Guitars and Guitarists

2020 marks two related anniversaries for Yamaha Guitars: the 30th anniversary of Yamaha Guitar Development - our Los Angeles custom shop - and the 30th anniversary of the Attitude series. The signature bass of the singular Billy Sheehan, the Attitude was one of the first production instruments developed by YGD.

In celebration of International Women's Day, we are shining a spotlight on some amazing women who are killing it in their field. These five Yamaha artists from different cities around the globe each gave us insight into their lives as musicians: their inspirations, creative process and what motivates them as artists.

When it comes to iconic musicians, there are a combination of things that make them stand out - their sound, style, look and attitude. So, when it comes to iconic bassists, few fit the bill as perfectly Peter Hook, instantly recognizable with his low-slung Yamaha BB.

Tony Kanal’s relationship with Yamaha is a special one – one that the company is sincerely proud of. In 1987 he borrowed money from his father to buy his first bass – a natural finish BB1600 – to play shows after school. Since then, Kanal has enjoyed more than two decades with legendary ska/rock band No Doubt, and currently performs with his new band DREAMCAR. From his first BB1600 to the new custom BB3000 he comissioned especially for DREAMCAR, Kanal has always been killing it with a BB series bass in hand.

In this video, iconic Smashing Pumpkins leader Billy Corgan details how his connection to the acoustic guitar unlocks his creativity like no other instrument – and how impressed he was with the plug-and-play sound quality of his new Yamaha LJ16BC acoustic guitar while touring and promoting his first solo record Ogilala.

To commemorate the release of Billy Corgan’s first acoustic solo album Ogilala, the legendary Smashing Pumpkins songwriter teamed up with Yamaha and BMG to celebrate this new chapter in his musical journey with an intimate performance featuring his signature model Yamaha LJ16BC acoustic guitar:

Though Smashing Pumpkins might be known for their heavy barrage of rifftastic alternative rock, Billy Corgan wrote the band’s most memorable hits using nothing but his unique melodic sensibilities and an acoustic guitar. In this video, the iconic songwriter explains why his best ideas come out with a Yamaha acoustic guitar.

In this video, veteran guitarist and producer Dave Catching details how his musical journey has evolved from his humble Los Angeles beginnings in 1982, to playing guitar in Eagles Of Death Metal and recording legendary albums for Iggy Pop, Foo Fighters, Queens Of The Stone Age and Arctic Monkeys at his iconic Rancho De La Luna recording studio.

A lot of magic has happened within the walls of Dave Catching’s Rancho De La Luna. In part two of our video tour of the iconic studio, the Eagles Of Death Metal guitarist gives us a rundown of his vast collection of Yamaha guitars and basses, including a vintage 1960s FG75 and a new Revstar RSP20.

Eagles Of Death Metal guitarist Dave Catching gives us a tour of Rancho De La Luna, the iconic Joshua Tree studio responsible for influential records by Iggy Pop, Foo Fighters, Arctic Monkeys, Queens Of The Stone Age, Eagles Of Death Metal, and more. Watch the video to hear Dave explain his inspired-yet-relaxed approach to recording.