It might actually be easier to list the artists Derek Wells hasn’t worked with, than the ones with whom he has.

The Nashville-based multi-instrumentalist and producer has lent a hand to more than 100 number one singles over the years, with household staples like Kenny Chesney, Maren Morris, Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood, even Shakira. He’s also piled up production credits with artists like Hardy, Lainey Wilson, Maddie & Tae, and Scotty McCreery, and over the years he’s collected a flashy mantle’s-worth of awards: the Academy of Country Music named Wells their Guitar Player of the Year two times, and he was MusicRow’s 2022 Guitarist of the Year.

Wells invited PG’s John Bohlinger to the studio to run down his main recording rig.

Brought to you by D’Addario XS Strings.

Make It Rain

“The Money Maker” is Wells’ 1961 Gibson Les Paul SG with original PAF pickups.

Twang Town

Wells’ 1953 Fender Telecaster features a Fralin neck pickup and a Fender lap steel pickup in the bridge.

Golden Hour

This 2008 goldtop Gibson Les Paul also sports a Fralin in the neck position, while a vintage PAF pickup holds down the bridge.

Atkins Diet

Wells’ sharp 2003 Gretsch 6120 runs TV Jones FilterTron pickups.

Red Rider

This bloody good 2000s Danelectro Baritone has been upgraded with custom saddles and bridge from Jeff Senn.

Black Cat

Last but not least, Wells’ 2000s Duesenberg Double Cat is dressed up with an Asher Double Palm Bender.

The Magnificent Six

When Wells goes into a studio session, he doesn’t travel light. This time, he’s brought six trusty friends with him: a Supro Black Magick head, a 1960 Fender Tweed Deluxe, a ’67 50-watt Marshall Plexi, a Matchless HC-30 from 1996, a 1961 white knob Fender Bassman, and a quirky custom amp titled The Knob.

Drowned In Tape

Wells’ amp rack houses a gorgeous old Roland Chorus Echo RE-501, while the rest of his effects are on his pedalboard built by Nashville’s XAct Tone Solutions (XTS).

XTS Ecstasy

XTS constructed Wells’ do-it-all-and-then-some board utilizing a Gig Rig G3 Switching System. Right now, the stomp headquarters includes a Line 6 M9, Strymon’s Mobius and Timeline, a Mission Engineering Expressionator, Electro-Harmonix’s Micro Synth, a MXR Bass Compressor, and doubles of the Boss GE-7 Equalizer (which have both been modded by XTS). Wells gets his dirt from an Ibanez MT10 Mostortion, a REVV Shawn Tubbs Tilt Overdrive, XTS’ own Winford Drive, and Xotic’s RC Booster. A modded Digitech XP series pedal, a Boss FV-500H, and a Dunlop DVP3 round out the collection.

Shop Derek Wells' Rig

1961 Les Paul/SG
Gretsch 6120
Gibson Les Paul Standard
Danelectro Baritone
Supro 1695TH Black Magick Tube Head
Boss GE-7 Equalizer
Strymon Timeline
Strymon Mobius
Electro-Harmonix Micro Synth
Xotic RC Booster
MXR Bass Compressor
Revv Tilt Overdrive
Peterson Stomp Classic Strobotuner