Greg's clinic was just plain fun. Not only did he teach everyone quite a few new tricks (while putting his guitar through major contortions) but he was very funny and a great guy to hang out with. His licks ranged from Zepplin and Cream to Eric Johnson and Mark knofler. His personal style is sort of a cross between newer Jeff Beck and The Hellecasters. To top it all off he was able to get all of these classic sounds out of one amp THE FENDER CYBER TWIN. If you haven't heard this amp yet do yourself a favor and drop by Mississippi Music and test drive it. 

A Little About Greg

Guitarist Greg Koch's virtuosity, sense of humor and articulate nature, have led to a successful career as a bandleader, studio musician (heard on dozens of national T.V. and radio ads), contributor to Guitar One magazine, and artist/clinician for Fender.

Greg's guitar awareness started in third grade, when he cut out cardboard Fender Stratocaster's and used his sister's sewing machine pedal as a makeshift wah-wah. He'd pretend to rock along to Jimi Hendrix, whose music had become his obsession. When he finally got a guitar at age twelve (after failing to duplicate Mr. Hendrix on the cello), Greg quickly advanced by watching, listening and copying what he heard on records. Early on, his melding of blues, rock and country styles began to take shape - and to further mutate - by his playing in groups ranging from show bands (Kids From Wisconsin), polka groups and blues-rock ensembles of his own creation, to accompanying Elvis impersonators. After studying jazz guitar for four years at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Greg's musical maturity led to national attention as a fiery instrumentalist, winning 1st Prize in the Bluesbreaker Guitar Showdown (judged by legendary bluesman, Buddy Guy) in 1989.

Greg and his own aggregation, Greg Koch and the Tone Controls, have received regional raves (in their hometown of Milwaukee) from the Wisconsin Area Music Awards including seven individual awards for Greg as "Guitarist of the Year" ('92, '94 thru '99), and five for the band as "Blues Artist of the Year" ('93, '95 thru '98). The Tone Controls are the hosts of a cult cable-access TV show "Guitar Nuts," featuring interviews with artists ranging from Ted Nugent to blues legend Hubert Sumlin, and they're the house band for (Green Bay Packer) Brett Favre's program, "Pack Attack," which includes a segment with Greg posing wacky questions to the players.

Greg's versatile playing style has been featured on dozens of national TV and radio commercials including spots for Bank One, Oldsmobile Aurora, Chevy Venture, Vidal Sassoon, Sprite, Kellogg's, Kahlua "Brown Sugar" and many others. Appearing on-screen for a Miller Beer commercial and performing a song commemorating Harley Davidson's 95th anniversary, brought Greg into millions of living rooms across America. Scary thought!

In summer of 2000, the Tone Controls released their sixth independent disc, Past and Present, a 17-tune "guitarmeggedon," featuring a musical stew of songs and instrumentals.

And if all that ain't enough, Greg is one of a handful of coveted clinicians for Fender. Utilizing his own tunes as a backdrop - and various Fender, Guild, SUNN and DeArmond instruments as tools - Greg's developed a unique clinic, sharing a variety of tones, tricks and anecdotes with those in attendance. He was on-hand at the Summer NAMM 2000 show to debut the Fender American Series Stratocaster and Telecaster, and was the master of ceremonies in the Cyber-Twin Theatre at the unveiling of the Cyber-Twin at past January NAMM 2001.

The Giant Amp

Everybody needs one of these. One side opened to reveal the workings of a Fender guitar and amp while the other side carries some of neatest guitars in the Fender line. Just think of the fun if this was a real amp. Your neighbors would love you.

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