Chris Letchford
{{short description|American guitarist and teacher}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Chris Letchford
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| alias =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1984|10|07}}
| birth_place = Houston, Texas, U.S.
| genre = {{hlist|Progressive metal|djent|instrumental rock}}
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- Musician
- music teacher
}}
| instrument = Guitar
| years_active = 1992–present
| label = Prosthetic
| current_member_of = Scale the Summit
| website = {{URL|chrisletchford.com}}
}}
Chris Letchford (born October 7, 1984){{cite web|url=http://chrisletchford.com/bio/|title=Official Chris Letchford biography|work=Official Website of Chris Letchford|accessdate=2011-02-02}} is an American guitarist. He is the lead guitarist in the instrumental progressive metal band Scale the Summit. His technical ability has been recognized in magazines such as Guitar World,[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5T27HpI6RKU&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL Guitar World video on "The Great Plains" (hosted by Guitar World)] Revolver,[http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v506/seaweedgodess/?action=view¤t=revolver-1-1.jpg Revolver magazine article featuring Scale the Summit] 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 line-up.{{Cite web |url=http://scalethesummit.com/band.html |title=Scale the Summit Official Biography |access-date=February 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716012450/http://scalethesummit.com/band.html |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |url-status=dead }}
Equipment
Letchford endorses several guitar and amplifier companies. In late 2016 Chris has collaborated with Kiesel Guitars and came out with his first Kiesel signature model the CL6/7/8, a headless guitar with a fender strat sort of body, using Seymour Duncan Sentient, Nazgul pick ups. 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,{{Cite web | title = Strandberg Guitarworks | url = https://strandbergguitars.com/ }} and currently has a signature Strandberg Boden CL7,{{Cite web |url=https://strandbergguitars.com/product/boden-cl7-custom-shop-chris-letchford-signature-guitar/ |title=.strandberg* | Boden CL7 Custom Shop | Chris Letchford Signature Guitar - .strandberg |access-date=May 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150505074218/https://strandbergguitars.com/product/boden-cl7-custom-shop-chris-letchford-signature-guitar/ |archive-date=May 5, 2015 |url-status=dead }} 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. Chris also uses Dunlop Strings (10-56), Dunlop Signature Chris Letchford Jazz III Picks (1 mm) and sometimes he uses Seymour Duncan Pegasus/Sentient pickup set in some of his newer guitars.{{Citation needed|date=September 2017}} According to an interview he did with Gear Gods in 2016 he has switched from the AxFX II and has moved to the Line 6 Helix.
Personal life
Letchford identifies as a dog person and owned a brindle Great Dane in 2010;{{Cite web | last = Thaler | first = Dan | title = Chris Letchford, Scale the Summit | Prog Sphere | date = June 28, 2010 | url = http://www.prog-sphere.com/2010/06/28/chris-letchford-scale-the-summit/ | accessdate = June 6, 2013}} he later stated he had two Great Danes.{{Cite web | title = Chris Letchford of Scale the Summit: The Heavy Blog Is Heavy Interview – Heavy Blog Is Heavy | date = December 23, 2011 | url = http://www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2011/12/23/chris-letchford-of-scale-the-summit-the-heavy-blog-is-heavy-interview/ | accessdate = June 21, 2013}} 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=
{{Main|Scale the Summit discography}}
- Monument (2007)
- Carving Desert Canyons (2009)
- The Collective (2011)
- The Migration (2013)
- V (2015)
- In a World of Fear (2017)
- Subjects (2021)
=With {{Proper name|islnds}}=
=Solo career=
Notes
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Category:Progressive metal guitarists
Category:Eight-string guitarists
Category:American seven-string guitarists
Category:Musicians from Houston
Category:Guitarists from Los Angeles
Category:Musicians Institute alumni
Category:Guitarists from Texas
Category:American male guitarists