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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.
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Modifications
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
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
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
These days when he needs a stage
amp, Preston uses an AER amp.
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