While a familiar technique in orchestral string music, “pizzicato” does not immediately come to mind in the world of guitar. However, all strings can be muted and this has been explored in the palm-muting technique popularized in 60s surf rock and 90s punk. Exploring a variety of fresh takes on muted, “pizzicato” guitar, Ari Raskin composed, produced and performed this sample collection employing an arsenal of vintage and modern gear.

“Some of the clips lean closer towards the more traditional palm muting sound, while others have a more orchestral, genuine pizzicato feel. This was achieved by wedging a variety of foam and cloth materials below the strings in order to dampen them, sometimes in combination with palm muting, to create a "plucked" sound,” says Raskin. “My intention was to provide samples that could be used for a variety of genres: Rock, Pop, R&B, Hip Hop, Folk,” he adds.

Gear List

Acoustic Guitars

-Gibson 1947 LG-2 acoustic mic'd with a vintage Neumann u67, vintage Neve 1080 mic preamp & vintage Teletronix LA-2A compressor

-Gibson 2006 J45 acoustic (from Gibson's NYC artist department -- a cream of the crop guitar reserved for Gibson artist television and radio appearances) mic'd with a vintage Neumann u67, vintage Neve 1080 mic preamp & vintage Teletronix LA-2A compressor. Direct signal recorded with an Aguilar DB900 Tube DI into vintage Neve 1080 preamp.

Electric Guitars

-Phred Instruments Reprise thinline hollowbody humbucker electric

-Gibson Les Paul Junior Special with P-90 pickups

-Fender Custom Shop 1951 Nocaster (Telecaster) Reissue

Amps + FX Pedals

Vintage Maxon AD-9 analog delay & vintage1970s MXR Phase 90

1990s Vox AC30/6 TB amp mic'd with vintage Neumann U67 and SM58 microphones and vintage early 1970s API 312 mic preamps and DI's

Composed, produced, performed and engineered by Ari Raskin.