One of Australia’s exciting next generation artists, Charlie began playing in bars & clubs at the age of 12 & is now a regular, touring the Australian pub, club & festival scene.Performing in the USA multiple times in Memphis, Nashville & Muscle Shoals, Charlie has played alongside band members from many great acts, including BB King, Ray Charles & Wilson Pickett.Charlie’s reputation is growing here in Oz & globally, with his most recent album “Good to Go” receiving fantastic reviews & hitting #1 on Australia’s RMR Charts, #2 on USA RMR Blues Rock Charts & #14 on the UKs IBBA Charts.
A serious audiophile, mentored by some of Australias’ finest, Charlie is constantly looking to push his music into new sonic arrangements while staying true to his live show, working hard & wide across the country.
CHARLIE BEDFORD’S DREAM GUITARS.
Hagstrom Viking:
My true & only favourite guitar is a Hagstrom Viking. It’s an electric beautiful Transparent Cherry Red & it can do anything.
Semi hollow rockin’ maple construction with a chunky ol’ block through the centre which creates a lovely bloom to the tone, two sweet singing humbuckers & just straight up brilliant vibes. This guitar is obviously inspired by the classic Gibson ES-335 but with Hagstrom’s glorious Swedish twist, character & improvements.
The neck on this guitar is pure magic, stunning, slim & as sporty as a high performance athlete, Italian super car or teenage boy going to a public high school.
I’ve had this guitar since about age 11, it was practically bigger than me. It’s had an enormous influence on my career as an artist & guitarist. It’s been through thick & thin + has travelled to at least 3 countries & 4 if you count Tassie. Hopefully this number will grow very shortly!
Please ask me about this guitar anytime, it’s one of those things I love to talk about.
Hagstrom Super Swede:
I was humbled & honoured to be crowned with the title of an official “Hagstrom Artist”. The wonderful team sent me this total rock machine called a Super Swede.
It’s black (obviously). & it can kick some serious butt! It also has a characterful & charming gentle side that can vary from country twang to warm // full & mellow but yet still clear tones.
Light weight yet chunky & super quick // responsive transients due to the through neck construction + added tuning stability due to that & their signature Hagstrom trademarked Truss Rod design called “H-Expander” installed in all of their guitars. I suggest you check that out if you wanna geek out. These things are insanely reliable & very intelligently engineered + designed
Vintage SG:
My first ever electric guitar was made by a UK company called Vintage. A slick & old appearing guitar resembling a Gibson SG.
The electric components in these guitars are excellent & of really great quality.
It’s a creamy white minty colour with gold hardware, a nicely cut black pick guard & mint tuning pegs. It’s like a senior citizen that is still the coolest guy ‘round the traps.
This was such a fab starting place as it was a full but versatile tone. I later added a gold left handed Bigsby tremolo arm onto the instrument & it’s probably one of the slickest looking guitars I have.
Fender Stratocaster: My second electric guitar. A sunburst strat with a maple board, how can you go wrong!?
Killer instrument, local Melbourne luthier // electronic wizard David Paul installed some of his hand wired Orpheus Pickups into this beast & it totally sings!
Used extensively on most rhythm tracks for my latest album “Good To Go”.
Cole Clark Fat Lady 2:
My favourite & most prized acoustic guitar.
The good ol’ FL2 doesn’t see too much live action these days from me, but in the past it was my main guitar as I became a solo artist & played a large role in that chapter of my life and career.
You can’t beat this babe of a guitar for plugged in live acoustic tone. Seriously! I’ve never heard a better sound from an acoustic plugged in other than a Cole Clark. (& it looks as pretty as a pretty thing too!)
I really enjoy writing songs with this guitar, it just seems to inspire me in a different way & I always seem surprised with what I produce on this organic & masterfully crafted local to VIC instrument.
