Amps and pedals
Guitars
Currently I try to use as efficient (small) of a live rig as possible but without limiting the sonic possibilities too much. I favor low wattage amps. My regular gigging amp is a Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue which has had substantial mods, namely a Weber speaker and all new iron courtesy of Mercury Magnetics. It sounds as good to my ears as any Deluxe Reverb, ever. For my new band, I have added a Roland JC-77 as an effects amp, which I only ever add to the Fender, never run it alone. The signal goes, via an A/B box, into a Keeley compressor and a Boss delay. I can turn down the vol on my guitar and with the clean channel of the Hot Box, add the effected Roland and get the most creamy, dreamy, wonderful clean tone.
I use an Enhancer amp stand for the Fender, which I really love. It tightens up the on stage sound reducing leakage from behind the amp, adds a little low end which I think is always good when you’re dealing with electric guitar and tilts the amp at a favorable angle. Plus the amp simply sounds louder. It's a really smart accessory which I highly recommend if you can find one.
I use a tc electronics vintage delay for the DRRI and that signal goes through a Matchless Hot Box after the delay. I also use the reverb and tremolo in the DRRI. The sound engineer for Velveteen Playboys, Lenny Galeo, and I came up with a novel way of putting the JC-77 on top of the tilted DRRI. I'm a happy man with my little wall.
I am a Strat guy. I usually bring two Strats, both, Fenders and each slightly different sounding. I also have a Gibson ES 339, the smaller body version of the 335. This covers Gibson tones nicely for me, although I rarely bring it out on the road. I’m not sure I’ll ever be someone that owns more than 5 or 6 guitars. If I don’t play them often enough, I just wind up selling them. I don't like them hanging around, unloved and unplayed.
For acoustic I favor my particular 1990’s Gibson Gospel with a Fishman mic/pickup combo. I usually run the acoustic through a Neive/Taylor pre amp for a little extra acoustic sparkle.
I use both my fingers and a pick when I play either electric or acoustic.
Robert Holmes
Guitar player, singer, writer.
