ARTIST APPROVED
For Franco the Count of doom metal band Castle Rat, the gui- tarist relies on Dunable guitars with a custom U.S.-made As- teroid serving as his exclusive live instrument. FRANCO THE COUNT MI: What is your all-time favorite instrument, and makes it stand out from the rest? FTC: A Fender Stratocaster was my only guitar for a lot of years, so I got so used to the neck, the feel and the sound of that guitar. I put Seymour Duncan pickups on it early on, and some locking tuners. And that has always been my favorite guitar. MI: What instruments are currently in your arse- nal? Are there any that are your go-to choices for recording or performing live? FTC: These days I’m using Dunable gui- tars, which are perfect for our style of music. The one I’m using exclusively on stage is one of their USA custom Asteroid models. It plays great, sounds amazing and it’s super reliable, which is huge when you go on extensive tours. MI: Are there any new or emerging pieces of gear you’ve recently tried that have caught your attention or inspired you in the creative process? FTC: The practicality of the Neural DSP stuff on the road is tough to beat. Both Riley [Pinkerton] and I are using Nano Cortex live. We’re also powering cabs through Seymour Duncan PowerStages, which is a killer combo. At home, I’ve been experimenting with a Revv D20 straight into my computer, and I’m amazed at how great it sounds and how good it takes pedals. There’s so much new amazing gear coming out constantly that it’s hard for me to keep up! — By Kimberly Kapela
AMP’d Guitar Den Opens Independent Retail Store in Orlando A MP’d Guitar Den officially opened its doors in Orlando, Florida, on July 1 in the city’s Mills 50 District. The AMP’d staff, from left: Robert Wilson, Kelly Wilson and William Trimble.
these books accessible,” Kelly said. One of the biggest parts of AMP’d is its repair shop, which offers everything from setups and restringing to fret work, electronics, pickup installations and more involved repairs. “We take a lot of pride in doing repair work the right way and treating every instrument like it belongs to us,” Kelly shared. “I hope people leave feeling like they found their music store.” The store’s opening was marked by an- other milestone when AMP’d Guitar Den was recognized as the Mills 50 District’s Business of the Month for July — an honor announced on the same day the shop of- ficially welcomed its first customers. “Opening an independent music store today is definitely a leap of faith, and the encouragement we’ve received from customers, our neighbors, vendors and the music industry has been incredible,” Kelly said. “We’re just getting started, and we’re excited to keep building a place where musi- cians of every skill level feel welcome. We hope AMP’d Guitar Den becomes one of those shops people remember because of how they were treated and felt when they walked through the door.” AMP’d Guitar Den is currently open Wednesdays through Sundays. — By Kimberly Kapela
AMP’d was born out of the idea that buying a guitar should be more than just grabbing something off a wall. Co-owners Robert and Kelly Wilson and store man- ager William Trimble set out to create a shop where customers feel comfortable asking questions, testing gear and know- ing they’re getting honest advice instead of a sales pitch. “We opened in Orlando’s Mills 50 dis- trict with a focus on quality instruments, expert repairs and creating a welcoming space for everyone from someone buying their very first guitar to seasoned musicians who have been playing for decades,” Kelly said. “At the end of the day, our mission is pretty simple: help people make music and make them excited to come back.” AMP’d offers a thoughtfully selected inventory of guitars, amplifiers, pedals and accessories alongside repair services, vinyl records and an eclectic collection of books — including a dedicated shelf of banned books. “Florida leads the nation in the num- ber of books removed from public school libraries, and as people who believe that music and literature both have the power to inspire, challenge, and broaden perspec- tives, we felt it was important to make
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