The perfect marriage of artist and instrument

**Marty Henrickson** · Jul-09-2012, 7:40am

I recently saw Fretboard Journal's video on John Reischman and his Loar-signed '24 Gibson F-5, and it came up in a subsequent discussion that Reischman's Loar is perfectly matched to his playing style. From listening to John's tasteful picking with the Tony Rice Unit and his "Up In The Woods" CD (which I acquired on the recommendation of a fellow Cafe member), I tend to agree that he was fortunate enough to find what seems to be the perfect instrument for him.

My question is: what other artists have that strong of a connection with one particular instrument? I'll kick the discussion off with a few easy ones off the top of my head:

Bill Monroe and his '23 Loar-signed Gibson F-5
Tony Rice and his "Antique" 1935 Martin D-28
David Rawlings and his 1935 Epiphone Olympic

**Tim2723** · Jul-09-2012, 7:41am

B.B. King and 'Lucille'. (All of them!

) I'm not sure you'll find the correlation you're after.

**AnneFlies** · Jul-09-2012, 8:04am

Could it be that these musicians are so good that almost decent instrument would make the "perfect marriage?"

Anne.

**doc holiday** · Jul-09-2012, 8:08am

Sam Bush & "Hoss"

**dcoventry** · Jul-09-2012, 8:29am

Jerry Garcia and Doug Irwin's "Tiger" guitar.

**Tim2723** · Jul-09-2012, 8:38am

Originally Posted by AnneFlies

Could it be that these musicians are so good that almost decent instrument would make the "perfect marriage?"

Anne.

That was my sense of it when a I read the title, Anne. I think that if brilliant musicians are given instruments of high quality that meet their demanding personal requirements for tone and playability, their music will remain superb. To think that any of them are who they are because they stumbled upon some unique instrument is a pretty remote possibility.

**Ken_P** · Jul-09-2012, 8:38am

While these are no doubt remarkable instruments, they are also paired with even more remarkable musicians. I would guess that they would have developed their signature sound just as well on any quality instruments.

**Bob Bronow** · Jul-09-2012, 9:08am

David Gilmour and "The Black Strat".

**Bob Kirkland** · Jul-09-2012, 9:21am

Tim O'Brien and his Nugget.

**Wilbur James** · Jul-09-2012, 9:23am

Mike Compton and his Ghilchrist.

**mandopete** · Jul-09-2012, 9:29am

Interesting idea - try to come up with names of musicians (mandolin players perhaps) that have been playing the same instrument for most of their career.

I was going to add David Grisman and "Crusher" to this list, but I'm not sure he plays it all that much outisde of bluegrass. I'll second the notion of the pairing of John Reischman and his Loar as a match made in heaven. Also Sam Bush's signature sound with Hoss is recognizable on any recording of him I have ever heard. Perhaps Doc Watson and his Gallagher guitar should be on this list too.

**doc holiday** · Jul-09-2012, 10:16am

I was having a discussion with Michael Heiden last week, and he offered the opinion that John R's Loar is not necessarily 'the best one,' but that John has adapted his playing to be able to get the most tone out of it. John's playing is certainly the largest part of the equation. I've heard him play a Master model, & two different Heidens, and it is no surprise that he sounds just like JR

**JeffD** · Jul-09-2012, 10:29am

I think that there are gigantic benefits to playing the same mandolin for a long time. I have played the same '23 A2 for several decades, and I have learned all its idiosyncracies, where and how to push it a little to make it shine, etc. I have played other vintage As and A2s and I like them, but they never seem as good as mine. Not really because mine is better, but over time I have really figured mine out and over time it has, I don't doubt, adjusted evolved to my way of playing.

So its no surprise that a star can be married to an instrument. I don't think its a matter of the two finding each other as much as just time spent with the instrument.

**Dagger Gordon** · Jul-09-2012, 10:39am

You've missed the most obvious one - Willie Nelson and Trigger.

**mrmando** · Jul-09-2012, 11:34am

Washington Phillips and his two-headed zither.

Junior Brown and his guit-steel.

John Jacob Niles and his thingamawhatsit dulcimers.

Pete Seeger and his longneck banjo.

Woody Guthrie and his fascist-killing machine.

Robert Johnson and his Gibson L-1.

Andy Statman and his snakehead.

**chubakkah** · Jul-09-2012, 11:48am

Matt Flinner and his Gil

**Justus True Waldron** · Jul-09-2012, 11:57am

Originally Posted by JeffD

I think that there are gigantic benefits to playing the same mandolin for a long time. I have played the same '23 A2 for several decades, and I have learned all its idiosyncracies, where and how to push it a little to make it shine, etc. I have played other vintage As and A2s and I like them, but they never seem as good as mine. Not really because mine is better, but over time I have really figured mine out and over time it has, I don't doubt, adjusted evolved to my way of playing.

So its no surprise that a star can be married to an instrument. I don't think its a matter of the two finding each other as much as just time spent with the instrument.

x2

I don't think that people find an instrument and it automatically makes them this great player... but I do think that if you have any talent at all, and you get a great instrument and then invest a lifetime playing that one instrument, good things will result. Even from just playing my macica for 9 months or so now, I have learned so much about how to push it, how to play clean with it, and do things that I can't do on other mandos just because it's familiar. Could I get used to another one? Sure, but why would I want to? The more I play mine the more it becomes my musical "home", and I'm sure that's the case for all these great musicians mentioned here. I think that finding THE mandolin and sticking with it has some great benefits and is often overlooked due to MAS. I also believe that mandolins for whatever reason open up to suit the kind of playing the owner does on them over a lifetime.... another benefit... but that's just my opinion.

**journeybear** · Jul-09-2012, 2:33pm

Originally Posted by AnneFlies

Could it be that these musicians are so good that almost decent instrument would make the "perfect marriage?"

Kind of how I feel. Cinversely, it's also possible the instruments are so good that any musician could develop a rapport with them. Hey, I wouldn't mind playing a Loar for a while. I think I could get used to it.

**CES** · Jul-09-2012, 2:43pm

Mother Maybelle, anyone?

**OldSausage** · Jul-09-2012, 2:54pm

Anyone who never plays the banjo and their banjo.

**Santiago** · Jul-09-2012, 3:04pm

Originally Posted by Bob Dobbs

David Gilmour and "The Black Strat".

I was thinking Clapton and "Blackie," I've seen David play other colors.

**Santiago** · Jul-09-2012, 3:08pm

Emmet Chapman and The Stick?

**mrmando** · Jul-09-2012, 3:13pm

Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and his mohan veena:

U Srinivas and his Sahmax:

**farmerjones** · Jul-09-2012, 3:15pm

im thinkin of Vasser and that carved head fiddle. There a lot of fiddlers and violinists that settle into one instrument. Marriage is a darned good word for it. I sort of feel bad for piano pickerz.