Guitars
McPherson MG 4.5 XP
McPherson MG 4.5 XP acoustic/electric; Beautiful Colobolo back and sides, with Redwood Top. The neck is solid mahogany with an ebony fretboard. Beautiful koa binding, an ebony bridge, an L.R. Baggs pickup system, and Schaller tuners with Goth pegs to round out the package. This guitar is built like a battle ax…with very warm sounding tones and great sustains.
Breedlove C12/MP
Breedlove C12/MP acoustic/electric; Beautiful Quilted Maple back and sides, with Cedar Top. The guitar was built by Steve Henderson. Electronics are Fishman Eclipse Blended mic/pickup, and Grover tuners. It’s a very light feeling guitar, that has great high end delivery.
Equipment
Over the years, one piece of gear has influenced my music more than any other: the looping machine.
As a guitarist and composer, I often found it difficult to find other musicians with the time or interest to develop original material. That challenge ultimately led me to discover looping technology, which transformed the way I write, practice, and perform music.
Today, approximately 80% of my songs are built around loops that I create live on the spot - nothing pre-recorded. Looping allows me to hear my compositions from a different perspective while helping refine timing, layering, dynamics, and overall song structure. It’s one of the most valuable tools I’ve ever added to my musical arsenal.
When developing a new composition, looping helps answer important questions:
- Does the song flow naturally from beginning to end?
- Does the tempo match the mood I’m trying to create?
- Do the layered parts complement each other?
- Are there notes or passages that clash rather than enhance the piece?
For musicians looking to improve their playing, songwriting, or timing, I highly recommend investing in a quality looping pedal. Few tools provide such immediate and honest feedback.
Current Equipment
Looping & Effects
- Boss RC-30XL & Boss RC-50 Loop Station. Sometimes I use two RC-30 Loop Stations for more flexibility
- Yamaha Magicstomp Acoustic Processor
- Line 6 DL4 Delay Modeler
Live Performance Amp System
- Bose L1 System
Recording
- Apogee Duet Audio Interface and GarageBand or Logic Pro for Recording
- For Mastering: iZotope Ozone 6 Software (older software, but works great)
While equipment certainly plays a role in shaping sound, I’ve always believed that creativity comes first. The gear simply helps bring the music to life.
