Although best known as the co-founder and lead guitarist of The Cult, Billy Duffy has been working virtually nonstop since the late Seventies. Beyond The Cult—who are hitting the road with Stone...
Although best known as the co-founder and lead guitarist of The Cult, Billy Duffy has been working virtually nonstop since the late Seventies. Beyond The Cult—who are hitting the road with Stone Temple Pilots and Bush on the Revolution 3 tour this summer—Duffy has played in Kings Of Chaos (alongside members of Guns 'N' Roses, Stone Temple Pilots, Cheap Trick and ZZ Top), Coloursound (with The Alarm's Mike Peters) and Circus Diablo. Duffy has sold millions of albums between these acts, and always has a big catalog to pull on the road.
Duffy—who is well known for his signature Gretsch White Falcon—recently spoke to Guitar World about guitars, The Cult and more.
Even back in the early days you played a Gretsch White Falcon. What was it that led you to the White Falcon?
It was a combination of things. Initially it was the look of course, then the sound. Pre-punk it was Malcolm [Young] and Neil Young and post-punk it was the New York Dolls and Bow Wow Wow. I always had a soft spot for Gretsches and the Falcon to me was the most iconic, almost a semi mythical guitar (laugh). Magic powers, maybe. In a practical sense the guitar helped me in the search for my own post-punk rock sound when The Cult formed due to its uniqueness.
How does the Billy Duffy version of the White Falcon differ from what was originally on the market?
It’s identical to my original 1975 single cut Falcon in every way except for a more normal truss rod arrangement, and of course much more powerful pickups; Seventies ones were very, very weak. Oh, and no scratch plate and the bridge is fixed in place. All the little things I prefer and require of a