it was a D2-H. i bought it at westwood music in los angeles because lyle lovett played one, and i just worshiped lyle. it was not cheap, my mother helped me buy it. it was an investment. i figured a real musician needed a real guitar… right? i toured with it for almost 2 decades and played it on every one of my records. you can really hear it on songs like ‘kept’ and ‘bulletproof weeks.’ it has aged perfectly. collings make incredible instruments. the care that they put into them is unmatched. truly. when i retired the D2-H from the road, i had them build me the black CJ i use every night on tour now and it’s a monster too. perfection. i can’t wait to hear how IT sounds in 20 years. aaron and i toured the collings factory in austin yesterday, and i’m still on a high from it. nerd-ville USA! in a time when disposable things have become the norm, it blew my mind to be in a place where passion and craftsmanship are ALL that matter.

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fender telecaster. year: 1983. color: yellow/creme. got this back in the summer of 1993. my friend/now guitar player aaron tap and i went to mr. music in allston, MA where i traded my first guitar (a K-shaped, candy apple red ibanez) to get this one. a few years ago, i had the folks at gary brawer’s shop (my heroes) set it up and replace the neck pickup with a lollar. sounds and plays better than ever. you can hear it in action on the song ‘vandalized,’ on my record “not colored too perfect.”

fender coronado. year: 1968. color: antigua.

on tour with O.A.R in the summer of 2009. brad from nationwide guitars brought 5 guitars down to the merriweather post pavillion for me to try during soundcheck. bought this one on the spot.

collings D2H. year: 1993. wood: indian rosewood. this was the first 6 string acoustic i ever owned. i bought it in 1994 at westwood music in LA, the day after kurt cobain died. i’ve played it on every one of my records except “please” and i’ve toured with it throughout my career. in 2008, the guitar blew over at a hometown show on the piers in SF and the headstock cracked off. it was expertly put back together by gary brawer and the folks at his shop here in town. it is, hands down, the best sounding dreadnought i’ve ever played. it was retired from the road in 2010.

taylor 655 12 string. year: 1991. wood: maple. this was my first proper guitar. i bought it at mccabes music in santa monica, CA in the spring of 1992 and it’s on every record i’ve ever made. this guitar has been a constant companion for all my years of touring and gets better sounding the more it’s played… i have yet to find another 12-string that even comes close. of all my guitars, this one feels most like an extension of me. it’s gone through a few pickup configurations over the years, but currently has a highlander pickup in the saddle.