Pink Floyd icon David Gilmour readies a new studio album featuring a Gibson ES-335
Following a statement made on David Gilmour’s YouTube channel, Guitar World reports that Gilmour enjoyed using a Gibson ES-335 on the solo of his single “Dark and Velvet Nights,” which is set to feature on the forthcoming album, Luck and Strange.
Sitting in front of a guitar rack that contains a rather nice Epiphone Casino, Gilmour says, “Well I’ve not got a huge history with Gibson guitars, a few, but this one is one I’ve bought comparatively recently to have a different tone, a different thing. This is a very, very different sort of guitar to what I’m used to.
“The guitar solo on ‘Dark and Velvet Nights’ was done on this one. I don’t know why I didn’t discover one of these a long time ago. Every time you play a nice guitar that you’re not used to, it gives you something. Sometimes it just gives you a song.”
Entering the mix at 3:40, Gilmour’s solo on “Dark and Velvet Nights” utilizes the neck pickup of his vintage dot-inlay ES-335 to predictably fluid and lyrical effect. Check out the video below.
Luck and Strange will be released on September 6, with pre-orders in progress now. Produced by Alt-J producer Charlie Andrew, the album is sure to contain many surprises. The two connected through a direct message on Instagram, had a meeting, and the rest is history.
21 tour dates are planned in support of the album, with performances at the Royal Albert Hall in London, the Circo Massimo in Rome, the Intuit Dome and Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, and Madison Square Garden in New York.
The record boasts an impressive lineup of musical talent: Guy Pratt and Tom Herbert lay down the basslines, while Adam Betts, Steve Gadd, and Steve DiStanislao feature on drums. Rob Gentry and Roger Eno add their magic on keyboards, with Will Gardner weaving in lush string and choral arrangements. Adding a poignant touch, the title track features a special contribution from the late Richard Wright of Pink Floyd, captured in a 2007 jam session in a barn at Gilmour’s house.
New to the ES-335? Here are seven reasons why you need one in your guitar collection.
