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GEAR
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Preston is
currently performing with an extensively
modified Ovation
Adamas LongNeck. The LongNeck has a longer
scale length than a conventional guitar
and is tuned a whole step lower. The extra
string length and lower tonal range gives
the guitar a rich, almost piano-like
texture.
Since he already
uses a lot of lowered bass strings in his
music, with this guitar he is able to get
closer to the range of an acoustic bass.
It works well for the percussion-based,
rhythm-oriented way that Preston plays.
Also, the thinner, more flexible, drum
skin-like carbon graphite top of the
Adamas lends itself to the drum sounds he
creates.
He also uses a Yamaha AE2000 large-box
jazz guitar, a Yamaha solidbody baritone
electric with gigantic strings on (0.075
gauge), an Amistar resophonic and a
Washburn 12-string dreadnought
cutaway.
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Modifications
to the Adamas include the
following:
- some
of the signature Adamas "Swiss cheese
holes" in the upper bout of the guitar
have not been cut, making the
decorative epaulet into a percussion
pad.
- with
the added weight of the longer neck,
and his need for the guitar to hang
freely in balance when performing, a
ballast system was devised. A
counterweight is screwed to the inside
of the end pin jack in the tulips. The
decorative trim where the top meets the
body (called the bowl on Ovations) has
been left off, as it would otherwise
abrade Preston's constantly moving
right arm.
- the
bowl of the guitar is fiberglass, which
has a better percussive resonance than
the conventional plastic Ovation
body.
This guitar uses a dual pickup system with
on-board electronics, adapted from
Ovation's OptiMax blender system.The
electronics package includes a blender for
the two pickups, high and low
equalization, a "smile curve" button, and
a phase switch. The standard Ovation
bridge pickup is used in conjunction with
a Seymour Duncan SA-2 soundboard
transducer. The main function of the SA-2
is two register the percussion done on the
body of the guitar. With its own preamp
and special sensor material, the SA-2 has
a superior acoustic tone.
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BALANCING THE
GUITAR
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This is a
common question players ask. How does
Preston keep his guitar stable while
playing?
"How do I do it?"
Preston asks when presented with the
question. "I don't think about it, I
guess. It should be basically stable, even
though it's "floating" by the strap. Part
of the problem players have with this
style is beliefs rather than actual
impediments. I've always felt way freer
and stronger standing than sitting, even
back when I was fingerpicking. And it's
even more appropriate with this physical,
percussive playing style. It's important
to develop a comfort level with standing
and playing."
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STRINGS
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Preston
uses
D'Addario
phosphor bronze strings. The gauges are
.058, .046,.036, .026, .017 and .013. "I
find them to be great-sounding, durable,
reliable strings. I usually keep the three
low strings and the .017 on for two or
three shows and change the .026 and .013
every show."
"Players are
often surprised to hear that I change
strings right before a show. It's not a
problem for me. My Ovation has
bridge-through stringing, so the strings
don't need a lot of stretching and
settling-in time. And I must say I enjoy
the quiet meditation of changing strings
before a show. It helps me prepare
mentally for the upcoming
performance."
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AMPLIFICATION
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These days
when he needs a stage amp, Preston uses an
Swiss-made Schertler Unico amp.
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