cleaner sound .
I guess those are the three voices that I use the most . I have a couple of other instruments . I have an SG that Robben loaned / gave to me . I use that sometimes . To me , it ’ s just a feel thing . I find it difficult to explain , but I hope that gives you a bit of a window into how I think about it .
of the sound . Usually there is a ribbon mic involved and a room mic . We just create a really big sound using the two different tones . And they just have a different touch and a different response . The Vibro King has a sweet breakup and a shimmery , transparent thing , and the Shaw has a really fat , meaty low to mid kind of chunk . They give different flavors and the combination has been pretty cool .
[ CG ] Tell us about the crazy string gauges you use – you ’ re a maniac ! What are you using these days ?
[ Joe ] On the Strat I use 11-49s but with a 12 on top . On the Gretsch it ’ s a12-52 set but with a wound G string , and on the acoustic it ’ s a set of 12 ’ s with a 16 on top . It ’ s like a set of 12 ’ s with 2 B strings , and the top B string is tuned to E like it ’ s standard tuning . I used a 14 for a while , but I just really like the 16 . It feels great to me . I ’ ve been doing that for about 4 years now , and I ’ ve never broken a string .
The reason I do it on the Strat is because I ’ m used to it on the acoustic . On the acoustic , I like to have the top notes really sing , and an 11 just feels weird to me and kind of craps out sometimes . I like the heavier string . It just suits me . Not everyone likes it or feels comfortable with it , but for me , it works .
[ CG ] In terms of those instruments , everybody has people that they think of that are associated with certain guitars . For example , when somebody picks up a Les Paul Deluxe they may think of Robben Ford . As you pick up your Gretsch or your Strat , what are the things that you ’ re thinking about regarding the instrument ? What do those different guitars mean to you ?
[ Joe ] It ’ s interesting . The more time I ’ ve spent playing , the less time I spend thinking about things . I don ’ t play by ear primarily , I play by feel . It ’ s the feel of the instrument that dictates what you play . I can pick up a Strat , and it has a certain feel and a certain voice that is totally different than a Gretsch . A Gretsch has a sweet spot that I go to , because that ’ s where it feels like where it wants to go . The acoustic is a whole other beast . To me , the acoustic has a percussive element and richer overtones . I ’ ve always been the most comfortable on the acoustic . It feels like it has the most balanced sound . That ’ s always what I ’ m trying to get from my electric guitars , is a sound that ’ s as balanced as an acoustic . I like my electric guitars to have a lot of dynamics , and a lot of room to dig in and get a little bit of gain and then back off and get a little bit of a
[ CG ] I remember seeing you play the solo acoustic version of “ Adelaide ”, and being completely floored by the interplay between the vocals and the guitar . The story is kind of a heartbreaking thing , and that song has all the little pieces that you could want from a song . What tips do you have for songwriters of all ages in terms of how to craft songs that tell stories , are musically challenging , and utilize smart arrangements ?
[ Joe ] One of the best things I ever did was to get the songbook for James Taylor ’ s Greatest Hits . I drove around in my car for about a year just listening to that album – it ’ s a great album ! I learned to play every song , and I learned how to sing them and play them . They ’ re very difficult !
People often say that when I play and sing , I have a lot of independence . I enjoy creating pieces that have a really strong guitar element as well as a vocal element . Learning those James Taylor songs gave me the chops to do that . It made me fall in love with melody and with his way of creating guitar parts . That was like a window in to how to think about it .
Songwriting is something that I learn more about every day . I just got off the road with Rodney Crowell . I did a few shows playing in a trio with him . He has such incredible songs and incredible lyrics ! It ’ s just baffling to me , and so continued on page 36
34 Jul � Aug 2017 CollectibleGuitar . com