Frank Vignola

In this video lesson Frank can be seen playing his vintage D'Angelico New Yorker.

When discussing his journey to the Thorell guitar he currently plays, Frank mentions this gutiar as well: “I have been playing guitar for close to forty years now. The first 20 years, I was playing on a 58 D’Angelico New Yorker. The next 20 years on Benedetto’s. From now on I play the new FV model built by Ryan Thorell. It produces the tone I want and the feel and look are so artful.” (http://thorellguitars.com/guitars/arch-tops/fv-studio/)

In this photo from a performance at the Lincoln Center, Frank can be seen playing his signature model Benedetto archtop guitar.

When discussing his journey to the Thorell guitar he currently plays, Frank mentions this gutiar as well: “I have been playing guitar for close to forty years now. The first 20 years, I was playing on a 58 D’Angelico New Yorker. The next 20 years on Benedetto’s. From now on I play the new FV model built by Ryan Thorell. It produces the tone I want and the feel and look are so artful.” (http://thorellguitars.com/guitars/arch-tops/fv-studio/)

In this live performance of Tico Tico, Frank can be seen playing his signature model archtop from Thorell Guitars. On the Thorell Guitars website, Frank describes his journey to this particular guitar: “I have been playing guitar for close to forty years now. The first 20 years, I was playing on a 58 D’Angelico New Yorker. The next 20 years on Benedetto’s. From now on I play the new FV model built by Ryan Thorell. It produces the tone I want and the feel and look are so artful.” (http://thorellguitars.com/guitars/arch-tops/fv-studio/)

Frank endorses a production version of his custom Thorell signature model that is made by Eastman: http://frankvignola.com/gear/

Used to record all instruments on Donald Fagen's Morph the Cat, as stated by Fagen and mix engineer Elliott Scheiner in this August 2006 Sound on Sound interview.

Scheiner adds that he 'seldom' uses EQ during the mix, and that Morph The Cat was recorded via Clinton's Neve 8078 directly to analogue 24-track. Straightforward recording to analogue without much processing is now Fagen's favoured approach, says he. "It's the sound I like. It's not necessary to have the latest equipment. Today I think that I could use any studio, and any equipment, and all I need is good players and it will sound good. I like the sound of jazz records recorded in the late 1950s. I love the sound of Rudy van Gelder's records for Prestige. I can't imagine anything sounding better. Van Gelder's jazz recordings definitely influenced the Steely Dan recording and mixing style."

Used for Donald Fagen's Morph the Cat, as stated by mix engineer Elliott Scheiner in this August 2006 Sound on Sound interview.

According to Elliott Scheiner, the following mics were used on the Morph The Cat recording sessions.

• Kick drum: AKG D112.
• Snare: SM57 (only on top).
• Hi-hat: Neumann KM81 or 84.
• Toms: Audio-Technica ATM25.
• Overheads: Neumann U67.
• Room mics: Electrovoice RE20.
• Electric guitar: Shure SM57 right on speaker cone.
• Piano: 2x AKG C12 mics, about 12 inches from the strings.
• Trumpet and trombone: Coles ribbon.
• Tenor sax: Neumann U67.
• Baritone sax: Neumann FET47.