Peter Stroud Exclusive Interview

By Cyndi Ford

 

Photo Credit : ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM

One of the nicest people I know, that has talent beyond imagination. He is a true professional, words that don’t come easily for musicians. He is grounded, and yet worldly. He has traveled the world and played with all the greats. The list of things that he has accomplished, is too numerous to name. I think I speak for all of his friends from Atlanta, we are proud you, Peter Stroud.

 

What was the inspiration for the creation of 65amps?

My partner and best friend Dan Boul and I both had our own motivations. For me it was the search for the tone of the larger vintage amps I was liked but at a much more manageable stage volume. Up to that point I had been using Marshall's, Fender’s and old Ampeg’s, all which proved too loud for even the bigger stages, mainly since I was playing with artists where a lower stage volume was required. I therefore found my amps placed behind plexiglass or needing attenuators...or both!

Dan first had the idea to start the company with me as his first “artist”. By that time I had modified my own amps over the years enough to establish a clear idea of what I was searching for tonally, so suggested we do 65amps together.

What were the steps you did to begin the process of making 65 amps?

Dan had a friend that came up with the initial drawings for the look of a 212 combo amp. It was very cool with the split "cathedral" looking grill and vertical vents. He and with the helps of another friend made the initial prototype cabs. I headed up designing the chassis on Adobe Illustrator and had it fabricated by a local metal fabricator in the Atlanta area, along with the faceplates and vents. Dan was working on the circuit in his backyard shop. We had a lot of friends jumping in along the way offering tremendous help and advice, especially through the internet amp forums. Our first circuit was based on the Marshall 18 watt 212 combo, which was the craze at the time...the holy grail of amplifiers...super rare and considered one of the best low powered sounding amps out there. We discovered similarities between it's circuit, the Vox AC15 and the Watkins Dominator, all 60's Brit lowered powered amps. Our first amp, The London, was our amalgamation of them all, along with our own tonal twists. We wanted that vintage sound, but also with the ability to sound more modern and hold up to pedals, with a wider vocabulary of cleaner and overdriven tones.

A business associate of Dan’s who became our third business partner at the time put up the money to build five prototypes. We carried these amps to the summer NAMM show in Nashville and took our first orders! By the following January 2005 we had our first dealer, Midtown Music in Atlanta, GA, who placed sizable orders and we were off and running.

65amps Dan Boul and Peter Stroud Jan 2010

 

How long have they been in production?

Since summer of 2004 when we took our first individual customer orders. Mainly from friends all of whom I still recall in the order received... Paul Stacey a guitarist and producer in the UK, Tim Smith my bandmate with Sheryl Crow, Sheryl Crow herself! Ritchie Gold who ordered for the DC area recording studio where he served as staff producer and Australian artist and stunning guitarist Jedd Hughes. And of course for Dan and me!

Where are they made?

In LA. In the early days Dan and I oversaw different aspects of the production. I'd oversee the cabinets, chassis and faceplates manufacture on the east coast. Dan would oversee parts ordering and the chassis assembly on the west coast. We used the Mississippi as our dividing line...for amps sold west, Dan would assemble and ship...for amps east, I'd assemble and ship! Pretty quickly we set up proper shop in N Hollywood and over the years all production aspects moved out west.

Are they available as custom orders or just off the shelf?

We rarely shun a customer order...And there have been some wild looking ones! We've made amps to order for certain artists looking for a particular sound. We do less of that kind of custom circuit work nowadays since our current product line seems to cover just about any request we receive.

PHOTO CREDIT: ALAIN SAUQUET

 

What sizes do 65amps come in? Which do you recommend for studio and which for stage?

Our amp line is made up of 112 and 212 combo's and head & cab configurations. We also have a 412 cab available. Power ratings range from 12 to 45 watts, with the lower wattage amps making up the bulk of our sales.

For studio, my personal current faves are the Lil Elvis, Tupelo and London. For stage, the London, Monterey and Empire.

 

Are they tube amps or digital modeling?

Strictly tube! We're completely old school. The digital modeling technology is an amazing thing and serves its purpose in the world of guitar, but there is still nothing that can replicate the tone and dynamic response of the tube circuit guitar amplifier.

Who are some of the musicians that use 65amps?

We've been humbled by the roster of artists using our amps over the years... Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Mike McCready of Pearl Jam as of recent. Sheryl Crow was our first prominent artist to whom we owe thanks for much of our early exposure. Peter Frampton was one of our very first customers. In the country world, Sugarland and Lady Antebellum, Vince Gill one of my all time favorite guitarists owns a couple we custom made for him. Many producers and studios in LA and Nashville have ordered from us. It has certainly been one of the most rewarding aspects for us all at 65. And all of our customers worldwide who send us emails about their amps. It is a tremendous feeling of achievement having created an amp line that players are responding to and using.

 

 

Photo Credit : ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM

I've heard good things about your amps. Can you give me an idea of what styles of music they are best suited for?

These days just about any style. We've been embraced by the pop and rock world and by country artists. Not as much so for the heavy metal world that is better served by manufacturers like Engl, Bogner, Mesa Boogie and Deizel. But that's not to say we'll offer something for that market eventually!

 

What is the price range for your amps?

From $1950 to $3300 for amplifiers heads & cab’s to 112 and 212 combo’s. Our amps our completely handmade using the highest quality of components where needed to vintage stock resistors and select tubes. Every part has been selected with the tone in mind we’re wanting to achieve with a particular model.

 

Do you have any new models that you are working on for future production?

Yes, we have two new amps in the works to be introduced at the upcoming NAMM 2012 show in January. We’ve already begun taking orders on The Producer, an EL 34 tube amplifier. An amp where clean headroom is the key feature.

With Sheryl Crow on The Jay Leno Show

Peter, you are known for playing with Sheryl Crow, who have you had the opportunity to play with because of this, and which ones were your most memorable?

Oh man, over the years there have been so many… Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Elvis Costello, Vince Gill, Steve Earl, Don Henley, Stevie Nicks, Sarah McLachlan, and many others. I’ve come to find it’s a very small community circle, not unlike your hometown music scene. Everybody circulates and comes together to play at one point or another. And the artists I’ve met along the way or toured with expands the list even further. A lifetime of memories within a sixteen year period, since my first big exposure to international touring with Pete Droge.

 

You have had the opportunity to play songs that are some of Americas favorites...which are your favorite to play and why?

Sheryl has a couple that I believe fall in that category for me personally, If It Makes You Happy and Strong Enough. With Eric Clapton – White Room and Little Wing. Keith Richards – Happy & Sweet Little Rock N Roller, Elvis Costello – Peace Love & Understanding & Pump It Up, Stevie Nicks – Gold Dust Woman. Don Henley – Desperado, Heart Of The Matter and several others from playing with him. Pete Droge – if You Don’t Love Me I’ll Kill Myself, Northern Bound Train, Dear Diane. America is not as familiar with Pete, but I consider him one of the most outstanding songwriters of our time. The list has become endless.

 

You obviously play through a 65 amp product, which one, and what are your favorite guitars to take with you on the road?

The 65’s I take out have depended on with whom I’m touring. With Sheryl I used the London and Monterey heads with 212 cab’s. With Sarah McLachlan for the past year and a half I used a Lil Elvis and Monterey. My “go to” club & jam amp is a 32 watt Marquee, an amp no longer in production, but still one of my personal favorites.

For guitars, it has been Tele’s and Les Paul’s for the most part. And of recent years, my signature model Elliott Tonemaster and Duesenberg Dragster Multibender. Also back into Strat’s again…and a Flying V!

Peter Stroud w Sarah McLachlan - Lilith 2010
(AP Photo/Robert E. Klein)
 

You have had several custom made guitars with your name on them, can you tell us about them, and what are their special features?

I have two signature guitars, one that has been available over the past few years made by Andy Elliott. Andy and I came up with a Jazzmaster-style guitar that has become my mainstay “go to” guitar. Andy handcrafts his guitars from scratch using the finest woods he can acquire, no kit bodies or necks. Even the bridge and pick-ups are custom tooled & manufactured for this guitar. It’s called the Elliott Tonemaster. The pick-ups are made by Lindy Fralin, wound like P-90’s on a Jazzmaster-style bobbin. It’s one of the most incredible sounding and responsive guitars I’ve ever played.

Duesenberg Guitars has made a guitar for me that will be introduced as a signature model in January 2012 at NAMM. Very proud of this guitar as well. It features their Multi-bender bridge which allows emulating pedal steel licks. It is the first slide guitar I’ve used that surpasses my original mongrel slide G&L F-100 outfitted with a Bigsby Palm-Pedal that I’ve used for the past 20 years.

Vox made a custom guitar for me that I used throughout the Sarah McLachlan tour and remains one of my favorites. A beautiful instrument with innovative pick-up and bridge designs.

 

What is on the horizon for you musically?

First and foremost is to finish an album with my new band BIG HAT. A ongoing project that my pals and I have embraced over the past two years, yet we’ve had to work around everyone’s busy touring schedules. We’ve recorded four songs so far and it proving a magical experience for all of us. Band features Audley Freed, Keith Gattis, Robert Kearns, Fred Eltringham and Ike Stubblefield. Produced by Nick DiDia.

[ In fact, the song playing in the background, Delilah, is a BIG HAT number, Ed ]

I’m also producing a couple of artists. Beyond that, playing with whomever I can. Taking in everything and anything musical. Beyond my family, that’s what it’s all about for me.

Links:

http://PeterStroud.com

http://Reverbnation.com/BIGHATtheBand

http://65amps.com

http://ElliottGuitarsNC.com

http://duesenberg.de

 

Cyndi