I first became aware of guitarist Michael Hedges in about 1983.
Guitar Player magazine would include a little vinyl record called a “sound page” - and one month an American guitar player playing a 1920’s Gibson 10 string harp guitar was featured playing his composition “Because Its There”.
I was immediately hooked - the strong syncopated bass line on the low harp strings accompanied by the pull offs and harmonics and percussive slaps - pulled me in.
It was something I hadn’t heard executed to such a standard.
Sure there was the string bends and slaps on those wonderful late 70’s John Martyn albums - but nothing like Michael Hedges and the introduction to that wonderful old harp guitar.
I immediately learned as much as I could and picked up those amazing Wyndham Hill albums “Aerial Boundaries” and ‘Breakfast In The Field”.
Apparently he would use a bass guitar G bass string as his low E on a regular 6 string acoustic - giving the guitar more low end and enhanced slap dynamics as a result.
A totally unique and original artist who inspired future players to explore this approach of expanding acoustic guitar dynamics with a percussive technique.
Check out his use of a Transtrem guitar on his album “Taproot”.
A new guitar technology developed by Steinberger in 1984 which allowed entire chords to have their pitch bent while remaining in tune.
Tragically Michael was killed in an auto accident in 1997.
However,I was fortunate to catch him live in concert in 1986 in London.
He was a congenial artist with great audience interaction - and a flawless technique that he could pull off live.
The high point was seeing him play “Because Its There” on that old Gibson harp guitar - the song that pulled me in , in the first place.
Check out his albums and more info here: