"We Don't Hang Out" Guitar Gavel podcast with Michael Tash of Bad Influence band
In this episode I have the pleasure of hanging out with Michael Tash as he shares his guitar journey that really began at age 12 on a Montgomery Ward electric and Marlboro amp.
Mike’s blues band, Bad Influence, has been playing consistently since 1989 with only a handful of changes from the original line-up. Mike share’s the secret to their longevity and highlights a few of his favorite shows which include playing with Buddy Guy and opening up for Heart.
On the business side of things Mike talks about finding endorsement deals and nearly all of the gear the band members use and play is part of a sponsor arrangement. Mike’s go-to gig machine is an Epiphone Casino and Quilter Amps Micro-Pro.
Of course we look at a couple of guitars too, a 1960 Strat and a Murphy Lab Les Paul.
Ibanez delivered their original strat-style guitars in 1979, the Roadster RS 100 and 300 in 1979.
The Blazer series was launched on top of the Roadster in 1980, but neither sold well and both series were replaced by the Roadstar II in 1983.
That was a transformative year in Ibanez history paving the way for increasingly aggressive guitars leading to the RG Series and JEM in 1987.
The signature model in the early Roadstar II line-up was Steve Lukather’s RS1010SL.
An Ibanez advert from 1983 even gave Steve credit as the catalyst for the entire Roadstar line of guitars!
His guitar differed little from the high-end RS 1000 that basically had the same appointments except for a different bridge humbucker and rosewood fretboard. Ibanez’ biggest feature that year was the introduction of their Hard Rocker and Hard Rocker Pro Tremolo tailpieces.
One thing that stands out for sure on Lukather’s model was the brilliant blue sunburst finish.
1983 Steve Lukather Specs: Birdseye maple top, Basswood body, Maple neck, Ebony fretboard with snowflake fret inlays (21 frets), Ibanez SL Special bridge humbucker, Ibanez Super 58 at the neck, Coil Split, Hard Rocker Pro trem system
Notes: In 1984 several changes were introduced. The headstock was painted instead of having a natural finish, 22 frets, string lock, & Pro Rock’r tremolo. The model was discontinued in 1985.