Mik Bondy of The Garcia Project - Jerry Garcia inspired guitar rig walkthrough

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Mik Bondy, guitarist for The Garcia Project, walks us through his Jerry Garcia style guitar rig. The Garcia Project is a nationally touring tribute to the classic Jerry Garcia Band and they perform full Jerry Garcia Band set lists from 1976 - 1995. Check out www.thegarciapr... for tour dates and more!
Rig walkthrough footage provided by Mt. Mansfield Media, who are filming our inclusion in a new documentary on the Grateful Dead tribute scene and our community of Deadheads. Our friend Andy Logan, who gifted Mik’s two guitars to him and many others, is the executive producer of this film and the founder of the Grateful Guitars foundation, a new nonprofit that will ensure players get the gear they deserve that will launch later this year. Andy is a generous musical philanthropist who has graciously donated to the efforts and the sound of many of our beloved tribute bands, including The Garcia Project. All profits from the film will benefit Rex Foundation and the newly formed Grateful Guitars Foundation. From the producers of the film: “The Music Plays the Band” is a not for profit documentary that delves deep into the musical legacy of The Grateful Dead and captures the enduring spirit that continues to thrive in the constantly growing Deadhead community since the GD ended their run in 1995. It is our intention that people leave the film struck by the deep and ongoing impact of the Grateful Dead. We hope it will inspire many to embrace a new experience and interpretation of this iconic music.

[@georgessheehy_sh33hy]

a camera mic does not work for this kind of shooting

[@timhernandez9413]

The tone at 4:48 sounds like an overdrive mixed with a half cocked wah. We used to call that Jerry's "reptilian" sound for some reason, which I'm sure originated from some acid trip. He used to really dive deep into that tone out of space into I Need a Miracle. Your tone comes closest to that Holy Grail!

[@nickdonalds0546]

When I get rich, i need you to recreate another duplicate setup for me 🙏

[@prcc]

Great video! Amy plans to play in Canada? Lots of deadheads here in beautiful Vancouver!

[@thegarciaproject]

We would love to! Send your best promotor our way and we can make it happen!

[@mzmudy]

Very unique and sounds great! I don't think I could replicate this, but I like what you've done.

[@thegarciaproject]

Thanks so much!

[@johnjames77]

What pickups are you using in your TB?

[@thegarciaproject]

TB custom wound

[@michaelchrist5356]

Wow Mik, could foul anyone. I personally own an original GD dual woofer bin , verified as a pro type to the wall of sound,probably owned by a band member..it’s baffle has been painted green,just like Phil’s rack.

[@michaelcasty]

Hey now how’s it ? Wow what great Garcia tone. I see you have a Travis Bean , these are becoming very rare to find these days and expensive too. Nice job man Jerry would be proud Peace ☮ from Hawaii 🏝🏄🍺🐠🐬🍄🎸🤙🌺🐳🦚

[@MrRobhartman]

Nice rig ! I saw you play at The River Street Jazz Cafe. Great show thanks for sharing.

[@jimmyb4728]

Oh yeah I also just subscribed to your channel I hope I made it 800 for ya. One more thing what do ya think about Phreds Jerry castors

[@wesmitchem825]

Mxr makes a phaser now that is in a wah style enclosure so you can control the speed with the treadle and everything with knobs on the side.the intensity knob on the phase 100 is just four presets changing the amount of depth and feedback is applied to the phaser plus it has six stages instead of four like the phase 90 but on low depth and feedback settings it sounds just like a phase 90 so its not a huge upgrade really the phase 95 is more versatile than it and alot cheaper

[@michaelradtke3935]

Love it Mik!!! Man would I love to jam with that rig, I remember the early stages of that setup well, and it’s only grown to be sweeter and sweeter as time goes on. I was thinking about how TLEO would sound, then you teased it a bit, lol. Love you guys, keep rocking it!!!🎸🎸🎸

[@jonathanhandsmusic]

Very cool. I remember buying a used Travis Bean koa body in 1980 for $300. I should have kept it.

[@johnjames77]

One of my Jerry Rigs is a Groove Tube Trio with a Mac 50. You have got the tone perfect !!!

[@thegarciaproject]

I recently acquired a mc 2300 ...then tone has improved! Will be doing a new walkthrough soon!

[@johnjames77]

@@thegarciaproject That should give you plenty of "Jerry Tone Power"

[@johnburger6774]

How does a ohm mismatch make it sing more.? If anything it would shit the bed. If you say distortion is singing then I would agree.

[@thegarciaproject]

The original mcintosh power amps are built to handle ohm mismatches and create "distortion" or "breakup" that is pleasing to the ear in a high power speaker like a JBL e-120.

[@nulldude782]

My holy grail tone is the TB 3 pickup with the octave/envelope/dist+/phase100. I am almost there!

[@pm5906]

The blend knob or "magic maker" as you describe it. I saw jerry use it one time in a july 90 aiko and i was like woah what is that? I would like to hear more about this circuit please!!!! I have never heard anyone speak of it ever.

[@thegarciaproject]

Jerry had a few knobs by/near his rig. I believe most of the extra knobs were for mixing his monitor wedge....the box I talk about in my rig is an effect loop blend, so I can mix in clean tone with my envelope, distortion or whatever....it really makes a difference for me :) -- Mik

[@pm5906]

Thanks, Yeah the knob is in a silver box. I'm thinking if that is how he is controlling the "blend" between the two effects chains on the rack? Keep on keeping on man

[@steves1588]

Garcias tone came from his fingers....the one thing you can't buy and plug into.

[@thegarciaproject]

True, but having a good sound base makes it much more fun :)

[@mikeroberts5724]

And a fender amp.with jbls and a strat middle pickup

[@jimmyb4728]

Grate Jerry sound, oh yeah Happy Birthday Jerry. What brand envelope filter do you use on your board, I don't have anything close to your rig but I use a Qtron mini from Electro Harmonix. That filter with a good overdrive, compressor, n reverb pedals works really good for his sound on Shakedown Street and Estimated as well as all the other tracks that have that special Jerry twang we all know n love. Peace brother you n yours be safe.😎✌️🌅🌈🍄🐻🐢🕺💃

[@thegarciaproject]

I use a 70;s mutron, much like the one Jerry had.

[@bb_lz9790]

Is the poweramp section of the Twin Reverb still active even though your using the McIntosh for power duties?

[@thegarciaproject]

Power tubes have been removed.

[@rocpile2517]

I hope to see you play someday. Please come to Wisconsin

[@julioflores2649]

Really groovy stuff. When you coming back to Chicago?

[@thegarciaproject]

Hopefully we will be back in 2023!

[@michaelkearns8499]

I have essentially the same rig, except silver face twin and Mac 2105(?) I believe.... anyway I was wondering about the bright switch???? On or off? I have mine on, but I've read a few places that said Garcia had it off. It's a pretty substantial difference in tone

[@thegarciaproject]

Ive modded my bright switch and do leave it on.

[@michaelkearns8499]

​@@thegarciaprojectthankyou sir... do you know what modifications were done to the bright switch?? And I'm assuming the speakers are E120s??

[@thegarciaproject]

@@michaelkearns8499 Yes e120s. The whole amp was redone by myself years ago with similar/same caps and resistors in jerrys front street twin,

[@kebby28]

Are you using the reverb built into the twin preamp for your clean tone, obel off?

[@thegarciaproject]

Im using a lexicon reverb.

[@thegarciaproject]

Ive actually recently switched back to a reverb tank :)

[@anonymond6697]

why the plywood over the fender?

[@TheConsequencesBand]

I dont think it has speakers in there.

[@adamdecker4932]

My personal favorite is the orange amp, did Jerry Garcia never tried the orange amp? I always love the clean sound that came out of the orange amp overall the other apps out there, let me know if you want to jam sometime it's been a long time

[@kjguitarman]

Orange is a good amp but they’re solid state. Jerry’s rig was all tube amp for a warm tone. Although digital modeling is getting amazing sounds these days.

[@daveyboy8907]

@@kjguitarman orange isn't all solid state.Only the cr120 is the rest are tube amps..I have 3.

[@michaelpiercey2160]

@@kjguitarman Jerry’s rig was half n half. Twin Reverb preamp out to a solid state McIntosh MC2300. Still has the tube warmers with tightness of solid state. Real cool sound

[@thegarciaproject]

@@kjguitarman Actually, Jerry played through a tube amp INTO a solid state amp...

[@VirginiaWolf88]

Sounds really good. Nice Job!!!

[@oliverchapman51177]

Middle pickup on a good Strat. Blackface and good hands

[@thegarciaproject]

That's def a strong match!

[@GucciPonderosa]

How did you use the volume pedal as an expression pedal??

[@thegarciaproject]

The pot was replaced by one that matches the pot from the pedal.

[@keseysvenisonchili]

Sorry if this has already been asked and answered but what speakers?

[@thegarciaproject]

JBL E-120 12 inch 8 ohm :)

[@keseysvenisonchili]

That’s what I assumed, just curious. Looking forward to seeing yall up here in Tacoma next month!

[@nulldude782]

I can never nail the distortion tone.

[@keseysvenisonchili]

Sarno solar flare. You’ll thank me

[@CraigAWhelanJr]

Awesome.

[@graphicnick07]

Awesome brother, just Awesome 😎

[@onowtf13]

Love the Travis Bean!!!!!

[@thegarciaproject]

Yes!

[@seabertotter4325]

where to get the Garcia Wolf sticker?

[@yojimboeastwood5602]

Internet. Amazon. Got one on my bunker gear

[@seabertotter4325]

@@yojimboeastwood5602 thanks, that's what I did a year ago.

[@VixCrush]

Seems like you need to work on the sound for this video. Get some schoeps mics and point them at Mike. His voice is barely audible in this.

[@shiftd_1114]

Nice job finding your own sound.... "the garcia project" really? fkn lame

[@thegarciaproject]

We wish you all good things. Sending nothing but peace and love your way. We are grateful for and support free speech and the right to express yourself and your opinions. Remember, your words matter, and so do you.

[@johnjames77]

It's a good descriptive name . People can figure the direction of your music !!!

[@Illumignostic]

Shouldn’t recreate Jerry’s terrible distortion tone. Always thought it was a shame that he didn’t seem to understand what a good distorted tone sounds like

[@thegarciaproject]

To each his own! We love his overdrive tones :)

[@darrellminx5459]

You are right about that. Much as I like Jerry's tones I think his distortion was lacking because he went from tube pre amp to transistor power amps and we know what that does to distortion. Just an educated guess.

[@Illumignostic]

@darrellminx5459 he didn’t seem to understand distortion, that’s for sure. Best clean, worst lead tone

[@Skyhawk472]

That distorted tone was all his own! NOBODY sounded like that

[@darrellminx5459]

Miss directed comment to me. I have not seen this video. But now I have. Jerry and his distortion changed throughout the years. In the old days he would even use a cocked wah wah pedal for distortion.

[@AP-ui7oi]

I don’t get the whole “tribute band” thing.

[@johnjames77]

Jerry died, so this band sounds very similar and so people can still enjoy live shows. It's really a simple concept...

[@billdehey1300]

Living on the coatails of others. Cover bands would be plagorists in the literary realm

[@thegarciaproject]

Actually think of it more like orchestras playing the music of older composers.

[@browniecookiedough7026]

@@thegarciaproject agree with u a trillion percent 💖💖💖

[@Jerrys_missing_finger]

If they were trying to pass it off as their own original work maybe. This is clearly not that.

[@johnjames77]

Most bands had mentors and the Dead was no exception

[@MrMick50]

Why not play what you love these bands are not around anymore many people love this music it keeps it alive Jerry and others who are no longer with us would love this after all imitation is the best form of flattery cover bands keep on rocking ❤❤❤

[@jeffreyp1855]

I wasn't a huge fan of The Dead, but when you have as many songs as they did, there is going to be at least a dozen songs that you love! Nice playing, bro!🤘