David Grissom

"They made that guitar the McCarty, which became my guitar for many years, although I always got mine with a tremolo arm. That adds liveliness and a natural reverb to the tone."

"I spent an entire year developing them. The benchmark was my ’59 ES-335, which has incredible PAFs. An almost magical upper harmonic blooms out of the note. We built a test guitar where we could change pickups in seconds, so you could really do an objective comparison. Then we took the necks of my two favorite PRS guitars—both of which were atypical due to the way the sander had finished them—and interpolated them for the neck shape. I think it’s the most vintage-inspired guitar that Paul makes."

"I started playing PRS in 1985, so the guitar was almost 25 years in the making. In 1991, when I was working with Mellencamp, I wanted a PRS that had a little more low end and a little less midrange, to add a more vintage character. I collaborated with Bonnie Lloyd, who was the artist-relations person, on a bunch of changes to a stock model. They made that guitar the McCarty, which became my guitar for many years, although I always got mine with a tremolo arm. That adds liveliness and a natural reverb to the tone."

According to Premier Guitar's interview, one of the items listed under his "gear" is the Gretsch Double Anniversary with TV Jones pickups and whammy bar.

"I got to Austin and everybody was playing a Strat, me included. I traded a 1959 Esquire for an all-mahogany Sea Foam Green PRS in ’85. I thought it would be something different. I met Paul Reed Smith at a guitar show in ’87, and he gave me the Gold Top that became my main guitar for many years."

According to Premier Guitar's interview, one of the items listed under his "gear" is the 1952 Fender Telecaster.

"I had one electric guitar, a 1960 Fiesta Red Stratocaster. We were playing barrooms and it was hotter than hell—I would be soaking wet at the end of every gig. I remember watching the Fiesta Red just come off the guitar onto my white shirt. I didn’t realize how much the guitar would eventually be worth. When I think back, it is hilarious that I was literally wiping the paint off the guitar. "

David Grissom is confirmed to own the PRS Private Stock Birds of a Feather (Guitar of the Month #16), as evidenced by a listing on Reverb. This custom-built guitar, signed by Paul Reed Smith, is noted for its intricate fretboard work featuring an ornate take on the classic PRS bird inlay motif, reflecting Private Stock artistry. Serial number 227226, it weighs 7 lbs 9 oz. This instrument is significant due to Grissom's longstanding influence on the design and sound of PRS guitars.

David Grissom owns a PRS JA-15, which is one of two custom-built guitars created for a Robert Plant gig. This 2011 PRS JA-15 Archtop (#11 181763) was built to Private Stock standards with a spruce top, flamed maple back, sides, and neck, and is signed by Paul Reed Smith. Weighing just 6lbs 1oz, it exemplifies PRS's craftsmanship beyond their usual offerings. This information is supported by a listing on Reverb, titled "PRS JA-15 Owned by David Grissom."

This PRS McCarty 594 Hollowbody II is owned by David Grissom. David Grissom has one of the deepest and most collaborative relationships in PRS history, going back to when the company was barely a year old, and this guitar is a direct product of that bond.

A 2021 McCarty 594 Hollowbody II (#21 0316623), custom built for David with a jaw-dropping Charcoal Cherry Burst finish, Brazilian rosewood board, and moon inlays, signed by Paul Reed Smith. At just 6lbs 3oz, this thing floats. The hollowbody resonates like crazy, giving it the natural warmth and openness that David has always gravitated toward in his tone. Both tone knobs are push/pull.

David Grissom owns a PRS DGT P90 in Seafoam Green, serial number #11 178556, as documented on Reverb. This guitar, one of two custom-built for a Robert Plant gig, features Amalfitano P90 pickups, which Grissom personally chose to replace the original Seymour Duncan pickups on several of his guitars. It weighs 6lbs 9oz, with a back cavity plate signed by Grissom, including a label indicating a string gauge of 10.5.

David Grissom is confirmed to use the PRS DGT TV Yellow Korina, a unique guitar built to his specifications. This 2015 model, identified as #15 219224, features a Korina body, TV Yellow finish, and moon inlays. It was custom ordered and signed by Paul Reed Smith. Grissom has extensively used this guitar during live performances, including tours with Rodney Crowell. The guitar's Korina wood is known for its warm, airy resonance and lightweight nature, weighing in at 7lbs 7oz. It retains the DGT's signature dual-volume setup, reminiscent of the tones from Jimmy Page's Les Paul on early Zeppelin records. This information is supported by a listing on Reverb.com.

David Grissom owns a Jerry Jones Double Neck Longhorn guitar, which he special ordered in 1992 for the recording and touring of John Mellencamp's "Human Wheels" album. This instrument was purpose-built for that chapter of his career and was utilized in several national television appearances. The guitar's ability to cover both the resonant baritone range and the bright jangly 6-string register suited Grissom's versatile playing style. This information is verified by the listing on Reverb, titled "Jerry Jones Double Neck Owned by David Grissom."

David Grissom owns a PRS Custom DGT Whale Blue, as evidenced by a listing on reverb.com. This specific 2016 PRS DGT, with serial number #16 232416, features a flamed maple neck, Brazilian rosewood board, matte-finished neck, and mother of pearl bird inlays. It is a custom build for Grissom, as indicated by the inscription on the back of the headstock and his signature on the back electronics plate. The guitar weighs 7 lbs 11 oz.

David Grissom is confirmed to own and use a PRS DGT David Grissom Tremolo Signature 10-Top, specifically a 2013 model in Boyd's Burst (#13 206094) featuring a Chaltecoco neck and 10-top. This guitar has been extensively used by Grissom in numerous gigs and sessions, as documented by Reverb.