84

COVER: Strat Mania

By Tom Wheeler, More popular than ever, a ’50s design dominates the

’80s. Plus: Richard Smith’s nuts & bolts history of the Fender

Stratocaster’s firstdecade (page 90), Dan Erlewine’s Fine-Tune Your

Strat (page 96), and Dan Armstrong’s Super Strat custom wiring project

(page 100).

80

SOUNDPAGE:

The Starobins’ “Chase”

By Allan Kozinn. David and Michael Starobin present the vinyl

premiere of their composition for guitar and synthesizer.

10

INTRO

Alex Masi's U.S. debut; Jon Butcher’s Wishes-, Cinemax Sessions with

Chet and Eric; festivals in Portland, New Orleans, and Austin; and

Segovia’s passing.

103

GIVEAWAY

Win the Fender American Standard Stratocaster pictured on this

month’s cover, plus a Fender Champ 12 tube amp, a $919.98 value.

COLUMNS

134 Rare Bird

By Danny Thorpe. Epiphone’s

Sheraton.

136 Repairs

By Dan Erlewine. Strat neck prob-

lems.

141 Electronic Guitar

By Warren Sirota. Answering

readers’ questions.

143 Off The Wall

By Teisco Del Rey. Relics from the

land of the rising sun.

144 Product Profile

By Warren Sirota. Roland’s GK-1

and GM-70 synth controller sys-

tem.

Cover photos: Fender American

Standard Stratocaster in Ferrari

red by Warren Hukill; Carlos

Alomar and David Bowie by Paul

Natkin/Photo Reserve.

20

Pro’s Reply: Heeere’s Bob Bain

By Jas Obrecht The LA. studio veteran’s life on The Tonight Show,

24

Carlos Alomar’s Synth Excursion

By Tom Mulhern. After more than a decade as David Bowie’s musical

director, this rhythm specialist has released his first solo album—

recorded almost entirely with guitar synthesizer.

Masters Series: Redirecting Reactions

By John W. Duarte. Take charge of your technique for better technical

and interpretive control

38

Freddie Green Remembered

By Jim Ferguson. During his 50-year career in jazz, Mr. Rhythm wrote the

book on four-to-the-bar comping. Includes Bucky Pizzarelli’s “Blues For

Green,” page 47.

50

Richard Cousins, Blues Bassist

By Jim Roberts. The anchorman for the Robert Cray Band’s blues cruise.

Analysis of “Smoking Gun” bass line, page 56.

58

With Merle Haggard: Clint Strong

ByJon Sievert. A 22-year-olddisciple of Howard Roberts and John

Coltrane brings bebop to Haggard’s special brand of country.

66

The Legendary Jimmy Rogers

By Dan Forte. A fascinating look at Chicago’s blues pioneers, from the

guitarist who played with them all!

WORKSHOPS

106 Rik Emmett

Back To Basics

110 Jeff Berlin

Bass & Beyond

113 Chet Atkins

Fingerstyle

114 Arnie Berle

Fretboard Basics

117 Nathan East

Bass Tracks

118 Tommy Tedesco

Studio Log

DEPARTMENTS

122

120 Larry Coryell

Contemporary Guitar

122 Howard Roberts

Jazz Improvisation

125 John Duarte

Music Theory Seminar

126 Arlen Roth

Hot Guitar

128 Herb Mickman

Bass Forum

130 Benjamin Verdery

Contemporary Classical

6 Publisher

8 Letters

22 Questions

105 Notational

Symbols

147 It’s New

152 Reviews

158 Crosscheck

159 Classifieds

162 Advertiser Index