GuITARS, GUITARS, GUITARS

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I have always loved the guitar, as an instrument and as a work of art.  I view them as tactile pieces of art to be honest.  

I'm lucky enough to have amassed a small collection of useful guitars.  I have come a long way from the early days from Wager when I would scrounge whatever guitars I could find and tinker with them to get them to work.  Once I actually found and used a guitar that had been smashed and was scattered in 3 pieces in the middle of the road.

I am particularly fond of Gretsch guitars, but I have been having an affair on the side with PRS.

These are my electric instruments at the moment:

• Gretsch  Hot Rod, Lime Gold "Tequila" 
• Gretsch G6120-1959LTV CA LTD QLT - "The Admiral"
• Gretsch G5135GL G. Love Electromatic Corvette
• Gretsch G6129T-RDSP-LTD15 Sparkle Duo Jet
• Gretsch 6136DSBK Black Falcon  
• Gretsch G5265 Electromatic Jet Baritone 
• Gibson Les Paul Historic Reissue '57 Gold Top
• Gibson Les Paul Historic Reissue '58 Plain Top Sunburst
• Gibson Explorer Antique
• Fender Standard Strat
• Fender Jeff Beck Sig Strat
• Fender Musicmaster
• Fender Telecaster Custom
• Epiphone Casino Worn Denim
• PRS DGT
• PRS Santana 1 
• PRS Custom 22 12-string
• PRS Custom 24 Piezo
• Kramer Baretta

I also have a number of acoustics:

• Martin HD28
• Guild F512e 12-string
• Ovation nylon string
• Gretsch G9310 New Yorker "Supreme" A-Style Mandolin
• Gretsch G3373 Historic 
• Ovation Celebrity CC65 12-string

I grew up really into that Marshall sound, however I discovered that for most people (including me) they're a one-trick pony.  I like to use different amps in the studio to get my ideas down.  

I've tried all the big names... Marshall, Vox, Fender, Friedman, Orange and so on - but for me the amp that fits my style the best is Mesa Boogie.   I've got a few of their products and they really are special.  

I did use a Kemper Profiler for several years, but I had issues with it getting through in a live environment (in spite of judicious EQ-ing) and the feel bothered me.

This is what we have going on amp-wise:

• Mesa Boogie MK VII head: my favourite amp of all time, it is so useful especially live
• Mesa Boogie MK III Green Stripe head: a tank from the '80s, a really raw, loud amp
• Mesa Boogie King Snake: Basically a slightly more modern version of Carlos Santana's Mk I, but with an effects loop, power scaling and a nifty (faux) snakeskin finish.
• Mesa Boogie Transatlantic TA-15: Does the Vox thing as well as Vox, plus more
• Mesa Boogie Fillmore 25: This replaced my Princeton and Deluxe Reverb, it is that good.
• Mesa Boogie Rectifier Vertical 2x12: Easier to transport than a 4x12 and a great sound, with 2x Celestion V30s
• Marshall SV212: Loaded with an EVH greenback and a Celestion Creamback, finished in the same snazzy purple as the SV20H head.
• Fender Super Sonic 60 112 Combo: an underrated amp from Fender that has great tones
• Zvex Nano Head: An engineering marvel that sounds great cranked up at .5 watts!
• 2x Custom Audio Electronics 1x12 cubes: Loaded with Celestion Alnico Blues, they pair well with my TA-15 for Vox-y goodness.