Rig Rundown - Doyle Bramhall II

Article & photos: bit.ly/DoyleBra...
At age 18, Doyle Bramhall II was recruited by the Fabulous Thunderbirds to hold down the guitar slot. Since that early break he has stuck out as a solo artist, toured with Roger Waters, and spent over a decade collaborating with Eric Clapton. PG caught up with Bramhall II at Nashville’s City Winery while he was touring to promote his new solo album, Rich Man.
Doyle keeps his touring guitars to a minimum, spending the majority of his time on this ’64 Fender Strat. A trademark of his style is that he plays “upside down” with the thinner strings (usually D’Addario .011s) on top.
Bramhall uses a two-amp combo live. The first amp is this Blankenship Variplex that feeds a Fender Bassbreaker BB-12 2x12 cab with Celestion Vintage 30s.
Continue learning about Doyle's gear: bit.ly/DoyleBra...

[@dpaul.guitars]

Doyle is one of the rarest things in music today, a totally original talent. He's also one the most humble and down to earth individuals you can encounter.

[@IbervilleMusic]

This was a great gear rundown because this guy actually demonstrated a lot of his tones. And boy can this guy play. Thank you guys. this channel is awesome.

[@javiceres]

Yes, that says a lot about this guy.

[@MichaelWilliams-yt2ez]

Check out when he and Charlie Sexton created the Arch Angels. So Amazing. He’s not good. He is Texas Royalty!!!

[@mikemiller6628]

@@MichaelWilliams-yt2ez Arc Angels was a great band ,I wish they would get together and play some shows.

[@JC-11111]

Yet when Kenny Wayne Shepherd did it, everybody says he talks too much bc he likes hearing his own voice or he's full of himself or other crap. No, he just loves playing guitar and still gets excited. He was obviously excited to share all of that with Premier Guitar. But instead, people take it as him being a pompous a-hole.

[@evo1236]

People are acting like john bolinger was being weird ... He was being totally normal. He just loves guitar and music and gets excited. It's a shame that if you don't put on an act and be Rico Suavee people get uncomfortable. Great vid, Great player.

[@dennisjoyce2241]

Way to defend yourself, John. I agree. You rock.

[@nicholastotoro7721]

He was being himself... which is weird. If he’s shut his yap and let someone finish a story without the constant interruptions, these would be much better to watch. There were stories I wanted to hear finished, but Lurch and his magically reappearing hair dye made Doyle lose his train of thought because of the interruptions.

[@tonymarinelli7304]

John is a fantastic player in his own right and an engaging, enthusiastic, cordial host ad wee well

[@Nostaljack]

Some of you are way too sensitive. Doyle and John seem to be having a fine time together. I don't detect even the slightest discord from Doyle at any point in this interview. He's not being a stick in the mood either; he's just being chill. John is a personality and there's nothing wrong with that. He's not being fake or weird; he's a good dude and he's just being himself.

[@lincolnosiris3665]

He gets a bit sad when he talks about his daughter, being divorced and all the shit that comes along with it. But he never was the most vocal type. Every time I saw him on vids, or DVDs or w/e, he was always kinda quiet.

[@lightningrt434]

*stick in the mud.

[@bensavage4575]

@@lightningrt434 LOl and he actually is being a (slow pause) Stick in the mood... too Props for John for getting through all these Teen Angst attitudes with most of himself still intact. ;)

[@tysonrinker5958]

I agree

[@StratMatt777]

Psychiatrists should wade through comments on these videos and find a bunch of new patients to help work through their low self-esteem issues and frustrations about having never "made it" as a musician... and their wife not letting them play guitar as much as they'd like! It's always disappointing to see grown men bitch, moan, complain and gossip like 12 year old girls. Welcome to KZbin!

[@khund03]

I always appreciate when the actually let you hear what their rigs sound like.

[@ahiwalter9153]

Doyle is a genius, when my wife tells me I need less volume, I can tell her I need to get a quieter amp! New Amp Day whoooo

[@ThomasDiSanto]

This is one of my favorite rig rundowns. I love and respect Doyle's humility. What a great guy and an incredible talent. Rich Man is one of the best albums I've heard in a while. Thanks Doyle for being so open and generous.

[@bartlettohio]

Doyle's late father was the drummer and vocalist for The Chessmen with Jimmy Vaughan who were on the bill with Billy Gibbons and The Moving Sidewalks opening for Hendrix in Texas. Doyle Sr. was also the drummer for Marc Benno and The Night Crawlers who featured Stevie Ray Vaughan on lead guitar in 1974 ! Check out Doyle II with The Arc Angels that also featured Charlie Sexton, Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon...Double Trouble.

[@jordandangelo6712]

I didn’t know that! I knew there was a reason who used the second. Great bit of info thanks for sharing.

[@SuperCrazylegs26]

You know your stuff! Thanks for sharing! Knew some of the info but not all!

[@TWTexasA1]

Let’s not forget what a great song writer Doyle Sr was either…Stevie Ray recorded his songs…👍🏼👍🏼

[@BrothaManFromDa5thFl]

Doyle Bramhall II is one of my favorite artist. Excellent Rig Rundown!

[@claytonstringman596]

I also have tinnitus. Didn't know that Doyle also suffers from this condition. It's quite remarkable that he's been able to keep playing/working with tinnitus. Cool guy, great player and nice rig as well.

[@lessehead]

I have tinnitus, also. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. It’s pure torture, and the thing I hate about it most is how it interferes with my music listening pleasure. Take away everything from me, but to take that away is downright cruel.

[@cpost1558]

Doyle Bramhall II is the man! I saw him with Clapton, my last live show before covid. New SF place in December of 2019. He is incredible. Between he and Clapton I was blown away!

[@iansnyder274]

Love his playing...really hits me deep...he is one of the last great Austin cats...not that there aren't great ones now but from the old guard...i used to live there, and there is just a certain authenticity to his playing..like Stevie Jimmy...Derek OBrien etc...its like they aren't just playing the form properly..the music is really a part of them..of the fabric of the culture from that part of the country !

[@ZekeMan62]

@Fretboard Burner Dipshit.

[@pointuout2020]

You know no one treats Jimmie Vaughan like they should and he is the last of the Vaughan Austin tribe! You just got to hope that Doyle Jr. & Charlie Sexton continue to carry real organic music while still being the sweethearts to the music fans. Got to meet Charlie one time. He is the nicest, coolest, & down to the salt of Earth personality!

[@christopherhanna5754]

great interview with a great american musician, a true artist... so much talent and still soft spoken and humble.. defineately a great rundown

[@OthO67]

Doyle Bramhall II. One-of-a-kind. Truly.

[@MrJackal43]

He has the greatest vibe tones.... since Hendrix. Hands down!

[@philipharrauer9103]

This Lesliesound is fabolous!! Doyle is so cool and an incredible player and singer!

[@willburrito9710]

The vibrato delay line is not shown but resides most likely down on the bottom of the box. The motor drives the scanner unit on the left that works to make contact along various points along the delay line. Very cool adaption of a truly unique analog circuit.

[@krashton]

John B. is a great host and interviewer. He’s using personality to get as much info from his interviews as he can. Much respect to both of these guys. And...damn, what a player!

[@ArtDonna84]

Doyle is and has been my Numero Uno guitarist to study the blues by. Loved and still listen to his dad's stuff having grown up with it over my years. What an awesome artist he is! Love his new CD which I also bought on vinyl. I've yet to see him live in concert BUT he is on the bucket list of "MUST DO's"! Thanks PG for asking Doyle to do this video interview. Awesome!!! Hopefully you will do another one on him in the near future.

[@MrDeaweber]

If you guys who don't like John Bollinger whine enough maybe they will get a sleazy used car salesman (otherwise known as an actor) to replace him - i prefer a real person who struggles with his acting - John Bolinger lives for the whole guitar thing and that's what matters most to me . Doyle is cool but he's so laid back that he made it a little more awkward than it should have been.

[@javiceres]

Don Weber But even then he took the time to do a little private pedal show, I don’t think he did that for nothing. I’m sure he hadn’t if he had thought it wasn’t worth it. He knew he was being appreciated.

[@vintagelife6879]

who dont like john? JB ITS THE BEST HOS FOR THIS KIND OF THINGS

[@tonygSDWR]

Jon's a nice enough guy, for sure. I'd have a little trouble containing my inner fan-boy too if I were there. Doyle was chill, he rolled with it all.

[@jacquelinejeenmetelica2506]

This is my Guitar Man. so Royal. Just love listening to this.

[@MattKittredge2112]

I remember seeing Doyle live with Roger Waters back in 2000, during Roger's "In The Flesh" tour. Great guitarist.

[@marcstanford5857]

matt k yep he's why I bought the DVD.

[@codymchenryguitar5192]

Marc Stanford me and my grandad just binge watched that cd in his theater. It was incredible!!

[@yakisobapancake1234]

Me too, I was there when they were in Barcelona.

[@alexanderkastaniotis4097]

He played a Yamaha DG 130H modeler on that tour!

[@mattmosca7244]

Don't care what anyone says. This was a great interview.And really shows how humbling and real both these guys are! Great stuff man!...

[@metart93]

"That's great!" - John Bohlinger

[@FYMASMD]

Cool!! I can't watch him anymore.

[@keepitwitmine]

@@FYMASMD "Yeah!...Huh! Yeah man!"

[@jjtobares4811]

don't forget......, "wow"...... he's a pretty cool dude tho', seems very chill and genuine, he does have a limited set of verbal reactions, but how doesn't.......

[@NicStride]

Was he supposed to say "Wow, what a shit guitar/amp, you should change your rig!"? What'dya want from him? :P

[@NicStride]

@@keepitwitmine Yeah, you're clearly not even witty enough to make a good attempt at insulting people. What a loser.

[@gojoe36]

Love Doyle Bramhall...one of those hidden Gems in the guitar world, but ranks up there the more you listen to him.

[@stratos1975]

Fantastic. I saw Doyle at the Troubadour in LA with Craig Ross. Best show I have ever seen. A true presence on the guitar. I dig these rig rundowns and I've been waiting for this one!

[@Erice1967]

Love to see a rig rundown with Doyle's friend Charlie Sexton.

[@liamgallagherrr]

Eric Erwin couldn't agree more

[@wwn1970]

YES!

[@madsreinhold4420]

Yes! Charlie!

[@thomast596]

Bill and Ted's excellent adventure!

[@samanarisingofficial]

We love John Bollinger.. It's a pleasure to watch his Premier Guitar stuff. And Doyle's new album ''Shades'' are fantastic! They both kick major ass!!

[@karenholliday2703]

I love watching Doyle play with the great Eric Clapton. Arc Angels and Storyville were amazing and I was lucky enough to see them in small and large venues in and around Houston. Traveled to 6th street in Austin a handful of times. My great friend, Mary, was the promoter and manager for many musicians such as Bobby Mac and Seth James Walker all amazing. All great musicians from TX, all very approachable and humble. Doyle is one of my favorites by far and I love his vocals

[@Sixxiron]

Love this! Doyle's new album is amazing!

[@damonjohnson8337]

Love Doyle. Really impressive how he plays. Fun to watch. Great guy. Such s good player too. He really gets a unique sound with his strings reversed.

[@lindalovesmusic9091]

I saw Doyle earlier this month, and he had this guitar.. he really took his time tuning it.. But it does look like it was played and put away wet! Sounded great, who cares about bright and shiny... And he blew about 3 amps!!

[@kahlesjf]

For the record: Jimi Hendrix played a right-handed guitar left-handed, with the strings 6-to-1 from top to bottom; Eric Gales plays a right-handed guitar left-handed, with the strings 1-to-6 from top to bottom; Otis Rush played the way Doyle Bramhall II plays...a left-handed guitar left-handed, with the strings 1-to-6 from top to bottom.

[@Bradp18]

Saw Doyle once with the Arc Angels in a small club in OKC. He and Charlie were both amazing. His passion and tone were incredible. Really wish that band had been together a bit longer.

[@elizabethmcleod246]

They are my all time favourite band. I feel the same way.

[@JeffKeel]

Love watching John Study! Doyle's playing, of Course John you are amazing as well

[@xbmxpro1772]

Left handed strung, right handed, that’s how I jam and it’s awesome. I’m in great company. I would never change it for anything. 🤘🤘

[@Bucketheadland1]

Great video.. Nice to hear Doyle call it a Lesley Amp..Can remember one, two horns spinning around 40+ years ago Thanks

[@joecalandrella3330]

One of the great modern players/songwriters/singers of the last twenty years.

[@stevierob123]

Doyle has the best fuzz sounds. that zonk machine is amazing

[@mikemiller6628]

What a great guitarist and he knows his gear.

[@ernieflanaganstingraybassm1463]

one of my favorite guitar players of this modern era. great interview John !!!!!

[@jasonhisington5928]

my favorite Rig Run Down so far!

[@midwestfisherman]

Great rig rundown! Really enjoy Doyle's music. Nice job by Mr Bolingbrook.

[@MrTDembinski]

Great rig rundown. One of favorite players - cool to mention learn straight to amp then add textures once you got your tones down - mistake I made years and years ago -

[@saltykrug]

Every time I see a video with Doyle playing, I appreciate his skill, stlye & passion tons more. I'm a drummer not a guitarist but, I really dig cats that are into their gear as much as their playing. That always carries me cause my gear is a huge part of how I play & how I sound. I just couldn't get into playing but knowing how to tune my kit or why I would use an 18 Medium or a 18 Thin Crash.

[@spalmer8398]

Doyle is so badass playing a guitar upside down and backwards, no one compares! I've loved him since Arc Angel's and am so happy Clapton got him back playing again and has recently been on tour with Clapton. I'm proud of him for getting clean and playing better than ever. I've already pre ordered his new CD coming out in Oct. Can't wait! Love love love you Doyle.

[@rikirushing2705]

Right on Doyle - see you soon live in Austin!

[@comunidadeclimax3809]

amazing tone, great lesson.

[@twangoldenbass]

Super excited to have found this channel. What a great, laid back way to find out some really interesting stuff about these amazing musicians and their gear! It’s like something you’ve always wanted to do, and now you can! Just an extraordinary idea for a KZbin channel and I commend y’all for doing this! Hopefully it will continue for many more legendary artists and bands. Y’all rock.

[@nathanmorgan2124]

Doyle has some of the best tone in the game today!! Also, the best hands and gets that unique sound playing top down on the upside down strings

[@amritjanardhanan]

Holy shit that wah sounds so good and that zonk sounded just perfect too

[@jacquelinejeenmetelica2506]

Damn he is sassy..Great interview..these two. John and Doyle. Doyles mind and petals..Awesome..So Melodic Doyle..I bless you for holding the ground in the Middle among the Kings. Among Arch Angels.

[@toneleudy]

one of the best rig rundowns I've seen in a long time......the guy actually playing the rig.....talk it cheap sometimes...kudos

[@bengalvin9932]

NOW THAT'S A PEDALBOARD I WOULD BE HAPPY TO HAVE!

[@gutbucketbluesman4664]

Premier Guitar Thanks for doing these awsome "RigRundowns" And John Bolinger Your Awesome!

[@losrogers13]

"More than likely!" Love your work, John. Thank you PG

[@badgers76]

losrogers13

[@martinezjc6587]

I love the details of his guitar, I was introduced to Doyle on a Crossroads DVD, I didn't think there was someone else out there that played like me. I play right handed guitars upside down and I'm looking to get my own lefty fender someday.

[@francescgonyalons8098]

Eric Gales also plays upside-down

[@pskully57]

I loved Doyle on the Roger Waters tour, he nailed Gilmour both on guitar and vocals, as best as anyone could.

[@napomania]

Gilmour's slow solo are not so easy to play.. and Doyle looks so comfortable with his touch.

[@rosssoutherland8118]

“If that’s a $5,000 pedal I think your secret is safe” 😂😂😂😂😂

[@davidphilipsmusic]

This guy is so happy about everything "awesome, cool, amazing.. I love every tone!!" hahah what a dude. :)

[@jorgetenamusic]

Man, Doyle is great!! What a sound!!

[@lousekoya1803]

Man does this wah sound good !!

[@andrewwalls2329]

I saw him in Minneapolis on this tour and five years later I still get inspired thinking about it...

[@MontyCantsin5]

The sound of that '68 Vox wah at 19:53; such a great old school Strat tone.

[@jimauen4414]

He has earned his place in the top blues players list for the last thirty plus years and I am a huge fan of his work and he has been with Clapton since the first part of the nineties so he has been very creative with his solo stuff and his contribution in the Arc Angels with is a great album/ CD That still stands out today

[@marcocecconi3376]

One of the best guitar blues players!!

[@stipeur]

Such a cool and humble musician...true artist

[@pjmusc1001]

Haha, I loved "Vemu-, Vehmoo-?" "Jan Ray." "Jan Ray, okay."

[@nicholasp339]

Its about Time they caught up with Doyle. He has been under everyones radar for far too long. He is a real artist a real musician and a great singer songwriter. His style is completely unique, no one sounds like or plays like doyle.. Nice to see he is getting the recognition he deserves. Great job premier guitar. Also for you guitar pplayers out there if you really want that fuzz tone hes got, check out berkos fx. i got the third stone pedal and it is incredible, and if you want the zonk machine make sure you get it from a dealer who is legit alot of crappy clones out there> thE zoNK has the sizzle of an octavia without the octave.. Doyle uses his volume knob alot to control his tone and fuzz. Before this board he was using an Analogman NKT 275 Sunface and a Deja Vibe , the new custom shop deja vibe is just as nice as the vibe bro

[@nuthinfancy78]

Saw the Arc Angels in RI. General admission, and the band is hangin out at the bar drinking beers, shakin hands, meeting people and super cool guys! We were standing at the stage two fisted and just blown away! I hadn’t even heard anything but Living In A Dream on the radio! The rest is history!

[@kamchuenso7836]

One of the best intro riff the rig down!

[@johnnykos5262]

Really awesome rig !!! Doyle Bramhall is an extraordinary player !

[@stratolestele7611]

Love our Doyle 2. Wish he was still here in Austin so we could see more often. But hey, we've got Grissom!

[@ajsmusic2561]

Love Doyle, has to be one of the very best musicians out there, after his Dad, AND he is a big "Jr Brantley" fan too!

[@guitarslinger32269]

Yea…I stood directly in front of Doyle at an Arc Angels show; at The Vogue in Indy…once upon a time; loved his guitar playing; vocals…his whole style….but yea, those two black face Twins were deafening. Strangely…he had a Chandler Tube Driver; the rack mount version…sitting on his amp. On the floor he had a Fuzz Face….one of my favorite shows…and live guitar tones; all very, very cool.

[@philipharrauer9103]

Great Rig Rundown!!!!! I wait to see Doyle in a Rundown and now ist's happening...sooooo cool!!👌 Doyle is the coolest and one of the real players!

[@thereallbking]

Doyle's solos are so tasty. I love this guy

[@acidfuzzpedals9986]

Nice to see Doyle still rocking the Acid Fuzz Zonk Machine!

[@mpkozak65]

Finally getting to see Doyle in Buffalo at the Tralf! BTW, Coco Montoya also plays the same way - left handed but strung for right handed. He's also a monster guitar player and singer.

[@ajsmusic2561]

1964's continue to come up as really great guitars. Have four Strats here '55, 57, 64, 66 and the 64 is heads and tails over all of them. This particular one found at the original owners home right down the block from me. Super clean as he never learned how to play it, not one solder's been touched and it weighs 6,5 POUNDS!!! Have never had a trem Strat that light. AND....yes, it's for sale

[@jonesyfromtheblock9635]

Love this guy, great sound!

[@robertm2000]

Mr. Bramhall is a historian as well as a player - the note about Hendrix's playing. And Bohlinger acknowledges that!

[@mwsc]

“That’s a killer, man”

[@knifelyfe6565]

Love the Leslie tone.

[@saltflatrats1974]

Best one ever, this guy is cooler than a cool thing on a cool day

[@TheAgentAssassin]

He really went in depth with his pedal demos, I would be nice if they all did this.

[@stefanvanrensburg6096]

Whatever his vices might be, he's still one hell of a guitarist and that's all I'm interested in. May God help him to overcome any addiction

[@tommckinley75]

Love, love Doyle's style and tone, great player. Saw Arc Angels here in San Diego many years ago at a club probably one half the size of the venue on this video. Excellent show. But what I really want to know is, how can you have like 13 pedals on your board with no sort of switching system? Have to do a lot of tap dancing to go from your fuzzed out, vibe sound to get back to a clean tone and vice versa.

[@Uchison]

What a killer tone!! Amazing

[@w1ckedbackhand]

Thanks John! I appreciate the Rig Rundowns, and the content that it provides.

[@noi5emaker]

Wow, that flux capacitor sounds great!

[@northernthrifter8817]

"It does what a tube screamer tries to do" Doyle Bramhall ll.

[@JMactic]

Really enjoy the playing!

[@greatvanzini]

Great as usual John. Always find Doyle stuff interesting.

[@Disharmonikash]

When you press Like after 20 seconds of the video...

[@noi5emaker]

"Hey, It's John!" *LIKE*

[@petemclinc]

I really dig that Analog Outfitters in the acrylic case. My first amp a Fender Princeton Chorus which is no longer made is all solid state (no tubes) can make that Leslie sound when the chorus rate & depth knobs are selected.

[@xetexuk12]

Another great lefty player, love his albums too esp. his last one, lefties unite!

[@spwstrat]

Been waiting for this one for a while. Great interview.

[@antibee1]

well saw him and the band in person in Richmond...what a talent and really good music. sometimes you wish he would just keep on playing.... hope to see him in Austin

[@tonymarinelli7303]

His tone is amazing and I think much of it is attributed to him being a lefty and bending differently.

[@putzengiler]

I liked his band, the Arc Angels from the early 90's , with Tommy Shannon and Chris Layton from the late SRV's Double Trouble, Charlie Drayton and Ian McLagan ...

[@Grizzilyultra]

Me too, still listen to the cd every now and then.

[@matthias7455]

Charlie Sexton too!

[@timhoovermusicman]

See what tomorrow brings

[@-davidolivares]

Dan Skammer Got to see Arc Angels twice and Doyle solo and once more with his Dad. Got his autograph on a blank cassette tape card from my car, it just hit me he probably thought I was taping him but I wasn’t. He did look at me kinda funny. Good times.

[@timhoovermusicman]

@@-davidolivares love his song cry.