by Craig Dobbins
Occasionally folks ask about my instruments and equipment. I use a variety of guitars, depending on the sound I need. Some of my favorites are:
For several years, my main acoustic was a Taylor 514-C, another mahogany/cedar guitar, equipped with a Fishman Matrix saddle pickup. I used this guitar for tunes like Walkin' Shoes and Au Contraire from the Down Home Picking book/CD set, and for rhythm work on many other projects.
I also have a few other odds and ends that I use occasionally for recording, like an old Yamaha acoustic that I have set up as a high string, an old no-name Japanese bass (both "borrowed" from my friend David Moon about 20 years ago), and a couple of electrics.
For picks, I usually use a Herco blue thumbpick. I file them down to the size and shape I like, smooth them with 600 grit sandpaper (which I also use on my nails), and maybe polish them with something like 3M Imperial Glaze, to get them really slick. Sometimes I use a heavy-gauge Herco flatpick/thumbpick when I play electric. When I want a big sound, I use an old National. (I don't like the new ones.) For rhythm, I use various flatpicks, depending on the sound I want. More often than not, I just play rhythm with my thumb and fingers. My capo is a Shubb.
When I record, I like a really short signal path. I usually record direct, going from my guitar into a Demeter Stereo Tube Direct, a Lexicon PCM 60 reverb, and on to the tape machine. I connect everything together with short lengths of high quality cable, like Monster Cable Studio Pro 1000. When I use a mic, I'll run it through a tube preamp as well, to warm up the sound. When possible, I prefer to record to analog, although I sometimes record solos to DAT.
When I play live, I have various amps that I use, depending on the situation. I have a Peavey Nashville 400 with a 15-inch speaker that sounds great, but I like to travel as light as possible. Lately I've been using an AER Compact 60 with the acoustic-electrics. Sometimes, I'll just use the amp as my monitor, and go through a Demeter Tube Direct into the PA. When I'm playing electric guitar, I usually take an old Peavey Classic amp that I've had since 1975. I keep the volume low and mic the amp. I generally leave the effects at home, although sometimes I'll take a reverb or delay.