Title: Used Guitars
Artist: Volin, Raney & Sonic Blues
Label: CD Baby
Product Type: COMPACT DISCS
UPC: 710073004125
Genre: Blues

Randy Volin was born in the late 50's in Detroit Michigan and his first memory memory of becoming hooked on pop music started the night the Beatles debuted on the Ed Sullivan Shoe. For some reason he still doesn't quite comprehend, Randy became totally enthralled with music, especially the Blues, but he didn't learn how to play an instrument until 1971. After Jimi Hendrix died, Randy bought his first guitar, a used Fender Jaguar (which he still has), and within 2 years he had acquired his first gig as a bass player. In 1977, Randy landed a record contract with A&M records with his band The Look, and toured extensively while releasing three albums. In 1986, Randy finally went back to his roots, and dedicated his life as a player to the Blues. From 1986 till now, Randy has played in the Tri State area of Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio continuously, while releasing 2 solo CDs. He has played with and opened for artists such as Joe Cocker, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eddie Money, Koko Taylor, Junior Wells, Albert King, Lonnie Brooks, Cheap Trick, Steve Marriott, John Mellencamp, The Kinks, Greg Kihn, Peter Frampton, April Wine, Mitch Ryder, Sonny Landreth, Johnny Johnson, John Mayall, Jeff Healy, Hubert Sumlin, J. Geils and many, many others. Randy is a self-confessed gear head and also operates Rockin Daddy's Vintage Guitars, Inc., just north of Detroit. One visit to his web site and you'll quickly discover that Randy also has an envious stash of some of the most desirable vintage gear ever made. Most recently for club work I have been using my 1964 Super Reverb loaded w/JBL D 110s. My 65 Vibrolux Reverb, also loaded w/JBL D 110's would get a little mushy trying to hold their own I am not a volume guy really. I like to hit the back wall but I don't play loud just to play loud. Regarding tubes, I gig so much that I don't want to spend $150 on NOS 6L6 tubes, just to have them banged around in my truck. So I've been using an older Sovtek GZ34, standard matched 5881XTs, and NOS 12AX7's. For years I've used Vintage II cloth cables from Horizon. I think they won the guitar cable shootout. Tortex picks, 1.14mm, the thicker the better. I also use Ernie Ball strings and have for 28 years. Can't change now. I make up my own sets. High to low it's .11, .14, .18, .32, .44, .60, and I always tune to concert pitch, or A 440 . My guitars vary. I usually use an original 1957 sunburst Strat, 100% original, an original 1960 sunburst Strat, 100% original, and a 1989 Squire Strat that I had routed for 50's Danelectro lipstick tube pickups. I use that for slide. The gauges on that are big. High to low, .15, .19, .22 plain, .36, .48, .60. For electric slide I use the Dunlop slide, #215. Love the combination of really thick glass on big strings. On resonators or acoustic guitars, I use old Mighty Mite slides. On occasion, I'll play PAF loaded 335s or Sunburst Les Pauls. But I have to say this, it's getting rarer for me to bring those out than it used to be. A stupid mishap, or just the babysitting factor takes away from the part I like best, hitting the standby switch, and just taking off. These guitars see more action in the recording studio, because it's a lot more controlled and safer environment. For effects, I have a few things. A prototype Fulltone Fat Boost, or a Zvex SHO, both just like the MXR Micro Amp, it's the original SuperHard On! A TS 9 (an original one with the 4558 chip), an Ibanez CS 9 for my whirly bird sounds. It's a lot easier on the back than a Leslie. And a RMC3 Wah that I've had since 1994. I am a fan of all kinds of boxes used correctly. Teese, Klon, MXR, Electro Harmonix, Fulltone, Fuzzfaces, Univibes, Zvex, you name it, I have 3 of each. Do you use a pick religiously? Yes. And I also use my fingers, thumbs, back of my hand, elbow, womens garter belts. Whatever! Whom do you admire most as a player and why, Randy? Asking a simple question now, huh? There are just so many fine players...I always loved Albert King the most. His touch and tone said it all. He played heavy blues. Deep down in the well blues. I owned his Flying V in the 80s, the original Lucy. What a guitar it was. I'd say that's the most famous guitar of all now. Muddy, BB, Freddy King, Little Walter, Jimmy Rogers, T Bone, Louis & Sam Meyers, Gatemouth, Wayne Bennett, Danny Gatton, Sonny Landreth, Jimi, SRV, Jimmie Vaughan, Mr. Clapton, Mr. Ronnie Earl, old Johnny Winter, Leslie West, Beck, Page, I can go on and on. It's really not a fair question. When you're playing a larger venue or an outdoor gig, how does your usual set up change, specifically? We are doing lots of festivals and outdoor shows this summer, and I'll take another amp with the Super Reverb or Fuchs. A 1955 (low power) Twin w/ P12Qs. It's strange, when I take 2 amps, I can turn both of the amp's volume down, Twin on 4 and Supers on 3. If I'm using only one amp, the Super's volume would be on 4. The Twin on maybe 5. But I have noticed, the Fuchs is so tuned, it's getting to be able to be an all around piece of gear. With as many amps as you have (see Wall of Shame), why no Tweeds, that's unusual for a Blues guy isn't it? I use tweeds, just not live. But unless I have a big enough road crew, we just have 1 guy who's a 'do all', it's the babysitting factor again. I'd rather play than feel like I have to keep looking back over my shoulder to make sure somone isn't walking off with a Bassman or a Twin. I never saw SRV with any tweed, or Ronnie Earl. I think I prefer the clean headroom of blackface gear overall. Aside from your strats what are some of your other favorite guitars and why? I love Teles, cause there so blocky. They really are huge sounding. I love blackgaurd boatnecks and those bridge pickups. 335s and Les Pauls. They have this quality in workmanship and tone that just can't be beat. Any tricks or tips you've picked up over the years that you can share in regard to getting (and keeping) killer tone? Yeah. Big wire, big ears, great tools, as in guitars and amps, and good living. All of this chain of command starts between your ears. Don't kill the train of thought with pills, powder, drink, and whatever. If your head and heart are in the right place, your tone will soon follow. And play. Listen. And play some more. Did I forget to mention that you've got to play? You've played with an impressive group of guitar legends over the years. Have you observed anything in particular in regard to their setups or technique that you can share with our readers? Yeah. All good players have developed a technique that's pivotal to their tone. SRV had such strong hands. His tone was as strong. When I was 15, I got a call to back up Mr. Kansas City, you know, Wilbur Harrison. He played electric guitar and beat on a big old bass drum at the same time. He liked his drink too. But he had a style that sounded like a train to me. He'd get going and get this momentum going and play and sing such effortless sounding things. That is until I tried to play it. He taught me a lot in just one gig. There were no rehearsals, and I was only 15 years old. He'd look at me a little cross, and I knew he thought I was playing like a young white kid. Then he'd smile, and roll his eyes back into his head, and I knew my playing was staying out of the way of his singing, and he'd start whooping and hollering, spurring me on. He taught me to make my ears big, and to be aware of everything around me. He also taught me to enjoy life. And especially the girls. If the women don't dig it, nobody will. They don't have to know why they like what their hearing, they just have to like it. And if you play a club filled full of women, then there's also a club filled with men. Now, there's a happening going on. Not exactly rocket science here. Who have you enjoyed being on the same stage with the most and least? One of my most astounding moments was playing in Cincinnati in the mid 80's. I don't remember the place, but I was playing the old song 'Hallelujah' by Ray Charles. My

Tracks:
1.1 Gone, Gone, Out of Sight
1.2 Don't Start Me to Talking
1.3 V - 8 Ford
1.4 Sidewinder
1.5 She's Into Something
1.6 Stick in
1.7 Little Love
1.8 44 Blues