World Best Guitar Players: Michael Angelo Batio

Michael Angelo Batio born February 23, 1956) also known as Mike Batio or MAB, is a guitarist and columnist fromChicago, Illinois. His work has encompassed many genres, notably metal and its subgenres. Batio was voted the "No. 1 Shredder of All Time" by Guitar One Magazine in 2003. He was also listed as one of the "Top 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists of All Time" by Guitar World Magazine, for which he wrote the column Time to Burn, and one of the "20 Greatest Shredders of All Time" by Total Guitar Magazine, both in April 2008. Batio also won the 2009 Guitar World Magazine Readers Choice award in the "Best Shredder" category. In November 2011, Michael won the Guitar World Magazine Readers Choice Award and was voted the "Fastest Guitarist of All Time." Over 440,000 votes were cast. Michael Angelo Batio started playing the piano and composing music at the age of five, and first played guitar at the age of ten, reportedly playing faster than his teacher within two years. At the age of fourteen he started playing jazz guitar, and within two years he had won the Chicago-based "All-State Jazz Solo Award". He attended Northeastern Illinois University and achieved aBachelor of Arts degree in Music Theory and Composition. After he had graduated, Batio looked to become a session guitarist in his hometown. When he asked for a job at a nearby studio, he was given a piece of music and simply asked to play it. He managed to play it adding his own improvisations and fills, making him the studio's primary call-out guitarist. As a session player, Batio recorded music for such companies as Burger King, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, KFC, United Airlines, United Way, McDonalds, Beatrice Corp. and the Chicago Wolves hockey team.

Videos

Equipment

Guitars

- Batio uses Dean guitars. He created a signature Dean guitar called the MAB 1 Armorflame. Google the armorflame - it looks awesome.

Dean ML 30th Anniversary Electric Guitar Blackburst*

- Batio created both double and quad guitars. Currently, Dean makes models of each for him.
- "MAB Hands Without Shadows" pickups
- custom made Charvel and Yuriy Shishkov guitars
- Dean Tiger Eve, 24 fret Vendetta
- USA Dean Exotic Spalted Maple Flying V.
- USA Dean Time capsule Blue Burst ML that is no. 13 of only 25 made.
- USA Dean Collectors edition Hardtail. (cheaper version pictured below)

Dean Hardtail Select Electric Guitar Braziliaburst

- USA Dean prototype Hardtail.
- Dean “Tiger Eye” Custom 450 modifed with a USA Floyd Rose and DiMarzio pick-ups.
- Custom made USA 29 fret guitar built by Wayne Charvel. The top is made from Military aircraft aluminum. It was designed by MAB and called The “Rocket” Guitar.
- Vintage 1978 USA Dean ML modified with an early 80’s Kahler locking trem system.
- Custom USA 24 fret guitar built by Yuriy Shishkov for MAB.
- Custom USA “Swamp Ash” Tele built by Grover Jackson for MAB.
- Vintage 1987 USA “Photon” MIDI guitar with the controller
- 1997 USA custom shop Fender Strat. It has a quilted Maple neck and SRV “Texas Special” pick-ups.
- Godin LGX guitar with MIDI capability.
- Dean Chrome G Resonator Acoustic/Electric.
- Dean 7 string guitar. This is one of MAB’s “practice” guitars.
- Dean Tradition S12 12 string acoustic

Dean Tradition 12-string Acoustic Guitar Natural

- Dean Exotica RSE Supreme Acoustic/Electric with a solid Sitka Spruce Top
- Dean Blue Grass F Mandolin

- limited edition Gibson “Reverse Flying V” Guitar

Gibson Reverse Flying V Electric Guitar Limited Edition Natural

- 1968 Fender Mustang

Fender '65 Mustang Reissue Electric Guitar Dakota Red

- 1986 Fender Strat '62 reissue

Fender American Vintage '62 Stratocaster Electric Guitar 3-Tone Sunburst

- Dean Dime-O-Flame ML

- Dean Mach 7 Guitar
- 1993 Stephens extended cutaway acoustic
- USA made Tacoma and Taylor acoustic guitars
- 1997 USA Nuno Bettencourt P3 guitar
- Washburn A-30 electric.
- Ibanez RG series
- 1993 Gibson Les Paul Custom - white