Kurt Vile’s Musical Journey: the Allure of aging Guitar Strings
Kurt Vile, often dubbed the “slacker poet of contemporary indie rock,” has unveiled a new album titled Philadelphia’s Been Good to Me, a heartfelt tribute to the city that shaped his artistry.
True to his signature sound, which has always been deeply rooted in guitar melodies, Vile maintains his conviction that older guitar strings produce a richer tone than their fresh counterparts.
Reflecting on a recent experience, he chuckles, “We had a new guitar technician, and on his very first day, he removed all the strings without me even considering it. It was a real shock!”
vile continues, “Rob Schnapf, a renowned producer and collaborator, shares this beliefs. New strings require a break-in period, especially during live performances. If you have to swap out acoustic strings, the initial show can feel off. They resonate differently, almost like bells.”
Throughout the making of his latest record, Vile has been accompanied by a Gretsch Tennessean, a guitar he acquired from Travis Good of the Sadies, a beloved Canadian rock and alt-country band.
“If you ever catch him live, you’ll see how intensely he plays,” Vile admires. “The wear on the fretboard of this guitar tells the story of his passion. He lent it to me during a show in Toronto to see if I was interested in purchasing it.”
Instantly captivated, Vile recorded some tracks with it, stating, “Some guitars just resonate and feel perfect, almost playing themselves.” This connection led him to take the Gretsch on tour.
“In the studio,it sounds phenomenal. The pickups are incredibly powerful.It features prominently on tracks like Zoom 97, 99th Song, and every Time I Look at You. It really stands out in the mix,” he adds.
In a 2020 discussion with Guitar world, Vile elaborated on the guitars that have come and gone in his life, emphasizing that a guitar’s aesthetic appeal is just as crucial as its sonic qualities.
