An interview with Sam Broussard, who mixes Cajun, funk, and slide for a truly unique sound
Sam Broussard wailing on a Tele equipped with a Hipshot Trilogy bridge that lets him instantly
retune each string to one of three preset pitches. Photo by Jan Boney
Sam Broussard, who hails from Lafayette, Louisiana, has one of the most distinctive guitar styles Iāve ever heard. His hybrid mix of Cajun, funk, and slide, mingled with use of multiple tunings and a big, meaty tone, blew me away when I first saw him perform with the Grammy-nominated band Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys. Since then, Iāve become friends with Broussard, and Iād like to take this opportunity to share an interview I recently did with him so he can share with you some of the knowledge and sonic wisdom he has gleaned from his years of touring and session work.
How many years have you been playing out on the road?
Since 1970āso around 41 years. Did you have to ask? [Laughs.]
So, by now, you must have used about every amp on the planet. Sure, the most common ones. You canāt fly amps. You can fly a head, but itās expensiveāand itāll take some serious knocks. In the early days, when everyone was driving everywhere, you could use what you owned if it fit in the bus or van. These days, itās backline amps supplied by the venue. This can be anything, literally, but mostly itās Fender Twins. Once I had to play through an acoustic guitar amp.
What is your desert-island live amp?
That would be a Fender DeVille 4x10, which I finally bought. Itās voiced well, has a good dirty channel, and the clean channel is great for steelish slide. I just love 4x10s. They always sound good with a Telecasterāin all pickup positions.
What made you become a Tele player?
Iām a traditionalist about guitars, and I appreciate the Teleās limited options. If you canāt do it well on a Tele, then you canāt do it. As Brad Paisley said, itās a baseball bat with strings.
Have you been playing a Tele since you started going on the road?
No. Iāve followed the trends, playing Gibsons, Strats, Yamahas, and so onāall the classics, like ES-335s. I had a goldtop Les Paul I sold for $400āshoot me!
Which guitars do you take out now?
A 1970 Telecaster and, for slide, a ā90s Mexican-made Tele with Fralin pickups. The ā90s has a Hipshot Trilogy bridge, which lets me change tunings on the fly using 3-position levers on every string. Sonny Landreth turned me on to that. The acoustic I take out is a fabulous rosewood Bourgeois Vintage D that has a surprisingly natural sound with an L.R. Baggs Element undersaddle pickup. My preamp is either a D-TAR Solstice or a Radial JDI.
What tunings do you use?
Primarily open G and open D, as well as open F, which is just G down a whole step. I also use some variations, like D over Gāa tuning I can quickly get onstage using the Trilogy.
What does your live rig consist of?
When we fly, itās pedals only. I bring a Barber LTD overdrive for my ā70 Tele, a Demeter F.O.D. for heavy slide, an Xotic RC Booster for both guitars, and two Boss compressorsāone for the electrics and the other to boost my acoustic. The idea is to have many gain options, since I might get a Twin, which I canāt turn up enough to sound manly.
Do you use the same amp setup in the studio?
No. My studio gear is similar, but not exactly the same. In my home studio, I use a Ceriatone HRM driving a 4x10 cab. I record into Apple Logic 9 through an Apogee Ensemble with Manley outboard gear. Iām using a Royer R-121 mic into a Groove Tubes Vipre preamp. For some clean tones, I actually prefer amp simulators, and sometimes I use an old Roland VG-8 for steel effects and other tones that are impossible otherwise. For recording the acoustic, I use two old Neumann KM54s through a LaChapell preamp and Manley Variable Mu limiter/ compressor. Itās a killer chain.
What pedals do you use in the studio?
I have a preference for Barber distortion pedalsāthey sound natural and are voiced well. The Jetter GS3 is good, and the Lovepedal ProValve is really nasty on 1. Also, I like Keeley and Boss compressors. I donāt use delays or reverb.
What are some of the records youāve played on?
The Mamou Playboys have two Grammy nods, and thereāve been nods for other records that have come out of the South Louisiana French culture, like the Zozo Sisters with Linda Rondstadt and Ann Savoy. Iām on a couple of records by our dearly departed Bobby Charles. Iām not on any other major records except for some Michael Martin Murphey vinyl in the late ā70s. āWildfireā was a big song. Mostly I tour. The A-team sessions have eluded meāIām not squeaky-clean enough as a player.
How do you translate what you do live into the studio?
I like it when I have enough time to compose my part, because my strength is inventiveness. If thereās no time, I stay in the safety zone and go for elegant touch, because thatāll be the only thing that differentiates you. Itās not the melodic linesā because too many producers want what theyāve already heard. I call that hamburger.
So what is next on your plate?
Iām doing an album with my old band Silverman and one with Jean Arceneaux, our best Cajun French lyricist. And thereās a Texas blues trio with Johnny Nicholas and David Greely. Iām doing solo shows, as wellāand, of course, still going out on the road with the Playboys.
Brent Mason is, of course, on of the most recorded guitarists in history, who helped define the sound of most ā90s country superstars. So, whether you know it or not, youāve likely heard Masonās playing.
Professional transcriber Levi Clay has done the deepest of dives into Brent Masonās hotshot licks. At one point, he undertook the massive project of transcribing and sharing one of Masonās solos every day for 85 or so days. Mason is, of course, on of the most recorded guitarists in history, who helped define the sound of most ā90s country superstars. So, whether you know it or not, youāve likely heard Masonās playing. Levi shares the insight he gleaned from digging deep, and he tells us what it was like when they shared a stage last year. Plus, Levi plays us some great examples of Masonās playing.
PRS Guitars today launched five new three-pickup, 22-fret models across the S2 and SE series. The S2 Series release includes the S2 Special Semi-Hollow and S2 Studio, while the SE Series welcomes the SE Special Semi-Hollow, SE Studio, and SE Studio Standard.
āThe distinctive pickup configurations of these five guitars deliver a versatile tonal platform, whether youāre exploring subtle textures or pushing the envelope. The deep dive into our Narrowfield technology is obvious with this launch. With both the S2 models made in our Maryland factory and the SE models made in Indonesia, our goal has been to create guitars that will inspire you and spark creativity, all at an exceptional value,ā said PRS Guitars COO, Jack Higginbotham.
S2 Special Semi-Hollow
The PRS S2 Special Semi-Hollow features a pair of 58/15 LT humbuckers in the bass and treble positions and a PRS Narrowfield in the middle. A 5-way blade switch and two mini-toggles allow players to tap the humbuckers, creating twelve distinct pickup combinations for sonic exploration. The carved maple top and mahogany back encompass a semi-hollow body that adds a natural airiness and depth to the guitarās tone while enhancing sustain.
S2 Studio
The PRS S2 Studio delivers a wide range of sonic possibilities through its distinctive single-single-hum configuration. Featuring two proprietary PRS Narrowfield pickups in the bass and middle positions and a 58/15 LT humbucker in the treble position, the S2 Studio offers a palette of sounds from single-coil clarity to vocal humbucker tones. This model also has a 5-way blade switch and push/pull tone control.
SE Special Semi-Hollow
The PRS SE Special Semi-Hollow is designed with the versatility of a hum/āsingleā/hum setup, bringing PRSās Narrowfield DD pickup design to the SE Series in a classic maple-top guitar. The semi-hollow construction also enhances sustain and resonance, while the f-hole adds a classic aesthetic. The coil-tap switching system unlocks a wide range of tones through a pair of 58/15 LT āSā pickups in the bass and treble positions and a PRS Narrowfield DD āSā in the middle.
SE Studio
The PRS SE Studioās āsingleā/āsingleā/hum pickup configuration provides a wide range of tonal options. This combination of PRS Narrowfield DD āSā bass and middle pickups with a PRS 58/15 LT āSā treble humbucker offers humbucking warmth, single-coil sparkle, and everything in between. The 5-way blade switch and push/pull tone control further enhance its versatility.
SE Studio Standard
The only bolt-on neck in this release group, the PRS SE Studio Standard brings the tone, playability, and versatility of the Studio model to the SE Series and into an all-mahogany design with a vintage-style pickguard aesthetic. At the heart of the SE Studio Standard is its versatile trio of pickups: an 58/15 LT āSā humbucker in the treble position with two Narrowfield DD āSā pickups in the middle and bass positions. The 5-way blade switch and push/pull tone control allow for an array of pickup configurations.
PRS Guitars continues its schedule of launching new products each month in 2025. Stay tuned to see new gear and 40th Anniversary limited-edition guitars throughout the year.
For the first time ever, two guitar greats, John 5 and Richie Kotzen will be heading out on the road this year. The tour will launch October 16 and run through November, hitting markets across the U.S.
Find the full tour itinerary right plus a link for tickets & VIP, including additional dates featuring John 5 only. Reserved seating tickets will go on sale Friday May 16 though a fan presale will begin today at noon local time and fans are strongly encouraged to buy early to get the best seats.
Meet and Greets for both artists will be available. For John 5 please go to: https://john5store.com/collections/vip.
Today, John 5 also announces more details of his anticipated new album. Called The Ghost, it will be released October 10 and is led by the new track āFiend,ā featuring Kenny Aronoff.
John 5 continues running public tours this month for his Knights In Satanās Service Museum of KISS Memorabilia in Los Angeles, California. Guided tours are open to the public for one month only (with a possible expansion). Current dates available are May 12-16, May 19-23 and May 27-30. Each will be led by John 5 himself who will provide tons of rich detail and answer any questions. Secure your place HERE.
JOHN 5 continues to tour with Mötley Crüe including an upcoming residency in Las Vegas in 2025.RICHIE KOTZEN &
JOHN 5 FALL 2025 TOUR
October 16 El Cajon, CA @ Magnolia
October 17 Riverside, CA @ Fox Performing Arts
October 18 Roseville, CA @ Goldfield Trading Post
October 19 San Jose, CA @ The Ritz
October 21 Phoenix, AZ @ Celebrity Theatre
October 22 Albuquerque, NM @ KiMo Theatre
October 24 Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater
October 25 Leander, TX @ The Haute Spot
October 27 New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues
October 28 Memphis, TN @ Minglewood Hall
October 29 Nashville, TN @ Fogg Street Lawn Club
October 30 Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
October 31 Orlando, FL @ House of Blues
November 1 Fort Lauderdale, FL @ Culture Room
November 2 Clearwater, FL @ Capitol Theatre
November 4 Richmond, VA @ The National
November 5 Leesburg, VA @ Tally Ho Theater
November 6 Patchogue, NY @ Patchogue Theatre
November 11 Glenside, PA @ Keswick Theatre
November 12 Derry, NH @ Tupelo Music Hall
November 13 Foxborough, MA @ Six String Grill & Stage
November 14 Stroudsburg, PA @ Sherman Theater
November 15 Lorain, OH @ Lorain Palace Theatre
November 16 Columbus, OH @ The King Of Clubs
November 17 Warrendale, PA @ Jergels
November 19 Wyandotte, MI @ District 142
November 20 Flint, MI @ The Machine Shop
November 21 Fort Wayne, IN @ Piereās
November 22 St. Charles, IL @ Arcada Theatre
November 23 Belvidere, IL @ Apollo Theatre
November 25 Denver, CO @ Oriental Theater
November 29 Pioneertown, CA @ Pappy & Harriet's*
*John 5 only
AEROSMITH guitarist and songwriter JOE PERRY is set to return to the road for a series of August performances with THE JOE PERRY PROJECT. The 8-date run kicks off August 13 in Tampa, FL and wraps August 23 in Port Chester, New York, with an August 19 performance in PERRYās Boston hometown (see the itinerary below). For the North American trekāwhich marks the first solo shows for PERRY this yearāthe legendary guitarist will be joined by his Aerosmith bandmates Brad Whitford (guitar) and Buck Johnson (keys), along with The Black Crowesā Chris Robinson (vocals), and Stone Temple Pilotsā Robert DeLeo (bass), and Eric Kretz (drums).
āWellā¦itās time to let the music do the talkin again,ā PERRY says. āIām really excited about the JPP line up this year!!!! Most of these guys played with me at The Roxy in L.A. at the debut event for my latest solo album [Sweetzerland Manifesto] in January 2018. Theyāre all busy as hell but thankfully theyāre able to carve out some time for this run. And Iām not only lucky enough to have Brad Whitford onstage with me but Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes! [who sang āFortunate Oneā on Sweetzerland Manifesto MKII], Robert DeLeo and Eric Kretz from STP!!! and Buck Johnson who plays keys and sings with Aerosmith, the Hollywood Vampires, and is also a solo artist in his own right.ā
For the shows, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee says āthe set list is gonna include my fav JPP cuts, STP, Black Crowes, and with Brad weāll be hitting the Aero hits and some deep cuts and then ya never know!!!! Gonna be a BLAST, and if youāve ever been to one of my shows you know the words GARAGE BAND on STEROIDS come to mind! See you there!!!!ā
DATE | LOCATION | VENUE |
Wednesday, August 13 | Tampa, FL | Seminole Hard Rock - Tampa |
Thursday, August 14 | Hollywood, FL | Seminole Hard Rock - Hollywood |
Saturday, August 16 | Toronto, ON | HISTORY |
Sunday, August 17 | Muskoka, ON | Kee to Bala |
Tuesday, August 19 | Boston, MA | Wang Theatre |
Wednesday, August 20 | Hampton Beach, NH | Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom |
Friday, August 22 | Mashantucket, CT | The Premier Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino |
Saturday, August 23 | Port Chester, NY | Capitol Theatre |