GUITARS
Melancon Classic Artist 'T'
Wysocki Tele
Gibson CS 336 Gibson
Gibson CS SG
Jerry Jones Sitar Guitar
Yamaha A-Series Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Amps & Cabinets
Guytron 2 GT100FV Amp Heads
Guytron 2X12 Speaker Cabinet

 

 On Jon's pedalboard some effects are in line before the amp input (red heat shrink); others are in the effects loop of the amp (blue heat shrink). The effects before the amp input are labeled 1 - 5 and the effects in the loop are labeled M1 - M5. 

RED LOOP (PRE AMP INPUT): DUNLOP WAH > RC BOOST > LEHLE VOLUME PEDAL > CREATION AUDIO LABS CLEAN BOOST MK423 > BBE TREMOR OPTICAL TREMOLO > BACK INTO JUNCTION BOX (labeled red in). Note that the BOSS TU-3S TUNER is not in the signal chain - it’s connected from a second volume pedal output, so it’s always getting a signal. 

BLUE LOOP (FX LOOP OF AMP): TECH 21 ROTOCHOIR > MXR TALK BOX > STRYMON DECO > BOSS DD3 DIGITAL DELAY > BOSS RV-5 REVERB > BACK INTO JUNCTION BOX (labeled blue in). There is also an AMP A/B CHANNEL FOOTSWITCH on the board as well as a SATURNWORKS MICRO FAVORITES SWITCH to select a single saved setting on the Strymon Deco.

         

         

 

Electric guitars I play frequently include a Melancon Classic Artist "T", an EastmanT-184X Thinline, a Wysocki Tele, a Gibson CS-336, a Fender Telecaster, a Gibson SG, a Gibson Les Paul Custom, and a Gibson Les Paul with p-90 pickups. I also play Fender Thinline Telecaster Gibson CS 336, Gibson SG, with Evertune bridge

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Amps I play regularly include two Guytron GT-100 FVs, each with a closed back Guytron speaker cabinet containing two unmatched Celestion 12 inch speakers; a Bludotone J-Rod 50 (custom designed for me); and a Bludotone Bludo-Drive amplifier with an open back cabinet containing two 12 inch Jensen speakers. The Guytron is a 100 watt channel switching amp with an interesting twist: it has an intermediate power amp stage with two EL-84 tubes used for overdrive tone (located in the circuit before the quartet of EL-34 power amp tubes). This allows great overdrive amp sounds at much quieter listening levels, if needed. The Bludo-Drive is a 100 watt channel switching amp with a separate tube driven effects loop buffer. I sometimes use it with a THD power attenuator for lower level listening. The Bludotone J-Rod 50 is basically the front end of a 50 watt Marshall Plexi circuit with a specially designed effects loop and master volume added.

   

I HAVE A NUMBER OF OTHER INSTRUMENTSwhich don't get as much use, but which I enjoy playing and recording with from time to time. They include an Eastman E1000SS double O guitar and an Eastman MD604 oval-hole mandolin; a Yamaha AEX 1500 archtop jazz guitar; a National Style 1 Tricone resophonic guitar; a Danelectro 12 string electric guitar; a Deering tenor banjo; a Spanish made nylon string guitar; a Jerry Jones Supreme Sitar guitar; a Fender Stratocaster; and a Martin ukelele.

I ALSO USE AND ENJOYErnie Ball Classic Pure Nickel Regular Slinky strings; many pedal effects by Xotic, including the RC Booster, the BB preamp, and the EP Booster; many pedal effects by Providence, including the Chrono Delay, the Anadime Chorus, and the Phase Force; many effects pedals by Hermida Audio Technology, including the Mosferatu and Zendrive; many effects pedals by Keeley Electronics, including the great mods of the Blues Driver and the Tube Screamer, The Keeley Compressor, the Java Boost, and the Fuzz Head; effects pedals Voodoo Labs, including the Tremolo, the Micro Vibe, and several Pedal Power Units; state of the art cabling by Reference Laboratory; bridge and tailpiece gear by Tone Pros; the THD Hot Plate; great monitors by QSC (the K10 from their K series); picks by Dava (Delrin Jazz Grips); and great straps by LM Products, Inc.

The newest axe in the shed does so many jobs so well it’s causing a few of the others to collect some dust lately. It was made for me by Gerard Melancon in his shop in Thibodaux, LA. I told him everything I would love to have in a guitar, and he managed to get everything exactly how I like it, and somehow included an “X” factor, too, which makes this guitar hard to put down. 

It’s essentially a Tele shape, but it has a “tummy cut” which makes it more comfortable than a standard Tele. It (obviously!) has beautiful woods, and the neck has a 12 inch radius, big stainless steel frets, and a subtle finish which feels smooth and broken-in. But the most exciting thing about the neck for me is the shorter (Gibson rather than Fender) scale, which is more comfortable and allows me to switch from Gibson guitars without having to adjust. 

The bridge pickup is a Lindy Fralin Unbucker, the middle pickup is a hot Strat-style single coil also by Fralin, and the neck pickup is a Lollar mini humbucker. The neck and bridge pickups can be switched to single coil mode with a push/push pot on the tone control. There’s also a 5 position pickup selector so I can get the Strat-style combination sounds. 

The guitar gives me pretty much every type of sound I need - it’s absolutely the most versatile guitar I’ve owned, and all the tones are beautiful, thanks to the woods and the workmanship. 

My heartfelt thanks to Gerard for his deep understanding and expertise, and one fantastic guitar!