Who are the best guitarists & bassists in the you area?

[Nathan of Brainfertilizer Fame]

Edited to add:

This is connected to me becoming a Jon Kammerer representative.

Jon is exploring the idea of offering some endorsement deals, ranging from at-cost guitars up to a signature line where the guitarist gets a percentage of net profit from sales, in return for using Jon Kammerer guitars on stage and/or in videos, or the right to use pictures of the guitarist playing the guitar in promotional advertisements.

The more famous the guitarist and the more use, the more exposure the guitars get, the more financially advantageous the deal.  Right now I'm just gathering information on people to contact. 

I originally didn't want to go too deeply into this because this is a Hamer Fan Club website.  I will be posting the same on other guitar websites as I get up to speed on memberships.

Bottom line: this is not an attempt to convert anyone here to try Jon Kammerer Guitars.  But guitarists know guitarists, and networking is key, so...

Looking for best guitarists and/or bassists...people are already regionally known, people with the potential to be nationally known.

So I am thinking of larger metroplexes. But if you live in a smaller area and can make a case, I'm open.

Also include contact information if you can.  I'm thinking Band Website rather than email address.

[Jeff R]

I've got a few clients who can spin a few heads.

For those who didn't catch it, Kiz posted this video last week of Jonathon "Boogie" Long taking a spin on Kiz's '72 Thinline I overhauled. Boogie won Guitar Center's national "King of the Blues" contest in 2011.

My man Don Vappie outta New Orleans can play jazz hell outta anything with strings (and he's one of the nicest guys on the planet to boot). He's on the jazz faculty at Loyola in NOLA and his primary instruments are banjo (Dixieland style), bass viol (formally trained) and all varieties of guitar. Scroll to 4:00 to watch him tear up a seven-string for a few bars. I recently refretted his '68 ES-335 and just by looking at the worn frets you could tell the man knows his way around a fretboard.

Michigan native Luke Winslow-King became a NOLA transplant when his equipment-loaded van got stolen in the city and he was forced to dig in for a few weeks scratching up gigs to replace his shit. I'd call the roots of his genre early 20th Century Americana, but his recent album was more bluesy and more electric. It charted briefly on Billboard's blues charts (one week LOL). Luke tours heavily - particularly in Europe - and I'd recommend you go see him and meet him (another nice guy). Just be careful shaking his hand - I set up that '73 hardtail with gauges 14 to 60-something. That lanky boy is STRONG.

Richard Kendrick is a long, long, long time friend (buds since high school) who lives outside Houston. He played on a lot of hair metal tribute records in the 90s onward and he recently did a stint with a band called Eden's Curse that's pretty cool stuff if you're into melodic metal - I liken them to Dream Theater meets TNT meets a heavier incarnation of Stryper, if that makes sense. Richard's tenure with them was in 2015. He is on the Les Paul clone in this video. When the FOH board recording fucked up, they used the (then new) live album track behind the video. Fast forward to 3:30 for some stun gun. Richard so knows what he is doing for this genre. Bitching background vocalist to boot.

 

[Hamerica]

On 2/21/2017 at 5:34 PM, anotherfreak said:

well,

I live in Dallas, there are some ass-kickers and humblers all around, but I'll chime in for Andy Timmons.

http://andytimmons.com/

i've seen him in different settings from butt-rock to bebop, and I have ALWAYS walked away impressed

My top two are internationally known however it always amazes me who still has never heard them.

+1000 for Mr. Andy Timmons!   Been a fan literally decades...introduced him to my good friend Hangman and many others.   

Hangman returned the favor by introducing me to Buddy Whittington.   http://www.buddywhittington.com/

The following are guys guitarists know and either are hired guys or have won some recognition over the years. 

Kelly Kirby http://kirbykelleymusic.com/

Jim Suhler https://jimsuhler.com/

Rocky Athas http://www.rockyathas.com/

 

If your talking about upcoming potential then -

Jason Elmore https://www.jasonelmore.net/

 

Austin Area guys -  (Hey its local!   I've driven there for lunch on occasion!) 

Guy Forsyth http://guyforsyth.com/

Matt Smith http://www.mattsmithsworld.net/instructor

 

Now if were talking just the best but no longer with us...probably still Bugs Henderson, followed by SRV or Freddie King, RIP. 

 

Bass, I had to think about that one a while.

Bobby Counts  https://www.facebook.com/BobbyCounts/

Those are my submissions for your review. 

Best wishes,

Hamerica

 

[zorrow]

I assume you don't give a dime to Canada, and even less to the Montreal area. But I got three or four names though, if you're still interested.  

[Hamerica]

 

21 hours ago, zorrow said:

I assume you don't give a dime to Canada, and even less to the Montreal area. But I got three or four names though, if you're still interested.  

I would be interested.

[cmatthes]

I know that you're looking for fodder for potential Kammerer endorsers, so I'm out, but I DID win "The Worst Guitarist in DelMarVa" competition out of hundreds of entrants back in 1991 from a regional radio station.

I did get an Vai autographed RG550 (that I wish I had kept!), and amp and a bunch of other stuff for my rendition of "The Oscar Mayer Bologna Blues".  I keep waiting for that video to surface.

[velorush]

On 2/22/2017 at 10:06 AM, Nathan of Brainfertilizer Fame said:

Hm. Okay, we'll offer you an endorsement deal where you pay us extra to get to use our guitars.

 

On 2/25/2017 at 11:57 AM, cmatthes said:

I know that you're looking for fodder for potential Kammerer endorsers...

Nathan, I'm sorry.  The reason for your question went completely over my head.  I am now a part of the conversation you were having.  Had I grasped the obvious standing before me I'd not have garbled up your thread with my valueless post.  NOW I see what's going on (search for endorsers).  Best to you in your efforts. 

Sometimes my obliviousness sneaks up on my stupidity. 

[hamerboy_]

Neil Zaza.

 

-Bobby

[Hamerica]

On 2/25/2017 at 11:57 AM, cmatthes said:

I know that you're looking for fodder for potential Kammerer endorsers, so I'm out, but I DID win "The Worst Guitarist in DelMarVa" competition out of hundreds of entrants back in 1991 from a regional radio station.

I did get an Vai autographed RG550 (that I wish I had kept!), and amp and a bunch of other stuff for my rendition of "The Oscar Mayer Bologna Blues".  I keep waiting for that video to surface.

Why am I so gullible or maybe not cynical enough?  I missed the intent of this post, good luck with your endorsers.   Not sure I was much help, none of my guys would be a candidate, especially the guys that are playing at the "Rock and Roll Heaven" gig.

Hamerica

[cmatthes]

Nathan - it would definitely help (and give you more credibility) if you indicated the reason for your post.  Otherwise, you're going to get a lot of guys who are already well paid endorsers from companies like Fender, PRS, and Gibson, and thus, dead ends for your efforts.

[Steve Haynie]

Marcus King was a vintage guitar snob when he was 14.  His dad provided Fender amps Gibson guitars he had since the 60's.  Marcus got in trouble for not respecting his dad's amp one time.  Marcus is not likely to change his attitude as long as he is playing a 60's ES-335. 

If Warren Haynes guides Marcus along there might be a discussion of how Haynes and Allen Woody endorsed every product possible back when they started Gov't Mule.  They had no shame. 

[Nathan of Brainfertilizer Fame]

6 hours ago, cmatthes said:

Nathan - it would definitely help (and give you more credibility) if you indicated the reason for your post.  Otherwise, you're going to get a lot of guys who are already well paid endorsers from companies like Fender, PRS, and Gibson, and thus, dead ends for your efforts.

You are correct.

Sorry.

[Nathan of Brainfertilizer Fame]

On 2/24/2017 at 3:17 PM, zorrow said:

I assume you don't give a dime to Canada, and even less to the Montreal area. But I got three or four names though, if you're still interested.  

I don't see why not, except maybe CITES rules.