Rig Rundown: Jack Ruch
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In this episode of Rig Rundowns, John Bollinger sits down with Nashville-based guitarist Jack Ruch at 3rd and Lindsley to explore his signature gear setup. Ruch showcases three key instruments: a vintage 1963 Gibson ES-335 with original nylon saddles and a warm, balanced tone; a custom Danocaster Telecaster inspired by Robin Trower’s iconic look, praised for its neutral neck pickup and versatility; and a newly acquired 2026 Historic Makeovers-modified Les Paul featuring a Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and refined playability. His amp setup combines a modified Lazy J Tweed Deluxe and a vintage Princeton Reverb, both used in tandem for dynamic clean tones with subtle breakup. His pedalboard, built by XTS, is minimalist and efficient—centered around a King of Tone overdrive, Vemiram clean boost, Brigadier Delay, Analog Man-modified Boss tremolo, and a Catlin Bread Topanga reverb pedal with a built-in preamp. Ruch emphasizes tone integrity, simplicity, and the importance of preserving the character of his instruments. He also shares insights into his recent album, recorded at Sound Emporium with legendary session players Dennis Chambers and Gary Granger, set for release in May or June 2026.
Preserve the original character of your favorite guitar—Ruch avoids modifying his 1963 335 because it’s already 'the perfect recipe.'
Use a minimalist pedalboard to reduce decision fatigue during live improvisation; focus on essential, high-impact effects.
The neck pickup of a Telecaster offers a neutral, versatile tone that doesn’t push you into a specific style, making it ideal for creative freedom.
Combining two clean amps (Tweed Deluxe + Princeton Reverb) allows for layered, dynamic clean tones without stereo complexity.
A well-tuned, simple signal chain with proper gain staging prevents compression and maintains natural dynamics.
…and 2 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Introduction & First Guitar: 1963 Gibson ES-335
“I've been too afraid to change anything on this guitar because it really just works. It's like the perfect recipe.”
Custom Danocaster Telecaster: The Neutral Platform
“The neck pickup of a Tele is such an almost kind of neutral, full sound. You can just think about what you want to play.”
Newest Addition: Historic Makeovers Les Paul
Ruch shares his recent acquisition of a 2026 Historic Makeovers-modified Les Paul, highlighting the Brazilian rosewood fingerboard, refined neck shape, and excellent playability. He reflects on the success of buying online without playing first.
Amp Setup: Tweed Deluxe & Princeton Reverb
“It's probably my favorite amp, honestly. You can't gig everywhere with just a Princeton if you've got a louder drummer.”
Pedalboard & Signal Flow: Simplicity & Gain Staging
“There's nowhere to hide. Once you start adding more stuff, then you're just going to be clicking on more stuff throughout the night.”
“I've been too afraid to change anything on this guitar because it really just works. It's like the perfect recipe.”
“The neck pickup of a Tele is such an almost kind of neutral, full sound. You can just think about what you want to play.”
“It's probably my favorite amp, honestly. You can't gig everywhere with just a Princeton if you've got a louder drummer.”
Host
Guest
Jack Ruch
person
John Bollinger
person
Gibson ES-335
product
Danocaster
brand
Tweed Deluxe
product
Princeton Reverb
product
D'Addario NYXL
product
Fender Medium Picks
product
Lazy J
brand
King of Tone
product
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