Roger Mayer is an
electrical engineer
Electrical engineering is an engineering discipline concerned with the study, design, and application of equipment, devices, and systems which use electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. It emerged as an identifiable occupation in the l ...
who developed several
electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that requires external amplification in order to be heard at typical performance volumes, unlike a standard acoustic guitar (however combinations of the two - a semi-acoustic guitar and an electric acoustic gui ...
effects, including the ''
Octavia'', a fuzz
effects pedal
An effects unit or effects pedal is an electronic device that alters the sound of a musical instrument or other audio source through audio signal processing.
Common effects include distortion/overdrive, often used with electric guitar in ele ...
which also doubled signal frequency, with a sound that was not attainable by simply connecting an octave pedal and a
fuzz pedal together. The effect was popularized by
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942September 18, 1970) was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. Although his mainstream career spanned only four years, he is widely regarded as one of the most ...
, and can be heard during the solos on the song "
Purple Haze
"Purple Haze" is a song written by Jimi Hendrix and released as the second single by the Jimi Hendrix Experience on March 17, 1967.
The song features his inventive guitar playing, which uses the signature Hendrix chord and a mix of blues and Ea ...
".
The ''
Octavia'', as well as several other effects, are still being produced under Roger Mayer's name.
Background
Mayer was originally an
acoustic engineer working for the
British Admiralty
The Admiralty was a department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for the command of the Royal Navy until 1964, historically under its titular head, the Lord High Admiral – one of the Great Officers of State. For much of it ...
on underwater research projects. At a time when
guitar effects
An effects unit or effects pedal is an electronic device that alters the sound of a musical instrument or other audio source through audio signal processing.
Common effects include distortion/overdrive, often used with electric guitar in ele ...
were virtually unknown, he designed and built
fuzz box
Distortion and overdrive are forms of audio signal processing used to alter the sound of amplified electric musical instruments, usually by increasing their gain, producing a "fuzzy", "growling", or "gritty" tone. Distortion is most commonly ...
es for leading English guitarists such as
Big Jim Sullivan
James George Tomkins (14 February 1941 – 2 October 2012), known professionally as Big Jim Sullivan, was an English musician whose career started in 1958.
He was best known as a session guitarist. In the 1960s and 1970s, he was one of t ...
,
Jimmy Page
James Patrick Page (born 9 January 1944) is an English musician who achieved international success as the guitarist and founder of the rock band Led Zeppelin. Page is prolific in creating guitar riffs. His style involves various alternative ...
, and
Jeff Beck
Geoffrey Arnold Beck (born 24 June 1944) is an English rock guitarist. He rose to prominence with the Yardbirds and after fronted the Jeff Beck Group and Beck, Bogert & Appice. In 1975, he switched to a mainly instrumental style, with a focus ...
. His effects can be heard on
P.J. Proby
* Pajamas, or PJs
Arts and entertainment
* ''P.J.'' (film), a 1968 film starring George Peppard
* P.J. (Disney), Pete Junior, a Disney cartoon character
* P.J. (comics), a character in ''The Family Circus'' comic strip
* PJ (singer), Paris Ale ...
singles such as "Hold Me" (1964) and on numerous
Yardbirds tracks.
Mayer was awarded 'Innovator of the Year Award 2018' by
''Vintage Guitar'' magazine not for a particular product, for his work and design across the board.
Jimi Hendrix
Just having turned 21, Mayer saw Hendrix playing live and in his words was "blown away by his live show". It was after one of Hendrix's shows at the Bag O’Nails club which was in
Soho
Soho is an area of the City of Westminster, part of the West End of London. Originally a fashionable district for the aristocracy, it has been one of the main entertainment districts in the capital since the 19th century.
The area was develop ...
,
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
. After introducing himself backstage and talking in-depth about tone and a desire to create a totally different sound, he was invited by the guitarist to a gig the following week. Via a small amp back stage, Hendrix listened to the Octavia and was really impressed and excited by what he heard. Mayer was invited by Hendrix to overdub the solos on the songs "
Purple Haze
"Purple Haze" is a song written by Jimi Hendrix and released as the second single by the Jimi Hendrix Experience on March 17, 1967.
The song features his inventive guitar playing, which uses the signature Hendrix chord and a mix of blues and Ea ...
" and "
Fire
Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material (the fuel) in the exothermic chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction Product (chemistry), products.
At a certain point in the combustion reaction, called the ignition ...
" which took place at the Olympic Studio, and working on tones and designing custom effects to realize the sounds Hendrix 'heard' in his head. His designs can be heard on the albums ''
Axis: Bold as Love'' and ''
Electric Ladyland
''Electric Ladyland'' is the third and final studio album by the Jimi Hendrix Experience and the final studio album released before Hendrix's death in 1970. A double album, it was the only record from the Experience produced by Hendrix. The ban ...
''.
Other artists
Mayer worked with many other artists from the
Isley Brothers Isley is an English surname. The name can also be used as an anglicized variant for the German surnames Eisele and Eisler. Notable people with the surname include:
*The Isley Brothers, American musical group
**Ernie Isley (born 1952), American mus ...
to
Bob Marley
Robert Nesta Marley (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981; baptised in 1980 as Berhane Selassie) was a Jamaican singer, musician, and songwriter. Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, his musical career was marked by fusing elements o ...
. He also co-built a pioneering early synth for
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris ( Judkins; May 13, 1950), known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, who is credited as a pioneer and influence by musicians across a range of genres that include rhythm and blues, Pop musi ...
.
Since the 1990s,
Tom Principato
Tom Principato (born 1952) is an American electric blues and blues rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter.
Principato has recorded more than twenty albums over the years. One of his most recent releases, ''Robert Johnson Told Me So'' (2013) ...
has enjoyed ongoing endorsement deals with Roger Mayer effects pedals.
Documentary
Mayer appeared in the 2004 documentary about Jimi Hendrix, ''Jimi Hendrix: By Those Who Knew Him Best'' that also featured
Leon Hendrix
Leon Morris Hendrix (born January 13, 1948) is an American painter, songwriter, and musician who began playing the guitar later in life and has released several albums. He is the brother of American rock guitarist and singer Jimi Hendrix.
He i ...
and Seattle guitarist
Sammy Drain
Sammy Drain (March 13, 1945 – July 22, 2016) was a guitarist from Seattle who was well known in the area and considered to be a legend. He also was a friend of rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix and jammed with him before Hendrix found fame. During hi ...
.
[Night Flight, 27 November 2017 ]
Castles made of sand, fall in the sea, eventually: "Jimi Hendrix: By Those Who Knew Him Best" By Bryan Thomas
/ref>
References
External links
Roger Mayer official website
Year of birth missing (living people)
Living people
Engineers from London
British acoustical engineers
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