A look at pedalboards used onstage by Deftones, Alice in Chains, Dave Matthews Band, 311, Joe Bonamassa, Eric Johnson, and many more
photos by Chris Kies
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Tom Petty’s righthand man proved time and again that he could get to the heart of the matter and find the perfect guitar part for a song.
Tom Petty’s right-hand man proved time and again that he could get to the heart of the matter and find the perfect guitar part for a song. But he’s also cooked up plenty of hits as a player and writer for artists such as Don Henley—with whom he co-wrote two of his biggest hits—Stevie Nicks, Roy Orbison, Matthew Sweet, Brian Setzer, and so many others. Plus, his Blue Stingrays and Dirty Knobs are like candy for the deepest of guitar-tone nerds.
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This Delgado 6-string tres reflects the instrument’s global history. It’s made with a Sitka spruce top, Mexican rosewood back and sides, a Macassar ebony bridge, African ebony fretboard, and African mahogany neck.
Our columnist traces the history of the 6-string Cuban tres—from Africa, to Cuba, to the top of American country music.
I love that I was taught by my father and grandfather to build a variety of string instruments. I have continued to do this—I have built so many different types, and I learn from each one. I am currently building a nanga, a rectangular, harp-like African instrument played by the Ganda people of Uganda.
As I have been building this instrument and learning from the musician who commissioned it, I am often reminded of the influence Africa has on so many instruments, from drums to the banjo, or akonting as it was originally named. A popular instrument that I have recently been getting more requests for that is equally influenced by Africa’s music is the tres cubano, or Cuban tres.
In comparison to other chordophones—instruments whose sounds come from the vibration of stretched strings—from around the world, this instrument is relatively young, appearing first towards the end of the 1800s. The original tres is said to have three courses with a total of six strings, and while the 9-string version is now more associated to the Puerto Rican tres, a 9-string iteration of the Cuban tres is documented as early as 1913, though it’s believed that the Puerto Rican instrument influenced the additional strings.
Most early models of the tres have a similar body to a classical guitar or the requinto romántico, but the more common shape now is a smaller, pear-shaped body offered either with or without a cutaway. The tres has only begun to get more visibility in the past 25 years, so sizing can vary greatly from luthier to luthier, but to help players who are unfamiliar with this instrument to get a better idea of the size, here are some specs from a Delgado model.
“The note placements of the tres in a changüí summon something deep inside any musician who is stirred by tempo and a hypnotic rhythm.”
One of the models I make has a body depth of 4″. The upper bout is 9″ and the lower bout is 14 1/2″ with a scale length of 545 mm, or 21 1/2″. The tuning also depends upon the player, but the traditional tuning is G–G–C–C–E–E. The outer string pairs—the Gs and Es—are each tuned an octave apart. Their gauges, from top to bottom, are .031–.011–.014–.014–.012–.023.
Again, you will see a range of string placements, gauges, and differences in tuning, but this is the foundation to help give you a basic understanding.
Now to describe the sound and style of the tres—I am literally moving to the rhythms I hear in my mind as I write this. While my heritage is Mexican, I feel so in touch with so many genres of music from around the world, and the music from Cuba is one of them. I like to describe this instrument as a percussive string instrument, because the note placements of the tres in a changüí—the Cuban music form that gave way to the Son Cubano, or “Cuban Sound”—with its strong African-infused beats, summon something deep inside any musician who is stirred by tempo and a hypnotic rhythm.
Like how Linda Ronstadt was key in helping bring audiences to appreciate and invest in mariachi music with the release of Canciones de mi Padre, I would argue that Ry Cooder did the same for Cuban music when, after traveling to Cuba, he helped introduce the world to Cuban artists as old as 89 on the 1997 album, Buena Vista Social Club, the creation of which was captured in the 1999 documentary of the same name.
Since the release of this album, we have seen the tres grow in popularity and availability. Many artists and bands have fused the tres into their music, using it in untraditional styles, but the sound is still recognizable. We have even built custom electric tres cubanos for clients! Pancho Amat, an ambassador for the tres and arguably one of the greatest living musicians to play the instrument, blends his classical and jazz backgrounds with the tres’ natural sounds to create a unique sound. Thinking in terms of a drum pattern and African roots, you will have a better grip on the method when trying this instrument for the first time.
Now, do yourself a favor. Find an evening to relax, mix yourself a beverage—preferably a mojito—and rent the Buena Vista Social Club … then give me a call for your Delgado tres cubano.
Through The Official Fender Certified Pre-Owned Reverb Shop, musicians can buy pre-owned Fender instruments that have been professionally inspected and come with a Fender one-year limited warranty at a significant discount to new gear prices.
“We’re excited to offer for the first time ever Fender Certified Pre-Owned guitars directly on Reverb. Pre-owned guitars have long been popular among players, particularly new players and collectors. Fender Certified Pre-Owned gives players of all levels the opportunity to own a quality instrument at an affordable price,” said Fender CEO Andy Mooney. “Fender Certified Pre-Owned guitars represent not only a fantastic value—allowing players to purchase an instrument that is professionally inspected, backed by Fender, and sold at a discount—but an opportunity to support a more sustainable guitar industry, giving the instruments a second, third, or fourth life and participating in the circular economy.”
Used music gear continues to grow in popularity among price-conscious musicians, with sales for used guitars on Reverb growing by more than 50% between 2019 and 2023. Certified pre-owned instruments offer the affordability of used music gear, plus the added benefit of warranties and easy returns. While certified pre-owned programs are common in industries like automotive and tech, Fender Certified Pre-Owned on Reverb is the first program of this magnitude within the musical instrument industry, launched by the world’s leading guitar manufacturer and the largest online marketplace dedicated to music gear.
“Over the years, many of my very best creative tools were bought from other musicians and the secondary market. In fact, The Hitmaker was from a pawn shop in 1973. These guitars come with stories and history that just make them special,” said Nile Rodgers. “The fact that you can now buy pre-owned guitars from Fender means that you get the character and the affordability of pre-owned gear, plus Fender’s seal of approval.“
The Official Fender Certified Pre-Owned Reverb Shop will feature unique pre-owned electric, acoustic, and bass guitars, with new instruments added weekly. All guitars will come with a Fender-backed one year limited warranty and have been professionally inspected and, as needed, refurbished by Fender’s sustainability partner MIRC. Since 1993, MIRC has kept thousands of guitars from going to landfills as the nation’s largest wholesaler of quality used guitars.
“We’re thrilled for the opportunity to partner with Fender to offer musicians not only affordable guitars, but affordable guitars that have been meticulously inspected and, as needed, repaired to look and sound incredible,” said Reverb CEO David Mandelbrot. “It’s more important than ever that the music-making community has access to affordable musical instruments and Fender Certified Pre-Owned on Reverb will help many players get their hands on great-sounding guitars that fit within their budget.”
The Official Fender Certified Pre-Owned Reverb Shop is now open. Save the shop to your Favorites to be notified as new guitars are added.
For more information, please visit reverb.com.
The SM4 Home Recording Microphone is designed to be a versatile, large-diaphragm condenser microphone engineered for at-home and studio recording of both vocals and instruments.
With a meticulously engineered dual-diaphragm capsule and a patent-pending RF shielding system, the SM4 is designed to empower artists to create professional-quality recordings regardless of their setup, environment, or experience level.
“The SM4 is designed to reflect the modern workflows of musicians, engineers, and creators who are serious about their craft, helping them overcome the issues that make engineers cringe: plosives, harsh high-frequency response, undefined low-end, and RF interference," shared Steve Marek, Associate Manager of Product Management, at Shure. "If you’re a musician, you want to stay in the creative flow, rather than chasing down problems in your audio setup. No matter what you are recording with the SM4, you need your tracks to be professional quality. If you’re an engineer receiving those tracks, you’ll appreciate how seamlessly they fit into a mix, and the time saved from not having to fix a variety of problems surgically.”
This microphone features multiple layers of plosive protection and integrated components. The dual-diaphragm capsule reduces popping noises and keeps sound quality consistent with reduced proximity effect.” With its patent-pending Interference Shielding Technology, users don’t have to worry about unwanted RF interference noise from wireless devices commonly found in at-home recording environments, including smartphones, laptops, and Wi-Fi routers.
The SM4’s built-in features make it easy to achieve professional-quality recordings with minimal effort. The controlled low-end response enables EQ adjustments without introducing unwanted elements, making it easier to achieve a big radio voice and full-sounding instrument tracks. The magnetic pop filter helps diffuse air blasts while the shock mount reduces handling noise and rumble. The microphone’s cardioid polar pattern provides a forgiving and large “sweet spot,” enabling vocalists to move freely without compromising sound quality. With the SM4, users can focus on staying creative and spend less time on post-production.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Smooth and Natural Audio Reproduction: Equipped with a brass one-inch dual-diaphragm capsule, the SM4 condenser microphone captures clean, controlled low-end and smooth, detailed highs. The uniform cardioid polar pattern provides strong off-axis rejection of unwanted noise, and the large “sweet spot” reduces proximity effect.
- Patent-Pending Interference Shielding Technology: Block unwanted RF noise from common wireless devices, including smartphones, laptops, and Wi-Fi routers. The proprietary system features an integrated pop-filter and woven mesh Faraday cage that shields the microphone capsule for clean audio capture.
- Mix-Ready Sound Effortlessly: Internal pop filter enables clean, plosive, and rumble-free recordings for easier post-production work. Compress and EQ to taste without bringing forward unwanted elements that can plague recordings and mixes. With optimized sensitivity, the SM4 works with any interface to achieve professional-quality recordings, no matter the environment.
- Exceptional Flexibility for Vocal and Instrument Recording: The SM4 is optimized to capture a wide range of sound sources, from soft vocals to loud instruments, including drums, guitar amps, and horns, with exceptionally high sound pressure level (SPL)handling capabilities (max SPL of 140dB; equivalent to a jet engine).
- Legendary Durability and Camera-Ready Design: Rugged, all-metal construction from a brand with nearly a century of experience in producing reliable gear for stage and studio. The sleek, low-profile design won’t distract from the performer or environment.
The SM4 Microphone, now available for $199, comes with a swivel-mount microphone clamp and zippered carrying bag. Additionally, a bundle option is available; the Home RecordingKit option, priced at $269, includes a shock mount, magnetic pop filter, and premium carrying case.
For more information, please visit shure.com.