Chris Letchford
| Chris Letchford | |
|---|---|
 Chris Letchford playing live with Scale the Summit | |
| Background information | |
| Born | October 7, 1984 |
| Origin | Houston, Texas |
| Genres | Progressive metal |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, music teacher |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Labels | Prosthetic Records |
| Associated acts | Scale the Summit |
| Notable instruments | |
|
Mike Sherman 7 and 8 string guitars Strandberg headless 7-string Mike Artinger custom 7 string Various home made guitars | |
Chris Letchford (born October 7, 1984, in Houston, Texas[1]) is an American guitarist. He is the lead guitarist in the progressive metal band Scale the Summit. His technical ability has been recognized in magazines such as Guitar World,[2] Revolver,[3] and All Metal Resource.
Background
Letchford began playing guitar when he was 8 years old. He had over 6 years of private guitar lessons before applying to the Musicians Institute in Los Angeles, majoring in the Guitar Craft program and then the Guitar Performance program, GIT. Along with this education, he also attended Berklee College of Music with a major in music.
While at the Musicians Institute, he formed Scale the Summit with his friend and fellow guitarist Travis Levrier, and drummer Pat Skeffington, whom they met there in 2004. They added bass guitarist Jordan Eberhardt to complete the lineup.[4]
Equipment
Letchford endorses several guitar and amplifier companies. For recording and playing live, he uses his custom Matt Artinger 7 string, as well as guitars he makes himself. He also plays a headless 7-string guitar with fanned frets, which was made for him by the Swedish company Strandberg Guitarworks, and currently has a signature Strandberg Boden, which is built in partnership with Washburn Guitars' USA Custom Shop. His main amp was an Axe Fx Ultra until he upgraded to the Axe Fx II, through Mackie HD1221 wedges, Ernie Ball volume pedal, Ernie Ball strings, InTune Guitar Picks. As of their most recent 2013 tours he was seen with a Mesa Boogie Cabinet, Carvin Pre Amp, Axe FX II, Ernie Ball Volume Pedal and Mission Expression Pedal. Chris also uses EMG pickups, 57-7 and 66-7.
Personal life
Letchford identifies as a dog person and owned a brindle Great Dane in 2010;[5] he later stated he had two Great Danes.[6] Letchford announced in June 2014 via Facebook that he was engaged to his girlfriend of 9 years, author Mariana Zapata.
Discography
With Scale the Summit
- Monument (2007)
- Carving Desert Canyons (2009)
- The Collective (2011)
- The Migration (2013)
- V (2015)
Solo career
- Lightbox (2014)[7]
Notes
- ↑ "Official Chris Letchford biography". http://chrisletchford.com''. Retrieved 2011-02-02.
- ↑ Guitar World video on "The Great Plains" (hosted by Guitar World)
- ↑ Revolver magazine article featuring Scale the Summit
- ↑ Scale the Summit Official Biography
- ↑ Thaler, Dan (June 28, 2010). "Chris Letchford, Scale the Summit | Prog Sphere". Retrieved June 6, 2013.
- ↑ "Chris Letchford of Scale the Summit: The Heavy Blog Is Heavy Interview – Heavy Blog Is Heavy". December 23, 2011. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
- ↑ "Scale The Summit's Chris Letchford Debuts "The Star Boys" From His Jazz Album "Lightbox"". The PRP. June 4, 2014. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
