Chris Tiritilli has played in a number of Chicago pop bands in the past seven years, most recently Logan Square. Lately he has been pursuing his own music, and as just completed a six song EP.

"(It)'s sort of soul, funk, pop. Sonically, I am trying for a nice clean, punchy tone," says Tiritilli. "Sort of a mix between John Mayer, Soulive and James Brown."

At the moment, Chirs favors a 2007 Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster.

"I love it for the bluesy clean tone. I also have a Washburn HB35 as my backup," he says. "Its great for a bit more warmer tone, for the more jazzy stuff I play."

The Eric Johnson Strat lists for around $2,500 but realistically you can find one for around $1,800. It has a two piece body and a nitro cellulous finish.

The guitar sports a one-piece quarter-sawn maple neck and a 12 inch fingerboard radius, 21 frets, and a soft "V" neck profile. Pickups are custom wound to Johnson's specs. The guitar comes with a '57 style pickguard, 5-Way Switch, Master Volume, Neck Tone and Bridge Tone controls, and a Vintage Tremolo with four tremolo springs.

The Washburn HB35 is a semi-hollow body -- a la the Gibson 335. It lists for just shy of $1,200. It sports a solid maple neck and the maple body is covered in "flame sycamore." The pickups are Washburn 621 (neck) and bridge (623).

The Strat and the Washburn are far from the only axes Tiritilli has played, however.

"I just sold a 1981 Les Paul Custom! It was an amazing guitar, but it was really a rock and roll guitar that I used when I was in Logan Square," he says. "I also have a PRS McCarty that I practice with from time to time, but don't really use live, just because I like the tone I get from the Strat better."

Tiritilli says he would love to check out the Two-Rock Amplifiers that have recently come out.

"I love John Mayer's tone, and the [Two-Rock amps Mayer uses] seem really cool, but I haven't gotten to try one yet." he says.

The amp he currently uses is no slouch -- a Fender DeVille.

"The clean tone is great on it, although I am starting to want more on the gain side of things." says Tiritilli.

When it comes to effects, Tiritilli uses a Vox Wah, among others.

"I really just found it for cheap and it has been working great. I also use a MXR Phase 90, until I can get my hands on the Pigtronix Envelope phaser which is amazing," he says. "And I have and occasionally use the Boss OC3 Octave Pedal. Its really cool for guitar or bass, and playing stuff high up on the fretboard."

In addition to recording his EP (with Alan Evans of Soulive), Tiritilli is in the process of forming a new band.