Billy Strings' Custom Martin D-45 & BlueChip Picks | Rig Rundown Trailer

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The psychedelic flatpicker shows off his blinged-out acoustic and details the picks he uses onstage every night.
It’d be hard to argue that anyone has changed their sound as much as Billy Strings has in the last 10 years. If you reference the pre-war traditional collaboration albums he first did with Don Julin (Rock of Ages and Fiddle Tune X), and his solo debut EP Billy Strings, and then witnessed one of his recent high-voltage shows, the songs and sounds are both worlds apart … yet familiarly rooted. He went from opening on the Bluegrass circuit to a crossover festival headliner that’s more Dead than Doc. He’s now filling arenas and amphitheaters as an evening-with performer that often crushes for over three hours by incorporating sideways jams and creative covers. However, each set still includes moments where the four musicians onstage stand around a single mic, just as their bluegrass forefathers did generations ago. So, even as he sends bluegrass into the cosmos, he keeps one foot planted in Appalachia.
Strings shared his thoughts on that juxtaposition during a 2019 PG interview: “Before writing my own music, I used to be boxed in by bluegrass, but enjoying other musical genres made me realize it’s a self-made, transparent box,” he said. “Music should be freeing, with no borders. I want to express myself emotionally with my guitar, however it pours out of me.”
When the Rig Rundown team traveled north to Indianapolis’ TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park, we didn’t know what to expect, but Strings’ full-monty setup did not disappoint. His rig still has delightful dreadnoughts, including some new old friends from Martin, but the many tricks rolled up his sleeve (or in his rack) allows this psychedelic sorcerer to cast spells over audiences all night long. Billy gave an hour to PG’s Perry Bean, where they covered electrifying acoustics, just whose ashes are in his 1945 Martin D-28, and how he continues coloring outside the traditional lines with stompboxes and modelers.
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Full Rig Details: bit.ly/BillyStrings23RR Subscribe to PG's Channel: bit.ly/SubscribePGKZbin Win Guitar Gear: bit.ly/GiveawaysPG Don't Miss a Rundown: bit.ly/RIgRundownENL Merch & Magazines: shop.premierguitar.com

[@bflo5210]

Billy is absolutely amazing.....my wife and I saw him live in Tampa, she's never even heard of him, but instantly became a fan! She still talks about how it's the best concert she's ever been to! GO SEE HIM LIVE, YOU WON'T REGRET IT!!!!

[@RobVanDam1591]

You live in tampa

[@AsleepPig98]

Saw him live about a week ago he was fantastic

[@paolospadaro]

Wow

[@UAL320]

2:03 Dang, all I need to do to play like Bryan Sutton is use a bluechip? Wish I would have known that years ago!

[@jasonvegan5761]

I wonder if Billy Strings knows Johnny Fretboard?

[@tomcarl8021]

I heard there's a lot of tension between the two.

[@jasonvegan5761]

@@tomcarl8021 Zing!!!

[@terencepetrichor4154]

Yep he looks and acts high as a Georgia pine lol

[@andysparks8103]

Yeah he seems stoned here

[@Farrisongs]

Is it heresy to say D45s just have too much unnecessary bling? The cringeworthy bindings at the bottom of the fingerboard are too much.

[@gregvs_1646]

yes

[@yelram4life]

It's heresy.

[@Farrisongs]

@@yelram4life Ha! Well, let me just say that I will never need a guitar with more bling than an HD28

[@user-dm8oj8on2x]

@@Farrisongsi agree but that cringe is why you buy D-45 I guess…

[@thesjkexperience]

I like the 41 Specials that have the pearl just on the top and the snowflake inlays. I have a J-41 Special and its really great.