My main/only electric axe used to be a Gretsch Country Gentleman, which I liked because I play mainly fingerstyle and the neck resembles that of a classical guitar--wide and nearly flat. I was the only guitarist in a band in the 70s in which I would switch between lead, rhythm, and a unique (far's I've heard) call-and-response to my own lyrics--rhythm while singing, lead/response between words. And I did something that sounds like that Setzer move. Haven't done it since (mostly solo work or bass since then), but in trying to recreate it, I curl the pick into my index finger to strum rhythm, then move it out between thumb and forefinger for leads. I was able to do this back and forth very quickly, midphrase.

From the "I-didn't-know-how-they-did-it" school of learning: When I first started playing, I didn't know bands had more than one guitar, so I tried to play what I heard. Never could, of course--I'm no Atkins--but again, developed an individual style that captures the 'pulse' of a song more than just strumming or any pick style could.

I've also played in various open tunings since the early 70s. This requires that you carry multiple axes (try moving three of them around on buses and trains--I used to) or frequent retuning. Well, guitars broke or I tired of the hassle, string breakage and long pauses to retune, so I began to write pieces which sound as if they are open tuned but aren't--at the most, a dropped D.

I promise I'll start posting some a my stuff, soon's I get a handle on this Roland VG-88 which is going to make my life so much simpler--soon's I figger it out. (Thanks to rharv for sending the copy of VEditor.) 8-)

R.

"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."