Khan Manuel
Encyclopedia
Khan Manuel is an Australian Rock, fusion guitarist noted for his debut instrumental release 'The Knight'. He has played and recorded with many other Internationally recognized guitarists including Frank Gambale
, Nuno Bettencourt
among others.
. Learning to play the guitar from his father at the early age of 10, he later studied at The Southern Institute Of Technology in Invercargill NZ. During this time he played in various cover bands in New Zealand. At 16 Manuel won an open Joe Satriani guitar competition held by Ibanez
Australia
. In 2001 Manuel made the move to Sydney Australia to further develop his musical career. Studying guitar with the cream of Australian guitarists including Conservatory teachers he continued practicing rigorously around 16 hours a day to follow in the footsteps of one of his guitar heroes Frank Gambale
.
Other guitar players cited for the impact on Manuel's playing style are Joe Satriani
, Steve Vai
, Jimi Hendrix
, Stevie Ray Vaughan
, and the heavy influence of the 80's 'shredders'.
, and other guitar magazines. Manuel also began endorsing Iconic guitar makers Ibanez
guitars. The limited edition Australian Southern Cross model is Manuel's guitar of choice asvwell as the Steve Vai
7Vwhite Ibanez Jem
. The sponsorship with Ibanez
allows Manuel to conduct clinics with other Ibanez
endorsers.
In 2010 Manuel lived a lifelong dream of playing and recording with guitar hero Frank Gambale
, with the collaboration of the two virtuosos playing together on a composition written by Manuel entitled 'When Two Become One'. The song was recorded in Sydney
Australia
and Los Angeles
.
Manuel is also the author of an instructional guitar book called 'Guitar Insights' focusing on the development of the aspiring guitarist.
melodies. The style of Joe Satriani
, Steve Vai
in combination with George Benson
, Stevie Ray Vaughan
and Frank Gambale
best describes Manuel's technique. Ibanez
guitars are the main guitars that Manuel uses with minimal foot pedals consisting only of a distortion pedal and Boss digital delay with a Roland
Jazz Chorus amplifier. Maton
acoustic guitars are also used.
Frank Gambale
Frank Gambale is an Australian jazz fusion guitarist. He has released eleven studio albums over a period of more than two decades, and is renowned for his use of the sweep picking and economy picking techniques.-Recording career:...
, Nuno Bettencourt
Nuno Bettencourt
Nuno Duarte Gil Mendes Bettencourt is a Portuguese guitarist and singer-songwriter best known for his role as the lead guitarist of the Boston rock band Extreme whose hits include the acoustic ballads "More Than Words" and "Hole Hearted"...
among others.
Early life
Khan Manuel was born in New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Learning to play the guitar from his father at the early age of 10, he later studied at The Southern Institute Of Technology in Invercargill NZ. During this time he played in various cover bands in New Zealand. At 16 Manuel won an open Joe Satriani guitar competition held by Ibanez
Ibanez
is a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass produce...
Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. In 2001 Manuel made the move to Sydney Australia to further develop his musical career. Studying guitar with the cream of Australian guitarists including Conservatory teachers he continued practicing rigorously around 16 hours a day to follow in the footsteps of one of his guitar heroes Frank Gambale
Frank Gambale
Frank Gambale is an Australian jazz fusion guitarist. He has released eleven studio albums over a period of more than two decades, and is renowned for his use of the sweep picking and economy picking techniques.-Recording career:...
.
Other guitar players cited for the impact on Manuel's playing style are Joe Satriani
Joe Satriani
Joseph "Joe" Satriani is an American instrumental rock guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, with multiple Grammy Award nominations...
, Steve Vai
Steve Vai
Steven Siro "Steve" Vai is a three time Grammy Award-winning American guitarist, songwriter and producer who has sold over 15 million albums. Steve Vai is widely known as a flamboyant guitar virtuoso....
, Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
, Stevie Ray Vaughan
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Stephen Ray "Stevie Ray" Vaughan was an American electric blues guitarist and singer. He was the younger brother of Jimmie Vaughan and frontman for Double Trouble, a band that included bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton. Born in Dallas, Vaughan moved to Austin at the age of 17 and...
, and the heavy influence of the 80's 'shredders'.
Present day
In 2008 the critically acclaimed debut 'The Knight' went to #1 on two different charts in the U.S.A. This in turn paved the way for articles in Hardrock Haven, Guitar WorldGuitar World
Guitar World is a monthly music magazine devoted to guitarists. It contains original interviews, album and gear reviews and guitar and bass tablature of approximately five songs each month. The magazine is published 13 times per year...
, and other guitar magazines. Manuel also began endorsing Iconic guitar makers Ibanez
Ibanez
is a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass produce...
guitars. The limited edition Australian Southern Cross model is Manuel's guitar of choice asvwell as the Steve Vai
Steve Vai
Steven Siro "Steve" Vai is a three time Grammy Award-winning American guitarist, songwriter and producer who has sold over 15 million albums. Steve Vai is widely known as a flamboyant guitar virtuoso....
7Vwhite Ibanez Jem
Ibanez JEM
Ibanez JEM is an electric guitar manufactured by Ibanez and first produced in 1987. The guitar's most notable user is its co-designer, Steve Vai. As of 2010, there have been five sub-models of the JEM: the JEM7, JEM77, JEM777, JEM555 and the JEM333...
. The sponsorship with Ibanez
Ibanez
is a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass produce...
allows Manuel to conduct clinics with other Ibanez
Ibanez
is a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass produce...
endorsers.
In 2010 Manuel lived a lifelong dream of playing and recording with guitar hero Frank Gambale
Frank Gambale
Frank Gambale is an Australian jazz fusion guitarist. He has released eleven studio albums over a period of more than two decades, and is renowned for his use of the sweep picking and economy picking techniques.-Recording career:...
, with the collaboration of the two virtuosos playing together on a composition written by Manuel entitled 'When Two Become One'. The song was recorded in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
Manuel is also the author of an instructional guitar book called 'Guitar Insights' focusing on the development of the aspiring guitarist.
Style and equipment
Renowned for his sense of melody and use of counterpointCounterpoint
In music, counterpoint is the relationship between two or more voices that are independent in contour and rhythm and are harmonically interdependent . It has been most commonly identified in classical music, developing strongly during the Renaissance and in much of the common practice period,...
melodies. The style of Joe Satriani
Joe Satriani
Joseph "Joe" Satriani is an American instrumental rock guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, with multiple Grammy Award nominations...
, Steve Vai
Steve Vai
Steven Siro "Steve" Vai is a three time Grammy Award-winning American guitarist, songwriter and producer who has sold over 15 million albums. Steve Vai is widely known as a flamboyant guitar virtuoso....
in combination with George Benson
George Benson
George Benson is a ten Grammy Award winning American musician, whose production career began at the age of twenty-one as a jazz guitarist....
, Stevie Ray Vaughan
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Stephen Ray "Stevie Ray" Vaughan was an American electric blues guitarist and singer. He was the younger brother of Jimmie Vaughan and frontman for Double Trouble, a band that included bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton. Born in Dallas, Vaughan moved to Austin at the age of 17 and...
and Frank Gambale
Frank Gambale
Frank Gambale is an Australian jazz fusion guitarist. He has released eleven studio albums over a period of more than two decades, and is renowned for his use of the sweep picking and economy picking techniques.-Recording career:...
best describes Manuel's technique. Ibanez
Ibanez
is a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass produce...
guitars are the main guitars that Manuel uses with minimal foot pedals consisting only of a distortion pedal and Boss digital delay with a Roland
Roland
Roland was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known as the Matter of France. Historically, Roland was military governor of the Breton March, with responsibility for defending the frontier of Francia against the Bretons...
Jazz Chorus amplifier. Maton
Maton
Maton is an Australian manufacturer of guitars and other fretted musical instruments.Maton was founded in 1946 as the Maton Musical Instruments Company by Bill May and his brother Reg...
acoustic guitars are also used.