Derek Trucks — Rig Network

Trucks's primary guitar — always tuned to Open E (E B E G# B E). The SG's lightweight mahogany body and dual-humbucker configuration suits slide: the mahogany resonance produces warmth, and the humbucker output gives enough signal to drive the Dumble cleanly. He uses the neck pickup for most slide work.

Unique to this artist in the database

Several vintage SGs used throughout his career. The neck profile of early 1960s SGs is typically slimmer, affecting the feel of the left hand when playing up the neck for slide.

Unique to this artist in the database

Like Bonamassa, Trucks uses a Dumble ODS as his primary amp — but his approach is cleaner, using the amp as a pure clean reference rather than a breakup platform. The Dumble's inherent tonal character adds warmth and harmonic dimension that a standard production amp cannot replicate.

Early career — a clean Twin Reverb was his first primary amp. The Twin's headroom and clarity are ideal for slide guitar, where string-to-string definition is critical. The Twin remains a reliable clean alternative when the Dumble is unavailable.

Trucks's sole drive pedal — the Zendrive is a JFET-based overdrive with a voicing control that approximates the harmonic character of a Dumble pushed slightly harder. Used for lead lines where he needs additional harmonic density.

Standard delay for spatial effect on leads. Trucks's delay use is restrained — typically a short quarter-note delay to add dimension without creating rhythmic complexity that competes with the slide melody.

Spring reverb to add natural hall dimension — the Flint's spring reverb setting is used at low mix to place the slide guitar in a space without overwhelming the dry signal's clarity.