Dang - I wish I still had that guitar! I didn't remember taking it to Japan. We went thru a phase during the Tom Coe era where we went pretty electric. I toted a pedal steel on one of those tours - used it on two songs.

I had to curtail my desire to carry a bunch of different instruments when I was traveling with the KT. Because we traveled primarily by commercial airlines and because we were doing mostly one-nighters, I was restricted to what I could easily carry without extra baggage fees and without over-loading the ground transpo.

I really enjoy having a bunch of instruments on stage. I provides an opportunity to present several different sonic and visual accompaniments for songs. I think audiences enjoy the variety and even if they don't notice - I have fun with the variety.

So when I drive down the street for my gig on Saturday (literally within walking distance if I could pull a big trailer behind me) I'll be taking my Yamaha 6 and 12-string guitars, OUR new Vega #2 banjo (which I've adapted to play as either a 5-string or a plectrum), my ukulele, YOUR tiple, my musical saw and harmonicas. In addition, because I'm not big and famous anymore, I now have to set up my own sound system. Plus a CD display rack. I suppose I'd be smart to just bring a guitar and banjo and get by with that, but like I said - I enjoy the variety, so I have to work harder to accommodate that quirk in my personality.

I have a little lap steel that I'd love to add to the mix, but I haven't figured out anything to play on it yet that would work in a solo context. And if I had that ES-175 I'd probably tote that along too. I'm a sick puppy.

Speaking of your tiple - man, I'm having fun with that! It's not a particularly versatile instrument - playing chords up the neck is virtually impossible. But it has a cool jangly sound and I use it for about 3 or 4 songs in each show. Mostly calypso stuff, but try to picture "Stir It Up" played on tiple. It works!