Matt Martinez, Ryan Butler

Questionnaire part 1

1. Name, Band, and how long you have been playing.
Ryan Butler
Landmine Marathon
I've been playing guitar since around 1990 and I've been playing orchestral instruments since 1985 or 86?

2. What Jackson(s) do you currently own?
I currently own a Jackson Soloist XL, an SL1, and an SL2H.  I've had a few other bolt ons and V's, but always go back to the soloist!

3. Tell us the story of your first Jackson
My first Jackson was my Soloist XL.  I got it for my high school graduation in 1995 and have played it dedicatedly ever since!  I just played a show with it Saturday night!  It's been my main guitar since then and it's been to Europe, Canada, and just about everywhere in the United States with me in the last 13 years.  I'm contemplating retiring it from touring, but I don't see myself not playing it at all and hanging it on the wall until I'm hung on the wall.  It still plays like a dream.

4. What Jacksons do you wish to own (dream guitar etc)
Well, we're fairly new to our endorsement with Jackson, so I'd like to get a few more SL2H's.  I'm also contemplating a custom shop which would be a soloist made to look like an old 60's strat, but with a floyd, EMG's, a raw neck, and possibly a maple fretboard.  I think any of my "dream" Jackson's would be custom shops!

5. Finally, Why do you play Jackson?
Quality and playability.  They're the best I've played and I'm really really happy I'm with Jackson.

Questionnaire part 2

1.  Name, Band, and how long you have been playing.
Matt Martinez, Landmine Marathon, 18 years

2.  What Jackson(s) do you currently own?
Custom Rhoads Bass, Heavily Modified Concert EX

3.  Tell us the story of your first Jackson
As a recent Jackson devotee, I do not have an interesting first Jackson story. But  I can tell you about when and how the love affair began.  In the mid- nineties there was a local band that I liked a lot and their bass player played a neck through Jackson Concert bass, it had Sharkfins and Jackson pickups… it looked and sounded like a killing machine on stage. I had bass envy pretty bad. He quit the band and disappeared into obscurity. I was always keeping an eye out for a bass exactly like it. Quite a few years later he reappeared and I ended up in a band with him (he was now playing guitar). I asked him what happened to that bass, hoping that he still had it and would be willing to part with it. Unfortunately he had sold it in some rough times. I consider that bass “the one that got away”.

4.  What Jacksons do you wish to own (dream guitar etc)
The list grows daily!! As of late I have been thinking about a Custom Death Kelly Bass with alder body maple thru neck, ebony fretboard with MOP Sharkfins, finished in metalflake orange with white binding and black hardware. and a Custom Warrior Bass Flame top, reverse headstock, alder body, maple thru neck, maple fretboard with reverse Sharkfins in tobacco sunburst finish with black binding and hardware both basses would be equipped with a single EMG MMTW and a single volume control. Yes, I think about it a lot!!!

5.  Finally, Why do you play Jackson?
First and foremost I play Jackson because of legacy and integrity of the Jackson name. Jackson is the innovator, the original metal guitar, to be associated with that legacy and history is an extreme honor and privilege. Secondly, but equally important is the quality of the instruments. The necks are super comfortable and fast with flawless fretwork. Every Jackson I have ever played has played like a dream.