“I take the LTDs, and I’m perfectly fine”: Why Gary Holt prefers to use budget guitars live
Typically, going from a Squier to a Fender, an LTD to an ESP or an Epiphone to a Gibson is seen as an upgrade. Guitars from these brands have, in theory, more sophisticated spec sheets than their budget counterparts, and thus come at higher price points.
But do these budget brands still do the job? Slayer and Exodus guitarist Gary Holt seems to think so.
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In a new interview with Ultimate Guitar, Holt – a keen ESP player – explains why he’s perfectly happy with bringing more budget LTD models on tour, and why Fenders and Gibsons – traditionally not guitars geared for heavier music – work fine for his brand of thrash metal.
Calling ESP guitars “simply the best”, he goes on: “I’m somewhat of a guitar collector. I’ve got a lot of guitars. I’m lucky and blessed to have an overabundance of six-string instruments. I put these against anything I own, anything I’ve ever owned.
“They’re just the best. The attention to detail is second to none. And I tour often with the LTD models, like when I go to South America with Exodus, where gear is being handled by baggage handlers over 20 flights to all these different countries. I don’t take the super-insane-priced customs, which are, like, ultra customs. I leave those at home. I take the LTDs, and I’m perfectly fine.”
Elsewhere, Holt is asked whether he still has any Fender or Gibson guitars in his collection, to which he replies: “I own a few Les Pauls. It’s always one of my favourite guitars. [I] never owned one until probably 15 years ago. Because as a kid, before I ever played guitar, the Les Paul was a guitar that just appealed to my eyes…
“I don’t own a Fender right now… No, I have one. I have a John 5 model that I bought on eBay and had him sign for me. I don’t own a Strat. I’m constantly shopping for a Strat. I want one of the Rory Gallagher reissues, but they’ve gotten quite expensive.
“But yeah, they’re all good for guitars and for metal. You could do anything on anything if you put the right pickup in it.”
This summer, Slayer reunited, performing their first show in five years with a headline slot at Riot Fest. They also performed at Aftershock in October. The band are scheduled to play at Louder Than Life festival in September 2025.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
