The signal goes from the guitar to the TU-2 tuner pedal by BOSS, then to the preamp (either the Presonus Acousti-Q tube preamp or SansAmp Acoustic DI), then to the bunch of BOSS pedals stated above, then to the TC Electronics G-Major for some extra fine reverbs, tremolos etc., then to the Mackie 1402 VLZ mixer, and finaly to the Mackie SRM350 speakers. Mac will sometimes also use a microphone in front of the guitar and he switches here between a Shure SM57 and an ADK A51 or any other large membrane condenser mic, depending on the venue. These two sound sources are combined with aprox 70% of the pickup sound.

For smaller venues Mac will use the Roland AC-90 acoustic amp only, sometimes coupled with a single Mackie SRM350 active monitor (XLR line out from the AC-90), a sort of a "mini PA" which works great.

 

ELECTRIC SOUND:

Mac usualy skips the preamp and plugs straight into either amplifier. Most of the times it's a Peavey Delta Blues. The best thing with this amp is that it's got two 10" speakers - great, great sound. Basically this is a Peavey Classic 30W all tube amp. The amp is then miked with an SM57 Shure dynamic microphone. Still the king of the miked amp sound.

Talking about effects, pedals etc, everything stated here is being used very moderatelly. The less is better... A smaller amp cranked up to 7-8 or higher (...) gives him usualy just as much overdrive as he needs. The FULLDRIVE 2 is top of the line unit which is mostly used for a little boost in a band situation or when needed. It's hand built and the components are of highest quality which shows and Fulldrive 2 is very dynamic, transparent and, do we need to say this at all? True bypass.

ACCESSORIES:

PICKUPS:
Sunrise pickup is still Mac's first choice. Available in limited quantities, make sure you can wait when ordering. It's sometimes hard to find. L.R Baggs came with a great M1 acoustic pickup that Mac is also using. Chandler Lipstick sits in his Continental Tricone while the EMG acoustic soundhole pickup is moving between his other acoustics. There is a fantastic pickup that Mac has got after one of many "guitar transactions" he's done over the years. He believes it's a D'Armond. The Swedish made Hagström guitars had these in their "Viking" models (the one that Elvis used to play - with "6 in line" tuning knobs...). Look in the Gallery section where one of these pickups can be seen in the Yamaha acoustic. Right now this pickup sits in the 12 string guitar and sounds great.

CAPOS:
G7th as the main capo, Victor (now Dunlop), Kyser and Shubb capos
The best capos around. Homesick Mac is using different capos on different guitars.
G7th capos are the absolutely best around for the moment, with the main "trick" of a one hand operation - press as much as it's necessary and that's it, that's where it stays. Check out the website and see for yourself this masterpiece of design and a true user-friendly product.

STRINGS:
The same rule applies here as with the capos. Different guitars - different strings. For some time now, Mac has been using D'Addario (EXP coated strings as well as Chromes) and Elixir strings

D'Addario EXP's are bright sounding, Elixirs last longest and so on. Experiment, experiment... The gauges used are lights and mediums, also depending on tunings, type of guitar etc.

On his Continental Style 1 and the Silvertone archtop, Mac is using D'Addario Chromes, a polished kind of strings. Don't expect these to sound bright, it's a smooth string which sounds great "electrified".

DIAMOND BOTTLENECKS
Custom made slides which are absolutely fantastic. Every now and then we get emails or calls about some great "new slides", a friend of friend's old buddy who has _just_ started making slides out of... whatever, but Diamond Bottlenecks are for real, they are here to stay, and the company is (luckily for all slide players) growing and developing well. Please visit Diamond Bottlenecks

MELLERT BRASS SLIDE
A custom made brass slide of great quality. Unfortunately, Mr. Tomas Mellert is not in the business any more so Mac will soon be looking for some other solution...

THE PICKING HAND:
Mac has been playing with a plastic thumbpick and metal fingerpicks for the first 15 years of his fingerpicking. He has thrown away the fingerpicks in 1996 (still using the thumbpick) because he noticed that he needed a downstroke in his playing as well - this is almost impossible when using fingerpicks. Mac is also enjoying the natural and direct contact with the strings. Does he have strong nails? No, not at all, but he doesn't hit the strings that hard nowdays (why do we have all those pickups for anyway???). Mac will keep his nails very short and play to a large extent with the flash of his index and middle fingers. The nail is just there for the "support". It took some time to get used to it though...

As for the nail care Homesick Mac is using Ultra Nails Nail Strengthener. These products are as natural as they can be. Please refer to the book "Guitarist's Guide to Fingernails" by Rico Stover

Of course, prior to this decision, Mac has tried many different options - plastic/false nails, acrylic layers, nail gels, Super Glue, you name it. Some products that he can recommend:

Many classical guitarists are using MIRO'S GUITAR NAILS
Miro Simic has developed a nail care system (lists for around $37 +shipping) and it consists of a self-adhesive silk which you cut and form, and then glue to your nails with his Resin glue. The package also includes a bottle with Natural and essential oils which you apply on you nails twice a day. You also get a 4-step buffer ( polisher ) for forming and polishing your nails. The package lasts quite long and the nails are very hard after 3 or 4 layers of silk and glue. You can do your dishes, take a shower, bath, swim, if you put them properly, they'll hold.
With this product you can not only reinforce your nails, you can also lengthen the broken nail. This can be a life saver!

Miro can be reached at:
MIRO SIMIC
Guitarist and nail expert
Bergsgatan 23
152 41 Södertälje, Sweden
tel +46 8 550 689 13
fax +46 8 550 619 02

 

RICO'S GUITAR NAILS
As mentioned above, Rico Stover has written a book about the proper nail care and about many different solutions to save the environment and not use any toxic materials on/in your body if you don't have to. He has come up with a quite unique solution for nail reinforcement. Please visit his site here . Homesick Mac is not in any way affiliated with this company.