Gear

Here is a list of the gear I find most useful, though not all the gear I have ever used!

Guitars

1989 Fender Stratocaster

I have this set with H/S/S pickups. I find this the most versatile set up. You can cover most styles on a guitar like this. I used this on Grease and also on Footloose. It can also be heard on the Hormones album on How it Starts, He Rants and Schtick.

2011 Fender Custom Shop Strat

Newest addition to the collection. 1962 spec but with Seymour Duncan humbucker at the bridge. Really nice guitar, gets much use on Thriller at the mo.

Suhr Classic T

Tele style guitars are great. I feel they really let one’s own character shine through. This guitar is great on soul/funk/ rnb/ Motown/ country and jazz. No shredding here but that wouldn’t be the point would it?! They use teles on Jersey Boys for that authentic ‘60’s vibe.

Gibson ES 335

I grew up loving the playing of Larry Carlton and this is where his sound came from… well, actually his fingers but then it was the guitar next. ES 335’s are a bit like telecasters in that they are pretty simple but seem to lend themselves to many musical styles. Jazz, funk, fusion and maybe a bit of classic rock. I used it on the Hormones album on St Petersburg, Creeper and Across the Bay.

Warmoth strat

A bit of a wild card this. I put it together in 2010 and stuck some EMGs on it. It has a chambered body and is really resonant and dynamic. I actually like using this for ethereal jazz type playing but it does the usual strat stuff too. This works well for that ‘80’s LA type of sound. Think Steve Lukather, clean and driven.

I have other electric guitars but these seem to be the main ones that I go to.

Taylor CE 414 acoustic

This is a nice guitar acoustically and sounds lovely miced up. You can hear it on the duo stuff with Andy Philip.

Takamine acoustic

This guitar has that typical piezo sound when plugged in but you know what you are getting… in a good way. On board tuner and easy access battery compartment make it a good guitar for live work. I had it in the pit on Grease.

Bass

Overwater J series 4 string bass

My bass playing is pretty limited! I much prefer 4 strings to 5 so when I ordered this bass as a custom build I stuck with that winning formula. Jazz style basses just sound right! This bass gets used live with Toyah and in the home studio. It has done the odd other gig too. It is active but sounds wonderfully natural and organic.

Other gear

Vox Tonelab LE

I used this on Grease. Also found in the pit on Thriller Live. One of the best sounding DI units out there. Just ask countless pros. Production build quality is a bit shaky but if you look after them these things are great. You can dial in any tone and it sounds pretty convincing. Also lighter and cheaper than using the real gear!

Two Rock Studio Pro 35 amp

I was pointed in the direction of these things a couple of years ago. Very expensive but great sounding and very portable. Still yet to find every sound it has!

Keeley mod Boss BD2 blues driver

Fantastic natural sounding gain box/booster. Really transparent and combines well with other OD pedals before or after in the chain.

Xotic BB pre amp and EP booster

Xotic have a great reputation and both of these pedals are brilliant. The EP adds juice and the BB has loads of gain to offer without ever saturating the tone away. BB into Keeley BD2 is pure stack heaven!

All this gear is there to facilitate the music making and I provide this list as much from an educational perspective. I am not a ‘gear head’ but I do like a musical sound! I find the equipment in this list helps me get closer to what I am hearing in my head. Of course, I could just practise more…

Other instruments

When I was a kid I never thought I would have to play other guitar type instruments, but guess what…. This year I have had to play baritone guitar and electric sitar on Jersey Boys, banjo and ukulele on Betty Blue Eyes and mandolin on Jersey Boys and Shrek! A bit of a learning curve but I managed it. Anyone hoping to play professionally would do well to at least dabble in these instruments so as to avoid getting the shock of your life! I hadn’t so the nights leading up to first time deps were long!