A view from the stage - Taj Mahal's guitars.

Toby Walker · #1 07-01-2016, 06:41 AM

Last night I had the privilege of opening up for Taj Mahal at the South Orange Performing Arts Center in NJ. At 74 he still puts on one heck of a show.

I thought you would like to see the instruments he brings on the road with him.

I brought my newly acquired Taylor 814ce and my National Tri-Cone for this gig.

A nice, intimate room. Great acoustics, stage, lighting and sound.

Taj had a bassist and drummer with him. Here's a shot from stage left.

drew b · #2 07-01-2016, 06:49 AM

Thanks for sharing. I really like more minimal shows. I bet it was a good one.

llew · #3 07-01-2016, 07:41 AM

That had to be a fun night all around! And like Drew...I prefer the minimalistic approach to live shows as well. Did you get to do any songs together?

Greg Rappleye · #4 07-01-2016, 07:47 AM

Toby:

Wow. Totally cool.

Thank you for posting this.

Greg Rappleye

frank4001 · #5 07-01-2016, 07:51 AM

Awesome... (I got to get to Fur Peace before I die...)

GTomcan · #6 07-01-2016, 07:57 AM

Awsome Thanks for the chance to see from this view !

drive-south · #7 07-01-2016, 08:49 AM

Huge Taj Mahal fan here. Opening for Taj is bucket list stuff. I'm really digging the guitar that looks like an Epiphone Howard Roberts. I think it's from a builder in CA called Subway Blues. The 8 stringed instrument looks like a hybrid mando/uke.

So Toby does your Taylor have the expression system? I'd like to know what your stage gear setup consists of. Do you mic up the National?

#8 07-01-2016, 10:47 AM

Oh man I love Taj! Cool post.

Rodger Knox · #9 07-01-2016, 11:49 AM

I used to see Taj pretty frequently at the Armadillo World Headquarters in Austin. Yes, I'm that old!

mkitman · #10 07-01-2016, 12:09 PM

Looks like a great show; thanks for the 'view'...!

Toby Walker · #11 07-02-2016, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by llew

That had to be a fun night all around! And like Drew...I prefer the minimalistic approach to live shows as well. Did you get to do any songs together?

Nope. It wasn't set up that way.

Toby Walker · #12 07-02-2016, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drive-south

Huge Taj Mahal fan here. Opening for Taj is bucket list stuff. I'm really digging the guitar that looks like an Epiphone Howard Roberts. I think it's from a builder in CA called Subway Blues. The 8 stringed instrument looks like a hybrid mando/uke.

So Toby does your Taylor have the expression system? I'd like to know what your stage gear setup consists of. Do you mic up the National?

The Taylor does have the ES2 and I think it's pretty darn good. I use a Highlander pickup in my National and run both of them through a 3 channel, Schertler 150 amp which has a single low impedance output whose signal is sent to the house P.A. I basically use the amp as a mixer/pre-amp and not a monitor.

simpl man · #13 07-02-2016, 09:22 AM

What an awesome experience! Thanks for sharing it with us.

doublescale1 · #14 07-02-2016, 09:44 AM

Thanks for the backstage type post - envious.

SpruceTop · #15 07-02-2016, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toby Walker

The Taylor does have the ES2 and I think it's pretty darn good. I use a Highlander pickup in my National and run both of them through a 3 channel, Schertler 150 amp which has a single low impedance output whose signal is sent to the house P.A. I basically use the amp as a mixer/pre-amp and not a monitor.

Great Opening Gig! Taj Mahal is one of my favorites and I highly recommend his An Evening Of Acoustic Music for its many solo Taj performances. He plays an acoustic with a soundhole magnetic pickup running through a chorus pedal and it sounds kind of mesmerizing after awhile. Wonderful performances!

Toby, I'm glad to hear the Taylor 814ce with ES2 is working well for you!