The Guitars of Country Music - Part Four

The Truckin' Bozo - Dale Sommers

In the late 1980’s and throughout the 1990’s I worked the second shift. Upon leaving work at midnight and driving home I listened to a radio show called ‘The Truckin’ Bozo’ hosted by Dale Sommers. Between songs, truck drivers from all over the nation would call him, with news about the highways, and sometimes just to share their funny stories.

Bozo's show also played the Country Music hit songs of the day.

This show is where I was introduced to more contemporary  Country acts.  Garth Brooks was just coming on the scene in those days. His music hearkened back to those former days of Country Music. The lyrics were great, the music was great, and Garth's voice was pure Country.

Garth Brooks

’Friends In Low Places’ thumbed it’s nose at high society. ‘If Tomorrow Never Comes’, let us know to express I love you, to those you love, because we have no guarantee of tomorrow. ‘The Thunder Rolls’ was a modern take on the age old theme in Country music of a cheating spouse.

Brooks was a fresh face on the music scene, and his concerts were like a circus. He was energetic, and ran all over the stage, sometimes even flying over the audience.

Garth Brooks with a Takamine guitar

Garth eschewed the traditional Martin guitar, instead using a Japanese model made by Takamine. Takamine had been in business for many years, and they had perfected a piezo pickup, so the acoustic guitar sound came through loud and clear, thanks to the instrument’s built-in preamplifier.

By this era, there was no need for a cable going to an amplifier since radio controlled units gave the performers more freedom.

Takamine Garth Brooks model GB7C 

Eventually the Takamine Company created a ‘Garth Brooks’ model. The sound hole on this guitar resembled the shape of the cutaway on the  guitars body. Brooks gave one of these guitars that he had been playing, at each concert to a lucky fan.

Although other artists were using Takamine guitars before Garth Brooks hit the scene, Brooks is probably responsible for some of Takamine guitars popularity with Country artists.

George Strait

George Strait was another popular Country star.  Though his shows were far less outrageous than Brooks act,  Strait brought traditional Country Music into the 1980’s and ‘90’s, and even into the current decade. His music eschews ‘Modern Country’ and his songs and recordings hearken back to days when Country Music was not Rock that was packaged up as Country Music. Perhaps that accounted for his outstanding record sales and many Grammy awards.

George Strait with a Guild Guitar

Once again, George's voice was pure Country. George Strait started out playing Guild guitars, but he now endorses Taylor guitars.

George Strait with Custom Taylor  910e

Strait uses Taylor models 610e and 910e. Occasionally he plays a Collings D3.

Alan Jackson

Alan Jackson came on the Country Music scene during the 1990’s. Jackson is one of the best selling artists of all time, and is beloved by Country Music fans for his anthem ‘Don’t Rock The Jukebox’.

Alan Jackson with Taylor Guitar

He is another artist that endorses Taylor guitars, and he plays a custom built Taylor guitar that is based on their model 610e.

Jackson's guitar has AAA rated maple back and sides, and a Sitka spruce top. It has an inlay of a Blue Marlin on the 12th fret. It has a built in Fishman Matrix under bridge pickup with a Baggs pre-amplifier.

Vince Gill with Pure Prairie League

Vince Gill started his career playing guitar, and singing with the rock group Pure Prairie League. Their original lead singer, Craig Fuller, had left the band. That is Gill's voice you hear on 'Let Me Love You Tonight'.

Vince Gill with Rodney Crowell

Gill went on to play guitar in Rodney Crowell's show band, and also worked with mandolin player David Grisman, recording a Bluegrass Album.

Vince Gill has won numerous CMA awards, and he is an avid guitar collector who doesn't mind taking some valuable instruments on tour.

Vince Gill with his 1942 Martin D-28

His favorite Martin is a 1942 D-28 Herringbone. He owns several other Martins including a 1971 D-41, and two 1928 000-45's, and two 1936 000-28's. He owns a 1953 white Fender Telecaster, and several 1950's black pickguard Telecasters.

He also owns 8 vintage Fender Stratocasters, and a 1959 sunburst Les Paul.

Emmylou Harris - Gibson J-200

There are several woman Country singers, but few play guitar. Emmylou Harris got her start playing guitar alongside Gram Parsons. She had her roots in Folk Music, but transitioned nicely into Country. Once she was discovered by producer Brian Ahern, she was encouraged to put together her 'Hot Band' for tours.

The talent in that band was incredible, and as members got other opportunities, they were replaced.

Emmylou Harris has recorded so many great albums, songs, and has recorded with a cornucopia of well known artists, that include Rodney Crowell, Dolly Parton, and Linda Ronstadt.

Harris was best known for using her black Gibson J-200. This guitar was modified by luthier Danny Ferrington, with and updated  'mustache bridge', and inlaid an image of a rose on the guitars top, which became her trademark.

Gibson L-200 Emmylou Harris Model

In 2002 the Gibson Guitar Company created a smaller version of this super jumbo guitar for her calling it the L-200.

During the 1990's, award winning artists like Reba McEntire, Faith Hill, LeeAnne Rimes, and Martina McBride all recorded hit songs.

 In my opinion, many of these songs strayed from what I believe is pure Country Music, because of the production methods, and use of Rock style guitar.

Brad Paisley 1968 Telecaster

Brad Paisley came along in 1999 as a break-out Country star. He combines modern Country with Rock. Paisley famously uses his trademark 1968 Fender Paisley Telecaster.

Paisely's Crook Telecaster

He also uses some other Telecaster style guitars created by luthier Bob Crooks, a 1952 Fender Telecaster, and Fender Stratocasters.

Paisley with a Dr. Z Amplifier

While other Country artists depend on Fender, or Peavey amplifiers, Brad Paisley uses amplifiers made by Dr. Z (Mike Zaite).





Marty Stuart is another Country artists, and multi-instrumentalist that has not swayed from his Country roots. His band, 'The Fabulous Superlatives', reminds me of Buck Owens band, 'The Buckaroos'.

Marty Stuart's 1954 Telecaster

Marty is another guitar collector. His main electric guitar once belonged to Gene Parsons, and contains the original Parson/White string bender.


The 1954 Telecaster actually has two bodies, that are back to back, to maintain the inner workings of the bender. The headstock has two Keith banjo tuners on the E-strings.

Marty Stuart with his 1942 Martin D-45

He also owns a 1942 Martin D-45 that once belonged to Hank Williams. He purchased it from Johnny Cash.

Though there are some other Country artists and guitarists that still play Country Music, but they seldom get any air play on 'Country Music' radio stations.

Modern Country artists, such as Brooks and Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Blake Shelton, Luke Bryan, and others in my opinion no longer fall into the Country Music mode of 'Three Chords, and the Truth'. While they are very talented, put on wonderful shows, and have a large fan base, their recordings are full of production tricks, such as digital auto-harmonization, pitch correction, over compression, and distorted guitars. I am not sure Hank done it that way.