‘Alan Entwistle Pickups’ Artist

 

Ian Hammond

“I was much more into the lively, upbeat melodic style of Hank Marvin. I found his sound so captivating, his use of the tremolo arm to make the guitar notes sound like a human voice, and his various picking styles.”

GENRE(S): ’The Shadows’ Guitar Instrumentals and Rock’n’Roll

INFLUENCES / FAVOURITE ARTISTS: Hank Marvin, Bruce Welch, The Shadows, Buddy Holly, Mark Knopfler and Brian May among along list of others!

BANDS – ACTIVE: NOT! The Shadows

BANDS – PREVIOUS: None of note

PREFERRED PICKUPS, AND WHY: Currently using AS57s in my Strat and HV58s in my 335 and they are unbelievable. I’ve spent 3 years trying to find that original ‘Chuck Berry’ sound and it’s been rather elusive. That was until I fitted a pair of Alan Entwistle HV58s and wow, they were in the ball-park straight out of the box. A little drive on the Vox amp and there we have it… That raw, original Rock’n’Roll sound. And now I also have the REZO 64s in two of my Burns guitars…………..

 

PRIME CUTS / STAND-OUT CAREER MOMENT SO FAR:

Being invited to play at the Cliff & The Shadows convention in Boxmeer, Netherlands 2024. The 72nd event meaning this has been running now for 36 years. Only the very best Tribute bands in the world get invited to play at this bi-yearly event and it was an honour to be invited along to play with my band ‘Not The Shadows’, not just to perform at the event, but to headline.

Appearing on BBC Today program as a featured artist (NOT! The Shadows) and playing for the TV camera’s.

Having music played on BBC Radio following an article on the effects the pandemic had on the music business and how the band were recording in isolation and putting music videos out on YouTube to keep morale and motivation going.

Being handed the Burns Double Six that Hank used on stage in 2009 on the world tour with Cliff &The Shadows and asked to play it live at an event in Gillingham, Kent.

Headlining on the Music Stage for the closing day of the Kent Show

Recording the ‘Top Hits of The Shadows’ CD which was a pleasure and an honour to be working with such a find group of musicians.

GUITARS / AMPS / GEAR:

Amps: Vox AC15 and Vox AC30cc2 depending on venue size. My backup amp is a Boss Katana 100w head which can be played through my Vox 212 cab.

Gear: My pedal board consists of a Voodoo Power bank, Boss FV-500L Volume Pedal, Boss EQ-200 and a Stanley FX Blue Nebula for my Shadows specific echo’s. I do have the amazing TVS3 echo unit too but that’s a rack mount unit as used by Hank Marvin himself so relies on a stage hand ideally or a band member killing some time on a mic so I can change the settings!

Guitars:

Fender 1959 Fiesta Red Stratocaster with Kinsman pickups and a custom made AAA Birds-eye maple neck

Squier Classic Vibe Fiesta Red Strat with Fender CS54’s

Squier 20th Anniversary in Fiesta Red fitted with Alan Entwistle AS57 single-coils

Hank Marvin Signature Series Squire Strat, Japanese made

Custom Made Strat in Lamborghini Atlas Orange with Alan Entwistle XS75N pickups

Squier Telecaster Custom in Tangerine

Fender ’57 reissue Sunburst Strat, 2 tone sunburst

Fender P Bass in Fiesta Red with Alan Entwistle PBXN pickup

Fender PJ Bass in Olympic White

Burns Marvin 40th Anniversary model in White with Alan Entwistle REZO 64 pickups

Burns Marvin 40th Anniversary model in Green Burst with Alan Entwistle REZO 64 pickups

Burns Marvin Custom Shop Fiesta Red (One of 500 made)

Burns Apache Double 6, Green burst

Burns Club Double 6, Green burst

Burns Marquee in White

Burns Marquee in Green burst

Burns Marquee in Fiesta Red

Burns Sonic in Blue Sparkle

Harley Benton 335 fitted with HV58 Alan Entwistle pickups

Fender Stratacoustic California

Ibanez Acoustic

Wesley Thin line Telecaster

BMG Red Special

  • Probably more that I haven’t told the girlfriend about!

BIOGRAPHY:

I started classical guitar lessons circa 1995 playing Spanish guitar. It was ok, but not what I wanted to play going forward. I was much more into the lively, upbeat melodic style of Hank Marvin. I found his sound so captivating, his use of the tremolo arm to make the guitar notes sound like a human voice, and his various picking styles. I got my first Fiesta Red Hank Marvin Signature Series Squier, made in Japan, from a music shop on my way to work (I was about 16).

Since I’ve been playing, I’ve had many influencers over the years. Hank Marvin is the first and foremost, both as one of The Shadows and later, in his Solo career. I admire Brian May for his use of the most basic of setups to get such an iconic sound! I have always admired Mark Knopfler’s laid back finger picking style. I’ve also sought inspiration from the late Buddy Holly’s influence on early Rock ‘n’ Roll.

I’ve worked with bands in different capacities from roadie and sound engineer to guitarist. In 2017 I started a Shadows-style band with fellow guitarist Roger Cook. Filling the other vacancies, it came together nicely and we stumbled across the name ‘Not The Shadows’ purely by accident. For our first gig we were the support act for The Counterfeit Beatles, and here we are in 2024, now headlining events ourselves. As a solo artist my chosen music genre is rather limited in opportunities but as a band, we are currently leading UK tribute to The Shadows.

I’ve struggled with the perfection and finesse of being a tribute guitarist over the years. Just like Hank, when he was 16, his playing was raw, unrefined, and poorly disciplined but with age comes experience and with experience comes quality. I consider myself no different and over time I have learned new techniques, refined my playing style and understood how to get the best possible sound. Once the skill level is achieved, it’s about maintaining that level, which takes discipline and patience, but my act doesn’t stop there. People come to watch me and my band for the music, yes, but they expect the sound too! This is where Alan Entwistle pickups come in.

I’ve multiple Stratocasters and Burns guitars as you would expect from a Shadows tribute artist. I have been eagerly anticipating the arrival of Entwistle pickups for my reissue 40th Anniversary Burns Marvin. The problem with the reissue Burns Marvins was that they sounded too much like a Stratocaster. Hanks original 1964 Burns had a far thicker, more nasal sound which was very distinctive. I now hope to capture that early Burns sound with my Entwistle pickups! I also use a 335 on stage for early Rock’n’Roll numbers. This is fitted with the Entwistle HV58s and captures that raw Chuck Berry R’n’R sound of the 50’s. My stage Stratocaster also has the AS57 Entwistle pickups fitted to give me that early, iconic sound of The Shadows.

“Being handed the Burns Double Six that Hank used on stage in 2009 on the world tour with Cliff & The Shadows and being asked to play it live at an event in Gillingham, Kent was definitely a very memorable moment for me both personally and professionally.”

DISCOGRAPHY:

2017 – Lonely Shadow The Album (My solo debut album)

2024 – NOT! The Shadows – Play Top Hits of The Shadows

‘Alan Entwistle Pickups’ Artist

 

Ian Hammond

“I was much more into the lively, upbeat melodic style of Hank Marvin. I found his sound so captivating, his use of the tremolo arm to make the guitar notes sound like a human voice, and his various picking styles.”

GENRE(S): ’The Shadows’ Guitar Instrumentals and Rock’n’Roll

INFLUENCES / FAVOURITE ARTISTS: Hank Marvin, Bruce Welch, The Shadows, Buddy Holly, Mark Knopfler and Brian May among along list of others!

BANDS – ACTIVE: NOT! The Shadows

BANDS – PREVIOUS: None of note

PREFERRED PICKUPS, AND WHY: Currently using AS57s in my Strat and HV58s in my 335 and they are unbelievable. I’ve spent 3 years trying to find that original ‘Chuck Berry’ sound and it’s been rather elusive. That was until I fitted a pair of Alan Entwistle HV58s and wow, they were in the ball-park straight out of the box. A little drive on the Vox amp and there we have it… That raw, original Rock’n’Roll sound.

BIOGRAPHY:

I started classical guitar lessons circa 1995 playing Spanish guitar. It was ok, but not what I wanted to play going forward. I was much more into the lively, upbeat melodic style of Hank Marvin. I found his sound so captivating, his use of the tremolo arm to make the guitar notes sound like a human voice, and his various picking styles. I got my first Fiesta Red Hank Marvin Signature Series Squier, made in Japan, from a music shop on my way to work (I was about 16).

Since I’ve been playing, I’ve had many influencers over the years. Hank Marvin is the first and foremost, both as one of The Shadows and later, in his Solo career. I admire Brian May for his use of the most basic of setups to get such an iconic sound! I have always admired Mark Knopfler’s laid back finger picking style. I’ve also sought inspiration from the late Buddy Holly’s influence on early Rock ‘n’ Roll.

I’ve worked with bands in different capacities from roadie and sound engineer to guitarist. In 2017 I started a Shadows-style band with fellow guitarist Roger Cook. Filling the other vacancies, it came together nicely and we stumbled across the name ‘Not The Shadows’ purely by accident. For our first gig we were the support act for The Counterfeit Beatles, and here we are in 2024, now headlining events ourselves. As a solo artist my chosen music genre is rather limited in opportunities but as a band, we are currently leading UK tribute to The Shadows.

I’ve struggled with the perfection and finesse of being a tribute guitarist over the years. Just like Hank, when he was 16, his playing was raw, unrefined, and poorly disciplined but with age comes experience and with experience comes quality. I consider myself no different and over time I have learned new techniques, refined my playing style and understood how to get the best possible sound. Once the skill level is achieved, it’s about maintaining that level, which takes discipline and patience, but my act doesn’t stop there. People come to watch me and my band for the music, yes, but they expect the sound too! This is where Alan Entwistle pickups come in.

I’ve multiple Stratocasters and Burns guitars as you would expect from a Shadows tribute artist. I have been eagerly anticipating the arrival of Entwistle pickups for my reissue 40th Anniversary Burns Marvin. The problem with the reissue Burns Marvins was that they sounded too much like a Stratocaster. Hanks original 1964 Burns had a far thicker, more nasal sound which was very distinctive. I now hope to capture that early Burns sound with my Entwistle pickups! I also use a 335 on stage for early Rock’n’Roll numbers. This is fitted with the Entwistle HV58s and captures that raw Chuck Berry R’n’R sound of the 50’s. My stage Stratocaster also has the AS57 Entwistle pickups fitted to give me that early, iconic sound of The Shadows.

 

PRIME CUTS / STAND-OUT CAREER MOMENT SO FAR:

Being invited to play at the Cliff & The Shadows convention in Boxmeer, Netherlands 2024. The 72nd event meaning this has been running now for 36 years. Only the very best Tribute bands in the world get invited to play at this bi-yearly event and it was an honour to be invited along to play with my band ‘Not The Shadows’, not just to perform at the event, but to headline.

Appearing on BBC Today program as a featured artist (NOT! The Shadows) and playing for the TV camera’s.

Having music played on BBC Radio following an article on the effects the pandemic had on the music business and how the band were recording in isolation and putting music videos out on YouTube to keep morale and motivation going.

Being handed the Burns Double Six that Hank used on stage in 2009 on the world tour with Cliff &The Shadows and asked to play it live at an event in Gillingham, Kent.

Headlining on the Music Stage for the closing day of the Kent Show

Recording the ‘Top Hits of The Shadows’ CD which was a pleasure and an honour to be working with such a find group of musicians.

GUITARS / AMPS / GEAR:

Amps: Vox AC15 and Vox AC30cc2 depending on venue size. My backup amp is a Boss Katana 100w head which can be played through my Vox 212 cab.

Gear: My pedal board consists of a Voodoo Power bank, Boss FV-500L Volume Pedal, Boss EQ-200 and a Stanley FX Blue Nebula for my Shadows specific echo’s. I do have the amazing TVS3 echo unit too but that’s a rack mount unit as used by Hank Marvin himself so relies on a stage hand ideally or a band member killing some time on a mic so I can change the settings!

Guitars:

Fender 1959 Fiesta Red Stratocaster with Kinsman pickups and a custom made AAA Birds-eye maple neck

Squier Classic Vibe Fiesta Red Strat with Fender CS54’s

Squier 20th Anniversary in Fiesta Red fitted with Alan Entwistle AS57 single-coils

Hank Marvin Signature Series Squire Strat, Japanese made

Custom Made Strat in Lamborghini Atlas Orange

Squier Telecaster Custom in Tangerine

Fender ’57 reissue Sunburst Strat, 2 tone sunburst

Fender P Bass in Fiesta Red

Fender PJ Bass in Olympic White

Burns Marvin 40th Anniversary model in White (soon to have Entwistle pickups),

Burns Marvin 40th Anniversary model in Green Burst (soon to have Entwistle pickups).

Burns Marvin Custom Shop Fiesta Red (One of 500 made)

Burns Apache Double 6, Green burst

Burns Club Double 6, Green burst

Burns Marquee in White

Burns Marquee in Green burst

Burns Marquee in Fiesta Red

Burns Sonic in Blue Sparkle

Harley Benton 335 fitted with HV58 Entwistle Pickups

Fender Stratacoustic California

Ibanez Acoustic

Wesley Thin line Telecaster

BMG Red Special

  • Probably more that I haven’t told the girlfriend about!

“Being handed the Burns Double Six that Hank used on stage in 2009 on the world tour with Cliff & The Shadows and being asked to play it live at an event in Gillingham, Kent was definitely a very memorable moment for me both personally and professionally.”

DISCOGRAPHY:

2017 – Lonely Shadow The Album (My solo debut album)

2024 – NOT! The Shadows – Play Top Hits of The Shadows

FOLLOW AND CONNECT:

FOLLOW AND CONNECT: