Uploaded March 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Held in San Francisco on January 23, 1993, this interview with Texas blues great Albert Collins was used for his July 1993 "Guitar Player" magazine cover story. In addition to speaking, Albert plays some amazing blues on his unplugged Fender Telecaster, which he tuned F, C, F, Ab, C, F, from low to high.
Albert jumpstarts the conversation by explaining why Texas blues guitarists put rattlesnake rattles or pennies in their acoustic guitars. He describes his first homemade guitar and his encounters with T-Bone Walker, Gatemouth Brown, Lil Son Jackson, B.B. King, Lightnin’ Hopkins, and other bluesmen. He explains why many postwar Texas blues guitarists played with a horn section.
Naturally, Collins goes into detail about his trademark Telecaster and how he dials-in his razor-sharp, treble-heavy tone. He also covers how he writes blues songs, his current recording projects, and his favorites among his own record releases.
Sadly, this was one of Albert Collins’ final interviews. Ten months later, on November 24, 1993, he passed away from lung cancer.
Photos by Bill Reitzel. Thanks to engineer/producer Nik Hunt for filming the intro and enhancing the sound of the 32-year-old master tape. For hundreds of blues-, rock-, and guitar-intensive podcasts, interview transcripts, and articles, visit my online "Talking Guitar" magazine at jasobrecht.substack.com/. #albertcollins #texasblues #telecaster #jasobrecht #nikhunt
©2025 Jas Obrecht. All rights reserved.
Held in San Francisco on January 23, 1993, this interview with Texas blues great Albert Collins was used for his July 1993 "Guitar Player" magazine cover story. In addition to speaking, Albert plays some amazing blues on his unplugged Fender Telecaster, which he tuned F, C, F, Ab, C, F, from low to high.
Albert jumpstarts the conversation by explaining why Texas blues guitarists put rattlesnake rattles or pennies in their acoustic guitars. He describes his first homemade guitar and his encounters with T-Bone Walker, Gatemouth Brown, Lil Son Jackson, B.B. King, Lightnin’ Hopkins, and other bluesmen. He explains why many postwar Texas blues guitarists played with a horn section.
Naturally, Collins goes into detail about his trademark Telecaster and how he dials-in his razor-sharp, treble-heavy tone. He also covers how he writes blues songs, his current recording projects, and his favorites among his own record releases.
Sadly, this was one of Albert Collins’ final interviews. Ten months later, on November 24, 1993, he passed away from lung cancer.
Photos by Bill Reitzel. Thanks to engineer/producer Nik Hunt for filming the intro and enhancing the sound of the 32-year-old master tape. For hundreds of blues-, rock-, and guitar-intensive podcasts, interview transcripts, and articles, visit my online "Talking Guitar" magazine at jasobrecht.substack.com/. #albertcollins #texasblues #telecaster #jasobrecht #nikhunt
©2025 Jas Obrecht. All rights reserved.
