I have spent many years striving to be the best I possibly can be as a singer, guitarist, songwriter and entertainer. To help in these aims I have invested in what I believe are the most appropriate and best available tools of my trade. This is important to me as, on too many occasions, I have seen otherwise great performances spoiled by poor sound quality. I respect my audience and am too conscientious with my work to risk that.
For a number of years I used Taylor acoustic guitars exclusively and, although that's no longer the case, I still have two.
My 2003 Taylor 814CE with Expression System was my main guitar for gigs and recording for 6 years. I bought it because it has the most useable, factory-fitted electrics I've ever experienced but it's also a joy to play acoustically, too. It has a Sitka Spruce top and Indian Rosewood back and sides. As I use this mainly for performing in amplified settings, I have the action set low, which makes it easy to play in delicate way.
My 2007 Taylor 855CE with Expression System is a Sitka Spruce and Indian Rosewood Jumbo 12 string model, which was built in September 2007 and already sounds wonderfully mature. It's a very comfortable, easy to play 12 string, as you would expect from a Taylor, and sounds great at gigs with a mellow, but not muddy, sound with plenty of sparkle from the octave strings.
My 2009 Collings D2H. I tried many guitars when I was looking for a professional level six string to complement my Taylor 814ce. After a few false starts I bought the Collings. While Taylor aim to make the best factory produced “modern” guitars in the world, Collings set out to re-create the so called “Golden Age” of acoustic guitar making. The fact that they currently build only around 2000 instruments annually (acoustic guitars, mandolins and some electric guitars) helps them in their quest. My D2H is an old fashioned style of guitar (similar in style to a pre-war Martin D28). Although the Adirondak Spruce and Brazilian Rosewood, which was widely used in pre-war guitar making is now very rare (and horrendously expensive), my Collings, built with a Sitka Spruce top, Indian Rosewood back and sides and a combination of the best traditional and modern methods manages to replicate the awesome sound of those guitars of the “Golden Age”. I chose a slightly wider (1 and ¾ inch) width at the nut, which suits my picking style. It’s loud, rich and the most satisfying guitar I’ve ever owned. I would not say “no” to a Martin Guitar (the undoubted inventors of the American guitar), but I’ve yet to find one that I could afford that sounds and feels as good as my Collings! It is now the guitar I use for most performances.
In addition, I occasionally use my wife's Taylor 812CE with Expression System, which I love. However, it's a bit small, physically and in sound for me, although, it records beautifully and responds perfectly to a light touch for lead playing and light picking. I used as the foundation guitar in my recording of "The Way You Look Tonight" and it sounds stunning.
Onboard electronics.
Our Taylor guitars are all factory-fitted with the Taylor ES, which is the most natural sounding pick up I have ever heard and certainly the most user friendly system in situations, such as festivals, where I have to rely on someone else for my sound. Sound engineers always rave about it!
My Collings is fitted with an L. R. Baggs Dual System, which combines an under-saddle transducer with an internally fitted condenser microphone, mounted to the back of the guitar. Using very different technology, this system also gives an amazingly natural sound.
I use Elixir Strings on all the guitars. Light gauge on the six strings and light on the twelve string, which is tuned to standard pitch.
My main system is the Bose PS1, which delivers a sound that is natural and appropriate in any part of a room. It works exceptionally well in everything from the most intimate setting to a hall seating 500-600.
In smaller situations (up to around 100 of an audience) I use a Bose L1 Compact. This is the “little brother” of the PS1 system and is very new, but already attracting great comments for sound fidelity. It’s much lighter and even easier to use than the PS1 but with fewer features.
I use the "industry standard" Shure SM58 microphones. I believe they are still the most adaptable, road-worthy mics available for vocals. I don't mic the guitars.
I am not an enthusiast for effects and only use a Boss RV-5 Digital Reverb pedal.
There are rare times when I need more inputs than usual. For those occasions, I have a Mackie 1402-VLZ Mixer. What can I say about it? It's a Mackie, enough said.
Occasionally on my recordings, I play the bass guitar, although the most use that I normally get out of my bass these days is in our Church Praise Band. I have a Yamaha BB 604, which I love. It's a low-mid priced instrument and a great example of Yamaha's value for money. I play it through an Ashdown Electric Blue 180 Bass Combo.
The first instrument I played was the Recorder. I have various Descant, Sopranino and treble recorders made by Dolmetsch and Aulos
In the early 1980's, I was given (on extended loan) a John Grey and Sons Banjo. I have recorded with it and it has occasionally been seen at gigs, but I've heard too many banjo jokes to be interested in using it too often!
I use a very basic Casio keyboard for connecting to the computer for arranging/sequencing using Cubase.
