Equipment

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1. The Workhorse Fender Strat with Kinman pickups, Eric Miller modifications
2. G&L ASAT Classic, stock (rarely used, but to be souped up soon)
3. Robin Avalon with Tom Holmes PAF Humbuckers
4. Bill Hollenbeck semi-hollow body, Jim Nichols signature model
5. Kirk Sand electric/acoustic nylon string
6. Gibson 12-string (kept in High Strung tuning)

1. Pendulum Audio Parametric Preamp & EQ
2. AER Compact 60
3. Various Additional Preamps depending on room/PA

Electric Amps:

1. Louis Electric 2x10" Gattone
2. Louis Electrix 1x12" Trem-o-Verb
3. Louis Electric 1x12" Tremblelux

*Generally, I prefer to play electric guitar straight into a great tube amp and work my guitar and hands for different shades of tone. Although often times I will take a pedalboard consisting of some of the following pedals, depending upon the nature of the gig/recording.

1. Menatone Blue Collar Overdrive
2. BSM RM Treble Booster
3. MJM London Fuzz (germanium)
4. Roger Mayer Axis Fuzz (silicon)
5. Roger Mayer Octavia
6. Roger Mayer Vision Wah
7. Roger Mayer Voodoo Vibe (Tremolo/Chorus/Vibrato)
8. T.C. Electronic Stereo Chorus/Flanger/Pitch Modulator
9. DigiTech WH-1 Whammy Pedal (the original)
10. T. Rex Replica Delay Pedal
11. Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail Reverb (for amps without spring reverb)

First off, I subscribe to the notion that tone begins with the individual player and is only guided by great gear, not solely created by great gear.  Jeff Beck sounds like Jeff Beck no matter what he plays through.  That said, these are a few critical components and individuals who have been invaluable in what they have brought to my tonal pallete, inspiring me in return.   

Guitar Restoration/Repair/Modification and Set-ups:

For the last fifteen years or so I have had the pleasure of working with Eric Miller of Hands On Guitars for virtually all of my guitar setups, modifications, and restorations on vintage pieces. 

Many of his devoted customers from the East coast continue to still ship their instruments across the country so he can work on them, as I do too.

In an age in which it all too often becomes about how one buys rather than what one buys, he is a beacon for doing things for the right reasons.  Upon leaving his shop, cherished instruments bloom and superb instruments thrive.  Perhaps it's the water.  Perhaps it's the late nights meticulously creating custom jigs for pickup installations.  But mostly it's his labor of love and aversion to mediocrity in life and music.   

Eric and Eric alone IS Hands on Guitars, and easily contacted via email or his website.

Amps:

A few years ago, when I began to get serious about maximizing my tone, I began questing for the "perfect" guitar amps. For the next several years I intensely read, listened to, and discussed the characteristics of the best tube guitar amplifiers with tone gurus.  But despite playing through some genuinely amazing sounding amps, I still hadn't found what I was looking for until I heard about an independent builder from Bergenfield NJ by the name of Lou Rosano.

Having the good fortune to check out a Louis Electrc Gattone at his west coast dealer's shop, I knew by the first note that Lou had done something special.  No false claims or pretentious botique nonsense, just a tremendous passion, love, and dedication to his craft.  It wasn't long until just one wasn't enough.

From tones reminiscent of cranked tweed Fenders to bright blackface clean or harmonic lead tones, his amps ooze tone with different personalities and strengths reminiscent of the best vintage pieces we've come to know and adore.

Big claims for sure which may sound very similar to a marketing ploy or at least the ramblings of any guitar player who has acquired a new and exciting "it" piece.  The difference is that years later I'm still hooked; instead of hearing things I don't like over time, I only hear the things that I like even more. 

The tone on Lenny under the Music section showcases the 45 watt Gattone in a live setting. Visit his website and check out the Guitar One video review of the HS M12 Hubert Sumlin model.

Pickups:

In my search for an improved tone I was turned onto Chris Kinman’s line of incredible vintage-sounding noiseless Strat and Tele pickups.  Since then his pickups have become my number one choice for authentic vintage Fender single-coil tone. 

Hearing the magic of those old single-coils next to his vintage noiseless pickups resting in my “gigging” Strat only confirms that he’s nailed the sound 99.9%.  Check them out and hear sound clips on his website.