The Ballbreaker Column
BallBuster MusicBallBuster MusicA Profile Report Featuring Some Of The World’s Most Talented, Accomplished & Upcoming Players.
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Subscribe >Kirk Reed is a guitarist, singer, composer, teacher, and veteran of the Toronto music scene. He teaches at several music academies including DeGazon and T-Rox, where he assists in the band factory program. Being a full-time musician, Kirk enjoys performing regularly throughout Ontario. And is the frontman and founding member of the original rock band […]
Name: Sparky Quano Playing (years): 9 years. Style: Rock,Metal,Experimental,Progressive and more. Gear: Acoustic and Electric Guitar, some effectors and head set mic Endorsements: Aspect Recording, OUTBREAK RECORDS Past accomplishments: 2003,1,15 First album ‘Pigs might fly’ released 2004 ,4, 01 Second album ‘Phenomenon’ released 2005…Europe Tour, na okuraji Festival in Czech street music Festival in Berlin and some club….. 2006…Millenium Music […]
Name: Don Moore Playing (years): I have been playing the guitar for a little over 4 years now Style: Instrumental Rock with a touch of Blues and Metal thrown in Gear:Guitars: ESP Electric Guitars, Yamaha Acoustic/ElectricCases: Coffin CasesAmps: PeaveyEffects: Line6 POD2.0, Morley Pedals, DigitechStrings: Elixir, D*Addario, Ernie Ball, GHS, Dean MarkleyPickups: DiMarzio, Seymour DuncanGuitar Picks: In-Tune, Dunlop, Fender, […]
Name: Matt Konfirst Playing (years): 16 years Style: Progressive rock/ metal Gear: guitars-Ibanez RG570, Jackson custom SL-1, Schecter A-7 7-string Preamp- Behringer V-Amp Pro Power Amp- Marshall 9200 Cabinets- Crate Celestion 4×12 cabinets Additional effects- Behringer Tube Composer T1952, Roland SRV 3030D Reverb Unit, Yamaha SPX 990 Effects Unit Past accomplishments: Recorded a 4-song demo in the mid 90’s with […]
Name: Greg Rapaport Playing (years): 25 Years Style: Dark Fusion/Progressive Funk Gear: My main guitar is a Carvin DC747c 7 string. My main bass is a Carvin LB75p 5 string. Other guitars include: Ibanez RG7620, Ibanez SG540, 1958 Gibson LesPaul, 1980 Gibson. Fender 4×12 cab, Line 6 Pod XT, Roland GR-20 guitar synth, Carvin Tone Navigator, Behringer V-amp, Rocktron […]
Name: Adam Levy Playing (years): 29 years (1977 – present) Style: Guitar style is on the bluesy side of jazz, or vice versa, with a Bill Frisell openness in the overall sound. Vocal style is rough yet mellow, like early Tom Waits, or a male Rickie Lee Jones. Gear: Electric guitars: 1964 Gibson ES-335 1979 Gibson ES-335 1959 […]
Name: Nick Kane Playing (years): 45 Style: Rock, Blues, Fingerstyle and assorted related styles Gear: Nick Kane Signature Gibson Custom Shop Flying V, 57 Reissue Black Beauty Les Paul, 57 Reissue Goldtop Les Paul, 1970 SG Std, 61 Reissue SG, SG Classic, Gibson J45 Flattop, Ovation 1863 Classic Nylon String and about 25 other guitars. Amps: 70’s Fender Super […]
Name: Laki Ragazas Playing (years): Playing guitar for 23 years Style: Hard Rock/Blues Rock/Shred Gear: Guitars: Gibson Les Paul standard and Gibson Les Paul Custom with Gibson’57 Classic Plus Humbuckers and Pearly Gates Seymour Duncan Humbuckers. Amps: Tech 21 Trademark 60W (for smaller gigs) Marshall MK II with a 300W RMS cabinet speaker (for bigger gigs) Stompbox: Ibanez […]
Name: Doug Doppler Playing (years): 36 Style: Instrumental Rock/Metal Gear: Ibanez guitars, DiMarzio pickups, Krank Amplifiers, Boss GT-6, Radial Headbone, M-Audio Black Box Endorsements: Ibanez, DiMarzio, Krank, D’Addario, M-Audio Past accomplishments: Sitting in with Joe Satriani and Neal Schon at the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco. To get a chance to play along side such incredibly iconic guitar players is a […]
Name: Niels Vejlyt Playing (years): about 17 years Style: Neoclassical metal/Shred Gear: Mexico strat reissue, Ibanez 550. Rocktron: Piranha, Intellifex, Velocity 250, Rivera cabs Endorsements: None Past accomplishments: Mexico strat reissue, Ibanez 550. Rocktron: Piranha, Intellifex, Velocity 250, Rivera cabs Current and upcoming projects: Just released my first instrumentel album. Its called The predator and the styli is a mix between Neoclassical […]
Name: Steve Cone Playing (years): Long enough. Style: Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Gear: I have a bunch of guitars that I record with too many to name here. But my favorites are my Flying V’s (Gibson & Dean) and my custom Killer guitars. As far as amps go I use ENGL, Marshall, Line 6, Mesa Boogie and Soldano. I have […]
Name: John Tapella Playing (years): 20 Style: progressive metal Gear: Marshall amp with several mods, various Line 6 amps, Blade guitar Endorsements: Currently the main transcriber and editor for the Line 6 Guitarport. Several video lessons have been on the site cover. Hal Leonard guitar book author. Past accomplishments: transcribed the first authorized Stevie Ray Vaughn guitar book, author of Challenge […]
Name: Curt Shaw Playing (years): 25 years, self taught. Style: Mainly Heavy Metal/hard rock. But I also play some classical, bluegrass, and country. I like all styles of music. But I would have to say I’m a Head Banger at heart. Gear: Guitars: Jackson USA Rhoades V, Jackson Pro Soloist, Jackson Pro Dinky, Brian Moore 9i, Fender American Deluxe […]
Name: Eric Mantel Playing (years): 33 Years! Style: All styles: Rock, Pop, Fusion, Jazz, Classical, Country, Bluegrass, Reggae, Blues, Delta Blues, Ragtime, Blues Rock, New Age, etc. Gear: Over 35 guitars: Fender Stratocasters, Telecasters, Jazz Master, Jaguar, Gibsons: ES-175, SG, LES PAULS, ES-335, Taylor Acoustic and Classical guitars…. many many more! Fender Twin Reverbs, Marshall JMP 50 Watt! With […]
Name: Jeff Urso Playing (years): 19 years Style: Instrumental rock guitar ala Satriani, Vai, Petrucci, Johnson Gear: Ibanez RG550 (tuned to Drop D), Ibanez Jem 555WH (standard tuning), Ibanez Jem Universe UV777 (standard B tuning), Takamine EG-334BC acoustic, Fender Precision 5 string bass, Carlo Robelli 4 string bass, Line6 Pod Pro, Marshall JMP-1, Marshall 900 Lead-1960 Angled cabinets, Carvin […]
Name: Joe Sims Playing (years): 28 Style: Metal Gear: Jackson & Ibanez guitars, Mesa-Boogie Rectifier amp Endorsements: None at the moment…….. Past accomplishments: – 9 releases (bands include: Dream or Nightmare, Axemaster, The Awakening, and Reign) – Music featured on the rock music encyclopedia on CD-ROM titled “Recorded History” (which is included in, among others, the United Nation’s “Great […]
Name: John 5 Playing (years): 17 years Style: rock / country Gear: Fender guitars and Marshal amps Endorsements: Fender Guitars, Marshall Amps, D’Addarrio Strings Past accomplishments: Playing @ The Grand Ole Oprey, Cover of Guitar Player, #1 Record Current and upcoming projects: Songs of Sanity (out now) Loser (out beginning 2006) Favorite guitarist: Buckethead, Albert Lee Most underrated players: Scott Anderson, Brent Mason Best […]
Name: Travis Smith Playing (years): 17 years Style: Neoclassical Shred Metal, Rock, & Blues Gear: GUITARS: 4 Aria Pro II Fullerton Model Strats, 2 Fender Strats, 1 NY Pro Strat, 1 Ibanez Strat, 1 Hartke 4 String Bass AMPS: Fender Roc Pro 1000, Marshall ValveState Power Amp Into a 4/12 Custom Cab With Front Loaded Celestion Speakers, B15 […]
Name: Brad Wilson Playing (years): Thirty years Style: Blues Rock Gear: Mesa Amps/ Cabs and my Gibson Les Paul and Fender Strat Endorsements: Ernie Ball Strings Past accomplishments: John Carpenter’s Soundtracks for the films “Vampires” and Ghosts of Mars”, NBC Television show “Passions”, Robert Bradley and Black Water Surprise “Still Loving You”, Two records with rockers Stone “Some where in […]
Name: Alex Gomez Playing (years): 20 Style: Electric SlideGuitar Gear: Dan Electro and Teisco guitars, Silvertone 2×12 amp. Endorsements: Dean Markley, Hohner, Epiphone. Past accomplishments: Blues Slide Guitar Workshop TV series (PBS), Tape & Slide instruction series (Latch Lake), Survived 2 record deals, 3 ex-wives and countless one-nighters. Current and upcoming projects: Summer Euro Tour. Favorite guitarist: Blind Willie Johnson Most underrated […]
Name: Taz Taylor Playing (years): 26 Style: Hard Rock Instrumental Gear: Gibson Flying V (in studio) Gibson Explorer (stage), Peavey 5150 head, Marshall cabs, Boss RV 5 digital reverb pedal. Endorsements: None……I guess it would be nice to have a deal as a conversation piece, but I actually have all the gear I need!! Current and upcoming projects: I am currently […]
Name: Randy Ellefson Playing (years): 20 Style: hard rock and traditional metal, like a cross between Scorpions, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, old Metallica, with the upbeat vibe and energy of old Van Halen. Gear: two home-made electric guitars with Floyd Rose tremolo, Schaller tuners, Seymour Duncan Custom and STK-S1 Classic Stack pickups, and a maple neck with maple fingerboard; […]
Name: Charles Brown Playing (years): 30 years! Style: Progressive, Instrumental Guitar music, with Guitar synth solos & textures, Hard Rock riffs, and Acoustic & Classical elements. Gear: Roland GR-30 Guitar synth, Fender Stratocaster, Les Paul Standard, Marshall MkII 50 Watt Lead amp w/ custom ported 2/12″ cabinet, Various Classical & Acoustic Guitars. Endorsements: None. Past accomplishments: Spent 15 years in Bands […]
Name: James D. Gilmore Playing (years): 28 Years Style: Progressive Metal Guitar Gear: Gibson Flying V’s “Jerid” Custom Built Amps, and Boss-Morley- Ross-ADA-BBE-Aria-Yamaha, and various other effects. Endorsements: None Currently. I’ve always had a problem with kissing ass. Past accomplishments: My CDs! Method 2 Madness, Return II Madness, and Resurrection. These are the most important. Current and upcoming projects: Currently promoting Resurrection, […]
Name: Tony Koretz Playing (years): 25 years Style: I play alot of different styles when I write music for television or other productions. But my favourite style and indeed my solo and band efforts tend to fit into the melodic rock category. Gear: Lots ! I have a project studio with a good range of stuff. As for guitars, […]
Name: Victor Samalot Playing (years): 25 Yrs Style: Jazz , fusion, rock, funk, progressive, new age, latin, etc.. Gear: Ibanez & Charvel Electric Guitars Bently & Alvarez Acoustic Guitars Yamaha Acoustic / Electric SLG -100S Silent Guitar Line 6 Pod 2.0 Line 6 Flextone Cabinet Stewart World 250 Power Amp D’Addario Strings XL 009-042 Morley Bad Horsie Wah […]
Name: Tom Kopyto Playing (years): 13 years Style: Instrumental shred guitar Gear: ESP and Ibanez baritone 7-strings DiMarzio pickups SIT Strings Endorsements: DiMarzio Past accomplishments: 1999: MACE Music releases my first instrumental CD “YTK”. Executive produced by world famous guitarist Michael Angelo, “YTK” received critical acclaim from the progressive metal and shred guitar press and helped me to build […]
Name: Tom Hess Playing (years): 18 Style: Progressive, neo-classical, shred. Gear: Angelo “Tom Hess’ signature model guitars, Carvin V220 guitars, Sanamp PSA-1, the list goes on and on and on. Endorsements: Angelo Guitars, Dean Markley strings, Clayton guitar picks Past accomplishments: released: Opus 1 and Opus 2. Taught hundreds of guitarists from all over the world. Current and upcoming projects: HESS Opus […]
Name: Ken Steiger Playing (years): 20 Style: Instrumental / Metal (Instra-METAL) Gear: Ibanez & Gibson Guitars Mesa Boogie amplifiers (TriAxis & Dual Rectifier) T.C. Electronics EFX (G-Force) V.H.T. Power Amps Endorsements: I am currently seeking endorsements with Ibanez, Ernie Ball, D’Addario, and any amp good company I can find. Past accomplishments: Some of the things I have accomplished are: […]
Name: Corbin King Playing (years): 17 Style: Metal, Neo Classical, Rock, Blues Gear: 5 Custom Strats Marshall JMP1 rack preamp 2 Marshall 9100 power amps Digital Music Corp. Audio Switcher Ground Control Midi Controller Crybaby Wah Overdrive 250 NS2 Noise Supressor CH1 Super Chorus DL4 Delay 4 Marshall 1960 Cabs George L’s Cables D’Addario XL 10-52 Custom Dunlop […]