December 2011 \ Features \ Vince Gill: Song Slinger

Vince Gill: Song Slinger

Jason Shadrick

Vince Gill discusses his love for vintage gear, what makes certain guitars special, playing with Sting, and Guitar Slinger–his first album in five years.
Premier Guitar December 2011
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Vince Gill Gearbox
Photos by Rich Osweiler

Guitars
  1. This 1953 Fender Telecaster is Vince’s No. 1 guitar. He picked up the guitar at Del City Music in Del City, Oklahoma, nearly 30 years ago. According to Gill’s tech, Benny Garcia, everything is totally original except for a Seymour Duncan pickup in the neck position.

  2. This all-original 1959 Fender Stratocaster was purchased by Gill from Duane Eddy’s son. Each night, Gill changes his set list, and even what guitars he uses on each song, but recently he has been using this on “Pretty Little Adriana.”

  3. Gill acquired this 1952 Fender Tele, formerly owned by Larry Black, a few years ago and uses it on “Which Bridge to Burn.”

  4. This 1960 Fender Tele Custom used to belong to Gill’s writing partner Will Owsley. Tragically he took his own life. Gill tunes it down a half step and uses it on “I Still Believe in You” and “Take Your Memory.”

  5. 1960 Gibson ES-335 Dot Neck with a stop tailpiece.

  6. These Martin guitars are based on a George Gruhn design. The Quad 28 (left) has a herringbone inlay and the Quad 18 is a stripped-down version. Both feature D-Tar pickups.

  7. Mid-2000s Gibson Les Paul Deluxe with a chambered body. Gill usually keeps this guitar tuned down a half step.

  8. This Duesenberg Double Cat 12 is sometimes used on “Never Alone.”

  9. At a recent performance with Sting, Gill used this Duesenberg Mandola 12-String on Sting’s “Fields of Gold.”

  10. This mid-’60s Fender Thinline Telecaster goes through several different setups during the course of a tour. Here, Gill removed the sixth string and tuned it a la Keith Richards to open G (D–G–D–G–B–D). This guitar survived the Nashville flood, thanks to Joe Glaser.

Amps & Cabs

Gill routes his signal through a pair of Little Walter VG- 50 amps. Each head contains a pair of 50-watt Little Walter amps that are built into a special chassis that fi ts in a standard size head. Each amp has a Volume, Bass Roll Off, and Tone controls and are powered by a pair of Octal tubes in the preamp section (a 6SC7 and a 6SL7 Phase Inverter), and 6L6s in the power tube section. The top head is used for his Teles, with all the other guitars going through the bottom head. Each amp goes to its own Little Walter 1x12 cabinet, which were built to the exact dimensions of a Fender Deluxe Reverb, and loaded with Celestion G12T-75 speakers.


Effects

Custom Audiotech Guitar Systems A/B splitter, EBS UniChorus, Boss TR-2 Tremolo, Robert Keeley-modified Boss DD-3 Digital Delay, Boss DD-3 Digital Delay, Hermida Audio Zendrive, Creation Audio Labs MK.4.23 Clean Boost Pedal, Boss CS-3 Compression Sustainer, (2) Boss TU-2 (one for electric, one for acoustic), Wampler Faux Spring Reverb, Benado Effects Pedalboard.

On Gill’s main pedalboard he uses an EBS UniChorus, Boss TR-2 Tremolo, a Robert Keeley-modifi ed Boss DD-3 Digital Delay, a stock Boss DD-3 Digital Delay, Hermida Audio Zendrive, Creation Audio Labs MK.4.23 Clean Boost, Boss CS-3 Compression Sustainer, 2 Boss TU-2 tuners (one for electric and one for acoustic), and a Wampler Faux Spring Reverb. A Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 powers all of the pedals and he puts the signal through an Audiotech Guitar Systems A/B splitter and then out to all four inputs of his amps. Gill also uses a Benado Effects pedalboard with reverb, delay, overdrive, distortion, and compressor units enclosed.

Strings, Picks, and Accessories

D’Addario .010–.046 on standard-tuned guitars, D’Addario .0105–.048 for guitars tuned down a half step, Planet Waves medium picks, Voodoo Lab Pedal Power.


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Comments

 (5 comments) display by
UsernameComment
Darren Vincent
on 11/02/2012 		Vince truly is a remarkable performer. He is the whole package. He guitar playing is second to none with great phrasing and tone. And I love that old '53 Tele!
Linda Black
on 05/25/2012 		The Tele in #3 is not a '52 - it's a '53. It was played by my late husband, Larry. I sold it to Vince in 2006.
Allen Kave
on 02/11/2012 		I've watched the crossroads show many times and never tire of the performances and I believe a large part of that is the tone of Vince Gill's guitars. I loved it when Sting played bass and Vince played guitar. It is a unique sound they make together. I'm thinking of ordering one of the Little Walter amps. I've played through most amps that are available, but the Little Walter amps seem to be something special. It is nice to have such dedicated musicians and craftsmen sharing the same planet. Thanks for letting me comment.
Duane Ramelot
on 11/25/2011 		Just watched the Gill/Sting show, and wanted to find out more about his rig. Very impressed with your amps!
Phil Bradbury
on 11/20/2011 		Okay, I will comment! Phil Bradbury here with Little Walter Tube Amps. We can't even begin to explain how proud we are to be Vince's Amp builder of choice. We also built Paul Franklin's (steel) amplifier. We are proud to call these guys friends. Vince is one of the most down to earth guys I have ever met. He also happens to be the best guitar player I have ever had the pleasure to hear in person,on CD or DVD. He plays the blues better than most Blues players. He is truly the whole package. Now, getting to be with Vince and Sting (two of the most awesome and legendary musicians in history)on CMT "Crossroads" with the amps we built is about as good as it gets.



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