It stays in one place and just explores it. " For the main sessions, Ford plugged into his trusty Dumble Overdrive Special, but used a Matchless 1x12 cab instead of his usual 2x12 setup. Photo by Alison Toon Once he'd decided on the album's approach, Ford had to choose three things: the songs, the players, and of course, the guitar. He chose the '66 Riviera not because it was one of his go-to guitars, but precisely because it was not. "I bought it around 1991, and as cool as it was and as much as I liked it, it just stayed under the piano, " he says. He's used it for the occasional overdub and for his 2002 Blue Moon album. But until now, the Epi pretty much went back under that piano after each session. After some attention from Nashville luthier-to-the-stars Joe Glaser–most notably a refret, new bridge, and tailpiece–it became such an integral part of the vision of the album that Ford purchased a second one. "The original Bigsby just locked up the sound a little too much and the tension was wrong from my style of playing, " Ford mentions.
It's like a lens. It's a smaller picture, but it's clearer and it's very present. " Robben Ford's Gear Guitars 1966 Epiphone Riviera Amps Dumble Overdrive Special Matchless 1x12 open-back cabinet with Celestion Vintage 30 speakers Effects Tremolo pedal of unknown make (Robben uses a Strymon Flint in his live rig) Strings, Picks, and Accessories D'Addario strings (. 010–. 046), Planet Waves heavy picks With the songs, players, and gear in place, Ford was ready to focus on conveying the vibe of the original versions. The goal wasn't to play a lot of notes or explore more extended harmonies. "It's not about notes anymore, it's about colors. It's about nuance. It's about phrasing. These are the things that turn me on in music anyway. It's why I love Miles Davis' playing so much. He was not the greatest trumpet player in the world, but he was the greatest stylist in the world. Jimi Hendrix—the same thing. Not necessarily the greatest guitarist in the world, but what he did was incredible, " says Ford.