I've played guitar since 1959 and have seen many innovations and steps forward in the evolution, construction, design and electronics, since my childhood days, of what I believe is the world’s coolest instrument.
I'm grateful to be in a position of playing an instrument that touches my soul, while making a living doing it.
It's a privileged position that I never take for granted.
This is an account of the touring and recording acoustic guitar I use, how I've set it up as well as the gear I've surrounded it with.
What guitar is "the best"?
I get asked a lot about what guitar is the best, etc.
My answer is simple: The best guitar is the one you love to play and can't put down.
Doesn't matter what it costs, who made it or where it’s from.
If you love playing it, that's the one. Some of my favorites are funky old junkies with a lot of hard years on them. Somehow they make you play differently and you end up having a different experience than you would with your five thousand dollar, hand-made masterpiece.
Building Tommy Emmanuel's Acoustic Guitar
Tommy Emmanuel's signature Maton TE acoustic guitar.
Tommy Emmanuel performing live with his signature acoustic guitar. Flickr Commons image courtesy of Firnville
I use my Maton TE Personal Model as my main squeeze on tour and usually in the studio. It's a maple guitar with a spruce top, rosewood fingerboard and small, concert-style body size.
The body has great overall balance, comfort and playability. When I plug it into my AER amp, it's a beast. I can record with just a mic too, which also sounds incredibly good. I favor Martin SP Flexicore 12-54 strings, partly because they seem to provide the best intonation with this particular model.
Tommy Emmanual's Core Acoustic Guitar Build
Gear | DETAILS | RATING | Browse |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Maton TE (Signature Model) | n/a | |
 | Martin SP Flexible Core (12 - 54) | n/a | |
 | AER Compact 60/3 Twin | n/a |
They feel solid, yet easy to bend and fret with. Not all strings give you that. I like real bone saddles and nuts for a bright, yet woody tone. My action is fairly low and flat, neck straight and saddle with a little height on it.
Most people who get to feel my guitar marvel at how nice it plays. It should feel good to play, all day, all night. If you get sore hands, RSI wrist or hand problems, you could be playing a guitar that's not set up right.
So never strain. Playing should be a pleasure, not a chore.
Preamp, Pickups and Other Peripherals
The Maton AP5 Pro Pickup and preamp system used in Emmanuel's acoustic guitars. Image via Blue Bus Music
I use three Maton acoustic guitars on tour, all fitted with the latest AP5 Pro System that has onboard controls and a microphone on an arm that can be moved around inside the guitar to find the right spot.
This system ticks all the boxes for me.
I can mix the amount of Piezo vs Mic and EQ with sweepable midrange that is really flexible and musical. I usually run the levels of both pickup and mic on 10. I cover the sound hole with a rubber plug called a Feedback Buster, and crank up the microphone with no noise or feedback problems.
The External Preamp
I use an AER preamp called a "Dual Mix." I run that into the PA system as one direct signal. Then I come out of that into my AER Compact 60 amplifier. I set the EQ on the amp and pre-amp on flat so nothing is boosted. It's a big, warm tone that my FOH sound man puts into the PA system, which already sounds really good on its own, were it taking a direct line from my guitar.
Emmanuel also uses an AER dual mix preamp like the one pictured above.
Good strings that give lots of overtones really help to get the tone of my guitar to be natural and not artificial sounding. This means I don't have to do much tweaking away from the guitar itself.
Preamps and Feedback Control
Gear | DETAILS | RATING | BROWSE |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Maton AP5 Pro System | n/a | |
 | AER Dual Mix | n/a | |
 | Feedback Buster Soundhole Cover | n/a |
Having said all this, I still prefer the sound of a good acoustic guitar with a microphone in front of it and nothing else. However, in a day of state-of-the-art PA systems, we arrive, plug in, get a sound, do a show, give our audiences a good time, pack up, get out of there and do it again the next day in a different city or country with minimum fuss and minimum equipment carried.
I hope these few words have given a small view into our world on tour, how I've built my acoustic guitar and the rig surrounding.
Thanks for this opportunity to share with you all.
Enjoy your guitars.
x TE cgp
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Hi. Just a question I’ve had since seeing Tommy’s concert on PBS regarding one of his sound hole covers. While all of the guitars used them, I noticed one had eight or so holes in it. (3/8″ perhaps, near the circular outer edge of the disk?)
I presume they provide some useful modification and I’m real curious to know.
Thanks :>)
Hey Wayne – I have not noticed that. My assumption would be that it just lets a little more natural resonance through?
Was it something like this? https://www.amazon.com/Acoustic-Electric-Guitar-Feedback-Prevention/dp/B0788HXF4H/ref=sr_1_54
Wow that’s interesting. His appeared to only be holes in it. But your link to an adjustable cover likely goes to the heart of it. I didn’t know you could have them with basically variable amounts of attenuation. Can’t help to think tone must shift as well but I’ve only had them in or out.
Thank you
I was so glad to hear that TE uses concert-sized guitars when he plays. I have 3 and hardly ever play my Martin D-35. The balance of a concert, in my estimation, is spot-on. 1 and 3/4 in. nut is also perfect for fingerstyle. I’ve seen Tommy several times and always leave amazed. I started using Dunlop medium thumbpicks, but I cut mine off, then shape and bevel them myself. Look at Martin Tallstrom’s pick.
Awesome, thanks for your input, Mike. I agree on the concert body shape. Less “bassy” than the dreadnoughts but perfect for Tommy’s style.
What an excellent article and from, for me, the strongest acoustic guitar player in the world!! I agree with Michael that Tommy Emmanuel and Jeff Beck would be a tour de force which would sell out anywhere they played. I would also be very interested to hear what Tommy has got to say about looper pedals and percussive playing as I believe he plays drums too. It was also very interesting to hear how he uses a mix of piezo and in-guitar mic – some adaptions for my piezo only J45 definitely required one day. Thanks to one of my true favourites of guitar for his time and knowledge.
Thanks Gary, glad you enjoyed this one.
Tommy can , smoke – the strings off the fingerboard and Melt any audience of guitarist into jaw dropping Awe . A dream , Tommy & Jeff Beck sit down and swap song ideas . ! ! THANKS
Agreed. Thanks Michael.
Thanks for the article Tommy, I have followed you for years and love your music.
I am attempting to learn guitar for enjoyment and also to assist with my business which is repairs to musical equipment such as amps, effects, keyboards, etc.
Best Regards from a fellow Aussie