Bill Herring of 1916 | 2012 Gretsch Electromatic
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Bill Herring - 1916 | 2012 limited edition Gretsch Electromatic.
"It was the first instrument I've owned that I saved up for and spent time researching before I bought it. It wasn’t a gift from someone (which is always nice!) and it wasn’t given to me in some way. I earned it. The guitars I had been playing up until that point were older guitars I had acquired from when I was a kid. I bought the Gretsch from my friend Dave over at Guitar Center. Great selection of really nice instruments over there. As a primarily rhythm oriented guitarist, I knew I needed a guitar that played like an acoustic but had the ability to really bring the power when I hit the gas and the band gets going. This guitar has FilterTron pickups, although I have been toying with upgrading them. I had a bone nut installed by K Robin guitars a few years ago and that took care of a string breaking issue I was having. I really do put this poor guitar through the ringer but it works as hard as I do so I feel like we are good partners."
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Who is your favorite Rochester musician?
"My favorite Rochester musician (and this is a super loaded question because I know so many great players in and around Rochester) is Dennis Casey from Flogging Molly. He and I have become good friends over the years and he inspires me to get off my ass and make things happen. It’s amazing to me that someone can be that talented, and so down to earth while juggling a career as a touring musician with having a family. I love that guy." -
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What is your favorite Rochester music venue?
"My favorite music venue at the moment is probably a toss up between Photo cIty Improv, Flour cIty Station, and Abilene. All three offer the concert goer a unique perspective of the band your watching, based on the space. And from a players point of view it’s nice to have so many great places to play that are fantastic to the people playing there. A special mention to the new space at Iron Smoke Whiskey dIstillery. We played a sold out show there in March and it was one of the best shows we ever played in our hometown."
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Why do you love the Rochester music scene?
"The Rochester scene has always been very challenging for bands that play original music. That’s not necessarily a bad thing; it keeps you on your toes as a performing artist and forces you to be more creative in your pursuits. I can remember playing in my old band every Thursday night at the Penny Arcade in 1998, and the passion all those bands put into their music back then can still be seen in the local bands today. I will say if you’re not passionate about what you do and the music you’re playing, people won’t respond to it. I started playing Irish punk rock because I sincerely loved that kind of music and it shows when 1916 plays out live. People have always just wanted to go out and have a good time when they watch a live band. That’s what the scene is to me...it’s a vehicle for us to have a fucking blast together."
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