Greg Howe: I Wanna Play Guitar

DiMarzio talks to Greg Howe about getting the Michael Jackson gig and his signature Laguna guitar with DiMarzio pickups.

[@Chord_The_Seeker]

Greg has never been recognized as much as he should be. He is just amazing.

[@OZRIC1985]

Greg Howe is one of the best guitar players on the planet. I have listened to his albums since his first album came out in 1988. His playing blows my mind!

[@OZRIC1985]

I've been listening to Greg Howe since the 80s and I have always admired his amazing playing. His playing has always gotten better and better through the years. He is one of my top favorite guitarists for sure. I would love to see him play live with Dennis Chambers on drums and Victor Wooten on bass.

[@wadesharp11]

One of my fave guitarists, thats jazz rock fusion cutting the changes so hard to do...i love that gat too...Beast mode🥇🎸🕺🏼

[@LarryDiMarzio]

Hi, Greg sometimes uses a hair tie to mute the open strings on his guitar. Give it a try. All the best, Larry DiMarzio

[@EricBlackmonGuitar]

That man can play.

[@YellowFishTrading]

I like his quick back and forth slides. I think I'm gonna steal that technique for my own playing..

[@azpojedu]

What I absolutely LOVE ist the amazing feel for melodic candy in his playing. His playing has head and shoulders and he is among the most amazing shred players. Pretty close to Satriani IMHO with less Rock but more Fusion appeal.

[@Dionydejesus]

I would love to see Greg Howe and Andy Timmos playing in a concert, these two guys are very complex in their playing guitar, would be awesome to see them live.

[@dfifty2]

Me too, my two favorite players !!

[@danhall716]

dfifty2 DiMarzio pickups + Mesa amps = magic. Works awesomely for GH, AT, and JP, just to name a few.

[@UltraBluesRocker]

you forgot Guthrie !!!!!!

[@daviddiangellidaviddiangel1304]

Damn! I love his playing so much! Fantastic rhythmic approach in his licks!

[@herrschnupke4044]

He is interchanging between noodling and the main theme. Thats how improvisation should be!

[@davideastlee9983]

this is just amazing... by ANY measure. Just gets better and better

[@TruthSurge]

might be a little bit of the way this was filmed but I think the tones he had on Introspection blow this totally out of the water.

[@shreddinater]

Most under-rated guitarist ever, respect!!!

[@kamaboko1]

I dropped a Super Distortion in my Strat back in 1983 and haven't looked back. It still kicks butt.

[@jf160297]

No, it's called "Kick It All Over" from his debut self-titled album 1988.

[@Darrell1977]

Smooth, effortless and beautiful. Great playing!

[@LarryDiMarzio]

@Ibik Hi, I did all the early models, Super Distortion, P Bass, PAF etc. Steve Blucher does most of the pickup design work now but I still over see everything. Now, I designed all the cables, straps, advertising, videos and the DiMarzio website. Steve started working with me over 30 years ago and he is really good. Hope that helps, Larry DiMarzio

[@jeffholl64]

he's great..like his tone

[@RolanTHUNDER]

+jeff holloway Yeah his tone is smooth and articulate. Dimarzio did a great job with that Custom GH pickup in the bridge. I liked his tone on this song but I think it sounds a little flat (low treble) but, maybe that's just personal player preference.

[@LarryDiMarzio]

@edgarrg94 Thanks for the kind words. All the best, Larry DiMarzio

[@LarryDiMarzio]

The video was shot while Greg's guitar was still being prototyped. One of the earlier protos had a standard Breed neck pickup, but the neck pickup in the video is an Air Norton S, which is what Greg actually approved. Sorry for the confusion.

[@JakeBaynes]

Im not going to stop practicing u till i can play this good..

[@grimzee]

Jake Baynes I wish more people had your mentality

[@lenylenyleny]

Jake Baynes don´t forget to sleep and eat. i forgot. It is important to be in good form.

[@conorhughes6018]

Brian Gosling Haha, yes, you more often than not hear the opposite mentality.

[@Gregorypeckory]

+Jake Baynes Good idea, I'll do the same, even if it takes another lifetime!

[@lordoftheuniverseman949]

I'm just not going to stop practising

[@squ86]

this guitar is my fav out of the 7 that own..balanced,tone never ceases to just always make me feel that every pick,strum,hammer on, tap or whatever i do just flows from inside ya..thx greg..great inspiration and truley gifted,talented artist/musician :) greg seems like just one of the coolest,down to earth guy who is like a friend that you enjoy jamming with. i dont think he has ever taken his talent for granted and loves to share his ability with everyone..

[@LarsBauer74]

Larry, thank you so much for putting up all those awesome clips !!!

[@Eyedunno]

It was funny how as soon as he started doing the Eruption stuff even his face started looking like EVH.

[@squ86]

this guitar is my fav out of the 7 that own..balanced,tone never ceases to just always make me feel that every pick,strum,hammer on, tap or whatever i do just flows from inside ya..thx greg..great inspiration and truley gifted,talented artist/musician :)

[@1979GenXdude]

His style reminds me of Ritchie Kotzen...great in both times. Great players! I love those none bend vibratoes!

[@vheadfacelegs]

hey larry great video, and i think the fact that you actually reply to people who ask you questions on your videos shows the real class of dimarzio!

[@chechoguitar112]

to those who say "this sound better than govan", or daniele gottardo or the other guys, let me tell you: they love Greg Howe, he was playing amazing stuff decades before the "modern" guitar players...

[@LarryDiMarzio]

Hi, Exactly, Greg uses it to mute the strings sometimes .... and he likes orange. Hope that helps, Larry DiMarzio

[@LarryDiMarzio]

@lacibuddy Hi, Glad you like that guitar. The guitar is available now from Laguna with Gregs pickups. Hope that helps, Larry DiMarzio

[@Hariztoteles7178]

Great phrasing, cool lick, groovy riff..... one of pioneer rock/fusion guitarist which made popular of hybrid picking

[@LarryDiMarzio]

@monochromeEARTH Sorry for the confusion, but there is no single-coil sized Breed. The pickup in the neck position of Greg's guitar is an Air Norton S.

[@rattiebryant]

Greg is one of my all time heros! Been listening since I got hold of the album Howe2. Just want to say what a coooool idea the hair band is!! It works!! Cheers Greg!

[@luxerd]

I absolutely love this. I'm not well versed in music theory, but whatever mode or scale he's playing is great. Just sounds so cheerful.

[@LarryDiMarzio]

You can have the logo on any of our humbuckers, but they need to be ordered in advance. It has to be done before the pickup is built.

[@vheadfacelegs]

i love these videos, and greg's playing sooooo good!

[@Despond]

Link this video to showing mastering of groove, timing along with technical prowess. Especially to our basic over-worn sweeping picking 3-notes per string alternate picking generation. Such a joy to watch, I love his jams with Kotzen.

[@LarryDiMarzio]

We have never made a stacked Breed pickup. The stacked pickup that Steve has used on several guitars (including his current guitar with Gravity Storm humbuckers) is the Heavy Blues 2.

[@newpowersoul2005]

He's a shredder of shredders.

[@elpablosky6300]

Satch's Jam Room he and Tony Macalpine!

[@joelsito29]

Mr dimarzio love your pickups. i just have one request. please release the GH5 cheers

[@alvarotexful]

Greg´s guitar playing is out of this world. No doubt, one of my favorites...

[@LarryDiMarzio]

Hi, You would have to ask Greg that question but I played his Laguna guitar and I liked it. All the best, Larry DiMarzio

[@tg_rock]

It's so great that the great Larry DiMarzio has time to answer the questions in the comments. Thank you!

[@josephbernal251]

Mr Greg Howe Thank you for demonstrating how to play it like ed does you really got it, only advance guitar player could understand now I'm going back to play my guitar again. and it won't be long ill have my original with the rock version.I got 5 more christmas song to go, in a pop rock style i've learn that for watching michael video and now ill use your style on a rock version.I got a Low budget believe me if i got money ill hired you to be my lead guitar player it will be perfect. God Bless and keep on rocking,I like to learn everything you know, only advance guitar player could understand you, to me i see it so clear, i never thought it would be that easy, Thank you and i wont let you down.

[@theguitarczar]

3:37-3:44 there is this little thing he does there that will take anyone who actually studies guitar aback. Greg Howe does inspire!

[@wadesharp11]

Awesome! Love u Greg. Jammed for MJ even wow. Love the Fusion

[@chrispile3878]

Love Greg's playing and phrasing.

[@rz0svp]

I had the pleasure of meeting Greg at a clinic he did at Sam Ash in Las Vegas. And I'll tell you, he's one of the most down to earth and cool guys you will ever meet.

[@RickCFB]

Greg-You are the man. Thanks for the lessons. Rick the Pilot from New York

[@birdmanbl]

Yes Greg what an awesome style you have sir and a killer tone

[@LarryDiMarzio]

@rayzguitar As I explained above, the neck pickup is actually an Air Norton S. Any reference to a Breed neck model is simply an error.

[@bluematrix5001]

so what is the bridge pickup?

[@WillKriski]

Thanks for posting. Love Greg Howe.

[@uva2323]

this guy takes the blues to the extreme and what a nice guitar awesome tone!

[@DanNobles]

Super cool. Greg is one of my favorites!

[@LarryDiMarzio]

@vheadfacelegs Hi, Thanks for the kind words, have a great weekend. All the best, Larry DiMarzio

[@gutiole]

Hi Larry, thanks for building your amazing pickups...I have a mexican strat...i changed the pickups...i have a chopper on the bridge and a HS3 on the neck...The guitar sounds really really good...Thanks man... :-)

[@faithandpractice]

Truly one of the greats. Just really mind blowing stuff.

[@KingPepeLePew]

greg howe!...what a star. thank you for the tastefully executed master class.

[@CS_Murphy_R9]

I just got a virtual hot paf and cant understand why that one was discontinued? it is in a class of it's own! very old VH sounding it is much better than the duncan 59 it replaced! bring it back dimarzio!

[@guitwizzz]

I think this is "Kick it all Over" from his album in the 80's.

[@335fusion]

Greg please come to England!

[@InstrumentalAvenue]

Great interview, thanks for this.

[@ironpirites]

Great player. Very interesting sounds, musical ideas. Tasty stuff.

[@mrbabblehead]

No insinuation about Greg being a "superior musician"., just a more proficient musician over the years. Guthrie could most certainly display technical skill over Greg...but Greg, for me, plays in a way that is unmatched ...his note selections and written compositions are so varied it is simply mind-blowing. Just a very humble opinion of course.

[@FatherRikhi]

Yeh! Right ON! This is gobsmacking. Anyhow- the *only* way to make Greg Howe sound better is to add a Dimarzio pickup. Two geniuses makin' magic. YAY!

[@JavierSpicer]

bloody brilliant, incredibly clean.

[@janludvigsen]

incredible sound! Perfectly defined yet fat`n powerful! Amazing

[@CS_Murphy_R9]

thanks for the reply larry,looks like i will be checking out the 36th paf bridge now if it is even better than the VHPAF!

[@ssjlegendario]

the taping at is amazing 3:55 very melodical and smooth

[@brockpinson949]

I love how he uses the George lynch vibrato method here and there.

[@theoriginalbillholt]

Great hooks. Great groove. Great overall! I became a Shrapnel fan back around '91-'92, and I always wanted to check out Greg's recordings, but somehow never did. This is one of those head-shaking moments of realization. Oh, well... better late than never, right? Cool guitar, too, with great tone -- even as witnessed on YT. Orange is my favorite color, too. What's Greg up to for 2012?

[@carlo1195]

I have DP 100 super distortion on my LP and I love it very much.

[@LarryDiMarzio]

@monochromeEARTH No, it sounds like an Air Norton. Go to our website to the medium-output humbucker section, look at the descriptions of the Air Norton and Breed neck model and compare them.

[@vonMohl]

amazing player, humble and clever at a time.

[@1976oswald]

Awesome, nice to meet you bro.

[@xPanDaemonx]

absolutely loving his tone in this vid!

[@moronslave]

He's so cool and calm.. looks like a piece of cake for him. Amazing @6:55 is my favorite

[@LarryDiMarzio]

@MrGuitarrica Hi, Yes, exactly. It is standard (buy it at a shop) hair scrunchy. All the best, Larry DiMarzio

[@transparent6748]

Fantastic as always

[@LarryDiMarzio]

@marsdemartini We made the blades on these pickups wide enough to work with either spacing.

[@vincibluesky1]

Mr. DiMarzio i love your awesome pickups , particulary : Fred AT1 , PAF PRO and Cruiser .I'd like to know which of your humbuckers is more similar to the GH5 , for tone and dynamics and if the GH5 will ever see the production and if i can buy it in Italy.Thank you so much for making ART and pure Magic with your wonderful pickups .

[@ToneScavenger]

Man, I spent the whole night shift with "Kick it All Over" playing in my head... Such a memorable riff and melody! EmotionalShredd... You are so right! I've been wondering if anybody noticed his similarities with EVH... And I notice now how he speaks like Vai.

[@canscheer]

beautiful tone and unique style.

[@LarryDiMarzio]

@uva2323 Hi, Thanks for the kind words. All the best, Larry DiMarzio

[@project814]

Great material. Love the Maragold stuff..

[@CS_Murphy_R9]

To those that dont want to order a GH5 , the closest production dimarzio is the Breed bridge model, what i did was "air" mine and it is amazing!

[@paul92419]

Very nice sounding pickups MrDiMarzio. But I bet that guy could make an oil can with a string nailed to it sound great. It would be interesting to know which combinations he is using on the superswitch. Cheers.

[@dennoow]

@CircularLogic924 "tell me somthing good", the other one is "child's play", which has one of the craziest solo's ever, really cool song!

[@LarryDiMarzio]

@carnageriot94 Hi, Correct, its a hair tie that Greg uses to damp the strings. Some times he slides it back if he is using the open strings. I am sure you can find one in a drug store. Hope that helps, Larry

[@matuldamegasen8562]

Great head! Remember a GuitarPlayers magazine soundpage with him, forgot the name of the tune, but same scary sense of phasing with few notes/groove.

[@LarryDiMarzio]

@4thReichRifle I am sorry you are having a problem locating them. Any DiMarzio dealer can order them for you at any time. You might contact our distributor for Belgium for their recommendation. They are Sound Service. Their email address is [e-mail]

[@LarryDiMarzio]

@charvelstrat81 We're always looking to improve what we've done in the past. In this case, we all believe the 36th Anniversary bridge model is an improvement on the VHPAF. The lows and mids are more open-sounding, and the highs are sweeter.

[@AbyssionMusic]

although he SAYS breed, according to laguna's website (playlaguna) it is an Air Norton S mini humbucker

[@tyroncline5978]

28 people with thumbs down are saying "I'm jealous and I wanna play guitar"

[@LarryDiMarzio]

@HeilTheOperator There are several possible choices, but more info is needed to narrow them down. Please email your question to [e-mail] and include your choices (if you already know them) for the middle and bridge positions. This should make it possible to recommend the best neck pickup.

[@gdasilva]

ah ok, it was confusing because at 2:34 in the video it shows Greg uses a Dimarzio Breed Neck DP165 and a GH5 Custom for the bridge. Anyhow, thanks for the clarification.

[@BrokenFusion72]

Hey Larry was that Gregs amp or was that one that just was in the Studio? Stiletto is a killer amp, just wondering if Greg was using them now. I used to take lessons from Greg at his house back in the early 90's and he was using old Fenders then. I'm glad people are finally realizing how amazing this guy is. Really nice guy too. Cool video!

[@martinlehfeldt5231]

damn! greg is the sickest. loved his playing since '88

[@taddart]

awesome thanx ! Greg Howe My Heros !!!!!