The Current's Guitar Collection: Gary Clark Jr., Epiphone Casino
by Jill Riley
December 11, 2013
When Gary Clark Jr. visited The Current's studios for an interview and performance, we asked him about his guitar. Here's what he had to say.
Jill Riley: What was your first guitar?
Gary Clark Jr.:It was an Ibanez RX20. A black electric guitar, maple neck, humbuckers, simple little deal.
I've been YouTube stalking you for a little while now. I notice you play this guitar in particular a lot. Are you a big fan of Epiphone guitars, or is this the one that just feels right for you?
This one is the one that feels right. I got this a few months ago when I was in London. But the original, I went with Zapata [fellow guitarist] to this Musicmakers down in Austin. I was looking for a hollow body like all the blues greats had, you know? You see these guys with these big red Gibsons, and I didn't have any money to buy a Gibson, so we went in and looked for something inexpensive and found a stock Epiphone Casino. I've been playing them ever since.
When you went into the guitar shop, were you just wandering around London? Did you ask the person you bought the guitar from if they knew who played it before you?
He didn't know. He just said this guy brought it in and said it had been sitting under his bed for like 50 years and he wanted to sell it. So here it is!
