Riki Massini on SoundBetter

Less is more. If you want the real vintage feeling, few notes but the good ones. With the original sound from the real old Fender and Gibson gear. I really love also play slide guitar, and acoustic guitars with the fingerstile and fingerpicking technique, with or without thumbpick.

"One of Italy's finest blues guitarists, and a fantastic and generous friend.
A truly excellent and gifted player, his feel for the Blues is unique and he is a pleasure to play with: always a treat."
Mick Abrahams (Jethro Tull, Blodwyn Pig)

I'm luckly honored to have been around in the last 20 years over the world thanks my guitar. I had the pleasure to have played in USA, China, and especially around Europe.

I had the pleasure to play in many amazing stages, from the Chicago Blues Festival to the famous Cavern Club in Liverpool, from the BBC radio program The Alan Thompson Show in UK, to the China World Trade Center in Beijing, in front of the prime minister.

I'm very honored to be considered by Donal, brother and manager of the late Rory Gallagher, one of his best interpreters. Some years ago I recorded a CD dedicated to Rory, and his brother said:

"- Sounds great, a very impressive 'As the Crow Flies', the 'talking' guitars are lovely. You've made a wonderful version of Rory's "Edged in Blue", and I enjoyed listening to your version with the 'slide' on the outro too."
Donal Gallagher

I currently play tours with the legendary drummer from the original Jethro Tull's band, Clive Bunker.
I'm a song writer too, and I usually record with a mix of the old style vintage analog mood, mixed with the new things. The best way, I think.

Click the 'Contact' above to get in touch. Looking forward to hearing from you.

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Interview with Riki Massini

Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: The best key, is try to use both. I think... but it depend what you're looking for of course.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: Your goal is my goal!
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: Listen, understand what you need, study some good options, record it and make you happy.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: When I was a teenager, I usually made a big mistake: I used to listen the same band every day. Thanks luck after a while, someone taught me to listen ALL music, so today I'm lucky to understand and enjoy many and many different kind of it. I really keep inspired from all musicians I find, and not only guitarists!
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I listen your idea and my goal is try to play what exactly you're looking for. If you're happy, I'm happy too.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Blues, Rock Blues, British Blues, British Rock, Fingerstyle, Fingerpicking, Slyde Guitar.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: I like to play many different things. I love play electrics or sometime I play acoustic things with fingerpicking style.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: My goal as I said, is understand what you want and try to give you what you're looking for. I can use my creativity if you want, but I don't usually insist with my own things. It's up to you, I'm happy if you have what you want.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I work with my vintage gear, I have two original Stratocaster from 1965, one of them has a 1962 neck. Or if you want the real Gibson sound, I have a cool Les Paul from 1971 with some cool specifics as the original 1958 bumblebee capacitors on it. I have some old pedals too, like a very nice 1978 Wha Wha by Vox, or a TS9 Tube Streamer from 1982. Everything is put inside on a 1979 Mesa Boogie or in a 1965 Vibrolux. I usually record it with a Neumann mic, with a SPL Goldmike Tube preamp put inside a RME audio interface. IF REQUEST I record in an original vintage analog record studio with tapes, original vintage mix desk etc.