phil x guitar (for guitar geeks only :P)

it seems pretty interesting that he uses a yamaha with two P90s for most of the set, given that both pickups are single coils and jovi uses a awful lot of humbucking beef in their songs.. sounds good though !

Is he using Richie's gear? Their tones aren't too far apart. Of course, I've not cared for Richie's tone since he went to those signature ESPs he's been using for a long time (I'm partial to his more vintage-y tones a la These Days-era).

yes strange, personally i prefer the humbucker tone to a single coil but phils tone is good

totally agree

I don't know about gear but I am sure Richie's guitar tech is making sure the tone is right one way or the other.

I agree with the These Days era guitars. Richie shoudln't be playing with anything other than a strat or les paul. I might let a vintage tele (like his US solo tour) through... but that is it.

Say what you will about Bobby and I will probably agree but he has nice taste in guitars. I have seen him with 2 different PRSs, Triple Humbucker Gibson Firebird (bad ass!), 72 tele... that is all I can think of but I have never been disappointed. Richie needs to step over on that side of the stage and borrow a guitar or two.

when ESP offered him a deal he must have had some contract obligations that made him use the Sambora ESP almost exclusively, but i'm pretty sure those obligations have been met. the reason why he still uses it must be cause he likes it.. i don't dislike it, works well on the 80s stuff with the humbucker and floyd rose but it lacks that vintage character, reason why he still uses his gibsons and fenders. i like the fact he uses a tele for saturday night and these days, i just miss the sound of the strat on dry county. anyways, what REALLY I miss right now (dont we all?) is the man himself, no matter what guitars he uses ! fingers crossed... lets hope his rehab stint really ends in may.

I am personally hope it ends before May 21... Milwaukee. But most important, I hope it sticks this time.

YES a strat for Dry County and a Les Paul for Always. Not that I am against the Gibson he has been playing on those two songs, but it just doesn't have the action he needs... He is doing well with it but he is not playing jazz. And I suppose the Always solo is kind of bluesy, but I guess I just prefer the Les Paul for that song.

Mainly I miss the the tone that his old Fender (was it Rocktone?) amps got. Mixed with a strat... few things are sweeter. I am trying to think of the last song that requires a real warm, quality tone that isn't covered by thick distortion. They don't play the tracks from Lost Highway that would benefit from it, like The Last Night or One Step Closer. There's Mystery Train and Two Story Town from Crush. Nothing really from Bounce. So I guess Saturday Night is the only song that they are still playing most shows. Damn, I wish they'd bring back This Ain't a Love Song.

Anyway, what he is doing is fine. But we, as guitarist, can kind of live through him and his guitar choices... and I personally really enjoy watching what he is playing on.

At least he's kept faithful to the Strat on Keep the Faith. Nothing but a Strat should touch that song.

The article that was posted the day of Jazzfest said all Richie's gear was being set up and thats the reason why the speculated Richie would show. I'm assuming Phil is using a large part of Richie's gear based on that info.

It makes sense - Richie's tech changes a lot of stuff for him back-stage anyway so it not only helps keep the guitar sounds close but also makes his job a lot easier not having the temporary guitarist having a new rig that he has to learn.

I would anticipate Phil's floor fx board is quite basic for these shows and that the tech has Richie's large board with him back-stage to do most of the fx/amp switching. Just a guess though.