Michael Angelo Batio new Quad guitar (Dean)

[DalyTek]

Was never a Nitro fan myself, but I gotta say I'm always impressed watching Batio play. He makes speed look so effortless.
And when he starts that left hand flip-flop tapping thing, his hand looks like it's moving in fast-forward!

...Ron, what's your connection with the original Quad-X?

[bratfink]

That's a really dumb design. Why not make it so the bodies bolted together like the old one? Having to have that plate for mounting really spoils the look for me.

[6string40]

I wanna see pics of the case!!!!

[BenoA]

Batio is a cool guy; I've talked with him on a few occasions, yes his hair is ridiculous and so was his old band, his voice is kinda weird, but you can't deny the man's talent!

Nah Batio is a cool cat, and that guitar is all him. It's just funny. Watching him play them is impressive as fuck, but also funny.

Indeed, a really impressive player!

Was never a Nitro fan myself, but I gotta say I'm always impressed watching Batio play. He makes speed look so effortless.

Also not a fan but Batio and Malmsteen, both, make it look so effortless and easy when they play.

[Hellbat]

I bought one of the shred guitar discs with him giving lessons on it. Most of it was a little advanced for my slow hands but he's a good teacher for the most part. He has the same thing going on that most of the shredders have though. When they try to show you a lick at half speed they can barely play it because their fingers don't like to move slow hehe.

Oh yeah, I wouldn't mind hearing your connection to the original quad as well Ron.

[DalyTek]

I wanna see pics of the case!!!!

Looks like it broke down into 2 cases like the original Quad-X did:

[BenoA]

only 2 necks... But impressive...

[RacerX]

...Ron, what's your connection with the original Quad-X?

Oh yeah, I wouldn't mind hearing your connection to the original quad as well Ron.

K, it's kinda long so I'll just blurt it out:
So, as you may have read on http://www.angelo.com/html/the_quad_guitar.html the original Quad was stolen in El Paso TX in the late 80s. Fast forward to around 2003 or 2004 - I found out that a JCFer had purchased the "top portion" (the 2 guitars in that pic) from a pawn shop - in El Paso! I informed that JCFer (I have since forgotten the name) about its history, but somewhere in there it went on eBay, and the kid in the UK had bought it. When I next had a chance to talk to Mr. Batio (probably at a NAMM aftershow party) I of course informed him of these events, and gave him the kid's name and location. So, I doubt this Simon fella "just showed up" at that UK gig in '04. When I talked with Michael next, he told me that that meeting turned awkward when Simon wanted something like $1200 for it (!). Cheeky bastard! MB did not have the cash on him and had to "scramble" for it, kinda embarrassing eh. If you read between the lines on the webpage above, it seems like the Mick Seymour fella fronted MB the dough, or partially subsidized it.
So I guess you could say I "helped" get this part of the Quad-X back to MB.
The rest of the story? That El Paso pawn shop sold the hot axes to the JCF guy for around $375, and then Simon bought them (eBay) for IIRC around $750, so it kinda sucks but everybody "got their piece" along the line
My theory goes that probably the pawn didn't know what it was, but everybody else most likely did...

[BenoA]

Interesting story Ron!

[toejam]

The new Dean looks pretty cool.
I remember the original Quad Guitar in the '80s. Mike Romeo used to give me guitar lessons, and he came over my house one day with a VHS of Nitro and was freaking out and told me I had to watch the video and see what Michael Angelo could do on guitar! I did buy the two Nitro tapes after that...

[tonemonster]

I am not dissing him, but I have always viewed him more as a carnival freak show than a musician. I mean that playing backwards, upside down, etc..... its like he is the evil kenevil of guitarists. its neat, but only for about 30 seconds then its just ripping notes.

[DalyTek]

Thanks for posting that vid, BenoA. I hadn't seen that one before. Every time I see him play, I get a little more respect for him. Dude has massive talent.

And that was a cool story, Ron. Hopefully you got some autographs or something cool for helping MAB out?

[Hellbat]

What I really want to know is where you can find the official MAB hair helmet. I'm bald so I could use one for gigging.

[javert]

lol, hellbat.

Interesting story. That he can actually play the quad guitar is of course extremely impressive, but at the end of the day, it doesn't add anything musically and is just a gimmick.

[MetalMedal II]

I've seen the Nitro music video many times in the past and always wondered what the deal was with that Ritz brand of guitar he used (not just the quad, but all the ones lined up on the floor). I didn't know til now that Ritz was Wayne Charvel's brand.

I met Batio at a guitar clinic at a GC while visiting Vegas 15 or so years ago. He said ernie ball made him a 0.005 inch for the high A string on the 7-strings.