Jonathan Pretus is the lead singer/guitarist of New Orleans indie rock band The Breton Sound. They recently played the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and Milwaukee Summerfest and curated the Rock’n’Hops benefit concert for Grammy’s MusiCares. He’s also the former touring guitarist for Cowboy Mouth (2007-2010).
MAKE & MODEL
2003 Epiphone Casino
WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU
I’ve always been obsessed with The Beatles, and Lennon, Harrison and McCartney all had one. They caught my eye visually, and I loved the sounds they started getting in the mid ’60s using them. The Casino has been my go-to for years. This one accompanied me all over the country and overseas. I had to clean sand out of it after a two-week tour of U.S. Army bases a few years ago. It’s my trusted friend; I know it always feels good to hold and play.
WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE
It’s such a surprisingly versatile guitar, especially for a semi-hollow body. Clean, it just sparkles and fills the space. With a bit of overdrive, it sounds just like The Beatles’ Revolver. And if you put it through a dirty channel, it’s a big wall of sound, but it cuts so well. The individual notes of chords really sing with it, but it’s such a focused sound.
CUSTOM MODS
I put pillow stuffing in the body to control the feedback. It was a bit of trial and error getting the right amount in there so it didn’t affect the tone of the guitar too much, but it makes the feedback much easier to control when you’re [using] distortion.
CAN BE HEARD ON
Maps EP and Eudaemonia EP by The Breton Sound.
LISTEN NOW at www.thebretonsound.com.
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photo by Scott Simon