

He was also a seminal figure in the San Francisco music scene. Truck running lights indicated which effect was being used. John Cipollina was probably best-known as the lead guitarist for the Quicksilver Messenger Service. "I like the rapid punch of solid-state for the bottom, and the rodent-gnawing distortion of the tubes on top," Cipollina said.Ĭipollina used a custom foot-switched system to select reverb, tremolo, Astro Echoplex (the unit mounted on the right of the Twin Reverb), Standel Modulux (on the left of the twin reverb) or the horns. Born in Berkeley, California, he attended Tamalpais High School, in Mill Valley, California (as did his brother, Mario Cipollina). The treble pickups fed the two Fender amps-a Fender Twin Reverb with two 12-inch speakers and a Fender Dual Showman- that drove the six Wurlitzer horns. (aged 45) John Cipollina (AugMay 29, 1989) was a guitarist best known for his role as a founder and the lead guitarist of the San Francisco rock band Quicksilver Messenger Service. Each Standel was equipped with two 15-inch speakers. The bass pickup fed into the two Standel bass amps on the bottom of the stack. John acquired his first SG, which was an SG Special, in 1965. Cipollina's were somewhat special, and came in a more unusual flavour than most SGs of the day. All of his guitars, including the one here, were wired with two pickups, one for bass and one for treble. Guitar: John Cipollina and the Gibson SG are as synonymous as Jimi Hendrix and the Fender Stratocaster. To create his distinctive guitar sound, Cipollina developed this one-of-a-kind amplifier stack. Some of John's legendary equipment is on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. The group's long instrument jams, in which Cipollina played a central role, were legendary, both on stage and on record. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited."As lead guitarist for Quicksilver Messenger Service, John Cipollina helped create the psychedelic sound that was a hallmark of San Francisco music scene in the 1960s. All copyrights are by the author and Vintage Guitar magazine. EXPLORE ARTISTS Music Producers Guitarists Drummers Bassists DJs more.

Get the gear to sound like John Cipollina and get their tone. This article originally appeared in VG ‘s July ’01 issue. John Cipollina's gear and equipment including the Gibson SG Original and Fender Dual Showman. You can also discover what made his sound so unique he used a thumbpick and one fingerpick coupled with extensive use of the Bigsby vibrato to achieve a shimmering tone, replete with blistering arpeggios. While this video is certainly not a guitar instructional video, sharp-eyed viewers can learn what guitars and amps he favored. Jerry Garcia had to step back in awe and wonder at the colossus that was Cipollina, with his flowing locks, bat-shaped guitar and mad scientist ear trumpets atop his insane stack of amplifiers.

#John cipollina guitar rig code
His father, Gino, was a real estate broker who got most of the bands, like the Grateful Dead, into their first rental houses, and subsequently sold them houses in Marin County. THE ROCK AND ROLL COWBOY WHO STAYED TRUE TO THE CODE SHY, SICKLY BUT CHARISMATIC JOHN CIPOLLINA Friday, December 10, 2010. John was instrumental in making Mill Valley a hotbed of music in the early ’70s. Photo by Alan Blaustein Using a thumbpick and fingerpicks, Cipollina achieved his trademark tones through an unusual rig consisting of solid-state Standel and Fender tube amps, coupled with large Wurlitzer horns, echo units, and effects pedals. Students of rock and roll history will discover lots of interesting tidbits about the early ’60s and ’70s West Coast scene. John Cipollina with a Kahler-equipped Carvin double-cutaway just north of San Francisco circa 1987. Interviewees include Bill Graham, Jerry Garcia, Nicky Hopkins, Merl Saunders, Pete Sears, Nick Gravenites, David Freiberg, Spencer Dryden, and Paul Kantner. The video is a pretty straight-ahead documentary with performance footage interspersed with interviews with his friends and relatives. This video, produced by his sister, Antonia, and manager Steve Keyser, is a tribute to his musical talents and warm personality. John Cipollina was probably best-known as the lead guitarist for the Quicksilver Messenger Service.
