Rig Rundown - The Late Show with David Letterman's Will Lee, Sid McGinnis, and Felicia Collins

www.premierguitar.com/Magazine... PG's Rebecca Dirks is on location at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York, NY, where she catches up with CBS Orchestra bassist Will Lee and guitarists Sid McGinnis and Felicia Collins. In this segment, the three discuss the guitars, amps, and effects used nightly on the Late Show with David Letterman.
This Rig Rundown is a component of a Late Night Gear feature Premier Guitar did with 6 of the main late-night TV programs including Saturday Night Live, Jimmy Fallon, David Letterman, Jay Leno, and Jimmy Kimmel -- click the link above to read the article and be sure to watch out for all the Late Night Rig Rundowns and our 1800 other clips online by visiting www.premierguitar.com/video

[@gabrielpinon4581]

Idk why I always come back and watch this it’s so interesting to see sids rig how simple yet awesome it is

[@gettinguponthe1]

of all the rig rundonws i've watched, these guys seem to be the happiest to talk about their gear.

[@markyboo]

Agreed. Many of featured artists seem less-than-enthused to be discussing their gear. It's usually the ones that leave everything to their techs.

[@spicecrop]

You obviously have not seen the Kenny Wayne Shepard one.

[@justinrulesass]

i love how rebecca spotted that broadcaster. geez what an eye

[@graxjpg]

J Phoenix and she spotted it just for the headstock!

[@Theo-hc5ob]

I miss this band TERRIBLY! In my very humble opinion they were the Best band on TV. I miss Dave, too. There is nothing worth watching after the news. And, what is Rebecca's musical background? She seems very knowledgeable on what people are using and what it does.

[@jcavazos4145]

Theo 80126. I grew up on this band they were great.🎵

[@kellyomalley1873]

They were the best late night band, I also ike the SNL band too.

[@flstffatboy3910]

I totally agree with you brother

[@BenSultanMusic]

I was visiting the Late Show that day, because I was learning about a day-in-the-life of a TV camera operator. This rundown was a very cool surprise. I was about 3 feet behind the camera soaking it all in.

[@hchoe741]

man she knows her guitars! you can't fake being surprised seeing a broadcaster on a live setting

[@waynepayne864]

def got some kind of engineering background

[@stormin1158]

Have always loved Sid's playing - especially when they let him loose on a solo usually at the end of the show. He's seems so down to earth and as excited about & into his gear and doing his own modifications by and large. I was surprised to see how basic but well utilised array of pedals he uses. What a guy! Live long, play strong!

[@ArtDonna84]

What I found surprising was the simplicity of Sid's pedal board rig. Nothing I couldn't afford, and not a huge cluttered up pedal board which I would never really use anyway. Then to see a Boss GT processor was also a big surprise, as I've always been led to believe that no professional musician in his right mind would ever be caught using one! Oh well, guess I learned from this video that if it suits ones needs, then use it.

[@johnmilton70]

really classic episode can't believe its been 10 years

[@mrcarrino]

I ran into Sid after a Letterman show back in the 90s. He happen to be leaving the studio I basically ran him down on the street. We talked for a while. That conversation has inspired me a lot - especially the part about everything being a mutt. I was amazed that this guy who was on a national television show still did his own mods and he was really passionate about it. We covered other subjects, too, that were influential. I will never forget that conversation and Sid McGinnis will always be my favorite Beatle.

[@shaystern2453]

lies

[@thefirstdude]

Thanks for this run down. Greatest house band ever! It was cool just to hear them talk about their passion.

[@renodavid]

Fun stuff. These musicians are all such pros. I've got to say, however, that I'll always have a fondness for the music from the early days of Letterman's Late Late Show. It was a small band (quartet I think), mostly instrumental, and Sid handled most of melodies on guitar. He really was the star of the band in those days, IMO.

[@graxjpg]

Love sid, but the original lineup was the best

[@funkster007]

Sid used to mainly play a cool looking yellow strat. Too bad he doesn't have it on the show anymore. Always wanted to see it close up.

[@graxjpg]

funkster007 pauls previous guitar player also used it, im afraid it was probably owned by NBC.

[@nb_tman699]

It was an ESP with EMG pickups. The previous Letterman guitarist used a really old beat up Strat with humbuckers.

[@ddbedguy]

They are all surprisingly lo fi on their effects. Even Will and Felicia's 's amps are just regular mid level gear. I was expecting to see more high end boutique type stuff.

[@someoneelse101]

I don't think they care about all that stuff. Plus there probably wasn't much demand for anything fancy

[@graxjpg]

They’re certainly good enough to be able to care, but they care so much that the stuff they use is the best piece of gear for each specific application.

[@wienerstein2817]

@John Rapp Lawyer Blues Bands that's funny. I'm using that from now on.

[@MikeAndersonvinyloldies]

This has been one of the most interesting Rig Rundowns I've seen....

[@WinstonOBoogie_]

Sid's almost like a mad scientist with his depth of knowledge.

[@tomprice3258]

Good rig rundown. Geeking out with guitars and amps. Fun.

[@jime6688]

Miss you guys already. Best band in late night!

[@LouSassles]

I like how all these guitar players for these TV shows have all sorts of vintage/custom gear and ideas on how to use them.

[@jcw5007]

met Sid & Anton after a concert in Milwaukee in the early 90's. great guys, and seemed very comfortable chatting about gear / music in general.

[@cluxseltoot]

Selecting the type of guitar according to 'what I'm wearing' = Precious. That's how music should be - Fun.

[@graxjpg]

Love sid. Been in the band since I think early 85. Wish I could see the old yellow and black strat style guit that was played on the show back in the NBC days.

[@oldbutrocking]

Not much of 'boutique' anything...and these guys are probably the most well rounded musicians in the world.

[@haczabim]

Exactly my take away, think less about gear and practise more!

[@brutalbasspro]

Working musician gear is usually smartly picked and is the type of stuff that just works. That's how I got ibanez soundgear 5 strings theyre cheap sound great and can do everything pretty good.

[@Diax1324]

A reggae band I opened for had this old guitar dude - He had a boss GT-3 (My first effects unit! Still have it.), and for solos he had a Boss Metalzone. That's it. One guitar, too. Only thing boutique here is the Death By Audio.

[@boocho1]

these rig rundowns are great...especially with the "house band" guys..really informative as too what they are using for the wide range of styles they play..very helpful for us 'cover band' types...THANK YOU !!

[@HotKarl78]

Love these videos, Rebecca is great at what she does.

[@xy9394]

Been listening to Sid and never saw an interview of him…Seems like a great guy.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

He's even on a Dire Straits album!

[@BorysPomianek]

This was better than I expected it to be and also what a hard gig to do in such a tight space - working in high pressure TV like that must be a complete mindfuck.

[@ChazJazzNY]

Going to miss the great music, musicians and show.

[@AnthonyBurrito1313]

That was so freaking cool

[@jst601]

Great interview w/Sid. Wow. Love ya Rebecca! ;-)

[@paulyscrate1]

I always love Sid's yellow strat. He played that forever! Where is that now??

[@mysupersuperglide]

That’s what I was hoping to see.

[@rogofam]

He seems like a really great guy! Thanks for sharing!

[@williamknell864]

Love Sid's co-pilot headphones. The unsacred functional mods on his vintage Fenders. A craftsman. The stuff has to enable you to do the job.

[@thenerdlabofficial]

I love that strat. Old beat up guitars always look the best! each dent, scratch, and chip tells a story.

[@marklowe7431]

Yep, usually that the instrument isn't taken care of.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

​@@marklowe7431 Stop being a dope and get out and play.

[@marklowe7431]

It sure does. That the player was mostly careless. Majored in physics, play vintage instruments and very physical. Seems it wasn't your day with that post.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

@@marklowe7431 Instruments get dinged from USE, ya prig

[@BAJARACER43X]

i love the stories behind old gear

[@ShiningEyeBrigade]

Sid’s amp set up is very cool! I got to play a Krinard modified fender bassman head way back when. Very interesting amp. I remember it being a little too sizzley for my taste but was very powerful sounding.

[@snutstrut]

I was there a couple of weeks ago when they recorded the show. Front row seat. I couldn´t take my eyes of that strat! Extremly professional musicians!

[@yobhsiFehT]

One of my favorites in a while:)

[@timelmore2]

I care more about what this guy has to say than most bands we see here. These show guys have been great. Thanks PG

[@theguitarczar]

I totally LOVE that Broadcaster!!!

[@evankeal]

In another life I wish Sid was my guitar tech

[@vintagelife6879]

i just love this guy

[@AngusNB]

Felicia seems very easy going and fun. I like that she admits choosing a guitar based on what she is wearing. :) I have a Crate PowerBlock also. They are 150 watt mono or 75 watts per side in stereo. I use it with two 1x12 Krank cabinets and a Vox ToneLab SE in the effects loop. A compact setup.

[@faunaflage]

I like Crate a lot. Underrated I think. Mine's made in St. Louis...don't know if they are all still.

[@Jacklovesrock]

That keyboard rig looks amazing !!!

[@MikeJones-oe3do]

Seems lke a pretty down to earth guy,enjoys talking about his gear.

[@Scott__C]

Felicia with the Hamer love! When she turned around I thought at first she pulled the VooDoo Lab pedal out of the kick drum.

[@jre617]

Interesting and very technical. I'm not a musician, but it's interesting how much they love the old stuff. I love old cameras like that, but I don't use them because film is too impractical at this point.

[@halbertking2683]

Sid, I remember you from Pittsburgh. Sweet Lightning with Harry Turner and Pete and Fred.

[@redelf22]

When I started playing over 8 years ago my first amp was a crate, and it is still the one I use today :-D

[@GuitarFunhouse]

Felecia meant "single channel," not single coil. No channel switching. Notice there's only one input.

[@BobHeathcotePersonal]

New respect for Sid. He knows his stuff. Will always cool. Funny, I just got rid of my GT10B because the sound was too digital for me. Felicia was a riot. Not surprised she has stuff everywhere. At the end seeing Lee lining up his pill bottles was funny, too. Thanks

[@stevehogan8829]

What a great guitar. Love how he's into the frets, string changes an auto body polish. LOL I hope you ask him why he likes the "high" frets. Also ask why he prefers single coil.

[@jimiclaptoncarl18]

Awesome!

[@hongdekong]

gotta love this guy

[@voodoodr]

The world's most dangerous band!!! I miss them

[@gabejimenez7233]

anybody notice the Velvet Revolver album shirt for Libertad behind the drums during Will Lee's spot?

[@JRAFF145]

Amazing how subtly each of them talks about their complicated and involved equipment.

[@pschroeter1]

I wish I had seen this BEFORE the show went off the air.

[@brianendersmusic]

i'm always interested in the tone of the pros because it always seems so amazingly original and intricate, sometimes I just imagine that a pro guitar play may just be using a fender with a drive pedal but it's always way more technical

[@Barnekkid]

Felicia Collins is cool. She said the Crate was "single coil."

[@jcavazos4145]

Barnekkid This was a while back. It's been years since The Late Show was cancelled. I miss that show.😐

[@petedonaghyguitar]

I think she meant single channel. I have a buddy who uses one of those and I always give him a hard time about it. Now I have to give him some respect knowing she used that on a very important gig nightly.

[@FernandoSantucci]

Between 6:20 and 7:30 Sid McGinnis shows his Fender Showman head amplifier upside down to avoid the intense heat produced by the tubes and transformers go straight to the chassis and cracking the tracks of the PCB - Printed Circuit Board. I consider it a design defect of Fender amplifiers that Jim Marshall repaired since its first prototype of Bassman, the JTM45.

[@paulread4886]

Hey Rig Rundown Here's a great useful question for you to ask these great touring guitar players..... "Out of all this gear you use, if you were a musician only earning $50 a night and playing to 20- 50 people max ( and face it , thats most of us , if you are lucky). What would you use , considering you also have to personally carry, and set up all the gear yourself ? " Now THAT'S what i would find useful : ) Thank you.

[@harro333]

The Boss GT pedals are insanely underrated. No idea where this particular bias against them came from. It's quite simply the most versatile thing I've ever used. They aren't great on the modelling amp stuff but you don't get one for that. Almost every effect is in the unit and you can change the order of effects to your hearts content (including it's loop). The amount of effects you can use at one time is also unrivalled. Anypoo, I love 'em.

[@EroWheel]

Can't wait for ''The Roots'' !

[@Jcaburianhimself]

great!

[@ludlow555]

I trip out of how different Sid and Felicia are, gear-wise. Sid built and amp from scratch and she uses some POS Crate... and still sounds great on TV.

[@iankr]

Despite not understanding pretty much everything they're saying (I know very little about electric guitars) I love watching these videos. Go figure.

[@duckiesful]

Fun interviews, None of them seem to be gear obsessed, or terribly interested in the details. I like that. Also they have THE best gig in music!

[@LRS905]

Ha ha, true, no one seems to be in the Spinal Tap attittude of "don´t touch it, don´t point at it!! can you hear the sustain? mmmmwhhaaaaAAAA!"

[@sYnerGyZniGmA]

sid is a pittsburgh guy. you can hear his accent very well even though he's been in NYC for so long .

[@benjaminjayko7255]

5:42 what do ya think that scooter in the top left is for.

[@iansnyder274]

FYI Jimmy Wieder did not come up with the Big T. It was DOMINICK RAMOS not Jimmy. Just to set the record straight. He is his tech since the 70s. Just to set the record staight! He made some for some of us here in the hudson valley over 20 years ago. Dominick is an unsung genius guitar luthier and deserves much more props!

[@olirichings1395]

Please do a rig rundown for All Time Low and Sleeping With Sirens thanks :)

[@Lele0Live]

"I look silly... I don't care" I love this guy

[@guitarguyd22]

I love the edge

[@Mikehornerbaggs]

Who are the band sound checking in the background, I recognise the tune..

[@jessemayra]

Real musicians..... Period.

[@hookydoo]

what a cool guy.man this is a guitar players dream.i love you tube!!!!

[@ATMAtim]

I really enjoyed this interview set. The band is probably the best one to ever hit TV. I miss this band and the old David Letterman before he lost his mind and ruined the show.

[@DarkEliteEric]

Can you do one for the Roots?

[@MFB9999]

What does a Band of Horses case do on the set ? 21:38

[@tosinkingfishercheeseburge8901]

Sid he my favourite guitarst

[@topa1798]

Old skool

[@kstrat]

I'm pretty certain she meant "single channel". The Crate Power Block is single channel solid state head that utilizes Crate's "Flex-Wave" preamp. I own one myself. She only mentioned size in respect to it's portability. Being able to toss a amp head into her handbag for a gig or jam sessions seems cool to me. BTW these amps did come with their own tote bag. : )

[@thelongslowgoodbye]

I was hoping that Felicia would talk about her Steinberger.

[@peterhajdin1966]

thelongslowgoodbye exactly!

[@gmajorspresents]

Sid is the man. I wish he would have shown that awesome yellow electric he used for years. What was that ?

[@someoneelse101]

I think he had two of those but one of them was most likely a Strat or ESP. They looked awesome though

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

@@someoneelse101 Remember the matching shoes?

[@sliverhandsonbasses]

Missing Rebecca and missing CBS Orchestra...

[@ActuallySanFrancisco]

world's most dangerous band 👍

[@TinoSchulz1990]

me too. i was wondering a bit. but i guess it was an ultra

[@Patrick_B687-3]

What are they doing now?

[@denieledwards6893]

COOL DUDE AND VERY FUNNY......

[@hystb]

There was a time I thought that too, but Dave Weiner plays them on a G3 dvd...the one with petrucci maybe? they make some good stuff. its funny how she wants to wrap it up towards the end and it gets awkward.

[@webseiter]

He just demystified The Edge ;-)

[@thatdanhill]

oh my god yes!

[@tMatt5M]

How about the difference between and an esquire and a tele?

[@DazManCat]

Bill Bailey does a great funny take on the Edge!

[@birsay123]

“True Bypass”. 😎

[@celticbastardson2599]

I feel like they are "kindred spirits". Sid has almost the exact same taste that I have. I'm more of a Fender guitarist, but an antique Les Paul is noting to complain about!

[@Snowy0123]

Dream job for a guitarist. .lives nearby and can keep the bulk of his baby's at home and bring them to work when he wants to. .

[@preesi1403]

Elton John has played 3000 shows in his career The Worlds Most Dangerous Band has played 6080 one hour concerts in their career

[@DrVVVinK]

On my 18th birthday, my dad took me to a taping of Dave, and the band was just amazing during the commercial breaks. I still remember this cover they did of Green Day's Basketcases, which blew my mind.

[@blueswede74]

I think it is a Roland JV1080 or 2080 sound module.

[@veerchasm1]

Rebecca is still the best, knowledgeable and unobtrusive interviewer this channel has had

[@visiting31]

Can't find a NAMM Godin vid with Dirks...