You have one of the best jobs in the world. What do you enjoy the
most about working with David? (Mat)
PHIL TAYLOR:
Being there when he plays, particularly standing on
the stage three foot behind him during a sound check and hearing/feeling
the power, sound and control. Very few people can ever experience
how good this can be.
How did you meet David and land this prestigious gig? (Buffalo Phil)
Phil Taylor:
I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and they
made me an offer that I could not understand.
When not touring, what are
you supposed to do? Maintaining all Mr Gilmour's rigs in working
condition? Looking at new gear? (Frédéric)
Phil Taylor:
I am kept busy. I wear a selection of different hats: I run the
Astoria recording studio, David's equipment warehouse, maintain and
find new equipment, look after David’s home studio, be a guitar tech
when David makes an appearance, sometimes production director for
live shows, and a few other duties besides.
12.11.2007
David used
many different types of guitar on his last tour - more
than previously, I think, and more songs with guitar
changes. Is this a headache or a pleasure? (Kieran)
Phil Taylor: There
is always a challenge in both putting together
everything that I am responsible for on stage, and
making it all work perfectly, every time that David and/or
Pink Floyd do anything. It is just normal for me; it is
what I like to do. So, in short, a pleasure.
David and Phil
Manzanera have been playing some interesting Gibson
Jumbo acoustics on this tour. Can you tell us more about
the models and vintages? (EchoesBob)
Phil Taylor:
They are both Gibson Country and Western models. One is
1958, the other is 1959.
Can you tell
us a bit about David’s "new" blonde Telecaster (the one
he started playing during the US leg of the 'On An
Island' tour)? (Henning)
Phil Taylor:
We were in Oakland and, during sound check, David
decided he wanted to play 'Astronomy Domine'. I was not
carrying a Tele on the road. A quick call to Billy
Siegel at Fender, who responded magnificently and
instantly (he made the FedEx man wait until he had found
a suitable guitar, it was late Friday afternoon). It
arrived the next day and it required a little work to be
at its best. David then used it during the rest of the
tour. He later gave it to Charlie, his son, for
Christmas.
16.11.2007
In one of the
photos from last year's
rehearsals, David can be seen
playing the red/sunburst
Telecaster with rosewood neck he
played 'Dogs' on during the 1977
'Animals' tour. Is there a
reason why he didn't use this
guitar in 2006? (Henning)
Phil Taylor:
Itook it to rehearsals to see
how it compared to the recently
acquired Tele that we had got in
the USA, with a view to David
using it or carrying it as a
spare. The brownburst Tele had a
problem with the bridge pickup
not working – a replacement
pickup was quickly put in, but
it did not sound as good. I took
a 52V Tele as a spare on the
next leg of the tour instead.
How does Gilmour
fatten up the sound of his black
Strat for distortion parts: one
of the three EQ pedals or Tube
Driver? (George Gipe)
Phil Taylor:
David sometimes uses other
things, but his usual choice
would be an EH Big Muff or a BK
Butler Tube Driver, which then
occasionally may be tweaked with
a modified Boss GE7 graphic.
I've seen a
picture from the 70s with David
playing on a black Stratocaster
double neck. Have you got
information about this guitar? (TeD)
Phil Taylor:
Yes, plenty - in my book, 'The
Black Strat'. It explains all
about it.
19.11.2007
David
bends his strings
further than any
other guitarist I
have seen. Do you do
anything special to
them to keep them
from snapping? (Mat)
Phil Taylor:
Just change them for every
show.
What
do you do to David's
guitars so that they
don't go out of tune
easily, considering
David's liberal use
of the tremolo arm?
(Bryan)
Phil Taylor:
Stretch the new
string properly and
check all the
relevant parts are
secured and
lubricated as
necessary.
Do
you use any type of
lubricant on David's
guitars to help them
stay in tune? (Paul
Sexton)
Phil Taylor:
Yes,
KY Jelly! Just
kidding. Sometimes I
sparingly use oil (too
much deadens the
sound) or graphite
powder.
22.11.2007
Has
there
ever
been a
major
catastrophe
that you
have
been
blamed
for when,
in
actual
fact, it
was
human
error? (Ripper)
Phil Taylor:
Are you
suggesting
that I
am not
human?
Has
David
ever
gotten/been
given,
the 'wrong'
guitar
during a
gig?
(Penny)
Phil Taylor:
Not that
I recall,
but I
have
gone on
stage to
give him
the
correct
guitar
for the
next
song and
he has
decided
to keep
using
the one
he
already
has.
Thinking
along
the
lines of
outdoor
concerts
such as
Knebworth
'90, has
the rain
ever
caused
any
serious
damage
to any
of
David's
guitars?
(IMcK)
Phil Taylor:
No, I
dry them
off
immediately
before
putting
them
away.
The only
one I
can
think of
is a
Baby
Taylor
acoustic
that
David
left out
in his
garden
overnight
in the
damp
after a
campfire
party
that
rather
changed
shape.
26.11.2007
The Maestro Rover has been an important (and often overlooked) piece to Gilmour's sound for many years. Since using them myself for quite a while now, I cannot see going without them... and I fear the day they will eventually die. Years ago, you and Pete Cornish developed 100 watt variations of this unique, aging and difficult-to-replace unit. Any hope of that design being released to the public, or an amp builder for limited production some day? (Gary Griffith)
Phil Taylor: David only used the Rovers when recording the 'Division Bell' album. To recreate this sound live for the ensuing tour (as the Rovers are low powered, therefore too quiet and not suitable for large stages alongside his 4 x 12 cabinets), I decided to replicate the Rover sound and function with a high powered version utilising not one, but two, stacked high powered 6" drivers. I asked Paul Leader from Leader Sound to source the motors and work out the speed control system for me. Between us, we put together the 'Doppolas', as they were christened. The guitar audio signal is first eq'd with a modified Boss GE 7 graphic; this then goes into a Hiwatt amplifier and then into the Doppola through mercury contacts to the drivers. There are no plans to make them available.
You know the part of 'Comfortably Numb' David plays, when the mirror ball starts to open on the '94 tour, what exactly does he add to achieve this sound? Is it simply more delay? (Kristopher Junner)
Phil Taylor: Yes.
Is it true that during the late '60s and early '70s David used a pedal called Orange Treble and Bass Booster? If not, what effect was used live and in the studio to create his overdrive tone (e.g. from 'Embryo', 'Cymbaline' or 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond')? Or maybe it was good old Fuzz Face? (Rafal)
Phil Taylor: Mostly he used a Colorsound Treble and Bass Booster, a Fuzz Face and an EH Big Muff.
27.11.2007
What gauge does David use on his electric guitars? (Frank Par)
Phil Taylor: Different strings on different electrics. GHS Boomers for Strats/Teles/Gretsches, 10, 12, 16, 28, 38, 48; and for Les Pauls, 10.5, 13, 17, 30, 40, 50. GHS are soon to release these two sets of "David Gilmour" strings.
Which strings do you use on lap steel guitars? (Emilio)
Phil Taylor: David currently uses D’Addario EHR360 half rounds on his electric lap steels.
Are the lap steel guitars tuned differently to normal EADGBE, or does David prefer to keep everything the same? (Emma)
Phil Taylor: They are different. His favourites are EBGEBE or EBG*EBE or EBGDBG.
30.11.2007
The little button on the black Strat, that combines the neck and bridge pickup (so I read some where, is it true?): is it going to be on the David Gilmour Strat? (Graham Knight)
Phil Taylor: Yes, it will be on the Fender David Gilmour Strat.
Will the Gilmour Strat become a staple of Fender's, i.e. like the Clapton and S.R.V. models have? (Randall Yeager)
Phil Taylor: That is the plan. It is not meant to be a limited edition. David has insisted that it is a really good replica in terms of its sound, set-up, playability and looks - and that it should be affordable. He will not let Fender make a limited edition, to be purchased and put away by a few who can afford it as an investment.
Is the black Strat body made of two pieces of alder? (GianLuca)
Phil Taylor: I don't know, it seems to be covered in black paint.
How are the pickups on David's black Strat wired to the pickup selector? (Andrew McHarg)
Phil Taylor: See my book, 'The Black Strat', for this information.
03.12.2007
Does David use ear protection? If not, what's his tip for playing loud, not becoming deaf and still having a perfect ear? (Cromer Franck)
Phil Taylor: No, he does not use ear protection. Don't play too loud and keep the speakers focused lower, i.e. not pointed at your ears.
Does David only use Evidence audio cables or does he use both? And why did you change over to EA? (Matt Surdin)
Phil Taylor: All of David's audio signal and speaker cables are Evidence Audio and I have had them all cryogenically frozen for enhanced performance. During the 'On An Island' tour, all the stage cables for all the musicians were swapped over to these - with great results.
How important would you consider the cables (in terms of quality) in the signal path? (Andreas)
Phil Taylor: Very important - the cable is what transfers the sound of your instrument to the amplifier. This can make a big difference to the level, frequency response, depth and detail of information, and extraneous unwanted noise. This also applies in a similar way to the speaker cables.
04.12.2007
I know David uses two Hiwatt heads and two speaker cabinets. Are they all used simultaneously or are different head and cabinet combinations used for different songs? (Ax)
Phil Taylor: Generally they are used simultaneously. For the 'On An Island' tour there was a third amp and cabinet for his Long Delay setting for 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond'.
Tube types in the Hiwatts... EL34s or KT-77? (George Gipe)
Phil Taylor: Mullard EL34s are what we have always used.
I've looked at genuine 1970s Hiwatt SA212s, but fear I may not be able to maintain them adequately. I see Hiwatt do a reissue David Gilmour SA212, another option. More importantly, I'd like your view on what I should buy, maybe even Fender? (Paul C)
Phil Taylor: First, you most likely do not need a 50 watt amp at home - more like a three to 10 watts good tube amp would do. Original Hiwatts are known to be about the most reliable amplifiers ever built, but far too powerful for home. They would only just tick over. Better to use something smaller and drive it a bit more. (I have tried and compared some of the new Hiwatts and they do not sound like the old ones.)
07.12.2007
What's David's most valued piece of gear? (Jorge Rivera)
Phil Taylor: I have no idea. You would have to ask him and define what you meant by 'valued'.
David's '55 Fender Esquire looks pretty beat up. What is the history behind this guitar? (Shane Y.)
Phil Taylor: David got it from Seymour Duncan in the early '70s in this state. David just really likes it as an instrument and is not concerned with its look. It is interesting that there are wood saw marks across the body, leading us to refer to it as The Workmate (after the Black and Decker bench).
David's technique of playing, and particularly his bends, requires frequent changes of the strings; but does it also significantly decrease the life of the frets, requiring often refrets? (Andrew)
Phil Taylor: No, I don’t think so. I don't know what the expected life of a fret is.
10.12.2007
Are the red Strats modified, besides the EMG and electronics? Perhaps a Pre-CBS or Callaham bridge block… (Ernest Peske)
Phil Taylor: Not currently. They have had different parts: bridge saddles, string trees and springs at times.
It's been said that Eric Clapton retired Blackie because the guitar became unplayable. With electric guitars, and particularly Strats, being so interchangeable (swapping necks, changing electronics, etc.), can a guitar like a Strat truly become unplayable, and, if so, how much more life do you estimate is left for David's black Strat? (Andrew)
Phil Taylor: Parts can always be replaced on a Strat. See my book 'The Black Strat' for all of the changes to David's.
I was wondering, was David's black Strat used on 'Live at Pompeii', or could it possibly be the Strat that El Magnifico used on last year's tour? (Amedeo)
- No, see my book, 'The Black Strat', for more information.
12.12.2007
If you could hypnotize David into handing over three of his guitars to you, which would they be and why? (Buffalo Phil)
Phil Taylor: Why stop at three?
I just read on this site that David is a "Gooner". Are you a "Gooner" also? (Barbara Phillips)
Phil Taylor: Man United for ever.
In your opinion, which delivers the 'true' Floyd tone, the Pete Cornish P-2 or the newer G-2? (Randall Yeager)
Phil Taylor: Neither, David has almost never used Pete Cornish distortion pedals – a popular misconception. He has them in pedal boards, but only as alternates to his favourites, and as separate pedals. He has tried them (as he has many other makes: Rat, Boss HM2, etc.), but his choice is nearly always EH Big Muff, BK Butler Tube Driver, and, in the earlier days, a Fuzz Face or a Colorsound Overdriver.
14.12.2007
Do you reckon it's true that David himself is the secret to the Gilmour sound (i.e. he could pick up an 80 quid Strat copy and still sound like Gilmour, or is that just a sweeping statement used by people who find that they cannot get 'the sound'?) (Emma)
Phil Taylor: Yes, no question, it is true. David's choice of notes and sense of melody and timing, both the physical attack and subtleties with both hands in playing of the instrument and his setting of the equipment and control of it to work in conjunction with what he is playing. It is the combination of all this that is his sound. This said, the quality of the sound can be enhanced by using better sounding equipment. Think - does it sound like David if he is using a Telecaster, Les Paul, Gretsch Duo Jet or a Lap Steel instead of a Strat? We once did a TV show with Mark Knopfler - he used David’s Red Strat with David’s amp on David’s settings and who did he sound like? Mark Knopfler, of course. Like any great guitarist, so much of the sound is him. I have never heard anybody sound like David, because this is the real deal from the man who created it. You can only sound like yourself, perhaps trying to imitate somebody else. Like the mimicking professional parrots, such as in Roger Waters' band or Pink Floyd cover bands, who try their best, but it does not sound like David. It is best summed up by an analogy: it is like a facsimile of an original piece of artwork.
17.12.2007
What is the most disastrous technical experience you have encountered during a sound check/concert? (Julie Davies)
Phil Taylor: David’s amplifier/effects rig failing at a Pink Floyd show in Helsinki - during the show. If anybody else in the band's equipment fails, the show carries on; if David’s fails, the show stops until I get it working. Not much pressure there, then.
What is the best David Gilmour/Pink Floyd gig you ever worked on? (Linda)
Phil Taylor: Very difficult, there are many reasons for liking different nights. Sometimes just one song from one night can be fantastic. As a tour, the most enjoyable that I have ever done was 'On An Island' last year: great music, great band, great crew. The best one I ever saw from the audience - in fact the best gig I have ever been to - was Pink Floyd at Earls Court in London in 1973: a stunning audio visual surround experience.
19.12.2007
What is the preferred recording platform at Astoria? Is it all straight to tape or a digital/analogue dump? (Paul B)
Phil Taylor: Different people have different preferences, with choices made for flexibility, rather than purely for audio resolution. Generally, these days, Protools gets used - our system has Euphonix convertors and Shunyata cryogenic power distribution with Kimber and Van denHul cabling. Contrary to popular belief, the digital recording platform is the hardest medium in which to retain the resolution (audio quality), everything makes a difference to the sound and digital is very susceptible to degradation. If you want to know more about this, check out an interview I did with Tape Op magazine about Astoria a couple of years ago.
Do you have an amusing anecdote you could share with us, be it about David, or anyone else? (Rob)
Phil Taylor: Yes, my mum still wonders when I am going to get a proper job.
