Derek Trucks’ Guitars and Gear Posted on Aug. 7th, 2013 by Dan Kope

Derek Trucks’ Electric Guitars: 2000 ’61 Gibson SG RI

Derek’s main guitar. It’s usually tuned to open E. The guitar originally had a tremolo tailpiece that was replaced with stop-tailpiece, but Derek liked the look of Gibson Maestro Vibrola plate so he kept it as a counter-weight. He also had the pickguard removed due to fact that he doesn’t actually use a pick while playing. Except for that, the guitar is preatty much stock with two Seymour Duncan Antiquity pikups, solid mahogany body and rosewood fingerboard. The front and back of the body are filled with signatures of the people Derek toured with over the years.

1961 Gibson Les Paul/SG

Derek’s backup SG; he keeps it tuned one whole step down – Drop D. This one has the tremolo tailpiece.

Washburn Custom E300

Derek used this Washburn live, and it can be heard on “Joyful Noise” released in 2002. The guitar has two Duncan pickups, rosewood fingerboard with Solar inlays, Tune-o-matic bridge, and Grover tuners.

PRS McCarty

Played live in the earlier years.

1961 Gibson Les Paul

Used sometimes on stage. This seems to be one of his favorite guitars: “I have seven Gibsons right now, including a 1960′s 335, a 1950′s ES-250, and a few SGs. I play a Gibson Custom SG reissue on stage, and that’s what I feel most comfortable traveling with, but my prized possession is an original 1961 Les Paul SG.” Here’s a live recording of ABB performance in 2008 with Derek playing his Les Paul: The Allman Brothers Band 10/03/08 .

Gibson Firebird Custom

Seen on couple of interviews and photoshots. Also used as a backup on stage for songs that require different tuning.

Supro Belmont

Probably from the late 50s. Derek uses it live sometimes (see: The Derek Trucks Band – “Down in the Flood” Mountain Jam 05.31.09)

Silvertone 1449

Derek was seen playing this Silvertone of few occasions. He would usually plug it in his small Fender combo.

Derek Trucks’ Acoustic Guitars: 1932 Gibson L-00

This seems to be Derek’s favorite acoustic. He played it on many occasions (see “Back Where I Started” at WNRN). He sometimes puts the DeArmond 210 soundhole pickup on it.

Martin D-28

Played couple of times with Susan. (see: Derek and Susan “Rollin and Tumblin” at the White House)

National Triolian

Derek played a couple of Nationals on stage, most notably the walnut-burst colored Troilian vintage model. He also has the Bukka White’s National, which he played on “Out Of The Madness”.

Derek Trucks’ Guitar Amps: Derek’s main and favorite amp is the vintage 1965 Fender Super Reverb with Pyle Driver MH1020 speakers. He plugs his SG directly in the amp, and doesn’t use any effect pedal in between, except for the built-in reverb. He has another Super Reverb from 1968 as a backup. With the Allman Brothers Band, Derek has used a couple of different amps. Among them is the PRS Blue Sierra which he plays through a Randall 4×12 cabinet in the most recent setup. He also uses the 100w Oiginal Sewell Model with Marshall cabinet filled with 4X12 Celestion Vintage 30 classic speakers (also used on some of his solo work). Although this is Derek’s main setup, he occasionally uses different amps, especially when he’s not playing his main SG. He was seen playing the Fender Vibro Champ, 5C3 Deluxe and some sort of an small National combo with Derek Trucks Band.

Derek Trucks’ Guitar Effects: Derek does not use any effects except for the reverb build in the Fender Super combo amp. Literally the only pedal he has on his pedalboard is Peterson Strobostomp tuner and the A/B switcher.

Derek Trucks’ Guitar Strings: Derek uses DR Strings Pure Blues (.011 – .046)

Derek Trucks’ Guitar Accessories: - Dunlop Pyrex Slide - Dunlop Blues Bottle Slide