1.Tell us your name and the band you play for
Zachariah. Guitars/Bass for Kratornas (founded 1995 / extinct 2010).
2.Who made you want to pick up the guitar?
Mine was more like influenced by my environment and never been a “who”. Grew up surrounded by Uncle Cannabis. All of them play guitar (acoustic) and I was a child when it all happened. Amazing how time went so fast.
3.Are you self taught or did you take lessons?
I “learned” everything on my own. I found this chordbook named “Jingle” and I can even memorize the chordchart there (at that time). I may have a teacher but that didn’t happen. Son of a bitch was so distant to us younger generation. Drugs messed him bad and he’s fucking dead now. Most likely an elitist of his time – rot in heaven and fuck off!
4. Can you read music, Can you read tab?
I can read tab since I was 14(?). Actually I can read both. I’ve taken “Piano Lessons” while at Sophomore College but that’s a long time ago. I’ve forgot half (or most) of that and I got a different way of writing my own “tab” now that only me can understand.
5.Do you feel like you have your own sound / tone ?
I want to have my own sound but I don’t want a “fixed tone”. I want each release to co-relate with the theme of what I’m doing hence the no “fixed tone”. Hard to explain…
6.Tell us about your guitar (brand, model, year, color)
Once again I don’t have a fixed guitar to tell. I’ll use what I think suits the material. As of this writing I only got 3 guitars taking turns in the “studio” while the rest of it were still in their cartons piled under the stairs.
7.What about pickups? Passive or active ? Tell us about them.
Passive. I got six guitars with EMG and Blackouts on them but I just don’t like them. I don’t know. The only active that matters (to me) would be The Hets that I replaced on this FRX401 (EMG by default) that I’m also not fond of using but that’s a really good active sound as far as I can remember.
8.Lets get into amplification, Same drill brand, model, speakers etc…
No gigs so nothing fancy. I only got this Marshall JCM2000 TSL100 (head) paired with a 4×12 1960A (cab).
9.Do you have a pedal board? Tell us about that badboy.
Boards were made for a touring “musician” so no point owning a board here. I got them all lying on the floor and they’ve been safe there since ages.
10.Now tell us your Dream Rig in detail…
No dream rig. Things were always changing and get shuffled here from time to time. The only thing that’s still here is this “Silencer” (noise pedal). The rest either goes under the stairs or gets sold to Kiji.
11.What guitarist can you not stand?
Those who are here for the wrong reasons.
12. Is tone more important or the technique?
They should be linked. I don’t get it why choose only one.
13. Name your top 5 guitarists.
(1) Jeff Beck. (2) Satriani. (3) Vai. (4). Dave Mustaine. (5) Early Shrapnel releases.
14.Who is the most overrated guitarist?
I don’t know… all guitarists are comrades. Overrated or whatever.
15.Who would you like a one hour private sit down lessons with anyone dead or alive?
None so far. Thanks for your time.
EMAIL/SITE: a-sk@kratornas.com
BANDCAMP: kratornas.bandcamp.com
PISSBOOK: facebook.com/officialkratornas
YOUTUBE: youtube.com/hooligarma
Wes is the owner of Metal Moose, Metal Coffee, The Metal Times and The Pitchfork Syndicate, and he has 20 years of the biz under his belt, focused on the indie heavy music scene from the unlikely location of Oklahoma City. Wes is bringing his Guitar Series Axemen and Underground Spotlight to MHF.
