Play electric guitar like David Grissom

In this session guide you'll learn everything about the guitars, amps, effects and accessories your idol David Grissom uses. We'll show you equipment from every price range that lets you sound just like David Grissom. You can also discover visually matching accessories in David's style. Have fun browsing!

Who is David Grissom?

David Grissom is an American guitarist who has collaborated with numerous successful artists and toured extensively. He has played with the likes of John Mellencamp and Will And The Kill and recorded tracks with the Allman Brothers Band, Buddy Guy, Ringo Starr and many other artists before founding the band Storyville.

David moved to Austin in 1983 and quickly became a fixture of the city's vibrant local scene. He joined the band of Texas legend Joe Ely in 1985, toured with him and recorded with his band, until he joined John Mellencamp's band in 1991. David recorded three albums with John and toured extensively from 1991 to 1993.
After his time with John Mellencamp David returned to Texas to found Storyville, the band that also included Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon as well as the superb singer Malford Milligan. Since 2000 David has divided his time between recording sessions, including four Buddy Guy records and numerous Americana releases, touring with the Dixie Chicks from 2003 to 2007 and hundreds of other live performances, designing signature guitars and amplifiers with PRS Guitars and producing his solo CDs.

Affordable electric guitars in the style of David Grissom

David Grissom is a self-confessed Paul Reed Smith fan and plays, alongside a few other guitars, several PRS models. His favourite, however, is his signature PRS DGT (short for David Grissom Trem), which is also available in an affordable version as part of the PRS SE series .

The PRS SE DGT: Co-developed by the artist

Based on the McCarty model, the DGT has been a mainstay since its introduction in 2007, thanks to David's deep knowledge of vintage guitars and his meticulous attention to detail. Every feature of the SE DGT was carefully considered, from the neck profile to the choice of frets, from the colours to the pickups and the electronics layout. David Grissom oversaw every stage of development and got hands-on himself. The SE DGT features vintage humbuckers with volume controls for each pickup and a push/pull master tone control that provides smooth single‑coil-like tones. Other features include a maple top, a mahogany back, a mahogany neck with 22 frets and a 25" scale length, a rosewood fretboard and Birds or Moon inlays. In the two videos below you can see the PRS SE DGT in action and learn more about David and the creation of his signature guitar.

High-end electric guitars from David Grissom

David Grissom now prefers his PRS DGT, which is also available as a luxury version, and other PRS McCarty models. In the past, however, he played various Fender models such as the Stratocaster and Telecaster, as well as a Gibson ES-335, which he still occasionally returns to.

Alternative high-end guitars for the Grissom sound

Other manufacturers also offer electric guitars in the high-end price range that make it possible to replicate David Grissom's sound. Additional PRS models are also well suited for this purpose. Here we've put together a selection for you:

David Grissom's amplifiers

David Grissom and PRS Guitars have collaborated in guitar design since the late 1980s and began working together on guitar amplifiers in the early 2000s. David's extensive experience with vintage guitars, combined with PRS' meticulous understanding of guitar and amp construction, has led to highly sought-after amp models, such as the DGT 15 Head. David does not, however, use PRS amps exclusively. Below we've compiled a selection of his amps.

Accessories for David Grissom fans

With the following accessories you can perfect your look and sound and get even closer to David Grissom's tone. Whether strings, picks or other accessories, here you'll find everything a Grissom fan's heart desires.