Rig Rundown - Deep Sea Diver's Jessica Dobson

Jessica Dobson started her music career early as she was signed to Atlantic at just 19. She recorded two solo albums, but both her and the label did not like the end result, so they were ultimately shelved. Some would see this one-two punch of disappointment a crippling blow, but she took it in stride focusing on her more indie-orientated jams. This led her to a string of supporting guitar roles with Beck, the Shins, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Spoon, and Conor Oberst. Each of these stops gave her the stripes and positive energy to revisit a solo career that was earlier stifled.
In 2009, the hired gun transformed into a bandleader under the Deep Sea Diver moniker and alongside husband Peter Mansen (drums), she released the New Caves EP. Garrett Gue (bass), and Elliot Jackson (guitar/synth) joined them and quartet self-released their full-length debut, History Speaks, in 2012 (while she was still in the Shins). 2014 was the year for DSD’s Always Waiting EP that was succeeded by 2016’s Secrets.
Just ahead of Deep Sea Diver’s third full-length release, 'Impossible Weight', Dobson virtually welcomed PG’s Chris Kies into her friend’s Seattle-based studio. The Deep Sea Diver captain opens up about aligning her offset guitar choices to indie icons Elvis Costello, Johnny Marr, and Jonny Greenwood, crediting Nels Cline for introducing her to a must-have pedal, and twisting her band’s sound from “strangled cats to glassy Johnny Greenwood” and everywhere in between.
[Facing a mandatory shelter-in-place ordinance to limit the spread of COVID-19, PG enacted a hybrid approach to filming and producing Rig Rundowns. This is the 24th video in that format.
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Article & Photos: bit.ly/JessicaDobsonRR
Merch & Magazines: shop.premierguitar.com
Don't Miss a Rundown: bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
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00:00 - Intro
01:39 - Elvis Costello Jazzmaster
06:29 - 1964 Fender Jaguar
13:58 - BilT S.S. Zaftig
18:58 - Fender Starcaster
21:38 - Amps
24:33 - Pedalboard
#rigrundown #deepseadiver #jessicadobson

[@premierguitar]

Article & Photos: bit.ly/JessicaDobsonRR Merch & Magazines: shop.premierguitar.com Don't Miss a Rundown: bit.ly/RIgRundownENL Subscribe to PG's Channel: bit.ly/SubscribePGKZbin

[@reedthesteed]

Chris is such a fantastic interviewer. He’s a very natural conversationalist and you can tell he does his homework.

[@chris_kies]

@Reed The Steed Thanks for the love! (And for watching PG's KZbin channel!!)

[@vintagepipesnightmares]

Yeah mr Steed . I say let him be the next president. The way he prepared for such a tough interview with this girl is so amazing ! I love Chris !

[@stevemorano9317]

Seems such a wicked guy! I’ve seen so many with him in I feel like we’ve met many times 👍

[@adrianseifi3285]

Probably one of my favorite Rig Rundowns so far and I'm not even that big of a Deep Sea Diver fan, it was just that good, irregardless of Covid-edition or not. Looking forward to checking out the new record. Also, am I the only one who almost associates the EC Jazzmaster more with Jessica Dobson than Elvis Costello himself? Haha

[@InAverySilentWay]

Not a guitar player but a working drummer for years. The newest Deep Sea Diver album is incredible. Fantastic songwriting and production. Jessica has such a great musical sensibility and I greatly enjoyed hearing her break down the tools of her trade.

[@NutsTesticles]

This is the best format for this show

[@django02]

Great interview with lots of really good questions. It's always cool to hear from a guitar player who not only knows their gear inside out, but can clearly explain and show how and why they use what they use. It was also cool to hear how Jessica gets some of the great sounds she uses in her songs.

[@premierguitar]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@chris_kies]

Thanks for watching!

[@NLBassist]

A shout out to Nels Cline and Johnny Marr. Yeah! Great video!

[@omarpigeon]

And Marc Ribot !

[@chrisholland2016]

Jessica is alot more sweeter and wholesome than I expected and yet an awesome musician. Definitely an amazing person in an amazing band. Deep sea diver.

[@SeattleDude1108]

I met her at a guitar shop in Seattle once. She was picking up her guitar from the tech, and just messed around for a bit until it was ready. It was great to hear her jam a little bit in a garage and mess around with some gear

[@ericvel]

Best rig rundown ever. I love Jessica! She is one with that Jazzmaster.

[@glennmcmullen5192]

really enjoyed this rig rundown and love Jessica's playing!

[@hearpalhere]

These rig rundown videos are some of my favorite ways to discover new music! It's so much fun seeing talented people demonstrating their gear in a musical way. Another great interview by Chris!

[@Empyrean55]

Straight up the best tone in the business

[@alexschrodt]

Made my night to hear her bust out that Marc Ribot solo (while playing the Benson) from Tom Waits’ ‘Jockey Full of Bourbon’... perhaps my favorite song from what is easily one of my favorite records of all time...

[@hiroprotagonitis]

she really knows her shit!! if what comes in is good, what goes out should be spectacular!

[@robertkortus]

One of the best Rig Rundowns they've done in a while. Really enjoyed it. Having the amp mic'd up makes all the difference.

[@jzf128]

That was a verry interresting gear review. Indeed one of the best.

[@stopmikeandjim3196]

This is a great format for these. Plus Jessica comes off as both knowledgeable and cool AF. Nice to hear her describe exactly what she's going for with each piece of equipment.

[@vdrc9787]

Jessica is awesome! Saw her play with the Shins in Las Vegas, she was the best part of the show (no offense to James and the other Shins). Can’t wait to get my copy of Impossible Weight, and great job on the interview. Great content like this makes the disaster of 2020 and staying at home somewhat manageable.

[@banjothebandit]

Love her playing! Glad to see her on here

[@TheGreenKingdom]

Pedals as colors - totally! Just discovering Deep Sea Diver- loving their sound and Jessica's playing. Another great interview Chris.

[@Bear_Love_Records]

She is beyond cool. Loving her music at the minute.

[@sandingchrome]

Top notch rig rundown! Great setup, great conversation, great references! Honest and inspiring.

[@premierguitar]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@garyjford1981]

Wow - beautiful pedals, awesome guitars and an amazing artist - great playing. Made me rethink my pedal ‘direction’. Such a good interview.

[@hibernative]

Love this! Totally vibing with her vintage style setup under heavy modulation. The Bilt is killer.

[@kidcoastless8575]

Chris is always such a warm personality, and a great interviewer. That on top of this sick gear is super sweet, PG! One of my fav rundowns yet, and I've only learned about her a day or two ago!

[@premierguitar]

Right on!

[@yurimodin7333]

she is one of the best kept secrets in modern guitar........sure she does not shread like EVH but its more of a nuanced ride that is a hybrid of Radiohead and PinkFloyd.

[@SpookieVonDookie]

She’s one of my favorite guitarists, I had no idea she had a rig rundown

[@VIDS2013]

The Yamaha Pacifica is a good guitar. Nothing to be ashamed of.

[@benday1218]

Had one 25 years. I still love it.

[@PieterVan]

Agreed. The more expensive ones will put many a Fender to shame. The cheaper ones many a Squier.

[@natethebesttt]

The privilege is strong

[@nmv881]

She has some of my fav guitar tones that I chase. When I think of jazzmaster rigs, I think of her. That pink Bilt 😍

[@rexnavarro2918]

Very cool Rig Rundown..and thanks for introducing me to a new Artist...

[@piotrtrypus]

Really cool episode, thank you so much :)

[@premierguitar]

Thank you too!

[@rdmkeytohwy]

Jessica is such a cool chick and has gotten some really cool tones with all of her gear. Good guitar player with a lot of vibe. Nice to have a break from the same old gear and same old sounds. She seems like a very nice person and humble and grateful for her opportunities. I hope she gets many more and I also would like to say this was a great interview and rig rundown. Loved every minute of this!

[@howardtowler6146]

This is the reason I watch rig rundown.

[@davebirk]

Thanks for having Jessica on, Chris! She’s a super-pro creative tone maker - always sonic goodness and interest in the ‘colors’ she creates. More people need to know her name and her music. That Pleasure Trem pedal - still the best for an effect that turns heads and makes every guitar player in the room gawk at the pedalboard trying to figure out what pedal it is. :) Now, I want a rundown of your tattoos! Some amazing work.

[@janomanoide]

My god, this woman is amazing. Great tone!

[@arbiforumnow]

I love Jessica's voice too. That debut album blew me away.

[@wartimemodels]

Props for playing This Charming Man.

[@chrisold6729]

Such a good rundown!

[@lesharrison3739]

I was was unfamiliar with her until I saw Pearl Jam play this summer. I love PJ but I came away a massive Deep Sea Diver fan. Impossible Weight is such an incredible album. This is one of my favorite rig rundowns. Thanks, Jessica, Chris, and PG.

[@Saganite]

Definitely my new favorite Rig Rundown (this format seems even better than the original to me!). Jessica just sold me on every piece of gear played here. Very Helter Skelter to my ears. And Jockey Full of Bourbon was icing on the cake!

[@byteflight]

Love these; thanks for another great one. And I love the American Psycho reference.

[@rstuartcpa]

Punctured bicycle, On a hillside desolate, Will nature make a man of me yet? We knew which song you were playing and the memories came flooding in. Love DSD and Jessica, you are a bad ass guitar player with taste and mad skills...and a great voice to boot.

[@nigman2023]

Very nice rundown Jessica

[@mightyV444]

Thank you Premier Guitar for introducing Jessica Dobson to me! I had really enjoyed watching this video this morning (and especially the fact that she plays a Starcaster :-) ) and have now watched some of her solo and Deep Sea Diver performances across YT and am very impressed! Great musician! :-)

[@premierguitar]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@benday1218]

Very tasteful sounds, nice interview.

[@KordTaylor]

Really a nice interview. Really a nice Lollar pickup shoutout.

[@rome8180]

Love Chris. I wish you'd have him do every Rig Rundown. Nothing seems forced with his interviews.

[@barneymiller5488]

Tone Queen!

[@mateuszt6498]

I have no idea who she is and don't know her band, but I see a whole load of cool offset guitars and a great interview. Great interviewer and she's great at telling the story behind everyting. Very enjoyable! Will check Deep Sea Diver out.

[@jezmez68]

Great interview. I was looking for that warped vinyl sound a few months ago and then I decided to do a deep dive on my Ibanez Digital Flanger I got in 1987, and it had that same kind of warp on it.

[@sophiekrop750]

awesome rig

[@jessievasser6293]

Maybe my fav RR so far... this was great!

[@ReyYbarra]

Pleasure trem! Hats off to Mr menatone!

[@MariaEduardaSilva-oh4dq]

wow this was awesome! would love to see another of these with Joff Oddie from Wolf Alice

[@adammassacre1981]

My Gosh i love this woman! :D x

[@chrisnewman448]

I saw Jessica on the JHS show and was very impressed. She's totally real and has excellent skills and taste.

[@leevitalone]

So I really enjoy how she is a guitarist and that she can articulate how much she enjoys being a musician, when you listen to her and feel what brings her joy. I makes you want to pick up your guitar and plug it into your amp and just whale on it. Just to see the sounds scapes it can make great interview, amazing artist in the PNW. Will make a point to see a Deep Sea Diver show.

[@AWSum-uf4ri]

She is so grand

[@caiusmadison2996]

Does it Keeley Loomer? Of COURSE it does! Lol great interview and demos with interesting footnotes about all of it. Love this type of candid gear stuff, with the history and all.

[@d.wilson1402]

Jessica is super cool. You can tell that she is genuine.

[@Holden-C.]

great taste. great tones. sick gear

[@snappycaster]

That guitar tone is what they play in heaven I STG

[@eldude-iv8dw]

I’m glad to see I’m not the only one rocking a Fender Starcaster. They re great guitars and can’t recommend them enough.

[@hauntedhose]

She is adorable 🥰

[@stevemorano9317]

Agreed, a cool chic 😎🎸

[@cahyopramono3458]

Thank you mam😊🤘❤

[@dickstryker]

I showed up for the Jazzmasters I stayed for the masterclass. Great stuff!

[@profile_01]

This was a really good Rug Rindown

[@pg123ab]

Great new format. She is such a great talented artist. ❤️

[@stevemorano9317]

You’re cool 😎 🎸 great sounds 👍

[@jeffdixon847]

26:50 - Side with the Seeds. Awesome tone!

[@Grungebob_Squaredance]

Talented Genius.

[@pbourque8564]

Totally !

[@Barry101er]

Super-one of the better ones ;)

[@brucefellowes4848]

Best one for a while. Similar taste in gear to myself

[@livepoetssociety-NL]

Awesome! Great interview, great personality and this girl certainly has her act and tone together! Gonna listen to the new record right away!

[@tjonesig1216]

Mm Månmm Mb Mb

[@tjonesig1216]

mm

[@tjonesig1216]

Mbmmbm nmzp

[@tjonesig1216]

Mm

[@tjonesig1216]

Måmbimnnnnå

[@TheDatasureal]

Awesome video...cool shirt...baby baaby..

[@Jacobcfuller]

She gets some of the best tones. "It Takes a Moment" riff is some of the meanest shit ever

[@lebwohl1]

Honestly my favourite guitarist of the past ten years. Can't wait to buy the new record!

[@vintagepipesnightmares]

You must be payed to say such a stupid little thing. She barely plays 4 chords.

[@johnevered9640]

that tremolo pedal was nuts!!! i have to find one of those

[@colinohara9796]

I have a pre CBS 64 Jag too, mines is candy apple red w/ matching headstock. Most amazing guitars.

[@caiusmadison2996]

Had a 65 body with a 64 neck, I know exactly what you mean. Back then, the parts where all mixed up, and the total sum would have several markers to date it by. This made for some weird factory true mismatched years between body, neckplates, pickups, and necks. Very weird they never thought this mattered then...

[@caiusmadison2996]

Matching head, Olympic White, just like she has in this video. Cept' body is newer by a year.

[@RobBrownSTS]

Great interview Chris. Your style reminds me of Sean Evans of Hot Ones minus the hot sauce. Deep Sea Diver are so rad!

[@chris_kies]

Appreciate the comparison/love, @Rob Brown - love me some wings, too!

[@thenewmedic]

Minus the crazy life details.

[@horrorview]

I love that her Blue Sky looks like most of my pedals and has cat hair on it.

[@TNNLZ]

That was a great rundown - what a perfect collection of gear and she is a great player. I’m jealous 😔 (In a good way).

[@DSilvergun]

I like her.

[@goran3149]

10/10

[@Paul_Lenard_Ewing]

Thanx Jessica for the heads up on the heads up on the Earth Drive. I play in power trio and I go from sounds that can remove the back wall to flat picking parts in the same song and if I go dead clean the sound is just too damn stark. Think of it like going from Black Sabbath to something you do lol. All low gain pedals I have tried have fuzzy edges to the tone or sound synthetic especially if they really just modded Tube Screamers.This sounds perfect!! So thanx!

[@yurimodin7333]

check out a Boss OD-3......super transparent OD and can be tweaked from a mild compressor to almost like a hairy TS.

[@seanhershey3390]

Broken Social Scene...:)....I think you just sold me a Starcaster... great Rundown!

[@ronnybeech292]

Jessica is the best

[@nickp440]

That bilt is fricken awesome

[@PurposefulPorpoise]

Dobson? Dobson! Dobson! we got Dobson here!

[@pauulkubasek1815]

See? Nobody cares..

[@electrolinks]

Enjoyed the episode... I like her style. Humble and cool. I tried so hard not to let you all down It's an impossible weight So I'll just let you down now

[@maxwelldlee]

Deep sea diver is so rad

[@HunterMann]

Image didn’t upload: Amoeba Music is hosting a virtual in-store concert of Jessica playing some songs from the new Deep Sea Diver album “Impossible Weight”. Just check the Amoeba Hollywood site

[@imannonymous7707]

So cool to see a chick who knows what she wants to hear in her gear. Costello feist spoon...i love those artists. And though i dont share her choices in guitars. I dig all her amps. Especially the bensons. And ive never even heard her before...cool

[@doogdoogdoogdoogdoogdoog]

Chris is like the Sean Evans of the guitar interview world, top dude! Obviously loved this rundown and Jessica too, what a dream pair of people 💗

[@jessievasser6293]

LOL I was thinking the same thing

[@doogdoogdoogdoogdoogdoog]

@@jessievasser6293 “careful around the eyes”

[@jessievasser6293]

@@doogdoogdoogdoogdoogdoog LOL

[@chris_kies]

@d o o g Thanks! I love me some wings, too!!

[@doogdoogdoogdoogdoogdoog]

@@chris_kies THIS CAMERA, THIS CAMERA OR THIS CAMERA

[@freddyc.d2536]

The Surfrajettes rig rundown, please!!

[@zab666]

Awesome. Have you folks thought about doing a Rig Rundown with Mike Vennart, tour guitarist of Biffy Clyro and former Oceansize singer/guitarist? Could work really well with this remote setup.

[@yurimodin7333]

I am a huge Jessica Dobson fan, first saw her on this weird show called "The Basement Sessions" or something like that when she played for The Shins. The whole time I was like "who is this mysterious woman who is bending time & space to her will on a Jazzmaster of all things".......looked her up and found DSD. Jessica, Notice me noticing you 😘

[@b0000kify]

Josh is gonna shake his finger at ya, forgot the pulp n peel ( and the names of mini foot and prestige) :P . great rundown!

[@93jamiec]

+1 and some for the Dunlop Oranges

[@charliebowen5071]

So many players bang on about jazzmasters... I’m a metal head and play Jackson.. I’d love to give one a strum