Auld Lang Syne, Cory Wong, Shelton Electric Instruments

Vivid Guitar -

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"To play a wrong note is insignificant. To play without passion is inexcusable." - Beethoven

Guitar Practice

Auld Lang Syne

Happy New Year's Eve! Today, let's take a look at a version of the New Year's Eve staple, Auld Lang Syne.

If you were wondering how Auld Lang Syne became the theme song for New Year's Eve, according to Google's completely hit-or-miss AI overview, "Auld Lang Syne became a New Year's Eve tradition in the United States after Canadian bandleader Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians played it on radio and television broadcasts from 1929 to 1976". We'll roll with that.

Guitarist Spotlight

Cory Wong

Image Credit: Fender

While there's no shortage of guitarists that command the spotlight through flashy lead work, every once in a while you hear someone playing rhythm guitar in a way that makes you open your eyes, bop your head, and drop your jaw.

Minneapolis-based Cory Wong combines energetic rhythm guitar with soulful lead work - tied into creative compositions and wild improvisations.

Best known for his solo work, as well as with the funk band Vulfpeck, and the Fearless Flyers (along with Mark Lettieri), Cory took elements of his early influences - including the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Primus, and combined them with his experience studying and playing jazz. The result is a unique style that brings rhythm guitar to the forefront, showcased in a band that is tight as hell.

Cory's impact on the guitar world extends beyond his playing. Cory's Wong Notes podcast features outstanding interviews with today's most interesting guitar players, and has become my favorite guitar podcast. Fender released a Cory Wong Signature Stratocaster, and Neural DSP tapped Cory to developer their killer Cory Wong Archetype plugin.

Cory's main guitar is a Sapphire Blue Fender Highway One Stratocaster, and he typically uses a clean tone. Like for many of us, his rig is often evolving, and varies a bit from band to band (and tour to tour). Below is some of the gear he's recently been gigging with (check out a rig rundown his did with Premier Guitar).

Key Gear:

  • Fender Highway One Stratocaster
  • DV Mark Eric Gales signature Raw Dawg amp heads
  • DV Mark cabinets
  • Wampler Ego Compressor
  • Hotone Soul Press II volume/wah
  • GFI Systems
  • Rossie envelope filter
  • Beetronics Vezzpa octave fuzz
  • Vertex Ultra
  • Phonix Special Overdrive
  • Jackson Audio The Optimist overdrive
  • Strymon Big Sky reverb
  • TC Electronic Sub 'N' Up dual octave pedal.
  • Ernie Ball Paradigm steel .010 guage strings & Dava Delrin medium picks

Check out Cory Wong: Website | Podcast | Instagram | Facebook

Album pick: Cory Wong - Live in London

Gear Showcase

Shelton Electric Instruments

Shelton Electric Instruments GalaxyFlite

What started as a shop selling a wide selection of carefully-curated used and vintage guitars back in 2005, evolved into a boutique guitar company producing a line of outstanding handcrafted USA-made guitars.

With models such as the Tele-Style Timeflite, Jazzmaster-style Galaxyflite, the Strat-style Skyflite, as well as some unique original designs, Shelton Electric Instruments pays tribute to the classics, but often with a creative twist.

With various finish options (including nitro finishes with various aging options), solid body and thinline options, various pickup configurations, and premium components used across all their guitars, Shelton does a great job combining vintage and modern design and specs.

Shelton Guitars can be purchased through their own website, as well as select retailers, including Eddie’s Guitars. Their Instagram page is straight up eye candy as well.

Check out Shelton Electric Instruments: Website | Instagram | Facebook

  • The Fender Princeton Reverb has been one of the most popular amps ever since it was was released in the 1960's. If there are any complaints about it, it's typically that it doesn't have any mid control. Well, Sweetwater is offering an exclusive Mod Shop version with an added a rear-panel midrange control, enabling you to dial the amp from standard Blackface tones all the way to scooped and mid-forward Tweed-like tones.
  • The film A Complete Unknown hit theaters last week. The film follows the life and career Bob Dylan from January 1961, when he moves from Minnesota to New York City, to his 1965 concert at the Newport Folk Festival (and the controversy over Dylan's use of electric instruments). View the trailer.
  • Paul Reed Smith wrote a short article for Premier Guitar, where he mentioned the importance of being curious, and going down different rabbit holes for experience and inspiration.
  • Guitar World posted a list of the best guitar albums of 2024. While there are several notable albums they missed (Julian Lage's Speak to Me and The Black Keys' Ohio Players are two that come to mind), the albums by The Black Crowes and MJ Lenderman are a couple of my favorites from the year.

Currently spinning in the Office

Spencer Pope: The Dark, The Day

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