Jess Carson

In this video from Reverb around 2:12, Jess says

This here is a 1964 J-200, the king of all flat tops. The sort of Cadillac, the guitar that has been played by many of my idols from Bob Dylan to John Prine to Bruce Springsteen. This is kind of the legendary biggest and boldest acoustic. They're so cool. This era especially with the neck shape, before they went to the much smaller neck. This year is what I consider to be the best neck shape of these guitars. You know, people like Keith Richards play a '64. It's just kind of the perfect feeling neck. This one also is very original. I installed a pickup in it so I could play it live, but it comes with the original bridge. It has an L.R. Baggs system in it right now, and the bridge was replaced to put that in but it comes with the original one. It's got the original case. It's the Iced Tea burst, which for me was the color I've seen the least. When I'd go out and play J-200s in stores, I'd seem to see the Tabacco Burst and the blonde ones a little more so when I saw this one I thought it was really really cool. This one has that J-200 big sound in the open chords. Very even sounding. Very warm and rich.

On Jess's official Instagram, he can be seen playing a Martin D-42.

On Jess's official Instagram, you can see him in various pictures playing a butterscotch Fender Telecaster with a humbucker in the neck. By it's appearance, it could be vintage or a custom shop.

On Jess's official Instagram, you can see him pictured with a weathered black Fender Stratocaster. The exact details are unclear whether it is vintage, custom shop, or newer.

On Jess's official Instagram, you can see him pictured with a Gibson Hummingbird alongside Josh Abbott and Johne Baumann.

On Jess's official Instagram, he posted a picture of two separate vintage Stratocasters. One is a 1959, and the other is a 1955. One is in 3 tone sunburst and the other is in two tone sunburst.

On Jess's official Instagram, he posted a picture of two separate vintage Stratocasters. One is a 1959, and the other is a 1955. One is in 3 tone sunburst and the other is in two tone sunburst.

On Jess's official Instagram, you can see him playing a cherry red Gibson ES-335.

On Jess's official Instagram, you can see him pictured with what appears to be a Fender Esquier. There is no neck pickup, which indicates that it is an esquier.

On Jess's official Instagram, you can see him playing a 1957 Gibson Les Paul into a stack of different amps. In this post he quotes: "1957 Les Paul into a Dumble".

On Jess's official Instagram, he is seen playing a 1957 Gibson Les Paul into a Dumble Overdrive Special amplifier. He is quoted saying: "1957 Les Paul into a Dumble".

On Jess's official Instagram, you can see him pictured next to a UA Ox box.

On Jess's official Instagram, he can be seen playing a Gibson Les Paul Standard.

On Jess's official Instagram, you can see him pictured with a Guild F-512 12 string acoustic guitar at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN.

On Jess's official Instagram, you can see him with a Fender Telecaster custom. Based on it being double bound and the logo style, I believe it is a custom.

1962 Fender Bassman with 6G6A circuit, touted by many as the greatest guitar amplifier of all time. Rare single 12 inch JBL tone ring speaker configuration. Owned and used on the road by Jess Carson and comes with custom Midland road case and certificate of authenticity.

Here is a 100% custom nylon string electric/acoustic that Kirk Sand built for Jess Carson. Kirk who passed away in 2024, was the premier builder of this style guitar -among others, his guitars were played by Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed, and Lenny Breau. He built barely over a dozen guitars a year. Jess and Kirk designed this one at Kirk's studio in California and it took 3 years to make. It is truly exceptional in every way and totally one-of-a-kind. Comes with certificate of authenticity.

Preston Thompson acoustic guitar custom built for Jess Carson. Jess worked with Thompson guitars, coming up with the inlay designs, picking woods, neck shape, finish and more. The result is a beautiful looking, playing, and sounding guitar. Pickup installed by Thompson guitars. Comes with certificate of authenticity.

Very cool 1980's Tokai Springy Sound "super Strat" played by Jess Carson. Mark Knopfler vibe, shows great authentic play-wear. Comes with certificate of Authenticity.

This is a 1982 Fullerton reissue that has been played a TON. Played by Jess Carson every night on tour from 2023 through 2025. This guitar is a mutt with a variety of unoriginal parts and repairs including one on the headstock. All of the ageing is authentic play-wear. A SUPER cool, lightweight player. Comes with certificate of authenticity.

One-of-a-kind custom Weber mandolin. Bruce Weber revived Gibson's mandolin department in the 1990's, specifically returning their custom shop F-style mandolin production to its former greatness. He was entrusted with repairing Bill Monroe's 1923 F-5 mandolin. This has been Jess Carson's mandolin, it boasts a gorgeous sunburst finish, flame maple binding, and a pickup for live use. Comes with certificate of authenticity.

Jess Carson says: I've probably played every year Telecaster, from the early 50's to today -and the 1966 and '67 maple caps are my hands down favorite. It's the perfect player neck. It used to be the blackguards and later 50's ones were all anyone talked about but I feel like the word has gotten out on these over the last few years. Some of them can be heavy but if you can find a lightweight one, preferably that has been played a lot, they're impossible to beat.

This 1967 Fender Telecaster pairs a rare blonde finish over an ash body with a maple cap neck, a highly sought-after combination. The pots date to the 18th week of 1966, and the neck is stamped 3SEP67B. Weighing just 6 lbs 13 oz, it’s an extremely lightweight and resonant guitar.

It has been professionally refretted while retaining the original neck wear, and fitted with a new nut for improved playability. Two tuners have been changed to era correct F-style tuners. The two original tuners are in the case. The original pickups and hardware remain intact. Owned and played by Jess Carson. Comes with certificate of authenticity.

Original case and strap included

Menatone Red Snapper overdrive pedal owned and used on tour by Jess Carson.

One of the most legendary overdrive pedals of all time -the V1.2 signed Hermida Audio Zendrive, modeled after a Dumble overdrive. Owned by Jess Carson and used by him on tour. Comes with a certificate of authenticity.

Vintage guitar strap from Jess Carson's collection

JHS Morning Glory overdrive pedal owned and used by Jess Carson on the road. Comes with certificate of authenticity.

I played this guitar in the Mr. Lonely music video and throughout numerous tours over the last three years. Actually I think I have a picture somewhere of Dennis Quaid playing that i'll send to the owner. It’s a lightweight beast and was professionally refretted and gone through by the famous Ed Reynolds.

It plays perfectly and needs nothing. The action is lightning fast. The neck is original finish and has that great “pool cue” smooth feel. Body refinished by Mark Jenny of MJT Aged Finishes. At one point it was routed under the pickguard for a Fender Jaguar type selector switch. All original hardware, pickups, plastic parts, and wiring except for a replaced pot and pickguard are included as well as the Bare Knuckle “Slow Hand” pickups that are currently in it. Those sound incredible by the way.

The guitar that started it all! I played this guitar at the very first Midland show and it was my number one for the next three or more years. What's really cool is that in 1967, this was a pro-player custom order from Fender, identified by the factory marker “Spec For Smitty” written on the heel of the neck. I can't confirm but my suspicion is that it was Fay "Smitty" Smith, Ernest Tubb's guitar player.

Original pickups and wiring included along with the Emerson Custom overwound pickups and wiring harness that are currently in it. Pro refret. Original finish, hardware, case, and ashtray cover. You can see this guitar in the "Put The Hurt On Me" music video (I temporarily swapped the original Rosewood neck with another late-sixties Tele maple cap). I also played it on the 2018 CMA Awards when we performed "East Bound and Down".

I love rare and weird guitars and this is certainly both. In fact, I didn't know that these even existed until I found this one. Something about the non-reverse body with the 12-string headstock is just so cool. It's really fun to play and people freak out on it. Johnny Winter actually played a Polaris White one of these.

I toured with it extensively -paired with the original mini-humbuckers it has that ultimate vintage jangle. Original except for a refin (was originally tobacco burst) and pro-refret.

This guitar was used on the “Let It Roll” album recording sessions -you can hear it soloed on the intro to “21st Century Honky Tonk American Band” plugged straight into my 1958 Fender Princeton. It's the greatest playing and sounding SG I’ve ever laid hands on. In fact, I wasn't looking for an SG but when I played this one, I knew I couldn't walk away from it. It has my favorite neck profile that Gibson ever made -before they went to the pencil-thin necks in the later part of the Sixties. Played on tour 2016-2019.

This guitar is the ultimate mutt. It has a very stable repaired crack at the heel. It started life as a “Special” and has been converted to humbuckers. The vibrola tailpiece is disengaged. Changed tuners and hardware. It’s lightweight and it screams.