Matt Thorpe

My guitars are treasured possessions and each one marks a point in time during the progression of both career and playing.

Around 1981 I purchased a Hagstrom Swede Electric Guitar, natural mahogany finish, brand new from Chase Music in Birmingham. I still use this guitar to this day. I fitted a Di Marzio Super Distortion Humbucker in the bridge position. The pickup had been purchased around 1977 and fitted to an Antoria Les Paul which had been my previous main guitar. The Antoria was part exchanged for an Ibanez M-340BS western style acoustic guitar which I still have.

In 1995 I purchased a 1990 Gibson Les Paul Standard in wine red. This guitar is usually my first choice for gigging and recording blues. The current pickup configuration is a Gibson Burstbucker #3 in the neck position and a Seymour Duncan Classic SH5 zebra coil in the neck. It originally came with the standard 490R & 498T Gibson pickups.

My next acquisition was in 2001 when I purchased a Fender USA Standard Stratocaster. This is the sunburst brown/red/black colour with white pickguard. This has now endured some pickup modifications also! There is a Seymour Duncan Little '59 in the neck postion, the middle position has the original, from the bridge, Fender Delta tone pickup, The bridge has a Seymour Duncan Hot Rail.

In 2003 I was given a Fender Standard Telecaster by my blues brother John Cohmer following my completion of mixing and production of The Nashville Sessions CD. This guitar is Arctic White and the back was signed by all the artists who attended the Nashville Sessions. It is unusual as John had modified it to include two Epiphone humbuckers which he preferred for playing slide.

In 2006 I purchased an Ibanez AR-300. Not sure why! I just loved the finish and it reminded me of the Antoria Les Paul I regretted parting with all those years back though it is a double cutaway. It has a similar quilted maple top and looks gorgeous. I changed the pickups on this. I put the Gibson 490R & 498T I had spare from my Gibson Les Paul, on it.

Also In 2006 I purchased a Godin Freeway SA. This has a quilted finish top. It has the additional controls required for the Roland GK guitar synthesiser interface including the synth pickup built in to the bridge. In addition the Godin pickups are excellent with a humbucker in the neck and bridge positions and a single coil in the middle. This guitar gets all of the best tones from the Les Paul and the Strat with synth access to boot!

		Matt Thorpe - Guitars
		My guitars are treasured possessions and each one marks a point in time during the progression of both career and playing. Around 1981 I purchased a Hagstrom Swede Electric Guitar, natural mahogany finish, brand new from Chase Music in Birmingham. I still use this guitar to this day. I fitted a Di Marzio Super Distortion Humbucker in the bridge position. The pickup had been purchased around 1977 and fitted to an Antoria Les Paul which had been my previous main guitar. The Antoria was part exchanged for an Ibanez M-340BS western style acoustic guitar which I still have. Hagstrom Guitars Brochure 1981 In 1995 I purchased a 1990 Gibson Les Paul Standard in wine red. This guitar is usually my first choice for gigging and recording blues. The current pickup configuration is a Gibson Burstbucker #3 in the neck position and a Seymour Duncan Classic SH5 zebra coil in the neck. It originally came with the standard 490R & 498T Gibson pickups. My next acquisition was in 2001 when I purchased a Fender USA Standard Stratocaster. This is the sunburst brown/red/black colour with white pickguard. This has now endured some pickup modifications also! There is a Seymour Duncan Little '59 in the neck postion, the middle position has the original, from the bridge, Fender Delta tone pickup, The bridge has a Seymour Duncan Hot Rail. In 2003 I was given a Fender Standard Telecaster by my blues brother John Cohmer following my completion of mixing and production of The Nashville Sessions CD. This guitar is Arctic White and the back was signed by all the artists who attended the Nashville Sessions. It is unusual as John had modified it to include two Epiphone humbuckers which he preferred for playing slide. In 2006 I purchased an Ibanez AR-300. Not sure why! I just loved the finish and it reminded me of the Antoria Les Paul I regretted parting with all those years back though it is a double cutaway. It has a similar quilted maple top and looks gorgeous. I changed the pickups on this. I put the Gibson 490R & 498T I had spare from my Gibson Les Paul, on it. Also In 2006 I purchased a Godin Freeway SA. This has a quilted finish top. It has the additional controls required for the Roland GK guitar synthesiser interface including the synth pickup built in to the bridge. In addition the Godin pickups are excellent with a humbucker in the neck and bridge positions and a single coil in the middle. This guitar gets all of the best tones from the Les Paul and the Strat with synth access to boot!