Steve Craddock

Steve uses the Sundance Historic TW40 OAN E

Steve Cradock is an English guitarist, most notable for playing in the rock group Ocean Colour Scene. Cradock also plays the guitar in Paul Weller’s band, having appeared on all of Weller’s solo records following his self-titled debut solo album. Cradock began playing lead guitar for British Ska band The Specials in 2014.

He is a distinctive guitarist, who has a retro, 1960s sound. Cradock’s influences include The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Widely regarded (even by Ocean Colour Scene’s critics) as one of the most talented British guitarists, Cradock also plays keyboards, bass guitar and drums.

Steve took time out from the studio to talk about his latest addition to his guitar arsenal, the Tanglewood Sundance Historic TW40DANE.

“I got into Tanglewood through Stevie Pilgrim who is Weller’s drummer and he’s a great acoustic player. He’s just about to release his fourth solo album and he’s always played a Tanglewood.

It’s through him I got in touch with you guys. It has a really classic look and I love the tone of the wood, I don’t like those pale acoustic tops. There are a lot of other newer acoustics that have come out and they seem to f*** up the headstock. This one has a real classic looking headstock.

As soon as I played it I was just like “Ah this just sounds amazing!”

Me and Lynval (The Specials) were doing a cover of Redemption song at Reading, so I tried it live that night on Redemption song and I tell you what, I’ve used other brands live as well and they have a bass, treble and volume on it which I always thought was the thing. Where as with the Tanglewood there is no EQ involved in it and I liked the direct sound. I find with a lot of other guitar preamps there is too much of this horrible digital top end and the Tanglewood hasn’t got that.

As soon as I played the guitar I felt like I had history with it”.

You can check out more of Steve on his social pages below.