Regular site visitors know Larry Carlton is a card-carrying member in our circle of top second favorite guitarists.

Why is that? 1) go back and listen carefully to your Steely Dan “Royal Scam” album, 2) make every effort to get to a live Larry show and see for yourself how much fun a guy playing guitar can have, and 3) grab his newest album, Take Your Pick, a collaboration with Japan’s premier guitar player Tak Matsumoto. That should answer the question as to why we’re hooked on Mr. 335.

Extra credit: Read more about Larry in the latest Gibson Interview.