I'VE GOTTEN MANY INQUIRIES OVER THE YEARS FROM ASPIRING GUITARISTS, WORLDWIDE REGARDING MY SETUP.
LET'S START WITH MY #1 STRAT REPLICA....
THIS IS ACTUALLY THE 2ND #1 THAT I BUILT MYSELF. IT FEATURES A FENDER AMERICAN ALDER BODY WHICH WAS HAND DISTRESSED AND THEN FINISHED IN NITRO CELULOSE LAQUER. NITRO FINISHES ARE DERIVED FROM WOOD PRODUCTS AS OPPOSED TO SYNTHETIC POLYESTER AND URETHANES. THIS FINISH GREATLY ENHANCES THE BELL LIKE TONES WE ALL STRIVE TO GET FROM OUR STRATOCASTERS.
 FOR MY 50TH BIRTHDAY, MY WIFE BOUGHT ME A 50TH ANNIVERSARY STRAT. I LOVED THE SOUND OF THIS AXE!! I ONLY USED IT IN CERTAIN SRV TUNES, UNFORTUNATELY IT JUST LOOKED TOO PRETTY. IT'S A 2004 WHICH WAS THE FIRST YEAR FOR THE EXTREMELY VERSATILE S-1 SWITCHING SYSTEM. IT ALSO HAS BILL LAWRENCE DESIGN, SCN PICKUPS. THESE REALLY NAIL THAT VINTAGE TONE WITHOUT THE NOISE. NEEDLESS TO SAY WHEN PLANNING OUT MY NEW #1 I OPTED TO INSTALL THIS EXACT SETUP. I NOW HAVE A VINTAGE LOOK STRAT WITH THE SOUND AND VERSITILITY THAT'S NEEDED. I WILL BE PLAYING THIS GUITAR EXCLUSIVELY JULY 30TH AT THE PATCHOGUE THEATRE SHOW.

MY AMPLIFIERS...
 I'VE BEEN USING MARSHALL 100'S EXCLUSIVELY SINCE 1973. BACK IN THE DAY, I HAD MY AMPS MODIFIED BY A TECH NAMED KENNY FRANK WHO USED TO DO THE MODS FOR JIMI HENDRIX, WE'D PLAY  AROUND WITH VARIOUS CAPS AND STUFF UNTIL WE GOT IT RIGHT! AS FOR SPEAKERS, I ONLY USE CELESTIAN GREENBACKS WHICH ARE RATED AT 25 WATTS EACH. THESE SEEM TO CAPTURE THE EARLY MARSHALL TONE. I ALSO USE A FENDER HOTROD DEVILLE FOR CLARITY.