Guitars and Stuff
I get a lot questions about the guitars and equipment that I use so here is a bunch of information about my live gear that may be interesting to someone....it is to me!
My main guitar is a 1999 Taylor 510ce. It has mahogany back and sides and an Engleman Spruce top with the Fishman blender system. The large dreadnaught box is great for punching through in any acoustic settings. I've owned a long line of acoustic electrics including (Ovation, Takamine, Morgan, Alvarez, Samick, Seagull, Godin and Yamaha) I have settled on the fact that for the money spent, Taylor builds a fantastic instrument. I've used many pickups as well (Seymour Duncan, Barcus Berry, Shadow, LR baggs) and the Fishman Blender that was standard in the "pre-expression system" Taylors is a great pickup. Most sound techs are familiar with them which makes it very easy when playing a variety of different venues. I rarely use the mic unless I'm recording some rough tracks and then I will record with it other than that I find it too sensitive to use on stage. Having lived and played through the "pre unplugged" era when acoustic electrics were still a thing of the future and we used "hot dots" suction cupped to the front of our guitars and ovations were the only "plug and play" options that sounded any where close to natural. The Taylors are simply a joy to play. I have a fiberglass Calton case that is as tough as they come so this is the guitar that I fly with.
My second acoustic guitar is a Jamie Kinscherff/Taylor guitar. It was built while Jamie was working at Taylor in the early 80's. It is signed by Jamie and dated 1984 it is a grand auditorium body style with Indian Rose back and sides Sitka Spruce top and a Brazilian Rose head stock. The body looks like a Taylor712 with all Taylor parts and the headstock is obviously of Kinscherff design. It has gold Schaller tuners with Ebony buttons and I had the LR Baggs duet system installed by Nick Schilling in 2002. This guitar is simply a joy to play and it records very well. I bring it out for special occasions but since I bought it the year I was married (1991) and it is a one of a kind I've made it my main writing and recording instrument so it stays home most of the time.
Years ago I gave a new home to an abused Takamine Nylon/electric. These guitars are what the Eagles played on the "Hotel California" Duet on their reunion tour. Great guitar! this one had just been abused and the finish is full of scratches and nicks but the tone is still there and the price was right. a $1,500 guitar for $300!!! This guitar is what I used on the lead for "Brighter than the Sun" on the Immanuel's Land cd.
I have a Morgan Monroe MS4 F style mandolin. I call it "The Black Pearl" It has great tone and action and has revolutionized my playing, simply put playing is fun again! It has the M-02 series bridge pickup manufactured by Schatten Design of Canada, it features a high quality adjustable ebony bridge with a full range of sound and great tonal reproduction. When I first got it I plugged it directly into my Pro tools rig and it is incredibly quiet for not having a pre amp. The top is solid hand carved Spruce with solid Sycamore back and sides. It's all black with white binding and tuners the inlay on the headstock and fret board is pearloid. (I came home from a Phil Keaggy work shop and instead of grabbing my guitar I stayed up till 1am playing mandolin, it's that fun to play!)
I get a lot questions about the guitars and equipment that I use so here is a bunch of information about my live gear that may be interesting to someone....it is to me!
My main guitar is a 1999 Taylor 510ce. It has mahogany back and sides and an Engleman Spruce top with the Fishman blender system. The large dreadnaught box is great for punching through in any acoustic settings. I've owned a long line of acoustic electrics including (Ovation, Takamine, Morgan, Alvarez, Samick, Seagull, Godin and Yamaha) I have settled on the fact that for the money spent, Taylor builds a fantastic instrument. I've used many pickups as well (Seymour Duncan, Barcus Berry, Shadow, LR baggs) and the Fishman Blender that was standard in the "pre-expression system" Taylors is a great pickup. Most sound techs are familiar with them which makes it very easy when playing a variety of different venues. I rarely use the mic unless I'm recording some rough tracks and then I will record with it other than that I find it too sensitive to use on stage. Having lived and played through the "pre unplugged" era when acoustic electrics were still a thing of the future and we used "hot dots" suction cupped to the front of our guitars and ovations were the only "plug and play" options that sounded any where close to natural. The Taylors are simply a joy to play. I have a fiberglass Calton case that is as tough as they come so this is the guitar that I fly with.
My second acoustic guitar is a Jamie Kinscherff/Taylor guitar. It was built while Jamie was working at Taylor in the early 80's. It is signed by Jamie and dated 1984 it is a grand auditorium body style with Indian Rose back and sides Sitka Spruce top and a Brazilian Rose head stock. The body looks like a Taylor712 with all Taylor parts and the headstock is obviously of Kinscherff design. It has gold Schaller tuners with Ebony buttons and I had the LR Baggs duet system installed by Nick Schilling in 2002. This guitar is simply a joy to play and it records very well. I bring it out for special occasions but since I bought it the year I was married (1991) and it is a one of a kind I've made it my main writing and recording instrument so it stays home most of the time.
Years ago I gave a new home to an abused Takamine Nylon/electric. These guitars are what the Eagles played on the "Hotel California" Duet on their reunion tour. Great guitar! this one had just been abused and the finish is full of scratches and nicks but the tone is still there and the price was right. a $1,500 guitar for $300!!! This guitar is what I used on the lead for "Brighter than the Sun" on the Immanuel's Land cd.
I have a Morgan Monroe MS4 F style mandolin. I call it "The Black Pearl" It has great tone and action and has revolutionized my playing, simply put playing is fun again! It has the M-02 series bridge pickup manufactured by Schatten Design of Canada, it features a high quality adjustable ebony bridge with a full range of sound and great tonal reproduction. When I first got it I plugged it directly into my Pro tools rig and it is incredibly quiet for not having a pre amp. The top is solid hand carved Spruce with solid Sycamore back and sides. It's all black with white binding and tuners the inlay on the headstock and fret board is pearloid. (I came home from a Phil Keaggy work shop and instead of grabbing my guitar I stayed up till 1am playing mandolin, it's that fun to play!)
I use a Roland AC90 acoustic amp for my acoustic guitars. It is very small and portable but has a huge sound. The DI out is very clean so it can be patched into larger systems and it also has a Sub out on it that I use with a powered Sub Woofer. When I use the sub with drop tunings it sounds great! it will loosen your fillings :)
I run my guitars into a Boss TU 1 Tuner then into a Boss CS-3 Sustainer and finally through a a Boss AD3 for Chorus/Reverb. It's simple and easy and the pedals are built to last.
I don't consider myself a great looper but when I'm out playing solo I do occasionally loop a section and solo over the top. I use the Digitech Jam Man and it works really well.
So that’s what I play and why I play it!
All for now,
Andy
I run my guitars into a Boss TU 1 Tuner then into a Boss CS-3 Sustainer and finally through a a Boss AD3 for Chorus/Reverb. It's simple and easy and the pedals are built to last.
I don't consider myself a great looper but when I'm out playing solo I do occasionally loop a section and solo over the top. I use the Digitech Jam Man and it works really well.
So that’s what I play and why I play it!
All for now,
Andy