The first in a series of three blogs, here's an in depth look at my entire setup.

I literally spent hours and hours in high school studying articles like this, and dreaming up the rig I would want to have if I could travel the country playing music. Here was the drill: The only supplies needed for this fantastical game are a Musicians Friend magazine, a calculator, and a steno pad. Simply list the gear you want and add up the prices; back in the hay day it was something like a Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier, a Les Paul Custom Black Beauty, an MXR Phase 90, a Boss Phase Shifter, an Ibanez Phase Shifter, some kind of delay pedal or two, a Dunlop Crybaby wah, a wireless guitar system, and all the cables needed.

It usually came out to about $132,234,599, and I usually missed the homework assignment for that day in that english class. But now that I play for a band that gets its guitars and amps directly from the factories of Fender and Gibson and Vox, things have become a bit easier.

Digressing a bit, this series will start with my guitars.

The first guitar I bought after putting on my rock shoes again, ironically , was a Fender Jazzmaster Classic Player, jet black with a pearloid pick guard. Jazzmasters are known distinctly for their skewed body shape and P-90 single coil pickups. Originally made to appeal to the Jazz player of the 50's and 60's, it never really took off in that genre. And I would never consider playing this guitar at any swingin' club. I never owned anything other that traditional single coil pickups or humbuckers, so I took a chance when I ordered it. The P-90's have a great way or sounding full and substantial, while still cutting through the mix. Its very distinct, almost twangy but not quite. Not as bassy as a humbucker, not quite as whiney and small as a traditional Stratocaster single coil.

I also have an affinity for rosewood fret boards, which is why I didn't order a Telecaster. And the standard Les Paul in its many different incarnations seemed a bit too cliche at the time.

On this most recent tour, I have had the great pleasure of borrowing a Gibson Les Paul Special Double Cutaway 72' re-issue. Dan got it borrowed for a video of the new This Providence single, "Keeping On Without You", and Gibson was very kind to let us try it our for a while. This is Gibson's P-90 guitar. It has a three piece body, with a "through the body" neck. It plays fantastic, with a rosewood fretboard, easy simple switches and selectors, its very light, and looks very vintage and cool. I have loved trying it out for the last few shows. It has a similar sound to the Jazzmaster, but a little more ballsy. Like a regular Les Paul would sound.

Thats all for now. I'll have more on friday from Buffalo, New York on the Cartel tour. It also happens to be the 22nd anniversary of my venture out of the womb that day!

Good things.
JAKE