World Best Guitar Players: Slash

Saul Hudson (born July 23, 1965), known by his stage name Slash, is a British-American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the former lead guitarist of the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. During his later years with Guns N' Roses, Slash formed the side project Slash's Snakepit. He then co-founded the supergroupVelvet Revolver, which re-established him as a mainstream performer in the mid to late 2000s. In 2010, Slash released his eponymous debut solo album, featuring an all-star roster of guest musicians. His second album, Apocalyptic Love, recorded with his band, is set for release on May 22, 2012. Slash has received critical acclaim as a guitarist. Time named him runner-up on their list of "The 10 Best Electric Guitar Players" in 2009, while Rolling Stone placed him at No. 65 on their list of "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" in 2011. Guitar World ranked his solo in "November Rain" No. 6 on their list of "The 100 Greatest Guitar Solos" in 2008, and Total Guitar placed his riff in "Sweet Child o' Mine" at No. 1 on their list of "The 100 Greatest Riffs" in 2004. Slash was born Saul Hudson in Hampstead, an area of London.His mother, Ola Hudson (born Oliver; 1946–2009), was an African-American costume designer whose clients included David Bowie, and his father, Anthony Hudson, is an English artist who created album covers for musicians such as Neil Young and Joni Mitchell. Contrary to popular belief, Slash's mother was not Nigerian, nor is his father Jewish. Of his mixed background, Slash later remarked, "As a musician, I've always been amused that I'm both British and black; particularly because so many American musicians seem to aspire to be British while so many British musicians...went to such great pains to be black." During his early years, Slash was raised by his father and paternal grandparents in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. When he was five years old, he and his father joined his mother in Los Angeles, California. His brother, Albion "Ash" Hudson, was born in 1972. Following his parents' separation in 1974, Slash became a self-described "problem child," and he was often sent to live with his beloved maternal grandmother. He was given the nickname "Slash" by family friend Seymour Cassel, because he was "always in a hurry, zipping around from one thing to another."

Videos

Equipment

Guitars

Slash owns more than 250 different guitars. Some of them are the following:

- Gibson Les Paul Slash Custom Shop model

- Gibson 1959 Les Paul replica built by Kris Derrig (some people think that it's a Max Baranet Les Paul replica, but it's not) The recording Holy Grail used on all CD's.
- Gibson 1987 Les Paul Standard with 3 piece top (Factory Second) (Slash's main live guitar with cracked neck in 2 places; repaired)

- Gibson 1958 Les Paul replica built by Kris Derrig

- Gibson 1959 Les Paul replica built by Kris Derrig

- Gibson Standard and Custom Les Pauls

- Gibson 1957-58-59-60 Les Paul Reissue
- Gibson 2004 Signature (Velvet Revolver)
- Gibson 1963 & 1965 Melody Makers

Gibson Melody Maker Electric Guitar Ebony

- Gibson 1960s SG

- Gibson EDS-1275

- Gibson 1959 Flying V

- Gibson 1958 Explorer

- Gibson ES-335

Gibson Custom ES-335 Satin Finish Electric Guitar Faded Cherry

- Gibson Firebird VII

- Gibson 2007 Classic Custom

- Gibson J-100
- Fender Squier

- Fender 1952 Telecaster

- Fender 1956 Stratocaster

- Fender 1965 Stratocaster
- Fender 2006 JazzMaster

- Ernie Ball/Musicman Silhouette

- Guild 1999 Crossroads Doubleneck ("Godzilla")
- Guild 12-string Acoustic Guitar

- B.C. Rich Mockingbird (at least three signature models with active pick-up systems)

- B.C. Rich 10-string Rich Bich

- B.C. Rich Warlock

- Martin D-28 Acoustic Guitar

Martin D-28 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Sunburst

- Ramirez Classical guitar

- Travis Bean Electric (Used for slide guitar)
- First Act 2006 GarageMaster (Used in Volkswagen commercial)

Guitars used by Slash in studio for the recording of Libertad :

- 1959 Gibson Les Paul replica built by Chris Derrig
- 1960 Gibson Les Paul reissue

- Gibson Les Paul Slash Custom Shop model
- Gibson Les Paul junior

- Gretsch 6120 Brian Setzer model

- Rickenbacker 12-string
- Fender Stratocaster

Amplifiers

Notes: Slash is the first musician to own a signature amp created for him by Marshall.

- 100 watt Marshall AFD100 (Slash model head. 2010)

- Marshall Vintage 1960's Marshall 1959 modified by Tim Caswell at SIR studios; used for the recording of Appetite for Destruction (Attempted to be stolen, but returned accidentally by a roadie)
- Marshall 2555SL Signature Head with EL-34 tubes
- Marshall JCM-800 2203 and 2210 Heads (with 6550 tubes)

- Marshall JCM 2555 Silver Jubilee (the grey/silver 25th Anniversary head from 1987 and the black edition from 1988)
- Marshall 50W Plexi model 1987 (from 1973)

- Marshall Vintage Modern 2466 with KT-66 tubes

- Marshall 1960BV 4x12 Cabinet

- 60 Watt Celestion "Vintage 30" Speakers

- Marshall 1960BX 4x12 Cabinet

Marshall 1960AX or 1960BX 100W 4x12 Guitar Extension Cabinet Straight

- 25 Watt Celestion "Greenback" Speakers

Notes:
For the recording of Velvet Revolver's debut, Slash told Guitar Player mag he used a Vox AC30 and small Fender tube amps (for "oddball" sounds). Live, he only uses Marshalls.