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So, I think I may finally have the guitar arsenal that needs to get the range of tones for all of the music and guitar sounds that I want to make. My playing is generally a blues-rock style, but I like to incorporate what I pick up from a range of other styles, like country and folk, and even punk and early thrash metal.
To hear a demo of all of my guitars: Josh's Rig Rundowns
Francine, named for the ZZ Top song, is usually my #1. The neck pick up is a smooth and creamy tone, and the bridge pickup is a little rawer, with just a (tiny) hint of twang. It has great sustain for long bends or holding that last vibrato note in a blues solo.
Maybelle is the newest addition to my stable. Named for Mother Maybelle Carter (name a more influential country guitarist), this is my new go-to for that classic country tone. With a covered mini-humbucker at the neck, a Strat-type pickup in the middle, and a Tele-type pickup in the bridge, it also has some tonal range. My favorite tones are in the second and fourth position of the five-way switch – very clean and very twangy. Run it through an overdrive and a compressor pedal into the cranked clean channel of my Blackstar HT Stage 60 and it sings.
Cherlene is named for the Country music persona of the fiery redhead on Archer. With covered P90s at the neck and bridge and a semi-hollow body, it has a growling and dirty tone. Combine that, the Bigsby bridge, and a slightly high action, it makes me want to crank out some rockabilly whenever I pick it up.
My first guitar. I received it as a gift when I was 16. This guitar has “toaster”-style humbuckers, which are split when the tone knobs are turned all the way up. This guitar has all of the twang of a Tele, but hotter. It’s super slim neck and low action make it great for shredding. And it’s the most solidly built guitar I have ever felt.