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Rig Rundown: The Doobie Brothers

The guitarists from one of classic rock’s most enduring hitmakers walk us through how they combine old-school custom axes with some of the latest technology.

Chris Kies
By Chris KiesJul 19, 2017
Chris Kies
Chris Kies has degrees in Journalism and History from the University of Iowa and has been with PG dating back to his days as an intern in 2007. He's now the multimedia manager maintaining the website and social media accounts, coordinating Rig Rundown shoots (also hosting and/or filming them) and occasionally writing an artist feature. Other than that, he enjoys non-guitar-related hobbies.
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Guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for Doobie hits like “China Grove,” “Long Train Runnin’,” and “Listen to the Music,” Johnston has been a tried-and-true PRS guy since he stumbled upon one in a San Rafael music store in the ’80s. His current No. 1 is a 2009 25th Anniversary Custom 24 that rides in standard tuning. And all his guitars are equipped with Greg Sfarzo strings gauged .009–.046 and he’s been loyal the Jim Dunlop Herco .50 mm picks since the ’70s.

Special thanks to tech Chris Ledbetter.

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Boss BD-2

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Boss
 

Boss CH-1 Super Chorus

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Boss DD-20

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Boss RT-20 Rotary Ensemble

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Boss TU-2 Chromatic Tuner

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Electro-Harmonix
 

Electro-Harmonix Micro POG

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JHS
 

JHS Pulp ‘N’ Peel

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Line 6 Helix

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Line 6 Variax

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MXR Carbon Copy

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Peterson StroboFlip

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PRS Archon

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PRS Custom 24

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Taylor
 

Taylor 712ce

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TC Electronic
 

TC Electronic Flashback Delay

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Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus

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Xotic
 

Xotic AC Booster

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