Show & Tell with: James Dean, Guitarist for Bare Bones
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Show & Tell with: James Dean, Guitarist for Bare Bones

What piece of equipment do you have to show us today?
My 2001 Black Gibson Les Paul Custom, loaded with Bare Knuckle Nailbombs.
 

How did you come across this particular item?
For my 25th birthday I wanted to treat myself to a new guitar. I had never owned a ‘high end’ guitar, but found my Les Paul second hand at a ripper price. It had been originally owned by someone in Japan and found its way to Australia. It had obviously been loved by the past owner, and had its fair share of battle wounds, which attributed to the great price. But to me I love the scars it carries from both its past life, and from what I have put it through.
 

What is it that you like about it so much?
Everything. I am yet to play a guitar that feels better to me, from the hard ebony fingerboard, the sustain it produces, the screaming Nailbomb pickups, and even how heavy it feels to hold. It’s just a bad ass rock’n’roll machine.
 

How do you use it and how has it shaped the way you write music?
It is my go-to guitar, I use it for nearly all of our live shows, and it has copped an absolute belting but still comes back for more. Some people like to keep their expensive guitars tucked away in a case and never take them out, those people are nerds. In terms of how it shapes how I play, the most significant aspect would be the inspiration I draw from it. When you play an amazing instrument, something special happens where you just feel riffs flow like melted butter.
 

Tell us a little something about what you have coming up?
Bare Bones landed the main support for the Rise Against Australian tour, which begins in Perth on February 7th. It will be our second arena tour in less than six months, don’t ask us how, but it’s absolutely mental.

 

 

Bare Bones debut album Bad Habits is out now through Resist Records.

Photo – Jayden Pitts