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Question:

Kenny Wayne Shepard appeared on NBC’s Later tonight, he’s pretty darn good, has far more talent than I ever will and the guy’s only 22.  Ok, but I’m tired of SRV sound alikes.  But his band played 2 songs, and all that you could hear of the vocals is what bled through to the other microphones.  The wrong person was in charge of making the sound work. I hope they fix that problem before anyone else brings a band on that show. Pete — …and when everything’s broken, we’re done. –Joe Walsh

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> x-no-archive: yes >Kenny Wayne Shepard appeared on NBC’s Later tonight > He seemed pretty convinced of his own brilliance. I suggest he shut up and play > his guitar before people figure out he should be doing "A Tribute to Stevie > Ray" along side the Elvis impersonators of "The Legends of Rock & Roll" in > Vegas. > One fiftieth of a dollar and worth every bit of it.

Great idea, next year in Vegas now all the Elvis impersonators will be playing guitar like SRV, and maybe the show will open with a Doors tribute band (who’s guitar player will dress like Jimi) Pete — …and when everything’s broken, we’re done. –Joe Walsh

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> He seemed pretty convinced of his own brilliance. I suggest he shut up and play > his guitar before people figure out he should be doing "A Tribute to Stevie > Ray" along side the Elvis impersonators of "The Legends of Rock & Roll" in > Vegas.

When you’re good at something like this, and practically the whole planet, from the "experts" in the industry to the fans spending the money, tell you how godlike you are, it’s kinda hard to keep your head on straight, especially at 22… -Miles

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> He seemed pretty convinced of his own brilliance. I suggest he shut up and play > his guitar before people figure out he should be doing "A Tribute to Stevie > Ray" along side the Elvis impersonators of "The Legends of Rock & Roll" in > Vegas. > When you’re good at something like this, and practically > the whole planet, from the "experts" in the industry to > the fans spending the money, tell you how godlike you are, > it’s kinda hard to keep your head on straight, especially > at 22… > -Miles

The guy has a real good natural feel for the instrument.  He might or might not last though.  At 22 you’re allmost a baby for one thing.  When SRV started out, the comparisons between him and Jimi were unavoidable, but when it came right down to it, he had his own unmistakable style, and now people like Kenny Wayne Shepard are mimiking him.  Now Kenny Wayne Shepard has to survive long enough to find out what his own fingerprints look like. Pete — …and when everything’s broken, we’re done. –Joe Walsh

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Yuh…! SRV wuzza real nuthin’ player….and You’re whut? > Ya know, it’s surprising that so many guitarists still think SRV was really > good, cuz if you listen to him and then, say, put on an Albert King CD or > Freddie King CD, you’ll see that he’s just regurgtating what they’re doing. > That’s not to say I’m a huge fan of Albert King or Freddie, them and pretty > much all the Blues legends in that generation sound quite alike, however > good-sounding they actually are. True, SRV did have some redeeming qualities, > like his sense of rythm.  Unfortunately, Kenny Wayne Shepard didn’t inherit any > of those.

Bill

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Ya know, it’s surprising that so many guitarists still think SRV was really good, cuz if you listen to him and then, say, put on an Albert King CD or Freddie King CD, you’ll see that he’s just regurgtating what they’re doing. That’s not to say I’m a huge fan of Albert King or Freddie, them and pretty much all the Blues legends in that generation sound quite alike, however good-sounding they actually are. True, SRV did have some redeeming qualities, like his sense of rythm.  Unfortunately, Kenny Wayne Shepard didn’t inherit any of those.  

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I saw them guys playing here in Long Island. A friend had to work and asked me to go with his girlfriend. That guys tone and licks were all the same, sounding like a long SRV and Hendrix Jam. I got a freaking headache, Van Halen was no bargain also asshole lead singer in 60’s attire running around like a decapitated chicken. Bass sounded muddy, BS echoed out guitar solo , 10 minute drum solo.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Ya know, it’s surprising that so many guitarists still think SRV was really >good, cuz if you listen to him and then, say, put on an Albert King CD or >Freddie King CD, you’ll see that he’s just regurgtating what they’re doing. >That’s not to say I’m a huge fan of Albert King or Freddie, them and pretty >much all the Blues legends in that generation sound quite alike, however >good-sounding they actually are. True, SRV did have some redeeming qualities, >like his sense of rythm.  Unfortunately, Kenny Wayne Shepard didn’t inherit any >of those.

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> Ya know, it’s surprising that so many guitarists still think SRV was really > good, cuz if you listen to him and then, say, put on an Albert King CD or > Freddie King CD, you’ll see that he’s just regurgtating what they’re doing. > That’s not to say I’m a huge fan of Albert King or Freddie, them and pretty > much all the Blues legends in that generation sound quite alike, however > good-sounding they actually are. True, SRV did have some redeeming qualities, > like his sense of rythm.  Unfortunately, Kenny Wayne Shepard didn’t inherit any > of those.

I didn’t know they were related. Oh yeah, all them jazz geetawrists sound about the same, so do them classical and country pickers. Hell, guitar is just plain boring and there’s nothing new anyone can do, so why do we even bother? Steve Before you buy.

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Well, he has a beat up looking Strat. That’s cool. And he has three names like Miss America.

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It must have been about 3 yrs ago, but I swear I read an article I havent seen since, on KWS when he now hit the (guitar mag) scene, he said that particular strat is a ‘64, and he sanded the neck back finish off, because ‘it feels better’, sanded some of the body front finish off because he ‘likes that beat up look’. And he had it refretted with jumbo frets, because he found it ‘more comfortable to do bends on’. Hey dig that ‘KWS’ embroidered on his guitar strap, where did he think of that. Damn i’d like to find that mag, just to confirm all that crap I read and thats its not my sick imagination. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Well, he has a beat up looking Strat. That’s cool. And he has three names like >Miss America.

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >It must have been about 3 yrs ago, but I swear I read an article I havent >seen since, on KWS when he now hit the (guitar mag) scene, he said that >particular strat is a ‘64, and he sanded the neck back finish off, because >’it feels better’, sanded some of the body front finish off because he >’likes that beat up look’. And he had it refretted with jumbo frets, because >he found it ‘more comfortable to do bends on’. Hey dig that ‘KWS’ >embroidered on his guitar strap, where did he think of that. >Damn i’d like to find that mag, just to confirm all that crap I read and >thats its not my sick imagination.

I’ts a shame that he thought he needed to destroy that old Strat like that, I like him allot less now.  If you’re going to butcher a guitar, there’s no reason to do it to one that can’t be replaced.  The idiot.

>Well, he has a beat up looking Strat. That’s cool. And he has three names >like >Miss America.

Having Wayne for a middle name isn’t such a good sign. Pete * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

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First, that’s just plain sick.  Making that many brutal changes to an instrument like that just means you found the wrong guitar not that you need to destroy it. What exactly is it that people like about his playing anyways?  He isn’t doing anything groundbreaking in the world of blues, or even doing anything amazing with what has been done.  I say he’s just becoming a tool of corporate rock. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->It must have been about 3 yrs ago, but I swear I read an article > I havent >seen since, on KWS when he now hit the (guitar mag) scene, he > said that >particular strat is a ‘64, and he sanded the neck back finish > off, because >’it feels better’, sanded some of the body front finish off > because he >’likes that beat up look’. And he had it refretted with jumbo > frets, because >he found it ‘more comfortable to do bends on’. Hey dig that > ‘KWS’ >embroidered on his guitar strap, where did he think of that. >Damn i’d like to find that mag, just to confirm all that crap I > read and >thats its not my sick imagination. > I’ts a shame that he thought he needed to destroy that old Strat > like that, I like him allot less now.  If you’re going to butcher > a guitar, there’s no reason to do it to one that can’t be > replaced.  The idiot. >>Well, he has a beat up looking Strat. That’s cool. And he has > three names >like >>Miss America. > Having Wayne for a middle name isn’t such a good sign. > Pete > * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * > The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

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Wasn’t there a famous quote from the pantent office around the turn of the century along the lines of:  "everything that will ever be invented has been invented" – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Ya know, it’s surprising that so many guitarists still think SRV was > really > good, cuz if you listen to him and then, say, put on an Albert King CD > or > Freddie King CD, you’ll see that he’s just regurgtating what they’re > doing. > That’s not to say I’m a huge fan of Albert King or Freddie, them and > pretty > much all the Blues legends in that generation sound quite alike, > however > good-sounding they actually are. True, SRV did have some redeeming > qualities, > like his sense of rythm.  Unfortunately, Kenny Wayne Shepard didn’t > inherit any > of those. > I didn’t know they were related. > Oh yeah, all them jazz geetawrists sound about the same, so do them > classical and country pickers. Hell, guitar is just plain boring and > there’s nothing new anyone can do, so why do we even bother? > Steve > Before you buy.

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Let’s put this into proper perspective…he’s making millions with his niche and you probably aren’t. Seems to me he is the smart one. huh!??

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Alvin and the Chipmonks sold a lot of records , The Archies made a lot of money very under-recorded , hardly any record sales , didn’t make a lot of money ….Give him a listen sometime to test your proper perspective …. Dr.Wow – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Let’s put this into proper perspective…he’s making millions with his niche > and you probably aren’t. Seems to me he is the smart one. huh!??

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>Let’s put this into proper perspective…he’s making millions with his niche >and you probably aren’t. Seems to me he is the smart one. huh!??

The kid isn’t making millions. He isn’t, you aren’t, and neither am I smartass.  And when someone butchers an old Fender guitar, I’ll call him an idiot, that’s just the way it goes. He’s not so smart as far as I can tell, and he sure isn’t rich. But he is a very good guitar player, hopefully someday he’ll also be a more entertaining guitar player.  The guy’s got great potential, but that’s all he has right now other than a foot in the door. Pete Got questions?  Get answers over the phone at Keen.com. Up to 100 minutes free! http://www.keen.com

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Let’s put this into proper perspective…he’s making millions >with his niche >and you probably aren’t. Seems to me he is the smart one. huh!?? >The kid isn’t making millions. He isn’t, you aren’t, and neither >am I smartass.  And when someone butchers an old Fender guitar, >I’ll call him an idiot, that’s just the way it goes. >He’s not so smart as far as I can tell, and he sure isn’t rich. >But he is a very good guitar player, hopefully someday he’ll also >be a more entertaining guitar player.  The guy’s got great >potential, but that’s all he has right now other than a foot in >the door. >Pete >Got questions?  Get answers over the phone at Keen.com. >Up to 100 minutes free! >http://www.keen.com

Wow.  Give the kid a break.  After all, he really IS still just a kid (to me anyway), and very talented (despite what many have been saying).  So what if he wants to sound and be like SRV?  A lot of people (including SRV) were clearly inspired by earlier guitarist.  I personally would not want to do all of what he did to a vintage strat, but if he REALLY PLAYS the strat it has became a tool for his creation.  And you know, while I do not have the funds to get a vintage strat to do all those things to it, I think nothing of doing it to my cheaper Japanese guitars.  I also have known MANY very talented guitar players (that are definately not idiots) and nearly all approach their guitars like they are tools – because to them they are. SRV was not concerned with having a stock instrument.  His had been refretted many times, pickups from different guitars, necks from one guitar to a body of another, refretted with jumbo frets, finish falling off (maybe he took some off too I don’t know).  The necks were composite radiused from all the work done to them.  He scratched his initials on the bodies (in the finish) of many of his strats from what I understand.  I suppose he was an idiot. I hear nothing of the talk of Hendrix or Townsend being idiots – they smashed and burned guitars.  Clapton and Hendrix painted wild stuff all over there guitars – that was done only for looks – destroying the finish on a perfectly good instrument.  Dare we even go where Eddie VanHalen has gone?  He certainly butchered many instruments – including an Ibanez Destroyer that he admittedly hacked up so bad that it did not sound good anylonger.  But his hacked up part-o-casters revolutionized guitar playing and making.  Ian Moore plays a strat with an esquire neck (oh my, the Wrong neck!).  Eric Johnson (Mr. Tonehead himself) changes pickups and rewires his beloved strat. Many good guitar players carried on their tradition later – hmmm – all must be idiots.   Where do you draw the line? Fender and Gibson make reissue guitars that come beat up from the factory (usually not quite as bad as KWS’s example, but with rust, dents, chunks of finish missing, and so on.  People don’t understand that either.  That is OK because Fender and Gibson are cashing in while those same people shake their heads.  People should be more concerned with the crazy PRICE that is being paid for these instruments instead of someone taking a piece of sandpaper to their own workhorse guitar.  You will likely have to steal that guitar from KWS if you ever hoped to get it from him. I put on sperzel keys, replacement pickups, stringsaver saddles on my insruments.  I also change the wiring and shield it with conductive paint.  I suppose I must be considered an idiot for doing that too, but to me it is now a better guitar.  I have even been known to steal wool the finish on the back of the neck of the guitar to remove it because a satin or oiled neck is more comfortable to play.  When I sell it, it will likely be worth less than if it was totally stock (certainly not worth as much as if you added on the parts value to the guitar). Kenny would likely cry his eyes out if someone ripped off his beloved altered strat – more so than most of these collectors with pristine examples of instruments that never get played.  Any you know, there is a lot to be said about an instrument that has had the hell played out of it – they tend to sound better for some reason (my active imagination?).  It is like coming home.  I don’t know about you, but my house probably has a towel on the floor in the bathroom, the shudders need paint, I have to trim my bushes, and other stuff.  I also would not eat something if it fell on the floor.  But we did remodel the kitchen to better suit us instead of insisting that it be exactly the same.  It is my house, and I’ll do what feels best to me. It feels like home.  My guitars are the same way.  That does not make me or anyone else an idiot.

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Okay, you just gave numerous refernces to players who beat the crap out of their guitars.  But none of them involved taking sandpaper to it the way he did.  If he played it hard and it recieved it’s battle scars there wouldn’t be a problem.  Why not do something that makes sense like buying an old beat up fender with a neck that’s been refinished so it doesn’t matter? He’s a moron for what he did. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->>Let’s put this into proper perspective…he’s making millions >with his niche >>and you probably aren’t. Seems to me he is the smart one. huh!?? >The kid isn’t making millions. He isn’t, you aren’t, and neither >am I smartass.  And when someone butchers an old Fender guitar, >I’ll call him an idiot, that’s just the way it goes. >He’s not so smart as far as I can tell, and he sure isn’t rich. >But he is a very good guitar player, hopefully someday he’ll also >be a more entertaining guitar player.  The guy’s got great >potential, but that’s all he has right now other than a foot in >the door. >Pete >Got questions?  Get answers over the phone at Keen.com. >Up to 100 minutes free! >http://www.keen.com > Wow.  Give the kid a break.  After all, he really IS still just a kid > (to me anyway), and very talented (despite what many have been > saying).  So what if he wants to sound and be like SRV?  A lot of > people (including SRV) were clearly inspired by earlier guitarist.  I > personally would not want to do all of what he did to a vintage strat, > but if he REALLY PLAYS the strat it has became a tool for his > creation.  And you know, while I do not have the funds to get a > vintage strat to do all those things to it, I think nothing of doing > it to my cheaper Japanese guitars.  I also have known MANY very > talented guitar players (that are definately not idiots) and nearly > all approach their guitars like they are tools – because to them they > are. > SRV was not concerned with having a stock instrument.  His had been > refretted many times, pickups from different guitars, necks from one > guitar to a body of another, refretted with jumbo frets, finish > falling off (maybe he took some off too I don’t know).  The necks were > composite radiused from all the work done to them.  He scratched his > initials on the bodies (in the finish) of many of his strats from what > I understand.  I suppose he was an idiot. > I hear nothing of the talk of Hendrix or Townsend being idiots – they > smashed and burned guitars.  Clapton and Hendrix painted wild stuff > all over there guitars – that was done only for looks – destroying the > finish on a perfectly good instrument.  Dare we even go where Eddie > VanHalen has gone?  He certainly butchered many instruments – > including an Ibanez Destroyer that he admittedly hacked up so bad that > it did not sound good anylonger.  But his hacked up part-o-casters > revolutionized guitar playing and making.  Ian Moore plays a strat > with an esquire neck (oh my, the Wrong neck!).  Eric Johnson (Mr. > Tonehead himself) changes pickups and rewires his beloved strat. Many > good guitar players carried on their tradition later – hmmm – all must > be idiots.   Where do you draw the line? > Fender and Gibson make reissue guitars that come beat up from the > factory (usually not quite as bad as KWS’s example, but with rust, > dents, chunks of finish missing, and so on.  People don’t understand > that either.  That is OK because Fender and Gibson are cashing in > while those same people shake their heads.  People should be more > concerned with the crazy PRICE that is being paid for these > instruments instead of someone taking a piece of sandpaper to their > own workhorse guitar.  You will likely have to steal that guitar from > KWS if you ever hoped to get it from him. > I put on sperzel keys, replacement pickups, stringsaver saddles on my > insruments.  I also change the wiring and shield it with conductive > paint.  I suppose I must be considered an idiot for doing that too, > but to me it is now a better guitar.  I have even been known to steal > wool the finish on the back of the neck of the guitar to remove it > because a satin or oiled neck is more comfortable to play.  When I > sell it, it will likely be worth less than if it was totally stock > (certainly not worth as much as if you added on the parts value to the > guitar). > Kenny would likely cry his eyes out if someone ripped off his beloved > altered strat – more so than most of these collectors with pristine > examples of instruments that never get played.  Any you know, there is > a lot to be said about an instrument that has had the hell played out > of it – they tend to sound better for some reason (my active > imagination?).  It is like coming home.  I don’t know about you, but > my house probably has a towel on the floor in the bathroom, the > shudders need paint, I have to trim my bushes, and other stuff.  I > also would not eat something if it fell on the floor.  But we did > remodel the kitchen to better suit us instead of insisting that it be > exactly the same.  It is my house, and I’ll do what feels best to me. > It feels like home.  My guitars are the same way.  That does not make > me or anyone else an idiot.

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Amen, brother!!!

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Well, where do I start…first of all if my father happened to be a concert PROMOTER like Kenny Wayne Sheppard Senior is maybe I would be the next Kenny Wayne Sheppard, but that doesn’t mean I would want to be. From the record sales perspective he’s just a gimmick(like Hanson, Backstreet boys, N-sync and the list will go on), as far as I’m concerned he might as well just join Hanson, he would fit right in and they would probably both benefit from the arrangement… And someone (his father, the record company, whoever else)is capitalizing on his guitar playing sounding similar to someone who is no longer with us, therefore no longer able to come up with "new" music. If SRV was still around, it’s a sure bet no one would know who "Kenny Wayne Sheppard" is. I personally would rather be poor and making "original" music everyone hates in my garage than be a gimmick. KWS is doubtlessly a good guitarist, anyone that says otherwise should shut up and go practice to work off some of that jealousy… but, there is quite a difference between a good guitarist and a good musician… in my opinion a good guitarist is about the same as a good soccer player or a good basket-weaver, it’s just something you do till it comes out right; but a good musician, a true musician, is one who is recognized as an artist. KWS has a long way to go there.     That having been said, I buy his records too, they make good Jam Tracks…   P.S. Isn’t this alt.guitar.amps???? > Let’s put this into proper perspective…he’s making millions with his niche > and you probably aren’t. Seems to me he is the smart one. huh!??

Before you buy.

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I have a 64 strat that didn’t need any sanding on the back of the neck, nore any roughing up of the finish. It’s worn in all the right places. I think he got the wrong guitar if he felt the need to do that. A good strat from that era will already be worn down from use. Thats how you tell its a good one. Well played in. > First, that’s just plain sick.  Making that many brutal changes to an instrument > like that just means you found the wrong guitar not that you need to destroy it. > What exactly is it that people like about his playing anyways?  He isn’t doing > anything groundbreaking in the world of blues, or even doing anything amazing > with what has been done.  I say he’s just becoming a tool of corporate rock.

I take nothing away from him ability wise. He is doing it and he’s young. He is damn good, no matter the hype. Atleast he actually plays it, gets blisters and all that. Better than getting all prettied up and learning to lip sinc and dance at the same time (I can’t do it!) Michael

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a new one, an old one, a fender, a gibson, a boogie, a marhall, dry, or FX’ed, its the player….. THANX BLACKIE

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>Okay, you just gave numerous refernces to players who beat the crap out of >their guitars.  But none of them involved taking sandpaper to it the way >he did.  

No – but it is not like scatching your initials into a guitar, smashing it, or setting it on fire is any less destructive. These are more destructive examples.  Why did they do that?  I would not call him an idiot (or your choice of terms – ‘moron’) for doing it even though I wouldn’t choose to do that. Eddie took a chainsaw to his – but he admitted that was stupid after it sounded terrible after his creative transformation.  I am sure KWS’s strat sounds great. If he played it hard and it recieved it’s battle scars there >wouldn’t be a problem.  Why not do something that makes sense like buying >an old beat up fender with a neck that’s been refinished so it doesn’t >matter?

Because that is HIS fender, he wanted to change it.  It may have been beat all to hell in the first place.  No – I personally wouldn’t do it.  But I am sure that he probably likes the way it feels now and it looks older and more beat up – probably the way he likes it.  At the time he did this, he probalby did not have a stack of cash or vintage fenders at his disposal to put a part-o-caster together.  Any why should he?  He already had one to work with. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->He’s a moron for what he did.

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Okay, you just gave numerous refernces to players who beat the crap out of >their guitars.  But none of them involved taking sandpaper to it the way >he did.   > No – but it is not like scatching your initials into a guitar, > smashing it, or setting it on fire is any less destructive. These are > more destructive examples.  Why did they do that?  I would not call > him an idiot (or your choice of terms – ‘moron’) for doing it even > though I wouldn’t choose to do that. > Eddie took a chainsaw to his – but he admitted that was stupid after > it sounded terrible after his creative transformation.  I am sure > KWS’s strat sounds great.

Duane Allman scratched his first name across the back of his ‘59 Tobacco burst Les Paul. And we all know what an idiot *he* was. TC

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> >Okay, you just gave numerous refernces to players who beat the crap out of > >their guitars.  But none of them involved taking sandpaper to it the way > >he did. > No – but it is not like scatching your initials into a guitar, > smashing it, or setting it on fire is any less destructive. These are > more destructive examples.  Why did they do that?  I would not call > him an idiot (or your choice of terms – ‘moron’) for doing it even > though I wouldn’t choose to do that. > Eddie took a chainsaw to his – but he admitted that was stupid after > it sounded terrible after his creative transformation.  I am sure > KWS’s strat sounds great. >Duane Allman scratched his first name across the back of his ‘59 >Tobacco burst Les Paul. And we all know what an idiot *he* was. >TC

It wasnt worth 60 grand then.

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