I'm Leo Vela and I play with these fine gents in Unholy Desecration. I also have a personal band called Monuments of Sin with my best friend Memo Leal who I worked with for many years in a band called Slow Grind.
2.Who made you want to pick up the guitar
My Dad actually.
Growing up he was the lead guitar player in a band called the Texas Rebel Band. Mainly Tejano and contemporary music. But my Dad could do all of the leading stuff and complex riffing. It was only as I got older that I realized not a lot of people could do what he did and that he was rather exceptional. Then he showed me that video of Hendrix burning his guitar on stage and the rest, as they say, is history.
3.Are you self taught or did you take lessons?
Self taught actually. My Pops taught me the open chords we all start with, then I used my ear to start learning stuff on my own. When he saw that, he said he had nothing more to teach me as that is how he taught himself.
4. Can you read music, Can you read tab?
Music, hell no lol. Tab, yes I can. I just find it easier to figure it out sonically though.
.
5.Do you feel like you have your own sound / tone ?
For a long time I did not, but over two decades I've been told often enough that I have a certain "sound" so to speak. Kind of atmospheric and dark on the leading end, and thrashy and pick heavy on the rhythm.
6.Tell us about your guitar ( brand ,model . year , color )
My baby for many years now is my Lamia:
BC Rich NJ Series Blue Burst Warlock
That I got around year 2001. They had JUST come out and I got the pick of the litter as I worked at the best local music store lol. Fantastic neck and very responsive. I especially love that her top horn digs directly on my heart when I sit down and practice with her haha.
7.What about pickups? Passive or active ?
Tell us about them
EMG Active 81 at the bridge and 85 at the neck. Yes, I went with the classic Metallica setup, but because that distortion with some nice tubes, man you just can't beat it!
8.Lets get into amplification, Same drill brand , model , speakers etc
Normally I run through a Peavey 5150 head going through a Marshal 1960 cab with modified wiring.
9.Do you have a pedal board?
Tell us about that badboy
My trusty Vegeta that has got me through everything, my Boss GT-3 pedalboard (complete with one barely hanging on sticker of Vegeta left, the others got destroyed over the years lol)
10..Now tell us your Dream Rig in detail…..
I'd like to get an American Warlock with all the trimmings, Black Burst. Schaller Floyd Rose, ebony fretboard, same EMG setup, beast headstock, running through a Triple Mesa and full stack. I'l stick to Boss for my pedalboard cause they are the shit. Whatever is the latest model GT they have.
11.What guitarist can you not stand?
Yngvie Malmsteen, I think, I dunno, kinda like that he stays true. Nevermind, I take that back lol. I really don't have any dislike of guitarists as they all have something to offer.
12. Is tone more important or is technique?
TECHNIQUE. A person with amazing technique can make anything sound like incredible tone.
13. Name your top 5 guitarist
Trey Azagthoth
Dimebag Darrell
Steve Vai
Fredrick Thordendal
Eric Rutan
14.Who is the most overrated guitarist
Yngvie? Hahahah damnit, I gotta leave my guitar brother alone. Next question!
15.Who would you like a one hour private sit down lessons with anyone dead or alive?
Trey Azagthoth (got a little bit of one when I worked at the music store)
Steve Vai
No comments:
Post a Comment