Geared Up: Guitarist Vladimir Redzic Discusses His Daniel Slaman Guitar

As Vladimir Redzic demonstrates with his debut album First Time Around, the Great American Songbook is the gift that keeps on giving. Released on June 5th, the record is a jazzy tribute to that canon of influential American pop songs that set the standard from the 1920s to the 1950s. The album speaks very heavily to the artist that Redzic is. He has a great respect for the music that came before him and helped shape him into the artist he is today. Showcasing Redzic’s unique phrasing and bright tone, the album guides listeners through a well-thought-out assemblage of some of the most timeless standards.

First Time Around, though, is more than just Redzic. He may be at the helm, but he is joined by some grade-A talent like pianist Steve Ash, bassists Jonathan Meyer and Neal Miner, and drummer Steve Little. The group demonstrates exceptional chemistry and cohesion, delivering performances that are both intimate and refined. As you would expect, the musicianship is top-notch, and there is a genuine artistic connection wired through the band. There was a real firm commitment to interplay, listening, and storytelling, and with Redzic leading the way, the band pulled it off.

Today, we are joined by Vladimir Redzic for a Geared Up interview to discuss some of the equipment he is currently using, including his Daniel Slaman guitar and his Charlie Christian pickup.

First things first: what’s your current setup?

“My current set-up and what I used on my album is Daniel Slaman’s Sister #1 guitar, a handmade guitar that was built side-by-side with Pat Metheny’s Sister guitar. A Fender Custom Shop Handwired 5E3 Tweed Deluxe with a 1950s Jensen P-12Q speaker, and a UA Heavenly Plate reverb. I used Labella 14-56 flatwound strings and Fender Medium Celluloid picks.”

What one piece of gear do you use to obtain your signature sound?

“The Charlie Christian pickup is necessary for the sound that I am going for. I have it inside my Slaman Sister #1 guitar and my 1937 Gibson ES-150. It is a bright and full-sounding single coil pickup most famously used by Charlie Christian, Jimmy Raney and Kenny Burrell. Despite it being a very old and ‘primitive’ design, the pickup is extremely hi-fi sounding and frequently regarded as the quintessential jazz guitar pickup.”

Vladimir Redzic guitar, photo courtesy of artist

What about this guitar makes it so important to you?

“It is the closest I have ever been to achieving the sound that I am hearing in my head. It is similar to the tone of Kenny Burrell during his early 1960s recordings such as ‘Midnight Blue.’”

Did you use this guitar during the recording of First Time Around? Tell us more about how you used it.

“It is used on every song of this album; the volume is set fairly low on the amp, as Fender Tweed Deluxes are very loud amps. The guitar and tone volume are usually up all the way or nearly up all the way to achieve a bright and full sound. I use the side of the Fender medium pick to help get a fuller sound while retaining the brightness of the pickup and amp.”

We know you love this guitar, but are there any major cons? (Ok, you can also list the pros.)

“The only major con of this guitar and setup is the single-coil pickup. In most venues in New York, the electro-magnetic interference can be very strong due to poor shielding, lighting, etc., and it can cause a very noisy hum. The main pro is that it sounds super bright and vibey like the tones associated with the peak era of jazz guitar ala Kenny Burrell and Grant Green.”

Do you have a backup for this guitar? If so, what?

“Yes. I equally enjoy using my 1937 Gibson ES-150, which is equipped with the same pickup, and I love my 1959 Ampeg Rocket, which has a very similar vibe to the Fender Tweed amps.”

Vladimir Redzic ‘First Time Around’ album artwork

What’s your dream instrument?

“The Gibson ES-250, a guitar that was only manufactured for a few years from 1938 to 1940, was the more boutique and larger size of the iconic ES-150. There are only a few hundred remaining, if even that many, and they typically have a market value of over six figures.”

What’s a brand or bit of gear that you love that no one else seems to?

“Ampeg. This was perhaps the most common amp manufacturer for bassists and guitarists in the jazz genre in the late 1950s and 1960s. Many of the greatest tones in history from all genres have come from these amps, but they are not nearly as famous or highly regarded as the Fender and Gibson amps of that era due to the company’s lack of success in the following years.”

Vladimir Redzic amp, photo courtesy of artist

What setup do you think serves musicians like you the most in the style of music you play?

“I think that single coil pickups are typically the best fit for the style of straight-ahead jazz that I play. Most of the greatest recorded guitar tones from the 1940s to 1960s are guitars that were equipped with a Charlie Christian pickup, P-90 or Dearmond Rhythm Chief pickups.”

How easy is it for you to tweak the guitar (and your other gear) and get the tone/sounds you need?

“More or less, very easy. When given these devices, the only variables are tone (brightness) and volume. One must set the volume appropriately to fit the band, adjust the tone to the appropriate brightness, and the fingers are responsible for the rest of the work.”