Rig Rundown - C.W. Stoneking

Article and photos: www.premierguitar.com/articles...
Aussie blues guitarist C.W. Stoneking met with PG’s John Bohlinger between gigs to play some guitar and talk about his minimal approach to gear while tracking and touring.
Shortly before this interview, C.W. made the costly mistake of walking into Gruhn’s Guitars in Nashville. Although he walked out with a considerably lighter wallet, he had in hand this 1957 Grestch 6120. I’m sure the sight of this guitar would have made Chet Atkins’ fingers twitch uncontrollably. The 6120 came to him stock, but Stoneking replaced the original brass nut with a bone nut to help with tuning stability.
This 1931 National Duolian is completely stock and amazingly clean considering its age.
To continue learning about C.W.'s gear, visit: www.premierguitar.com/articles...

[@cwstoneking]

For those people who asked, the playing at the start of the video is a piece of my song, On a Desert Isle, the playing at the end is from my song, Goin Back South. 🎶🎶

[@Joe-xe6ev]

sounds like Eddie Lang was influential to you... Its so sad more people haven't heard of him. One of the great traditional blues / jazz players of the 1920's / 1930's. He influenced Django ! Eddie recorded as solo act and then later was hired by Bing Crosby's as his original guitar player. When Eddie died due to complications during a tonsillectomy Bing Crosby hired some unknown kid.....Rubbarb Red... otherwise known as Les Paul. And the rest was history !!! If Eddie had lived Les Paul would have never had the exposure that Bing Crosby provided and he may never have had the money to invest in his experiments with electronics and guitars and multitrack recording. The entire musical landscape would be different if not for Eddie Lang.. Keep up the great playing sir ! You are awesome. I have to go find your records /CDs and buy them ALL !

[@RedSquaredFox]

cwstoneking thanks love

[@1horton3]

Lang did great work with Lonnie Johnson late 20s if I'm not mistaken. How about good ol George Barnes or Junior Barnard? Those cats were at the right place in time delivering the goods

[@muhrvis]

Saw you at Hardly Strictly a couple years ago, really love your playing and style!

[@CaptainPupu]

You're amazing man.. Wish I could see you in a concert. Come to the usa please :D

[@austone121]

CW is so much more interesting to hear play than most of the shred merchants out there. Real feel, sparse playing, each note in the right place..... great stuff. Great interview too.

[@allenwoody5909]

Totally agree...

[@HoracioGarciaMusic]

I saw the bridge on that Gretsch fall off in the middle of a song in Austin. The look of disbelief was amazing

[@alanhowell3646]

So true. He’s awesome

[@Madmen604]

Like classical guitar..beautiful.

[@Mosey410]

Very different techniques you don’t here very often these days. I never tire of the soft swinging sounds of C.W. Stoneking

[@bfanaticguitarworks423]

C.W. - Thanks for the nice comments on the modern Duolian finish. I am the guy who does that finish, B•Fantatic Guitarworks. The guitar you saw at Gruhn's is a fine example. Also, that is a really nice Duolian you have there. Pretty clean! Sounds nice, too. Thanks again for noticing my work.

[@themodularmodular]

I seriously felt like I was listening to an old 50's records listening to his intro. Great playing and tones.

[@Irisplove]

You just don't expect that singing voice coming from that man! And his accent is a fascinating mixture of his Australian and American heritage and you can hear certain inflections he has picked up from spending his childhood among Aboriginal Australians.

[@IMLYINGISWEAR]

I can tell you his accent is 100% inland Top End, NT. Very typical of the Barunga area where he grew up.

[@Bilzo599]

@@IMLYINGISWEAR even the really American sounding stuff at time?? Especially when he starts talking straight after singing he sounds so American.. as the interview goes on he starts to sound more Australian

[@PhillipMcKnight]

John always does great interviews. This was fun and interesting to see such a diferant type of player.

[@jacobsanchez6924]

Forreals, great to see someone with some great interviewing skills and a genuine interest in the music and gear.

[@jimmorrison9424]

Hes so genuine.

[@RJRonquillo]

Great playing! His newest record rules!

[@FarhanASof]

I've never heard this type of blues until now! Why this is a much more relaxing, chill "you can go to sleep with this" sound of blues. I am truly grateful to mr. Stoneking for introducing me to a wider range of blues!

[@alexandert696]

I cant wait for the subtitles !!

[@davelanciani-dimaensionx]

I actually put the Closed Captioning on, and still could only understand about half of what he said. Seems like a pretty cool guy.

[@jlmonty]

It's funny... I'm a Southerner and I understood everything he said!

[@mrvampire2311]

Pretty easy to understand as an Aussie.

[@TheElrondo]

johno doh Me is German and got every single word :) I'm trained watching tons of guitar vids on KZbin

[@NigelNaughton]

This was spectacular...C.W. has a cool accent.

[@joecoombsguitarist]

This is one of the coolest rig rundowns ever, what a great character and musician this guy is!

[@pancakes1983]

Bohlinger is one of the best interviewers you have, I always love to watch reviews \ rig rundowns from this guy, keep it up man!

[@Karcajou74]

He's the best. Keep it up John!

[@teerexness]

Dreamy music! Finally, it's been a while since I've seen a rig rundown with a real player. More like this please. Brilliant!

[@waynetowers5046]

What a great guy and a great player, properly old school. :) Can we have a Rig Rundown of Sunn O))) and Boris, please? :)

[@PaulMcCaffreyfmac]

"...like a gramaphone" - I know exactly what John B means and he is exactly right. That was wonderful stuff.

[@oig40203]

It's like the left side of the screen is from 2016 and the right side is from 1935. I love this guy!

[@leftyfusion88]

This guy is a really good player and interesting but I am pretty sure back in 1951 he came running out and checked my oil, fluids, fuel, wiper blades, tire pressure and then sold me a malted milkshake and tattoo'ed my entire body with hula girls and battleships.

[@PetroicaRodinogaster264]

unless that is just an attempt at humour, you are misguided. He was not born in 1951.

[@Bilzo599]

@@PetroicaRodinogaster264 come on dude wise up

[@jensschettler1732]

Yeahh me tooo.. sang with him in 1938...in hawai... what a time...

[@professornuke7562]

@@PetroicaRodinogaster264 well he once shit in a shoebox and left it outside the friend of a friend's house. Had his reasons I believe. He used to roomy with the brother of a girl I used to work with. Brother and girl agreed "that bloke is wierd".

[@mattheweastel129]

Such an interesting Rundown. Very cool to see such an individual player, who keeps it really simple. Great interview John!

[@Mmsmickey]

This is such a great interviewer, he makes feel people at ease

[@byebyebeano8616]

Two of the coolest cats. Great laugh, great music, great spirit.

[@BigfootEngineering]

I keep coming back to this video, some of the greatest sounds and playing out there!

[@pd4165]

Completely not my thing - but it's wonderful to see someone keeping an artistry alive. Sir, I salute you.

[@anthonyc1883]

"It's the difference between one chainsaw running or two chainsaws running." Awesome!

[@garyfrisbie]

What a great Rig Rundown! John and C.W. covered a lot of ground and shared interesting insights into C.W.'s music. It was so good to see and hear these guys together. Thanks again, C.W., John, and Premier Guitar!

[@13opacus]

great interview John, C.W. is a bloody legend great to see him here :)

[@sweetntenderhooligans1649]

Probably the most beautiful guitar sound I've ever heard.

[@donhall-aquitania1025]

Thanks for the introduction to CW Stoneking. What a talent. I am loving his music. Great interview John!

[@frankybebop2913]

Great player! The best rig rundown yet!

[@imjpiano]

Best rig run-down yet! Keep em comin!

[@jacquelinemarchetti9694]

Such a dapper two to be dazzling upon my screen! I'm trying to learn new ways to see some better days and this is a good video for me lol

[@BrettKingman]

Fab stuff. Thanks, John and PG!

[@jude999]

I have no idea what they're talkin about but I still watch this once a month.

[@petedonaghyguitar]

your best interview yet. Awesome.

[@theGIGINIband]

comparing overdrives to the princess and the pea is spot on and amazing

[@marknorris3769]

His fretting hand technique is beautiful . Really amazing talent .

[@henrymentz6497]

So cool. Great simple set up, focusing on the playing! CW Stoneking rules!

[@juanrodriguezluis4811]

16:42 Don't fall back my friend! One of the most beautiful tones over there. Nice interview 👍✨

[@Diax1324]

This guy is the confirmation of the idea that tone is in the hands.

[@mikebledsoe2315]

Awesome run down and great guest Bolinger

[@marknorris3769]

very unique beautiful sound, excellent edition

[@MrNugget19971]

God damn.... could listen to him play all day!!

[@Trogue12]

Hellll yeahhh. i didn't eexpect to see this here!

[@tabletop77]

Such a sweet sound at the beginning...flatwounds and dynas sound beautiful. Love CW’s vibrato technique...sounds like a warbly old 78.

[@groovyhippie1165]

Great rig rundown!

[@timmerfennell5403]

2 guitars....4 knobs.... I love this guy.

[@jimmorrison9424]

"Some people call it a sling blade, I calm it a kaiser blade ..hmm..mmm." Love that high and tight cut.

[@carlparker3571]

That was great, love that tone.

[@konnektlive]

OMG the way John Bohlinger looks at him sometimes during this video is pure gold LOL! Its like he is looking at some kind of a cool lunatic (in a good way). Like he innerly wonders what the F is going on with this dude? Did he just came to our time with a time machine or what? xD Loved it.

[@Erice1967]

This was a great rig rundown. C.W. is really cool

[@gpeterson999]

Great guest. Love 'em. Not to run of the mill gear head. Refreshingly simple.

[@Marc-uw4mt]

What a soulful player! Great!

[@amancalledlimey]

Its called "He's got his OWN thing going on" .....really excellent....

[@Scp716creativecommons]

"You were made to play That guitar" Not "that guitar sounds made for You" I love it

[@filipdemeyst8842]

Beautiful playing

[@paniccleo]

Now the bit about his amp, but with a bit less "uhhh": - I take this everywhere I go, this amp. I was not much of an amp guy for many years. the only amp that I owned and I had it for 20-something years... was an old Harmony 306A. I guess it was probably very early 60s. probably 12 watts or something. I started to use it on my album and I liked the sound of it. Real similar layout to this; it's a volume, tone, speed, intensity for the tube bias trem on there. that amp, I guess while it was in the cupboard for those two decades some mice were having a party and somebody drank too much and somebody passed away and dust found it's way in. it made noises other than guitar related noise which started to get a little bit unbearable in the recording. I had to finish the record using a film projector amplifier that the dude with the studio had; this little 14 watt thing that he had turned into a guitar amp. - so then as soon as it was on me that I had to tour I was like "well how am I gonna play with this thing?" - I tried some other amps and they weren't quite like the nice, squishy, warm sound I liked. and then I was.. I sorta looked at getting another Harmony but they're not durable. they're made out of cardboard, y'know? I think they really are cardboard. - so I read about the amp and somebody somewhere online said the 306A is basically like the panel layout of a brown deluxe with sort of the power section of a brown Princeton, so I looked at both those amps and found this brown Princeton. I got this made by a dude.. I wanted to play it in Australia or Europe or America or whatever, so there's a fellow in Lincoln, California. Jim Somebody. he makes Lil Dawg amps. - I saw this one here. He calls it the ChocoPrince. it usually looks more generic than this but I tracked down a faceplate there and a chassis and he loaded it all up for me and I had a fellow in Australia make me this. I have variable power transformer in there so I can switch it US or.. - it's got one of these gold Celestian 10"s in it.. Alnico thing. but it's really light. This case here, my friend made me. the whole thing is light, I can walk around and hold that by one handle and it's easy. - tilt back legs. - so far as I know, I think this is kind of straight up like a brown Princeton. I don't know that he did much except, say, with the output transformer he said I can use the usual 14 watts ot I can put in a 20-something one. I said "what's the difference?" and he said "well, it's like the difference between one chainsaw running and two chainsaws" something about headroom. I don't know understand it. I just said "go with the big one" because I'm a man so you gotta go with the big things. - and this speaker is.. I own and old one of these, an original, the old Jensen. it's not so efficient. this Celestion is a loud speaker. - so I get away with that 14 watt sound and it's never been a problem. I've got the tilt-back legs put on so I can point it at the back of my head when I'm playing and I don't need nothing in the monitors. just stick a mic on there for the front. - I like to keep it simple. - it's real good and just since I've been playing the Gretschs I always set my tone just on top of 9 there.. and I'm usually on about 3.5 at a gig and I prettymuch don't change it. - we did one here the other day, a bit echoey, so I winded it down a bit in volume. - not much thinking involved. get into playing.

[@paniccleo]

Can't be bothered typing out the rest at the moment, but if there's anything that you can't figure out, put a time stamp and I'll help out.

[@sam127001]

this dude is awesome !

[@shaunw9270]

His Albums are fantastic ✌

[@SkipBeasley]

Simply wonderful :-)

[@andersingram]

amazing vid and great insight into how a master nails these kind of tones too :)

[@TheTruthseeker707]

why did that intro piece was so simple yet so pleasing to ear?

[@jipes]

The Ducco finish is such a beauty I have the priviledge to get a Duolian myself and the crystal pattern is just amazing

[@EwaldDieser]

Wow, I recently discovered him. Such a unique musician.

[@brianholloway8175]

Fantastic choice!

[@klonczie]

This is awesome!!!

[@guitrr]

Where does he keep the Gretsch when he's driving the ice cream truck?

[@Marc-uw4mt]

nice one, dude! I laughed so hard.

[@AntonioOliveira-nx8lv]

eheheheheheheheheehehhehe

[@lisagy4354]

Kane Miller .....ha ha

[@timmerfennell5403]

ahhhhhhh hahahahahahahaha........oh no you ditn't!!!

[@anthonyc1883]

Damn, I burst our in a laugh, too!

[@mattdixon333]

The amp work done in Australia w/converters and chassis etc was: Clingan Guitar Tone facebook.com/clinganguitars/ And the Amp hard case is Chris at C&C Cases in Croydon, Melbourne: www.caseman.com.au

[@paniccleo]

I've transcribed some of it for those that can't get past the accents. Here's stuff about the guitar: - how ya doin' john? - alright. - I just.. this is new for me, but, uuh, I was in Nashville for a couple of days to kill ahead of this latest round of touring and I walked into Gruhn's and uhh.. some might say I made the mistake of picking it up and playing it. It socked me in the pocket but I'm still very happy with it. it's a '57 6120 witht he old DynaSonic pickups in there, which is very nice. sometimes they kinda sound like I'm at a power station depending on the lighting rigs in the venue or whatever. - about two weeks ago. - everything on there's.. so far as I'm aware, is original except uuh, let me see, I was out for the first week and a half or something on the road and (?) I use the Bigsby a lot. you heard a little bit there; the swishing and wooshing in the intro there. and so sometimes I'm a little heavier than that in more (?) up songs. It had the old original brass nut on there. - the slots were cut a little straight, y'know, and not really pointing to the tuners so.. - I took it down to Glaser instruments in Nashville and they did that for me and uhh. - made this a little more secure on the face at the top there so it won't slip n' slide. - I got some of it.. leaning at a precarious angle... let's just do that and that'll.. - yeah, they take a bit of massaging and mhmm, yeah! - I got flatwounds on this. this is uh, I always use these Thomastik strings. the Thomastik Infeld they're called I think. the swing flatwounds. - these here are 13 - 54 or maybe something like that? - just regular tuning, yeah. straight up. mhmm, so uhh. - I reckon them back in the old days, yeah, they must.. especially before this Bigsby and everything, y'know the.. the guitar I'd been using mostly over the last couple of years is a Jazzmaster and uhh I got the trem and those notorious challenges. sometimes with the shallow break-angle and things like that - and before that I was always playing the acoustic and I used to used to use a G tuning set on those and the high E was a 16 in normal tuning. I was used to heavy strings. I was just clunking on that and not bending but uh.. - yeah, I don't like to do it anymore. I had a, I put some on last week, I had to head 'round and get some new ones yesterday. - yeah, I like it a lot, it's uhh.. I'm still learning about it a bit. Before this I played, like, a Duot Jet for maybe 3 months? four months? I got a sparkly one of them. it looks good on stage and everything but before that, with the electric only really Fender guitars. Still learning. It's the subtle differences.

[@adhamhocaoimh]

Deet Cologon The hero we need.

[@arthur5sheds]

Love CW Stoneking! Rig Rundown of Reine Fiske from Dungen please!

[@wildeman1253]

Very cool, that beautiful 6120 is the exact same year as Duane Eddy's.

[@alecsneed5835]

It's like this gentleman stepped out of a time machine!

[@allenwoody5909]

Shades of Hogey Carmichael, really takes me back, a wonderful sound.

[@joshweigel1131]

Really cool playing

[@guitrr]

Super cool rig.

[@aalperuzun]

Good to see someone really different

[@bwa_8]

Je suis revenu mater ce rig rundown suite à la diffusion du live des Queens of the Stone Age où CW intervient en guest à la fin !

[@mickpedder5990]

His accent is very similar to way indigenous Australians talk, which is part of how he grew up I believe?

[@IMLYINGISWEAR]

Yep, he was born in Katherine and grew up in Barunga which is near by. It's is a town with a majority Aboriginal population. Old blokes from the region speak like that.

[@RalphPacheco2]

Yeah I was trying to figure that out, sounds like a Creole Australian, great accent and great player

[@FRUITSWITHROOTS]

Such a great guitar player.

[@mowaxbro]

Nice one fellas!

[@freddyfoxennilsen8684]

Awesome 🖤

[@mrbryanmarshall]

what a rad dude

[@imulio]

Excellent

[@torontolarrivee7965]

amazing

[@L.Scott_Music]

His tone sounds like it comes straight off a 48 rpm LP from the early fifties, right after you blew of the dust.

[@thedonabides2218]

I think that would be a 78 rpm and AFAIK they weren't ever in LP which means long playing and the province of 33 1/3 rpm

[@shaunm1983]

love that old fashioned style he plays. Reminds me of old cartoons or something

[@vk3fbab]

Stinkfist2000 he says that he looks like elmur fudd

[@shaunm1983]

Yer he does

[@slydogy41]

Betty Boop or somthing

[@PNW_Fiddle]

You know, I listened to this video with my wireless headphones while doing some things around the house. I totally imagined this guy to be an 80 year old black guy.

[@stevehogan8829]

Is there a New Orleans in Australia. Is he like from Southern Louisiana Australia? Loving his bringing back tunes from the 20s and such. Love the music.

[@electrolinks]

He is great.

[@meclazine]

The guy is a freak of nature.

[@seymorebutter4365]

I love the way he talks...he reminds me of Keith Richards with a bit of Southern in it ....I do that too with numbers I say things with numbers uncontiously with a southern accent too...things about engines and guns and guitars...it feels like it's more proper

[@jacquelinemarie9044]

They have a sweet undertone together of teachings. Silly, sweet, swarming potent sense of dreamlike chatter.

[@michaelcooper2799]

CW stone kings one third southern US, one third bogan white Australian, one third indigenous Australian accent is fucking wild. Great character, literally like listening to my nans old brother telling stories back in the day before they passed away. I feel like Australian characters like this are becoming a thing of the past.

[@slydogy41]

" Zombie" is the coolest song , my new favorite. When i first heard it i thought it was an old recording from 1930's

[@brianjones6500]

Cdub . you just telling everyone you just walked in and this "thing" just socked you in the pocket. Your best music is singing to your mom at the gas station. I wish you a happy fathers day. be best on all days - Marley

[@richardhuckle5715]

Accent is mix of strong Aussie and US southern.

[@Todesnuss]

Really confusing.

[@lisagy4354]

Richard Huckle ....good call ......cool dude though

[@jhonbowrncantspell]

The US Southern part may be like Australian Indigenous English.

[@eltaco585]

it almost sounds like hes from New Orleans

[@noahwhodgson]

Yeah it's just Northern Australian I'd say.

[@yobhsiFehT]

MAN, that was cool... :D

[@wolfey41]

C.W. has the best haircut I have EVER seen... KUDOS Sir.

[@pageluvva]

Orange on white? Win win. Great stuff.

[@PIPA1302]

i'm trying to get one bell and howell myself, it's a film projector that people convert into a guitar amp.......they say it's kinda like a 50 `s fender tweed.....

[@josephmorris8620]

This guy is like a mixture of Boomhauer, Jim Heath, and Crocodile Dundee. In other words awesome.

[@mrvampire2311]

This guy is fuckin cool man, when is he playin' shows in Sydney?

[@jamieholmes5443]

COOL!