The Guitars" is a fifteen chapter web-documentary series directed by Justin Kreutzmann. It had a weird kind of Formica finish when I got it, but I put a pale blue finish on it.. And because it was a friendly situation, it didnt feel intimidating at all? Kept in immaculate condition, the guitar was used by Campbell to write the riff for Tom Petty's Good Enough. Sold on 03 Oct 2017 Price guide for collectable Vinyl Records, CDs, Cassettes, Reel-to-reel tapes, 8-Track cartridges, MiniDiscs and more! 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 . It didnt take long at all because I went in with everything written. Mike Campbell talks about the solid-bodied Rickenbacker 12-string he found shopping through the old "Recycler" advertising newspaper, driving to Anaheim, and later discovering it was built on the assembly line with George Harrison's guitar in the 1960's. Click the link to watch the video. Well a lot. Get the latest and greatest Guitar news with one of our guitar magazine subscriptions. As we wind down, we ask Campbell why he doesnt take to the producers chair more often. The 64 Strat. Plus, I was also below the weight limit, so I got a temporary deferment and never got called back. I think I was 16. This is where the tornado sequence for The. I dont really care as long as it comes out good! So when we started doing that song live, I just wanted to honor him. In the Heartbreakers catalog, are there some favorites albums for you? says Mike Campbell's guitar tech about the Gibson Firebird Vintage Electric Guitar. God, let me think Were on this quest to find another bass as good as this Hfner Club weve got. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: Tom Petty (vocals, guitar, harmonica); Mike Campbell (vocals, guitar, bass); Benmont Tench (piano, electric pianos, organ, Chamberlin, Clavinet); Howie Epstein (bass, background vocals).Additional personnel: Scott Thurston (acoustic & electric guitars); Steve Ferrone (drums); Lenny Castro (percussion).Producers: Tom Petty, Mike Campbell, Rick Rubin.Engineers . The bottom line is about tone. And I pulled it out for this tour and said to Tom, Why dont you try this? And he said, Theres the sound. All the other guitars theyre all good, but that guitar just has that tone. In this source video Mike Campbell is playing a Rickenbacker 325 Capri in black. I realised that when you produce somebody, you really need to give it 100 per cent of your energy. Highway Companion I think I wrote entirely on guitar. So I started playing it, and youre right, I played it for years. For many years, tours were also guitar hunts. And speaking of the Heartbreakers as a band, in the 80s you guys backed Bob Dylan. 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. Nov 3, 2020. We just werent ready to make a record. Whose idea was it? 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. Maybe all three of us, or maybe just Tom, depending on the song. Our drummer at the time, Stan Lynch, and Ron Blair, our bass player, who had both played in other bands in Florida, were in L.A. The sound and the feel of those records. Each instrument includes a small number of guitar picks used by Mike Campbell on the last Heartbreakers tour. I try not to (chuckles) because thatll wear you out. Its a more deliberate way of working, I sort of know exactly what I want to do. I love playing with them theyre the best rock and roll band there is, I think. "But I also have a 59 kind of Jimmy Page one thats really great, and I have one thats a 56, too. 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. The part about production Im a little apprehensive with is that when people come to you to produce their record, youve taken responsibility for their career. Except for the signature models, were talking 60s guitars, or. Yes, I always loved Luther Perkins. This is really solid and it's for W "It's an original Camel Toe. "It was Toms guitar in the early years for quite a while. Keith Richards, thats my hero. Rickenbacker 4003 (love this bass) 8. Actually, I did form a band before that a three-piece sort of blues-jam band. He came over with Mick it was the first time I met Rick and I gave him a couple of tracks. We were band members again. This is the bypass switch for the Whammy. On those, I used the older vintage acoustics. In your early days, did you buy guitars more out of necessity rather than an Oh, Ive gotta have that! mentality? Why is he selling them? What was it like, standing in a room playing alongside those guys? Thats my favourite. Well, I would get together in the garage with buddies, but I never really joined a band until I met up with Tom in Gainesville, after Id gone to college. And I asked him, Are you high? Of course, I didnt have an acoustic, and was dying to get one. Id like to give it to you.. Im told your guitar collection includes a Rickenbacker that has so far avoided full identification. Well, I finished the semester, but then we started getting gigs and I never went back to school. Custom Guitar Picks. But I also wont sacrifice [tonal] colour for convenience.. I wanna give you my guitar. I thought he was crazy on drugs or something. And there was a couple of Gibson J-45s. His favorite 12-string is the Tom Petty solidbody, which we did use on the record quite a bit. Rock and roll without it would be kinda sad, wouldnt it? I was going to ask how big that number might be. As the setlist starts to take shape, though, I try to minimise the number of guitar changes as much as I can. In fact, I was starting to think you were tracking, which didnt make any sense. 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. Its also a very quick way of working Highway Companion was three months. duplicated, some of them were edited or compiled together. I got it in Florida for $200, which I did not have at the time, but a friend of a friend had been in an automobile accident and got a settlement, so she had some extra money. Its kind of a noble pursuit, in a way. Look around you. Mike Campbell Heartbreaker American Standard Telecaster Electric Guitar We're sorry-this item is unavailable. "'That's weird,' Tom said, 'it kinda sounds like me,'". And it included something of an homage to the guitar. It spawns the hits "I Won't Back Down," "Free Fallin'" and "Runnin' Down A Dream" and remains in the Top 10 for 34 weeks. Wed never played Fenway and that was epic. Last year, we were talking one day about how we saw some old film somewhere with that guitar, and we thought, Hows that guitar doing? We got it out, and its doing great. And the top horn looks like somebody cut it it used to be like the 12-string on Torpedoes. Yea she got the sugar, oh yes she does. Early on, I wasnt buying guitars, because I couldnt afford em! I just dont like the way they look never really wanted one. I dont buy something unless it works, and I can use it. Madison Square Garden is a big deal, he begins, ticking off the most memorable shows of their recent 30-date US tour with an almost childlike enthusiasm. Malcolm Young more influential than EVH or Clapton? Theres a 1956 J-200 acoustic guitar, a Gold Top Les Paul Standard with coverless P-90s. Which guitars did you use on Highway Companion? Thats one of my favourites as well, but the Broadcaster is the one. One of Campbells most prized guitars in his collection is a white Firebird signed by the doyen of white Firebirds Johnny Winter, and by legendary jazz drummer Philly Joe for good measure. And I have them set up at home, in my studio. So I have to give Tom credit for talking me down the other path. The sunburst 64 Strat youre touring with now and have played for years, is that Mikes guitar? 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. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Mike had some really weird little guitar that he played slide on. One guy had a Gibson, one guy had a Fender, so youd learn the differences and how to use them. The acoustics were all Martins the Tom Petty signature models which we had just got. Guitar Center 1.03M subscribers Mike Campbell's guitar playing and songwriting come from a place of joy from his long career with Tom Petty & The Heartbreaks, to joining Fleetwood Mac in. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Well, hes right up there. But if I had a choice, Id probably use my old D-28. Well, they all make a different sound, you know? Just doing a Heartbreakers album can put you in a home (laughs)! But we also draw from what weve already done, and we try not to repeat ourselves. One side of Campbell's guitar arsenal covers all the bases. 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. A new episode of Gibson TV's The Collection hosted by Mark Agnesi explores Campbell's literal "carousel" of stunning guitars, how he came to own some of them, and what role those magical instruments played in his lengthy, incredible career. Campbell is playing a Gold Top with coverless P-90s, a guitar that remains one of his go-to Gibsons. Theyre both difficult in their own way. This time, he quickly snapped it up. I think the first good guitar I bought was the 64 Stra Tom is playing on the current tour. And we did it at Jeffs home studio. It used to be people didnt really want much for them because they were old. We started out playing those big Super Beatle amps made by Vox. Pretty much, yeah (laughs)! It worked because everyone knew each other, and were hanging out before there was a band. 26) Hank asked: I saw that you use those Danelectro pedals. It's the epitome of picking a niche theme, going all in, and nailing it. Pictured here is a sort of reissue Firebird V. On pgs. Note: Epstein replaced Blair in 1982, and passed away in 2003. The one that I bought, I took it in here in this room, and plugged it into an amp, and the tone was just I usually play bright guitars, jangly stuff and this thing was like thick and full, says Campbell. Bath I was considering joining the Air Force, so when Tom asked if I wanted to join the band I said, Well, Im in school and Im thinking about signing up for the Air Force. And he said Are you crazy? And after the first album, and with Damn The Torpedoes breaking out, you could buy pretty much anything. But theyre also both inspiring in their own way. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Its my main Gibson. We still have that kind of awe about what we do.. But Mike has some that make all these sounds. Were you paying attention to guitar tones, or more focused on sounding good as a group? Have you thought about where you sit in the pantheon of rock songwriters? Or do you just typically react to the emotions and events of a given day? It saw plenty action, too, before meeting an untimely end. It was playable. Is there anything in particular you look for, in terms of collecting acoustic guitars? Jan 19, 2019 - Explore Janet's board "Mike Campbell" on Pinterest. And of course Mark Knopfler, who I think sounds like he soaks up a lot of J.J.s thing. Hes been a co-producer on some of the most successful albums in rock history. Aug-16-2009, 3:58pm #4. Did that stem from the fact that you wrote with an acoustic? Do you remember how the concept was pitched to you? But it all started playing friends parties and school dances in Gainesville, Florida. Well, its mostly about the groove, isnt it? When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Or are you more likely to buy something because you need a certain sound for a certain song. So weve got to have a Gibson on this one. Its hard, theres just so many great guitarists from that era, its just hard to narrow them down to who your favorites are, but George is definitely one of mine. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Holding the groove down and a sense of melody, tone all of those things. And again, we have a lot of songs to record. Still Thrilled. My dad was in the Air Force, and he was leaning on me to sign up so I could make some choices of where I might be deployed. "That was my guitar for several years until Tom sat on it and broke the neck off of it". I love the Fender Deluxe, and I play the Vox AC30 quite a bit. Mike also has another band called The Dirty Knobs, which is his sideband. The Calhoun V2 is a collaborative signature pedal for legendary guitarist, writer, and producer Mike Campbell. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited. Guitarist plays $40 Harley Benton on arena tour, Marshall pedal reissues finally confirmed. I think its the last one for a while, simply because theres a lot of recording projects I want to finish, and they dont get finished when we put half of each year into touring. 1989: Petty releases his first official solo album, "Full Moon Fever," co-produced by Jeff Lynne and Mike Campbell. Yeah, it does. Itd be okay. I like Vox guitars a lot. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Its the one Ive used the most, and I bought it because Roger McGuinn played one. We have a live album that Mikes producing, and a Heartbreakers album that was started a year ago and is a quarter of the way done. Well thats a lot. The first song I ever played on guitar was Baby Let Me Follow You Down. A friend had the Bob Dylan record, and he taught me the chords to that. Angus Young, Malcom, you know, whatever, it's just solid as a rock. 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. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, But I dont really buy anything unless I think Im going to use it. Mick liked one of them, but he never did work on it. It's what he plays on 'Free Falling," says Mike Campbell's guitar tech while talking about the Rickenbacker 360 Electric Guitar. How old were you when you started writing songs? Mike Campbell Reflects on His Long Career as the Rock Guitarist's Guitarist By Joe Bosso published April 23, 2020 From his 40+ years as Tom Petty's right-hand man to his current roles in Fleetwood Mac and his own group, The Dirty Knobs, Campbell looks back on an incredible career (Image credit: Kevin Scanlon)