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GALLERY: Shaky Knees 2016

Situated in the heart of downtown Atlanta, this three-day festival included acts like the Kills, My Morning Jacket, Eagles of Death Metal, Deftones, At the Drive-In, Explosions in the Sky, and more.

Jane’s Addiction Dave Navarro

Leaning heavy on albums Ritual de lo habitual and Nothing’s Shocking, Dave stuck with his custom ’90s PRS Signature Navarro model for most of the band’s early ’90s material.

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PG Contributor Tom Butwin dives into three standout baritone guitars, each with its own approach to low-end power and playability. From PRS, Reverend, and Airline, these guitars offer different scale lengths, pickup configurations, and unique tonal options. Which one fits your style best? Watch and find out!

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Brickhouse Toneworks BH-90 pickups offer the legendary tone of a classic P-90 in a humbucker-sized package, with zero hum.

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The final installment with Santa Cruz Guitar Company founder Richard Hoover details the remaining steps that takes a collection of wood and wire into an impeccable instrument. Hoover explains how the company's craftsman delicately sand and finish the acoustics with a light touch to keeps them shiny and singing. He describes the pragmatic reasoning behind finishing the body and neck separately before marrying the two. He describes the balance between mechanical precision with the Plek machine and luthier artistry for the individualistic, hands-on set ups and intonation. Finally, Richard outlines why the company is now designing strings specific to their guitars.

Every level of player uses backlines, from the smallest stages to the biggest. Here, SIR Chicago sets up a backline for Bettye LaVette before she opened for the Rolling Stones at Soldier Field.

Photo by Andy Awsumb, SIR Chicago

On the road, in the clubs, or on outdoor stages, you’re going to encounter all kinds of gear, from ace to disgrace. If you need to assemble one of your own—or don’t have backline experience—here are some things you should know—straight from one of Nashville’s top providers.

Picture this: You’ve been tapped to play a small stage for a date on the Warped Tour. You find out that you’ll be on at around 4 p.m., and your band is slotted third in a lineup that includes seven other groups. You think, “How could they possibly turn the stage over between each band swiftly enough to make every set happen on time?” That’s where a backline comes in.

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