Guitar maverick Phil X’s influences and path to session guitarist stardom
In all likelihood, the sounds of Phil X’s guitar have graced your ears. His influence in the realm of music is monumental. As the guitarist for luminaries such as Bon Jovi, Kelly Clarkson, Alice Cooper, Avril Lavigne, Chris Cornell, Daughtry, Rob Zombie, and a host of others, here Phil joins Gibson’s Dinesh Lekhraj in an engaging dialogue about his life and career.
In this latest installment of the Gibson Gear Guide, delve into the intricacies of how Phil X established a distinctive presence in the session industry and hear him talk about the guitar methods that elevated his technical prowess beyond the norm.
Discover his penchant for minimal gain on the guitar, his aversion to amp modeling, his reverence for Richie Sambora and Van Halen, and his experiences performing alongside legends like Taylor Hawkins and Chris Cornell.
With a Gibson Explorer in hand, Phil offers useful insights into innovative applications of chromatic and pentatonic scales and demonstrates his innovative string pull technique and his unique bouzouki tuning—an element he cleverly incorporated into a Kelly Clarkson track.
Phil discusses the significance of live performance, cautions against overreliance on equipment, and relates the necessity for guitarists to be adept at addressing spontaneous challenges during live shows. He also shares anecdotes from his times with Bon Jovi and muses on synthesizing diverse musical influences to craft an individualistic sonic identity.
The video is a must-watch for guitarists and music fans alike, offering a rare glimpse into the life, techniques, and philosophy of one of the most talented guitarists in the rock scene. This is what it’s like to be at the top of your game in the session world and what it really takes to be great.
