Watch: Backstage with Def Leppard’s Phil Collen and his Jackson guitars
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Watch: Backstage with Def Leppard’s Phil Collen and his Jackson guitars

 

 

Collen shares stories and demos several guitars, including the famously garish Jackson Dinky’ 86 ‘Bella’, 1986 Silver Crackle and the newer X-Stroyer and PC-1 signature. Speaking about his famous ‘Bella’, Collen says it has “sounded better and better with age” as the aged wood has made the tone “sweeter”.

 

“It’s been on more magazine covers than I have,” said Collen. “It gets on stuff without me.”

 

Collen mentions he names all of his guitars, labelling the PC-1 signature ‘Jaxson’ on the headstock after playing it for the first time on tour the day his son was born. 

 

“I’ve been playing it like crazy,” Collen said. “It’s not a regular super three humbucker. It’s got so much output, but it actually cleans up like a real Strat [sic] with its own unique sound.”

 

Def Leppard were recently nominated for induction into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, amongst other nominees Radiohead and The Cure. The band are also set for two new releases on Friday November 30 – The Story So Far -The Best of Def Leppard and Hysteria: The Singles, a limited-edition, ten-disc vinyl box set featuring all of the seven-inch singles from their 1987 hit, Hysteria.

 

Def Leppard will tour Australia from Friday November 10 in Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Find tickets via Ticketek.