For the Love of Pure Live Tone
Tyler’s quest for the best live tone started with a 1958 Martin 00-17 bought off Reverb that happened to come already equipped with a Baggs Anthem System. As the band’s shows grew, getting those vintage acoustics to sound natural on louder stages became more important than ever.
This is where close friend, producer, and Heart guitarist Paul Moak came in. Working out of his renowned studio (and The Band Feel’s unofficial headquarters), the Smoakstack in Berry Hill, Paul introduced Tyler to the Baggs Voiceprint DI.
“I was telling Paul I had some things I didn’t like about my acoustic sound, knowing we were going to be playing more acoustic stuff live. He showed me his live rig with Heart, and I was like, ‘Dang, man, that sounds like an acoustic guitar.’”
Today, Tyler runs a high-performance rig featuring two separate Voiceprint DIs: one calibrated specifically for his six-string acoustics, and a second dedicated to a rare mandocello with its own unique EQ profile. Paired with the HiFi Pickup System, the setup bridges the gap between true acoustic tone and pro performance power.
“What I love about the HiFi pickup mixed with the Voiceprint is that it adds something to a live mix that you don’t get just from miking up. It makes your guitar sound exactly like it’s supposed to, which makes you better and makes your live mix better.”
Bringing Guitar History to the Stage
One of the gear highlights of Tyler’s rig is his 1953 Gibson Southern Jumbo, crafted in Kalamazoo, Michigan. A road-tested instrument with a lifetime of stories, the guitar needed a pickup system that wouldn’t compromise its vintage acoustic voice or require invasive structural modifications.
While some collectors are hesitant to install a pickup in a 70-year-old instrument, Tyler’s philosophy is that guitars are meant to be played. He installed the HiFi system, and the Southern Jumbo immediately went out on the road, racking up over 120 shows in a single year.
“I’m precious with my instruments, especially vintage acoustics,” Tyler says. “If you don’t play an acoustic and it stays in a case for a month, you open it up and it has to wake up. When it comes to pickups, whatever the guitar gives to the pickup, that’s all it can do. As far as the HiFi goes, it was pretty much no question that’s what I wanted in this guitar.”
Road Warriors
With over 130 touring dates under their belt, The Band Feel is stepping into their most explosive era yet as they launch their highly anticipated debut album, What Of Now. Their process remains organic, sometimes starting with a riff Tyler brings to the group, other times born out of an impromptu jam session before they record.
Whether crafting heavy rock anthems or intimate acoustic instrumentals like “A Forever With You,” the band’s relentless commitment to their craft and their gear means that what their audience hears on stage is pure, unfiltered intention.
“It’s a beautiful thing to have the life I’ve been given, where I can think about acoustic pickups all day and have my acoustic problems solved, too. I'm just very thankful for the position I’m in.”
