Xavier Rudd is one of the most talented new Australian artists. His acoustic performances as almost an orchestra man are impressive and inmediately captivate you. He uses as main stars on his performances the Weissenborn guitar (Tim Kill´s copies) as well as acoustic guitars (Cole Clarks often), combining them all with digderidoos with percussion of djembes and...his feet. His performances are basically acoustic guitars.
In a very short career, Xavier Rudd has already got the inconditional support from his audience. The way to do it (as many great artists around), the mouth to mouth marketing estrategy. This type of musical marketing does not require from MTV´s, radios or Grammys, its just about playing and performing damn well.
Here´s a video of a Xavier Rudd live performance. Weissenborn and harmonica and a curious "No woman, no cry" version. Studio version can be found at Xavier Rudd´s album "Food in the Belly", 2005.
ROAD GUITARS
We had the pleasure to personally meet Xavier on September 07 when he came on tour to Madrid. We found out he´s as good as person as musically talented. After concert, we had the chance to check all instruments he performed with that night. We were specially impressed with a Tim Kill 12 string Weissenborn inspired lap steel. Weissenborn style instruments Xavier Rudd tours with are well amplified and have a very clean sound. Forgot to ask about the pick ups...next time.
Note: We were recently contacted by James Looker, Xavier Rudd´s instrument tech. He was kind to provide this extra information about the instruments: (again, from left to right)
1. resonator is a 1960's Old Craftsman round neck with raised bridge and neck/lap pad. uses a National pickup, almost like a squished P-90 humbucker.
2. Carson Crickmore (Phil Carson) of melbourne, 11 string weissenborn copy, setup with a Seymour Duncan MagMic
3. Carson Crickmore (phil Carson) of melbourne, 6 string weissenborn copy, setup with a Seymour Duncan Magmic.
4. Celtic Cross Instruments of Vancouver Island, BC Canada, 6 string Weissenborn, setup with a Seymour Duncan MagMic.
5. Gibson ES335, setup with Seymour Duncan Vintage 59' P-90 humbuckers.
6. Maton CW-80E, 12 string acoustic with Sunrise pickup and maton AP-5 on board pre & under the saddle.
7. Maton CW-80E, 6 String acoustic with Sunrise Pickup and Maton AP5 on board & under the saddle.
8. Cole Clark FL (original) painted by Wazza of NSW (you don't have a pic of this guitar now that it's painted). using cole clark's pickup (invented by the guy who made AP5, Brad Clark) and a sunrise magnetic pickup.
Guitars for White Moth Tour 07-08 (from left to right): Resonator roundneck guitar adapted for lap steel style, Tim Kill Weissenborn style custom 12 string guitar, Tim Kill custom lap steel (regular 6 string Weissenborn), Celtic Cross Weissenborn, Gibson jazz guitar, Maton 12 string acoustic guitar, Cole Clark FL1 and Maton Acoustic.
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