We were privileged to converse with Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame Honoree Roger McGuinn. As the founder of the Byrds, one of the early driving forces of folk-rock, and perhaps the most famous 12-string guitarist of all time, Roger McGuinn has also had the honor of being one of only a handful of guitar players in the world who have had two signature guitars named after them.

First, the Limited Edition Rickenbacker 370-12, a guitar that was built based on Roger's early Rickenbackers. Read the original press release at: http://www.rickenbacker.com/us/37012rm.htm

And now, Martin has released the D12-42RM, an acoustic 12-string built as a commemoration of Roger's contributions to the 12-string world. A detailed photo and technical data on this instrument is at: http://metalab.unc.edu/jimmy/mcguinn/D1242RM.html

NEW! Also see our July 2000 interview with Roger McGuinn, discussing MP3, Napster, Senate Hearings and more.

the ROGER McGUINN interview

Q: Roger, your name has popped up on a wide variety of recordings the last few years. Aimee Mann and Elvis Costello, to name a few. Any other guest appearances in the works?

ROGER: No, there are no plans for sitting in on any other artist's CDs at the moment.

Q: With the Rickenbacker Roger McGuinn 370-12 model, and now your new Martin D12-42RM Roger McGuinn 12-string acoustic, you are one of only a handful of musicians in the world who have had two signature guitars built for them! How did the Martin D12-42RM come to be?

ROGER: A guitar collector friend approached Martin, and they thought it would be a good idea!

Q: Is your Martin D12-42RM strung like a Rickenbacker, with the main strings first, and octave strings second?

ROGER: No, it's strung in the traditional way, as are all my acoustic 12-strings.

Q: Getting back to the Rickenbacker McGuinn model, it's amazing how "Byrds-like" that guitar sounds. The internal electronics produce that wonderful bright, sustaining tone. But what devices did you originally use to get that signature sound?

ROGER: We used two studio quality compressors in series.

Q: Which musical artists do you enjoy listening to?

ROGER: Too many to name here, in all fields of music.

Q: Is imitation really the highest form of flattery? Even though Tom Petty's main musical influence has never been much of a secret, when you listen to your song "King of the Hill" (McGuinn/Petty duet, from "Back from Rio") it's uncanny to note how much Tom Petty has patterned his style after you. Some people have to really listen to tell who's who.

ROGER: We happen to have very similar sounding voices, and have both been influenced by Presley and Dylan.

Q: In your own hometown, are you active musically, such as local benefits, jams, church, etc? Do you get together and jam with friends?

ROGER: No, I keep a low profile where I live.

Q: You often open your shows with Dylan's "My Back Pages." Does that song have any personal significance to you?

ROGER: I just like the song a lot.

Q: Are you on friendly terms with Dylan? Any chance of any performance or recording together?

ROGER: Yes, he usually invites me to play with him when we're in the same town, but there are no such plans right now.

Q: Is there a new album or other project coming up?

ROGER: I've been working with Bob Irwin in New York to co-produce a live Byrds CD from 1969. There are plans to do a solo CD as well.

Thank you, Roger, for joining us! For more information about Roger McGuinn and for a great list of Byrds FAQ, go to the Roger McGuinn website at: www.mcguinn.com

 NEW! Also see our July 2000 interview with Roger McGuinn, discussing MP3, Napster, Senate Hearings and more.