Prashant Aswani Talks about the ESP Xtone Guitar and More

by Rich Murray.

Prashant Aswani is part of a new breed of heavy fusion guitarists. A Berklee College of Music grad and former GIT instructor, his often fiery instrumentals have elements that appeal to both shred and fusion fans. Aswani's first two albums, Revelation (1998) and Duality (2000), were both produced by Greg Howe and released through Aswani's own Exotic Rhythms Publishing. Last year, Aswani re-released the Revelation album (with new artwork and bonus tracks) as Revelation: Fully Loaded (Exotic Rhythms). Aswani has recently completed demos for a new album called Time that he will produce himself.

Aswani has used ESP guitars for over 10 years, and was at the 2008 Winter NAMM show in Anaheim, California, promoting their new Xtone Paramount series. The Xtone's are jazzy-looking semi-hollow body guitars that you wouldn't normally associate with a guitarist in Aswani's genre. Some of the Xtone's even feature the classic Bigsby vibrato bar.

There's something oddly curious about seeing Aswani peel off a wicked hybrid-picking run on one of these guitars. But, maybe that's part of the point. Though he also plays his trusty ESP M1-based custom model that he's owned for years, when you see Aswani play an Xtone it helps solidify the image that this guy is more than just another shredder. I caught up with Prashant at this year's Winter NAMM show following one of his impressive demo performances at the ESP booth.

One thing I've always been curious about when I see these NAMM booth performances; are you more nervous doing a booth demo than you would be at a regular gig? Do you get the feeling you're in a fishbowl and everyone is staring at you?

Prashant Aswani: No, I don't really get nervous. I mean, guitar is what I do. I'm at a point now with my playing where I'm comfortable in any situation. I'm playing my own songs so, I wrote the songs, I've lived with the songs for quite some time, so there's really no reason to be nervous. I don't mind whoever is watching. I'm there to have fun and give them my all, in whatever that is at the time.

So, you're here at the ESP booth this year promoting their new Xtone series. It's a pretty unique looking guitar - I like how some of them even have the old throwback Bigsby vibratos. What is it about the Xtone that appeals to you?

PA: Well, ESP has had a ton of models. I've been with them for 10 years. When they came out with this guitar, I got the model, and I was so impressed with the design. It's so easy to have a double-cutaway guitar with great action and ease of play. But this guitar was so easy to play, very precise, percussive like I like for the left hand. The string spacing was nice on it so it was easy to do my hybrid-picking. And I'll tell you man, I had to make a point to tell them about it and they said "Why don't you do some clinics?"

So, it started with some Sam Ash clinics that I did over the last couple of months, and they asked me to perform here at the NAMM show. And so that's how it started - we're going to be doing a lot of clinics with these Xtones. For me, I have my main (M1-based) models that I use, as you saw, with the Floyd Rose. Those are irreplaceable since I use the tremolo in my playing. But these other guitars are an invaluable tool, these Xtones. I write with them, I can take them anywhere, they're light. The tones are amazing. They're great guitars man, all around. And they're a reasonable price.

That was another reason - you know a lot of my fans, they want my model, and I think they're like 5 grand for the custom guitars that I have. And there's no reason to spend that kind of cash. So I lead them down the direction of getting an M series or an Xtone. Basically they can get the same tone that I get.

You have a new album in the works called "Time" (currently in pre-production). Will you be using any of the Xtones on the new album?

PA: Yes I am actually. I'm basically using the Xtone for all the clean sounds. The "non-stratty" cleans, you know? ESP makes a Vintage Plus series; it's a strat-style guitar with single coils - I used that for some dirty cleans and some other rhythms. But for the most part, all of my clean tones will be done with the Xtone.

I understand you are producing the album yourself. Is that a challenge?

PA: Yeah, it always is. I've been producing a lot of other musicians demos lately, and by comparison producing myself is always a lot harder because I'm more critical. I end up taking a lot of extra time that I don't need to, manipulating and changing parts in songs, when I end up going back to the original version later down the road because I get too caught up. So it has been a challenge, but it's getting easier the more I do it. I'm able to see the bigger picture and put it all together. That's the most important thing in producing I think - to be able to see that big picture. Rather than micro-manage every little thing you do.

How long did it take you to write all the material for the album?

PA: So far I've been working on the material since October [2007]. I have enough material for the record now, but I'm waiting on some collaborations I may have with some players that I can't name yet. We might use these collaborations, we might not; either way we should start recording drums in about a month or so.

Last year you re-released your "Revelation" album with some extra tracks as "Revelation: Fully Loaded." When did you write and record those extra tracks?

PA: I wrote and recorded those tracks in November and December of 2006. Then I released it a couple of months later in early 2007.

How would you describe the material on the new album? Is it similar in style to the songs on your previous albums?

PA: Every song has it's unique characteristics. As for the genre, the songs are very similar to my style. Heavy, melodic, rhythmic and definitely memorable. I am producing the album so there won't be any unwanted influences.

Your songs are sometimes heavy, but they include some deep harmony as well; sort of a "heavy fusion." When you write, do you ever say "I need to add some hipper chord changes here," or "This needs to be a little heavier," etc; or do the harmonic elements and the heavy groove elements come together at the same time?

PA: Great question. My writing is not so contrived. I think the heavy grooves and intricate harmonies balance themselves naturally. Rhythm and melody are very important aspects of music I incorporate in my songs. If anything I make sure there is some type of hook. Sometimes it is the heavy groove and sometimes it is a melodic, hummable harmony.

What kind of gear do you use for recording?

PA: I use Pro Tools. I use the same thing for the demos as I do for the actual production of the record. I use quite a few different amps. I basically stick with ESP guitars, I don't even have any other guitars besides ESP. They make such a diverse range of models; they can cover any of my tones. DiMarzio are the pickups that I'm endorsing and using now. And they basically provide the whole spectrum, from a low-output strat kind of pickup to a high-gain pickup.

I don't really like high-gain pickups for the most part. For amps I have a few different Framus heads that I use, a vintage Music Man head that I use, and a modified Marshall; a JCM 2000 DSL, but it's totally modified it sounds awesome.

When do you think "Time" will be released?

PA: I'm hoping for a late spring release, early summer at the latest. But if I have to be in the studio going back and forth for a couple of weeks for these collaborations, I'm going to go for it. If that's the case then it will take a few extra weeks, but I would say late spring.

What label will the new album be on?

PA: I'm going to release it on my label - Exotic Rhythms.

After the album is released, what sort of promotional stuff do you have planned? Do you have any gigs lined up?

PA: I do actually. I've got a tour planned in Italy; they're talking about April. So depending on what the album's status is, I'll probably be in Italy in April. Then I'm going to do some of the workshop series in the summertime, I'll be doing a lot of clinics for ESP, and I have a few mini-tours planned. The exact dates won't be available until the album is out, but the promoters are on it.

Related Links
Prashanti Aswani
ESP Guitars
Rich Murray - The Guitar Channel

More articles by Rich Murray

[Editor's note: If you're a fan of jazz-rock-fusion guitar, we highly recommend a visit to Rich Murray's website - www.Guitar-Channel.com.]

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