Author: Lazy Guitar Anorak

Johnny Marr’s Gibson Flying V

Insight, News & Updates
Recording Definitely Maybe at Monnow Valley, Jan. 1994 (Photo: M. S. Jones)

Everyone knows the story of the Sunburst Les Paul that Johnny Marr lent Noel in January 1994 – and never got back! But fewer are aware of Johnny’s Flying V: Noel is said to have used it for recording Slide Away and Cigarettes & Alcohol during the Definitely Maybe sessions at Monnow Valley.

With the guitar currently up for auction at Sotheby’s, I’ve decided it’s time to finish the dedicated page that has been sitting in drafts for a few months.

NEW PAGE:
Gibson Flying V (1980)

In 2019, when Johnny Marr handed the Flying V to a dealer for sale, the guitar’s connection to Oasis wasn’t mentioned. Johnny likely forgot that he had lent the guitar to Noel 25 years earlier! I immediately recognized the Flying V as the one Noel played in the Monnow Valley photos taken by Michael Spencer Jones, so I contacted the unaware dealer to inform him about its history. Guess what, he thought I was messing with him and wasting his time…

Keep reading…

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Recording the new Oasis album, clearout or photoshoot?

News & Updates
Noel Gallagher’s studio in London (Photo: The Postman)

After the historic Oasis reunion announcement last week, Noel has been spotted several times in and around his studio. Media speculation is at an all-time high, with some suggesting that this could be a sign the band is ready to record new music.

Rumors gained traction when a few photos of Noel’s guitar tech transporting guitar cases were published by the usual tabloids. For some, this is confirmation that new Oasis music is coming sooner rather than later. But for me, it is not – though I’d love a new record soon.

So, what’s inside those guitar cases? And why is Noel moving guitars in and out of his studio? Keep reading as we try to figure it out…

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Noel’s Epiphone Les Paul is being auctioned!

Insight
Thirty years of patina on Noel Gallagher’s Epiphone Les Paul Standard! (Photo: Sotheby’s)

As you might already know, Noel’s Cherry Sunburst Les Paul will be auctioned starting on 29 August 2024 – coinciding with the 30th anniversary of Definitely Maybe. All the details are available on Sotheby’s website.

The estimate is £60k-£80k, which is quite a lot for an early ’90s Made in Korea Epiphone but hey, this is the Supersonic guitar – the one used to record the song and featured in the video! It was also Noel’s go-to guitar for both live performances and studio recordings from 1993 to early 1994.

The page of the guitar has been updated, so check it out!

And keep reading this blog post after the break for a few remarks about serial numbers and, erm, knobs. Yeah, right…

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The Knebworth Sheraton – “for cheap”!

Insight
Noel Gallagher’s Epiphone Sheraton – or maybe not?

On 10th & 11th August 1996, Oasis played the legendary, era-defining and record-breaking shows at Knebworth Park. Noel’s guitar throughout the gigs was the Sunburst Epiphone Sheraton – which remained his main live guitar until the end of the Be Here Now tour in early 1998.

This instrument is undoubtedly among the most significant and iconic guitars ever played by Noel Gallagher. Knebworth aside, just think about G-MEX 1997 (when the famous Man City sticker appeared on the pickguard!) or the insanely long Champagne Supernova from Budokan 1998: it was this guitar – which sadly got lost or stolen years ago.

Finding a Sheraton with the same distinctive appointments of Noel’s one has always been challenging – until last year. Now, you can have one that looks exactly like it at a reasonable price – and it’s a fantastic guitar for the money. Keep reading for the details!

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Update – 23 Jul. 2024

News & Updates
Noel Gallagher in his studio, March 2022

NEW PAGES:

Fender Jazz Strat (Burgundy Mist):
A bizarre hybrid between a Stratocaster and a Jazzmaster, made by the Fender Custom Shop for Noel. “One of a kind” – as he says. And there’s a nice geeky tidbit for the sticker aficionados!

UPDATED PAGES:

A a deeper dive into the specifics of the red Les Paul Standard that Noel has been rocking throughout the Council Skies tour, including a definitive confirmation of the exact model and specifications.

The Royal Tan USA Casino was used to record On the Game with The Black Keys, a track that features Noel as a co-writer. Its twin, the Sunburst USA Casino, was played by Noel during a live performance of the song on Jools Holland.

More Casino content again! The Cherry Red USA Casino has reappeared at recent summer gigs without its pickguard. Weird.

The two main Nashguitars Jazzmasters have just reappeared: the black JM63 has replaced the red Les Paul (boo!) at recent gigs, while the white JM63 is being brought on tour as a spare. Also, Noel’s Sparkling Burgundy Trini Lopez is currently back in Gem’s hands.

More details about the Fender Lead III, the Fender The Edge Strat, and the Jetglo Rickenbacker 330 – as seen in the Council Skies making-of documentary.

Update – 23 Jun. 2024

News & Updates
Noel Gallagher’s Gibson Trini Lopez (Original photo: talktonight27)

NEW PAGE: Gibson Trini Lopez Standard

This page has been long in the making because it involved a lot of investigation and pixel-peeping. The Trini Lopez that Noel has always been associated with actually belongs to Andy Bell, who still plays it in RIDE. However, Noel owns a Trini too, and it has been around since 2005, mainly played by Gem Archer. The page covers both guitars with plenty of background history and geeky info.
Enjoy!

I’ve always had a soft spot for the Trini Lopez Standard, which might be my personal favourite among all the semi-hollow guitars. It is basically an ES-335 with three distinguishing features: diamond-shaped f-holes, split-diamond fretboard inlays, and a peculiar Fender-style (or rather, Gibson Firebird-style) headstock with six in-line tuners.

Trini Lopez was a mainstream pop singer and guitarist in the early ’60s, but this lovely 335 variant stayed quite low-key in the following decades until a guy named Dave Grohl popularized the model as his go-to electric guitar…

The making of ‘Council Skies’

Insight
Noel recording guitar parts for Pretty Boy (Photo: Anais Gallagher)

It’s been a few busy months, and updates were lacking, but there are a couple of big articles in the works coming soon!

In the meantime, check out the four-part behind-the-scenes docu shot by Anais Gallagher. Each episode documents one month of the Council Skies recording sessions at Noel’s Lone Star Studio in early 2022. The first two episodes were originally available only with the limited digital Serenade edition of the album and are now free to watch for everyone on YouTube. The fourth and final part is coming next week.

The first two episodes show Noel (and Johnny Marr!) playing a few of their electric guitars in the studio. Keep reading for the detailed list!

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The Supersonic guitars

Insight
Photo: Michael Spencer Jones

On Monday, April 11, 1994, exactly 30 years ago today, oasis release their iconic first single, Supersonic.

The famous photo on the sleeve was taken by Michael Spencer Jones on January 26, 1994 at Monnow Valley Studios, during the first recording sessions for Definitely Maybe.
Michael’s aim was “to show them at work in a cluttered studio environment, with guitars and amps strewn everywhere alongside other studio paraphernalia“.1

It is one of my favorite Oasis sleeves, also because of all those instruments lying around!
Keep reading for a detailed list.

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A key to the early Oasis sound: Noel Gallagher’s Marshall Valvestate 8080 amp

Insight
An early ’90s Epiphone Les Paul and a Marshall Valvestate 8080 – from my collection.

When people ask how to replicate that classic oasis sound from Definitely Maybe, one common answer is “just get a Marshall“. And then they start thinking about huge stacks and overkill 100-watts amp heads.

Noel and Bonehead did play powerful Marshall tube amps later on, but the real answer to that question will not necessarily hurt your neighbor’s ears or your bank account: the Marshall that Noel actually used is a much more modest Valvestate combo – often coupled with a small WEM Dominator Mk.III tube amp.

Keep reading this article for the in-depth analysis…

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