Author: Lazy Guitar Anorak

The making of ‘Council Skies’

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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

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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

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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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Update – 18 Mar. 2024

News & Updates
Noel at Poole Lighthouse, 17 March 2024 (Photo: Rockstarimages.co.uk)

NEW PAGES:

Epiphone USA Casino (Cherry Red):
Yes, that’s another USA Casino! It’s Noel’s third one. We can safely say that he loves this model.
It appeared for the first time at last night’s gig – and it seems to be finished in a custom colour.

UPDATED PAGES:

A few more details about the Paisley Telecaster and the Mapleglo Rickenbacker, thanks to a MSN Webchat from 2000.

The Wine Red Matsumoku Riviera was loaned to Proud Mary’s guitarist in the early 2000s.

Bonehead actually played Noel’s first electric guitar – the Hofner S5 – for Up In The Sky in 1994 and 1995. I only noticed it a couple of days ago! Weird.

Update – 06 Feb. 2024

News & Updates
The White Room, April 1995 (Photo: Kim Tonelli)

NEW PAGES:

Gibson Les Paul (’53 converted to ’58-’60 ‘burst’ specs):
Noel’s most famous Les Paul, the main guitar during the Definitely Maybe era.
Everyone knows how it was given to him by Johnny Marr, and how it was smashed on a guy’s head in Newcastle!
An iconic guitar with a lot of background history – and a website page that was long in the making!

UPDATED PAGES:

A small update to the recently created Epiphone Supernova page: prototype #1 was spotted for sale a few days ago for £30k. The ad has since disappeared… has it been sold? A couple of new pics from the ad too.

Minor updates to the Gibson Firebird page, with details about the model year and its appearance during the (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? recording sessions.

Update – 28 Jan. 2024

News & Updates
A signed Supernova and a Paisley Tele (photo: Guitar Auctions & Fender)

NEW PAGES:

Epiphone Supernova (Man City Blue):
the background history of Noel’s signature guitar, released in 1997: from the first prototype (which was a modified Gibson ES-345) to the production version. Noel actually played a couple of prototypes during the Be Here Now recording sessions.
I love the Supernova and I’ve been researching info & details about the different versions for years: an in-depth analysis of the model is coming as soon as I’ll have time.

Fender Telecaster (Pink Paisley):
an iconic guitar from the Standing on the Shoulder of Giants era, played live for Wonderwall, Don’t Look Back in Anger, etc.
Writing this piece made me want one! I’ll try to stay away from guitar marketplaces for a bit.

UPDATED PAGES:

Epiphone Sheraton (Cherry, ’60s): updated with a quote from a recent interview with Gem Archer and a photo showing that it was used as a backup live guitar in 1997 and 1998.

Minor updates to the Mapleglo Rickenbacker and the Custom Telecaster pages.

Update – 22 Dec. 2023

News & Updates
Noel playing his Epiphone EA-250 – Nomad Studios, Manchester, 1993 (Photo: J. Fry)

NEW PAGES:

Epiphone EA-250:
an underrated Japanese model from the early ’70s. It’s the guitar that Noel plays on the sleeve photo of the Supersonic single – often mistaken for a Gibson ES-335 or an Epiphone Casino.

I recently acquired one: stay tuned in the coming weeks for a detailed history & analysis of this forgotten Epiphone guitar!

UPDATED PAGES:

Noel reveals that the legendary Sunburst Sheraton that he played at Knebworth has gone missing, probably stolen.

Minor updates to the page of the two Blonde Epiphone Casinos, used in the SOTSOG and DOYS eras.

Update – 13 Nov. 2023

News & Updates
Noel playing his iconic Wine Red Riviera (photo credit: unknown)

NEW PAGES:

Epiphone Riviera (Matsumoku, Wine Red):
Noel’s legendary Japanese Riviera. The Oasis guitar of the golden era.
This page is the result of many, many hours of research about this specific model: there will be even more in-depth content about it soon.

Epiphone USA Casino (Sunburst):
Noel’s new entry in the live set, bought in June 2023 and first played last week in Amsterdam.

Marr’s Guitars

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I had the idea of building a website about Noel’s guitars since 2017 (at least!), but what triggered me to finally create it was the announcement of this book in April 2023.

“Marr’s Guitars: a stunning photographic presentation of the guitars that defined the distinctive sounds and style of Johnny Marr with personal reflections and insights from the legendary guitarist himself.“

I’ve managed to preorder the Artist’s Edition, limited to 500 units, signed by Johnny and with exclusive prints signed by Johnny and photographer Pat Graham. I finally received it during the last week and it left me speechless.

Continue reading →

Update – 15 Oct. 2023

News & Updates
Noel playing his Blonde Telecaster live in 2006 (photo: Mark Austin)

NEW PAGES:

Fender Telecaster (Blonde):
played live in 2005 and 2006, maybe a gift from actor Johnny Depp.

Fender Esquire:
very rarely played live, but it was used on many studio recordings since 2001.

Gibson Les Paul Custom (Ebony, with Bigsby):
played for Hey Hey My My at Wembley in 2000.

UPDATED PAGES:

A 2011 appearance of the obscure Les Paul Signature.

More details and pictures regarding the two Blonde Epiphone Casinos: a ’64 and a John Lennon reissue, both used in the studio since 1999.

Minor updates to the Custom Telecaster page.