Serra Petale on Los Bitchos’ Talkie Talkie: Gear, Influences, and Live Sound

The article from Guitar World features an interview with Serra Petale, guitarist of the band Los Bitchos, discussing their sophomore album “Talkie Talkie.” Here are the key points:

1. **Album Description**:
– “Talkie Talkie” is a fun and upbeat sophomore album that continues Los Bitchos’ blend of funk, disco, and psychedelia with a quirky new dimension.

2. **Gear and Influences**:
– Petale primarily uses her Italia Maranello Speedster guitar, but also mentions using a Lag guitar for its unique sound and an Oli Barton Wood ‘Smokers Tele’ for its tone.
– The album’s ’80s aesthetic is intentional, drawing inspiration from Duran Duran and Simple Minds, but with a modern twist using new gear to create “bastardised versions” of the ’80s sound.

3. **Pedals and Effects**:
– Petale emphasizes the importance of a chorus effect on her clean tone, using an EHX Small Clone pedal for its simplicity and effectiveness in adding an underlying sadness to the guitar tone.
– She also mentions using EarthQuaker Devices pedals for their ability to give each song its own dimension, particularly the Warden pedal for a dialled-back tone with presence.

4. **Live Gear**:
– Petale has switched to a Hiwatt Custom 50 combo amp for live performances, praising its power and ability to hold pedals well. She previously used Fender amps but finds the Hiwatt sounds “wicked”.

5. **Inspirations and Influences**:
– Petale’s influences include Eddie Van Halen, whose guitar sound and style she admires for making people feel through music. She aims to emulate this by creating a sense of joy and mood with her guitar tones.

6. **Band Dynamics**:
– The band’s diverse nationalities and influences come together through their shared love of Peruvian/Cumbia music and other eclectic sounds, as evident in their debut album “Let the Festivities Begin!”.

Overall, the article highlights Serra Petale’s passion for creating unique, nostalgic yet modern guitar sounds with Los Bitchos, emphasizing the importance of gear and effects in achieving their distinctive musical style.