Equipment
Tools, kept simple.
Nothing here is affiliate-linked, sponsored, or aspirational. It's the actual list of things sitting in the workshop right now.
Guitars
1974 Martin D-18
The main instrument. Cedar-soft after fifty years of play.
Collings OM2H
For lighter, brighter afternoons and most of the studio work.
Beard R-Model resonator
For the old tunes.
Strings
John Pearse 600L
Light phosphor bronze. Broken in for about a week before they sound like themselves.
Capos
G7th Performance 3
Quiet, quick, disappears under the hand.
Shubb C1
For partials and drop tunings.
Recording
Neumann KM 184 (pair)
In a spaced pair, twelve inches out from the twelfth fret.
Universal Audio Apollo x4
Straight in. No plug-ins on the way.
Amplification
K&K Pure Mini
For rooms that need help. Most don't.
AER Compact 60
The stage amp when there's no PA.
Accessories
Peterson StroboStomp HD
For sweetened tunings.
Fingerpicks — none
Bare thumb, bare fingers, short nails.