Chris Vincent’s latest album, ‘Good Crook’, features his impressive guitar skills

In the realm of music reviews, it is rare for critics to delve into the instruments that underpin the compositions. However, musician Chris Vincent places significant importance on the guitars that shape his songs. In a world dominated by digital precision, Vincent holds fast to the belief in the distinct power of tangible, breathing instruments. His recent album, Good Crook, showcases two exceptional Gibson archtop guitars at the forefront, playing a pivotal role in constructing the record’s authentic and emotional sound.

At the core of the album lies Vincent’s primary writing and performance guitar, a 1947 Gibson L-7 lovingly named Gloria. Describing it as a guitar possessing a multitude of personas, Vincent highlights the unique characteristics that bring Gloria to life. While many archtop guitars possess the ability to cut through an ensemble with vigor, they often lack subtlety. Vincent praises late 1940s Gibson archtops, particularly Gloria, as the perfect companions for his musical approach. Equipped with a LaceSensor Slimline pickup and strung with Thomastik-Infeld .013s, Gloria’s brilliance shines through on every full band track, harmonizing flawlessly with the drumming of New Orleans jazz luminary Johnny Vidacovich.

Vincent recounts how Gloria came into his possession during a transition from predominantly electric archtop guitars to fully acoustic instruments about four years ago. He emphasizes the responsiveness of great guitars, like Gloria, capable of conveying nuances ranging from delicate to forceful, based on the player’s touch. For Vincent, Gibson as a brand embodies two fundamental principles: musicality and reliability.

For the melodic, intimate solo segments on Good Crook, Vincent turns to an exquisite 2019 Gibson prototype round-hole archtop, reviving a sound-hole design largely abandoned since the 1930s. Paired with a 1951 DeArmond FHC pickup and vintage amplifiers—a 1965 Princeton and a 1964 Super Reverb—this guitar provides a soulful contrast to Gloria, capturing the subtleties of Vincent’s playing style.

Adopting a minimalist approach in the studio, Vincent restricts himself to a single guitar pedal: a hand-wired JR Barnyard Octal Tube Preamp designed to replicate the warmth of vintage Gibson amplifiers. Emphasizing the importance of tone that breathes, Vincent, a sponsored artist for Fred Kelly SpeedPicks, employs a modified thumb pick in all his performances.

Both critics and fans extol Vincent’s rhythmic versatility, blending elements of blues, jazz, Western swing, and hard bop with a powerful yet refined slide technique. Through Good Crook, the guitars narrate a tale as intricate as the songs themselves—one of artistry, uniqueness, and the enduring allure of American archtop guitars.

To Vincent, these guitars transcend mere tools; they are expressive voices that collaborate in the creative process. Good Crook is currently available on all streaming platforms, with a new music video slated for release on Friday, August 8.