Question For You “Lead Worshipers”
Very unofficial poll here. It’s been a while since I’ve asked.
1. Are you a lead worshiper in any sort of spiritual setting on a regular basis?
2. If yes, what is your primary instrument you lead with and could you give me the specs?
So I’ll go first…
1. Hi. I’m Carlos. Yes. I lead the musical portion of worship most Sundays in great churches across America.
2. Although I used to lead with a Chet SST and a Taylor 710, Those were stolen and I now lead with a Taylor T5 and a Taylor 514ce. I’m looking to rid myself of my T5 and go purely electric based on the tone my new album.
Anyone wanna trade?
Ok. Your turn…
1. Are you a lead worshiper in any sort of spiritual setting on a regular basis?
2. If yes, what is your primary instrument you lead with and could you give me the specs?
Los
1. I lead the music portion about half the time… only one bass player right now so…
2. I lead with my MTD 535.
1. Hi. My name is Jake Schwein. Yes. I lead the musical portion of worship pretty much every Sunday
2. I lead with a Taylor 714 and sometimes a Fender Telecaster…I want to lead more with the Telecaster in the future
1) yup… Destiny Foursquare Church in Rapid City, SD (http://destiny4square.org)
2) I lead from the keys and use a Korg Trinity. Love the piano/strings sound I get off it.
Yes, I help lead worship at my church on a very regular basis.
The primary instrument I use is my vocal chords.
1. Yes, I lead regularly
2. I split my time between a Taylor 815ce and a Gibson Les Paul Goldtop (through a Vox AC30 with tons of vintage & modded effects).
1. Yes I have an album and single out and travel leading worship on a regular basis.
2. I travel with a Yamaha CP300…it’s massive!
Hi, my name is Justin, and I’m a worship curator.
1. I lead music every Sunday night, sometimes on Sunday mornings and Wednesdays. I also play at HS/MS youth events on weekends in the winter/spring months.
2. I play a Taylor 414, but I (read:someone else who knows what they’re doing) installed an LR Baggs pickup. I’m thoroughly impressed by the way it sounds – balanced and gorgeous, esp. for a 414. I’m thinking of getting a second acoustic, or maybe an electric, although I don’t have much electric experience.
1. I’m Jennifer, and I lead our time of musical worship in a small church in NW Washington. (I also lead a women’s small group…)
2. I lead with my voice… occasionally difficult as I’m a soprano and 99% of the church thinks they need to sing low. My preference is to sing harmony, but that only occasionally happens. For small group worship, the instrument is the Bible & the Holy Spirit.
1) my name is trey, and I lead music every sunday and wednesday at two different churches
2) I lead almost exclusively from electric. two american strats and a tele thrown in every so often. Ran through a variety of pedals into an AC15
I lead the music portion most of the time. I use my Roland Juno-Stage. (Keyboard)
1) My name is Jan. I have been leading worship weekly at church for 15 years.
2) I do not lead from an instrument – unless you count my voice.
1. Yes Regularly
2. I use a PRS – would love a Taylor T5
1) Hi, My name is Jan and I lead on a rotational basis at McKinney Fellowship
2) I lead either from the piano (real one not synth) or no instrument depending on the week
1. Yes I lead almost every week
2. I lead with a Tele most of the time, and sometimes with a Gibson J-185 acoustic. Even less often, I’ll lead from keys.
1. hi. i’m jason. yes- i’m the worship director at Southwest Community Church in Indian Wells, CA (palm desert), although i don’t care for that title. http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2009/10/worship-leader/
2. I lead from guitar- electric and acoustic depending on the set/band/venue… acoustic is a taylor 714CE w/ the old school fishman electronics. my electrics are fender strat (hot rodded- new p/u’s & switching) and tele through hand wired boutique pedals (overdrive, delay, chorus, & trem) and a vintage fender champ amp (low wattage is great for church venues… sounds great mic’ed)
I assist regularly with worship. I play a 714ce. Enjoy it thoroughly. Still trying to get used to the awesomeness of it.
But our worship leader leads with a piano.
1. Hi. I’m Albert. Yes. I lead the musical portion of worship, monthly on Fridays and soon-to-be Sundays in Monterey Park, CA (8 miles east of downtown LA).
2. I lead with a Taylor 814CE and sometimes Avalon AS200CE.
1. hi. i’m ben, and i lead worship at my school’s chapel services and at churches around the area.
2. i lead with a crowdster acoustic. it is neat.
1) Hi. My name is Nathan McMillen. I led worship @ a gathering in JAX, FL called Mars Hill for the last three years.
2) We had a pretty progressive sound – I started out using a 40th anniversary Fender Strat w/ noiseless vintage pickups, but then switched to a Gibson Les Paul Studio. Both were plugged into a Line6 PODxt Live and into an Epiphone Valve Jr. amp or direct into the PA (depending). The Line6 was great, but can require some TLC if you want to know how to use it. Blessings and looking forward to the new album!
1. yep, I lead the musical part of worship in my church almost every Sunday.
2. if I lead from an instrument during Sunday gatherings, it’s a Yamaha baby grand piano. About 75% of the time in this setting, I don’t lead from an instrument.
1. I lead worship a few times a week.
2. I use a taylor 314CE. Gets great tone. Really bright highs and great bottom on the lows even when it’s plugged in. you can always pick out every string and it blends well with my team’s sound.
1. i lead worship every weekend at my church
2. i use a Collings D1A w/ LR Baggs Eye Beam pickup as my primary and a taylor 514CE as a backup
1-I lead worship weekly at http://www.c2church.com, and travel about 100 days out of the year leading worship at conferences, events, churches, etc.
2-I lead from guitar mostly…a Martin DC-1E and another Martin Koa Limited Edition. Lead with electric with a Fender Tele Deluxe, Line 6 M13 modeler and an Orange AD30.
1. I regularly lead in the Portland area, primarily at the Groves, a church at Portland State University.
2. I play a road weary Taylor 710 that still sounds great (sorry to hear about yours Carlos), and a sunburst Tele through an Xotic Clean boost and a Vox AC15.
1. Hey, I’m Robert – worship pastor at First Baptist Covington, Louisiana. I lead in our Saturday night & Sunday morning services w/ our teams
2. primarily w/ guitar (at times from a Steinway grand, Rhodes, or Nord Stage), my primary acoustic guitars are Larrivees (D-09 & OM-09 w/ Baggs IMix systems) & Morgan Acoustics (CM & a CCR both with a Baggs Dual Source p/u – morganguitars.com)
The Larri’s cut with the band just right & my Morgans I use more for fingerstyle & ‘unplugged’ type sets.
I use an Avalon U5 preamp w/ all my acoustics
I do have a Webber OM (Baggs IMix) that records awesome when I mic it up, also is great in cutting through the mix w/ the band.
I use a Tele (w/ Lollar p/u’s) & a Larrivee RS-4 when I’m leading w/ an electric – Savage Macht 12x amp, a ‘67 VOX Pacemaker, and/or a POD X3
1. I’m on our team – guitarist.
2. Guitar(Les Paul Studio,Strat,Epi Dot)->POD X3Live->house system, monitored with Aviom system and IEMs.
Our leader uses one of about 10 electrics, several of which are hybrids, like a nashville power tele, partscaster, brian may. Into a vox tonelab then the house.
You should should have a look at the Axe-FX fractalaudio.com – It’s my next piece of gear.
1. no, but i will answer question #2 anyways, mwahahaha
2. USA Fender Stratocaster deluxe into a VOX AC30, through the follow chain: tu-2, Morley Wah, HBE UFO fuzz, Dunlop Fuzz Face, Cmatmods Signa Drive, MI Audio Crunch Box, MXR Distortion III, ‘82 DOD analog chorus, T-Rex Replica, Boss dd-7 (for triplets only), EHX holy grail.
Hi my name is Chuck and I lead worship every week at the nw campus of lifechurch.tv. I lead from a Duesenberg “Carl Jett” semi hollow body electric through a carr amp. Carr is a boutique manufacturer out Of Nashville. Use a full drive as my main overdrive pedal but have several effect pedals as well. Sometimes I lead from acoustic which is a Gibson J100. Love what you do on this site man. Great way to keep us all connected. Loved the one song post. Peace.
1. I am the minister of music at a small SBC church in Eastern KY. I lead with either electric guitar or keyboard.
2.Here’s the stuff I play most Sundays:
•Hamer Stellar One guitar-24 fret, stop tailpiece, Duncan pickups
•Kurzweil PC-88
•Line6 POD
•Shure wireless mic and ears
•Ultimate stands
•Planet Waves straps
•Fender picks
•Monster cables
Here’s a link to a pic: http://post.ly/APLl
1. I am the worship pastor but lead in a rotation with two other staff worship leaders across two campuses.
2. I lead with guitar, either acoustic (Lowden O35x or Taylor 912c) or primarily electric (James Tyler SE Retro, Fender Tele or Yamaha AES1500B). Amp is a Top Hat King Royale and pedals are too many to mention.
yep, I lead at http://www.rivchurch.com
and I use a Fender Baja Tele into a Vox Ac30 about half the time and the other half I use a Gibson F-25 acoustic with a LR Baggs M1 Active pickup in it.
Hey everyone, I’m Josh and I Iead worship on a regular basis. Carvin Jumbo acoustic and a Martin DC series. Gretsch hollowbody electric-fulltone OCD-Boss DD-20 into an AC30 for the electric stuff. Love my gear and I’m lucky to be able to use it for the kingdom.
I lead worship fairly consistently at my church in Portland, Oregon.
I lead from an acoustic guitar // Taylor 414ce.
1. i lead worship almost every weekend in alamogordo new mexico
2. I lead from a taylor 714ce and sometimes a taylor solid body standard…
1. I don’t right now, but u[p until recently (I moved for a full time job) I lead regularly.
2. Depending on the week I lead from my acoustic, a washburn beater whose model name is unimportant (I do use an LR Baggs Para DI that makes anything sing. That’s not an excuse but a reality) or electric, either my Dean ELO Select (LP Knockoff with Coil tapping and Phase) or a Mexican made Fender Nashville Tele (Strat Pickup in the middle). My electric choice typically depends on the rest of the band and if I’m playing rhythm or lead. I use the Tele to cut through and the LP to blend in. I also run through a POD because my experience with getting good tone in the house, regardless of the sound guy, is better running direct.
1. I lead musical worship at my University ministry and I do 2nd acoustic at my church. Aspiring to lead there soon.
2. I use a Yamaha APX-3M. If I had the money I would buy a Breedlove AC25/SR Plus but I do not have the money for that. I pray about it (haha, of course only in his will will it happen)
1. I’m Mike. Yes. I lead the musical portion of worship every Sunday I’m in town at my home church.
2. I lead on a Taylor 310CE that I play hard. I’m gradually stripping the finish off in a few spots. I expect it to look like a wood chipper got ahold of it by the time I’m done with it. I play pretty much straight to the board… just with a touch of reverb here and there.
1. I lead our main Sunday service as well as the midweek service and bi-weekly at our Friday night prayer meetings.
2. My workhorse is a Taylor 814ce. The specs on it are that all other acoustic guitars are birthed from the womb of this fine specimen of an instrument. It was a magical time when I toured the Taylor factory and saw where it was lovingly made for me.
1. I’m TJ. I lead the music at my church.
I primarily lead from with my American Strat through a POD X3 Live and some sweet tone I swiped from Lincoln Brewster.
2. (forgot that) I also lead from a Martin OM 16E when I’m feeling acoustic…which isn’t often.
Hi, I’m Josh…
1) I’m the Creative Arts Pastor at Life Church of Rome, GA. I serve as the lead worshipper on a weekly basis and utilize…
2)my Taylor 614CE acoustic with a Seinnheiser wireless pack and my PRS SE Singlecut electric run through a Line 6 Pod UX1 controlled from my MacBook Pro.
I am Kyle. I lead worship in the Orlando area and travel and lead Youth/College/Young Adult retreats, etc… I am the Worship Leader at my church and play Sunday Morning and Evening and Run sound for other on campus events as well…
Langejans Acoustic (sometimes)
Custom Tele Style guitar from Guitar Factory in Orlando, FL
(Korina with custom hot pickups.) This guitar rules!
Telenordia Boost
Lovepedal Eternity
Boss DD20 or some other delay…delay…delay
Xits X50 Amplifier (or)
Suhr Badger 18 Amplifier
Sennheiser 609s on guitar cabs
I have a sweet Crowdster Plus, but I think I am gonna sell it.
1. I do lead worship almost every week (and usually still play on the weeks I don’t lead)
2. When I lead from the keys, it’s a Yamaha P-140 with a Roland JV-1010 for additional sounds. When I’m on bass, it’s a Fender Active P-Bass Special Deluxe through a MXR DI+ and an Ashdown Five Fifteen combo.
My name is Stefan. I lead like twice a month with a electric guitar (gretsch 5125) through a bunch of pedals with alot of delay into a fender blues deluxe.
1. Hi. I’m Dustin. Yes, I lead the musical portion of worship every Sunday for the junior and senior high youth groups at my church.
2. I lead from electric or acoustic, depending on the team I have for the week. My acoustic is a Taylor 412ce (I love the smaller body), and my electric setup is a stock Epiphone Les Paul ran through my pedalboard and into a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe.
Hi. I’m Sigs. I lead the music portion every Sunday unless I have the swine flu that week.
I play a Takamine G series (a nice one is about $600). I love the sound as an alternative to the same Taylor sound that everyone else uses (and cheaper!).
1. I’m Josh, and I lead worship daily at Remuda Ranch, a Biblically-based treatment center for men and women struggling with eating disorders.
2. I lead with an acoustic, a Taylor GS8 (spruce top, rosewood back/sides)
1. Yes, I lead just about every Sunday at churches throughout Oregon and the Northwest right now, and occasionally in NYC & the East Coast. Just moved back from NYC after serving at the Gallery Church (gallerychurch.com) for a year and was the worship pastor for 5 years at a church plant in Portland before that. I’m currently seeking the Lord as to what is next and where we will land in Portland (if anyone wants to pray for us/that, I’m cool with that
.
2. I lead with a ‘72 Reissue Tele through a Vox AC30 and a few pedals. I also occasionally lead behind a Taylor 614CE.
It’s cool to see what others are using as well. Thanks Carlos!
1. Hello I am Marty Ford (@theT5guy), I lead the musical portion of worship at RVCC in Waverly, OH a few times a month. I play in a band that leads worship throughout OH, Northern WV, Northern KY. We recorded our first cd..LIVE on Saturday night…craziness!
2. I play Taylor GS8 acoustic and a Taylor T5 Cherry Sunburst. I run my gear through a Line 6 DL4, Full Tone Full Drive and I am looking for a unique electric guitar and a great amp to add to my rig.
1. HI! I’m Conner and yes between Youth services and Adult services and camps I lead worship regularly.
2. I swap between my Benito Grand Auditorium -> Avalon U5 and my Gretsch hollowbody -> Fender Blues Jr. and a few pedals or just the Gretsch ABY to the Avalon. Good either way.
Shouting out to all the lady leaders!
I am the worship director at my church in Portland, OR. I lead almost every Sunday.
I am not a gear-girl – I play some kind of Ibanez guitar with a custom pickup system thing I had installed and play through a strawberry blond acoustic amp. Best acoustic amp hands-down.
1. yes, i serve at a couple of churches in Southern Indiana and lead the musical worship at these locations
2. My main instrument is a Larrivee D-03 with a L.R. Baggs active element running into a L.R. Baggs Para Acoustic DI
Hi. I’m Jason. I’ve been leading the musical portion of worship services for years, although I am more of a filler these days, which is nice, due to my hectic schedule. I always lead with either my Gibson Blueshawk, or my Gibson ES-335. If you’re shopping, I recommend the 335…. it’s pretty much awesome. I usually play through my Crate GFX2×12, or a Marshall 1/2 stack. I am still getting used to my new Boss ME-70. It’s pretty basic, but nice so far. Holler!
JS
M@
Lead most weeks
Gibson SG
Dean Acoustic
Vox
Harmonica – sometimes
and I once played the sleighbells last Christmas
But my wife sings great harmony and makes me look and sound better
1. Hi I’m Larry. I’m a small group leader encouraging my folks to increasing give themselves as a daily sacrifice as their spiritual act of worship.
2. Primary instrument is my heart. Specs? Four chambers, a couple of valves. It’s broken, but I wouldn’t trade it in – somebody I love paid an awfully high price for it!
I’m a preacher, but sometimes I break out in song. Does that count? I use a leather NLT with my students most of the time, unless my boss comes in, in which case I bust out the NASB.
I lead myself in worship every time i am out running.
I sometimes lead my daughter in worship – i use my voice, my hands, my feet. I clap. I dance. I stomp. I sing (poorly). I pray. Sometimes I use Lori Berkner DVDs. Sometimes not. Other times its Word World.
We try to worship as much as we can while we’re awake every day.
Raising kids to know God – yep – we’re worship leaders…
Well I don’t lead, but I play lead guitar nearly every Sunday.
I play a custom G&L Comanche (absolutely love this thing). Pedalboard consists of various decent quality items, played into a modified Fender Blues Jr. Absolutely loving the guitar tone I’ve settled into now. It took me about 10 years of searching, but I’m happy….for now.
1. Yeah I am worship and creative arts pastor at Harvest Church in Mobile, AL
2. My primary instrument is a Taylor 214-L3 and I also lead with an American Strat Deluxe…
1. Not really, but I volunteer at one of our campuses by putting the words up on the screen so that people can actually sing along.
2. MacBook Pro, 15″, Keynote.
Yep. Leading music/worship/… on a weekly basis as primary vocation
I play a Taylor 614ce, Taylor 514ce, and Breedlove dread as a backup. And an Epi Les at times.
In the past I was the main singer/leader at a small church. These days I usually play bass (Ibanez SDGR something-or-other) and sing the occasional background vocal. When I do lead, I play my Dean acoustic/electric or my Fender Telecaster with a Pod XT Live as needed. My main instrument, which I love to play in a worship setting rarely have the opportunity, is saxophone. I love my Selmer Series I/Series II franken-sax alto and my Yamaha Custom tenor.
1. I lead worship at Highland United Methodist in Raleigh, NC on a weekly basis for their Youth and sometimes for their Adult Sunday School ministry.
2. I play a Gibson Songwriter Deluxe and a LesPaul Studio for my electric. I like the Songwriter so much because it is small like a Taylor yet it sounds so big and rich.
1. I lead worship every Sunday morning at my church in Philly (Go Phillies!)
2. When playing acoustic I play a Yamaha FG730S (I love the rich nontraditional raw sound) with Newtone strings and a DiMarzio pickup. Eventually I hope to get a LR Baggs setup installed. When on electric I play an Ibanez RG570DX through a Line 6 POD X3 Live, which recently had it’s board replaced due to malfunction. The guitar is almost 9 years old and needs some electrical maintenance, but she’s my baby. I prefer a live amp and custom pedalboard setup, but the trade-off is tremendous week-to-week ease of transport.
1. My name is Ben Robbins, and I’m late to this game; however, I do lead worship pretty much every Sunday either at my current church of employment in Marietta, Roswell Street Baptist, or for the upcoming NP partner in Warner Robins, GA.
2. My primary instrument I lead with is guitar. For the past few years I had a little known, awesome guitar made in England by a company called Tanglewood. It was a Heritage series, TW45, with Mahogany sides and back and Cedar top. Sweet guitar, but I did upgrade on it a couple weeks ago to the most phenomenal “worship leading” guitar I’ve ever held. I just got the Breedlove Focus Maple D w/ LR Baggs dual pickup. Top is sitka and back and sides are flamed maple, which I’ve noticed Eddie K. is leading with Taylor’s version of the maple guitar. I really, really think the tone that the maple puts out is absolutely perfect for leading worship. The chords are so smooth and the sustain is awesome. Check out some maple. I also lead with a ‘72 Tele which has the dual humbucker pickups in it. The humbuckers put out a great sound for a worship leader playing rhythm electric. I use the Fulldrive Fulltone Mosfet as pretty much my only pedal when I need distortion. Sorry to be so long winded… I’ve worked really hard to find the instruments that best allow for sounds that help lead and fit in with what a band is doing behind me. Good luck finding your best fit!
1. I lead full-time for Calhoun First UMC in Calhoun, GA
2. I play through an ever-changing rig (actually changed a couple of hours ago). When playing acoustic, I play through a Taylor 314ce with the Fishman system in it (I like the tweakability). When I lead from electric, I currently play a Gibson Les Paul Studio in rare ruby red into a Pedaltrain board with 535q wah, fulldrive2, Boss CS-3, EHX Memory Toy, Ibanez AD-9 delay, EHX Small Clone, Ibanez CS-505 chorus, EHX Holy Stain into a crappy B-52 tube amp that has a nice clean. Swap in an Epiphone Riviera P-93 hollowbody as my backup. Also work in some keyboard from a Yamaha MM-6.
1. My name is Josiah Potter and I lead worship every week for Truth Point and Crosspointe Church in Florida.
2. I lead from the acoustic guitar. I use a Martin DC17 and it has a dual pick up in it that can merge a built in 1/4 in amp with a small condenser mic.
I bought it from Maple Street Guitars in GA and will never use another guitar. I’ve recorded and led with Taylors/Ibanez/Taks etc and none of them compare to the depth I get from my Martin. The only guitar I’ve ever heard come close to the sound was a custom Guild fullbody and a Gibson.
If I lead from electric I do so from an American Tele-all wood-no poly finish or coating. Tele to DD5 to OCD to Volume to comp/sus to Equalizer to Custom Fender Deluxe with Vintage 30 tubes.
1. My name is Malachi. I lead and run the worship teams at The Rock Church in SoCal.
2. I use a different setup depending on the service. I will either use my Taylor 414CE or I will use my full electric rig with one of 2 Fender Strats, pedalboard, and VOX amp.
1) I lead the band/music every week @ Missionway Community Church in Ponte Vedra, FL
2) I sometimes lead the band from acoustic and sometimes lead from Electric. Acoustic, I have a Taylor Big Baby that I put a custom pickup in and the sounds AMAZING for very little coin. Electric – I have a Les Paul with a Gibson neck pickup and a Seymour Duncan bridge pickup. I have a VERY simple amp setup, but the thing just WORKS. Epiphone Valve Junior single speaker Cab and Epiphone Valve Junior Tube Head along with a Boss Distortion pedal.
Chuck here.
i lead worship at First United Methodist Lufkin, TX
I play a 710ce Taylor acoustic through the house.
also a Fender Telecaster through a Fender Princeton amp with basically a Boss Delay, a Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive and a volume pedal. Sometimes i just use the overdrive on the amp.
oh and i sing through a Neumann KMS 105 microphone.
1. My name is Stacy, and I lead at our 9 & 11 midtown worship gatherings, as well as for the middle school and high school groups. Technically, I’m the pastor for the midtown gatherings and the youth pastor.
2. I lead with a Taylor WC15, which is a beautiful walnut jumbo. It’s got the Baggs dual source pickups running through a Baggs para di. On occasion, I’ll use a G&L Legacy (American), but I prefer the acoustic.
If you’d like to trade the T5 for the G&L, let me know…
Hi Los,
Mark Jaffrey, lead worshipper, Maadi Community Church, Cairo, Egypt.
I lead most weeks but am training up some others too.
Most of the time I lead from my electric guitar – an ‘84 Tokai Strat (exact copy of ‘54 model) plus a bunch of pedals into an ancient V-Amp2 Amp modeller because we run a quiet stage with IEMs. Sounds very good though. I play rhythm & lead.
I sometimes lead worship from my acoustic – either a Breedlove Atlas AD25/SR Plus or my Tacoma Jumbo straight into the desk. I have been known to lead from the piano, and from the bass guitar too.
Go electric man!
(1) i lead songs weekly at First United Methodist Church in Williamsport, PA. I also play music at other churches/events/conferences/etc in the midatlantic region throughout the year.
(2) My primary weapon of choice is Caroline – my Taylor 410LCE. It’s a limited model that was built more like an 810, but for the 410 price. It’s got the expression system in it and right now I’m running it through the Taylor ES DI. (I’m probably switching over to the new LR Baggs Venue box though). I had a T5 Custom but sold it off earlier this year to pay some medical bills. I’ve recently been given approval from my bride to pick up a new electric…and right now I’m considering pulling the trigger on a Gretsch G5120…so I may be using that by Christmas…
1) I lead the Youth Worship Band at Promontory Community Church in Chilliwack B.C. and we have Worship nights once a month, I also play most weeks on the sunday morning teams.
2) I lead primarily with the Gibson SG standard going through a Traynor Custom Valve 50 tube amp. I also lead with a Simon & Patrick CW 60 accoustic.
(1) Yes, I lead worship at Southpoint church in Cape Town, South Africa both in the main service and in our young adults environments. Usually 2-3 times a month.
(2) I usually borrow a friends Breedlove (Cedar top, mahogany sides and back, I think). One of my all time favorite guitars. Once played my el-cheapo Epiphone Les Paul Studio through a borrowed Vox AC-15 for our young adults environment (Not sure I can play electric and sing though so might not do it again).
1. I lead music every week at First Southern Baptist Church Coffeyville Kansas.
2. I lead with my voice, because my skill on the Guitar is embarrassing.
Yes.
I normally lead from guitar. A Taylor 110ce (direct) or Gretsch Electromatic Pro Jet running through some pedals (Ernie Ball Volume Pedal>Visual Sound Comp 66 Compressor>V.S. Route 808 Overdrive>V.S. Son of Hyde Distortion>Boss Giga Delay – all powered by a VooDoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus) then into a Fender Blues Deluxe.
1. I lead every week in at least one of our 5 Sunday gatherings at Evergreen Christian Community in Olympia, WA.
2. Depending on the specific gathering and band that is playing I’ll choose from the following:
– Taylor 414ce (run through a Chameleon Labs 7602 processor)
– Fender Electric (Hollow body) (Multiple pedals)
– Vox AC15
– Yamaha CP300
– Yamaha S90
– Baldwin 9′ Grand Piano
– Fender Rhodes
– Audix VX10 vocal mic
1. I’m leading worship at my church once or twice a month.
2. I’m using an older Ibanez AW60ce. Love it!
1) Yes, I lead twice a week at Real Church in Hamtramck, Michigan.
2) I lead with my acousic guitar. It’s an Ibanez acoustic-electric thin body. Great for playing on stage b/c it’s thin and a bit smaller. Doesn’t sound the best purely acoustic though. I’ve been flirting with the idea of dropping it altogether and leading just vocally. We do it with one song and it’s a lot of fun.
I lead worship 1st and 3rd Sundays at our Downtown Campus. I use an Ovation Applause AE 28, the sound guy doesn’t like it cause he can’t make it sound good through the board so he often brings his Martin for me to play. I can’t blame him, but it’s all i got. I love leading with acoustic but recently I also have been using my Takamine GX-200, it has dual Dimarzio (Humbucker style) pickups with a full neck thru design. Yes it’s a Takamine Electric (google it). It’s really Hot when i want it to be, but when i tone it down and switch to the front pickups it has a real sweet tony sound with lots of sustain.
I led almost all of the music worship times at our church in Charlotte, NC.
I lead with my Gibson Chet Atkins that I did not steal from you…
I have been the primary lead worshiper at a couple of different churches over the years. I typically lead with my Larrivee D05 but often lead with electric (Les Paul or G&L ASAT Special). My favorite guitar EVER to lead with was a PRS hollow body spruce with the PRS Piezo electric system integrated into it. Acoustic electric switching on the fly, even at the same time. That guitar was amazing. Why did I ever sell it
1. I am the lead worshiper for our middle school ministry at Thomas Road Baptist Church.
2. I use either my Taylor 210e Dreadnought or my Gibson SG Standard depending.
1. I lead the majority of the worship sets every weekend at The Church at Chapel Hill.
2. I lead from either my Gibson J-45, American Tele, or Yamaha CP300 Piano.
1. I am the youth pastor/worship leader for the musical portion of our youth services and some Sunday AM services at Ocean View Baptist Church.
2. Primarily, I lead with a 2006 American made Fender Strat. I love the clean sound of a great Strat! I also use an Alvarez Acoustic occasionally.
1. Lead worshiper for the music portion of our Sunday morning services @ Maple City Chapel in Goshen, IN
2. Have played and loved my Taylor 514ce for 4 years now. It might be the last acoustic guitar I ever use on stage. I’m very happy with it.
Oh man, I love talking gear. Reading through what everyone plays makes me giddy, haha.
1. I play guitar every Sunday and lead the Young Adult Band
2. Depending on the set list the guitar varies from –
- American Deluxe Fat Strat, Epiphone Casino, Gibson Firebird IV, Gibson Les Paul Studio w/ some burstbuckers, and sometimes my Martin DCX1E makes an appearance.
- VOX-AC30CC2X
- Line 6 Pod XT Live – ran direct
- Pedal Board w/ BOSS TU2, OD2, PH2, DS1, Ibanez CF7, Ernie Ball Volume, Dunlop Crybaby
- Dunlop Jazz III picks – any guitarist reading try them a 6 pack is $3 and well worth at least trying out. they feel really small and weird at first, but you’ll fall in love. amazing attack and super easy to throw in random pitch harmonics.
I’m Jeff. I’m Campus Minister and Creative Director for Student Ministry @ FBC Hendersonville, TN (just north of Nashville) I lead every week for our students and alternate for our modern service.
I used to have a Taylor 814-ce but it was stolen as well…(I feel your pain Carlos).
Now I have a Gibson Songwriter that I got a killer deal on through some Nashville connections. It really barks and has epic natural tones. I play it through a Boss AD-5 processor/preamp. It sounds really balanced with the full band and great just by itself. Also play on a Taylor 514ce – koa edition for finger-picking stuff on occasion.
I also play with a Strat through various effect pedals (voodoo sparkle drive, digital reverb, gigadelay, compressor, etc, blah blah blah…)
1. Lead the worship through music portion regularly at The Vine Community Church.
2. Gretsch White Falcon LDS (sometimes a Nash T52) – through a few Fulltone pedals, DD5 and Diamond Memory Lane 2 – into a Matchless HC30 and a Matchless 2×12 cab.
1. My name is Erik Carlson and I have been the volunteer lead worshiper for 3 years at Lutheran Church of Hope: NorthBranch (@HopeNorthBranch) in Ankeny, Iowa.
2. I usually lead with my Breedlove Atlas D25/SR
I lead worship on Sundays that I don’t go to Northpoint. And, I use a Taylor 814c. LOVE it.
1. I am one of the worship leaders at Foothills Community Church in Seneca, SC/Toccoa, GA. (http://foothills.cc)
2. On a regular basis I use a PRS McCarty Goldtop through either A) Pod X3 Live w/ Lincoln Brewster’s Patches or B) Paul Cochrane Timmy, Barber Small Fry, Boss TU-2, TRex Mudhoney, EHX Memory Toy, TC Electronics Nova Delay into a Kustom Coupe ‘36.
Loving my set-up right now! I’d love to get a hollowbody soon, though.
1. yes sir. one of 4 rotating leaders at http://www.princetonalliance.org
2. lead with my voice, but if you want to get technical, i use a KSM9 microphone. maybe in the future, i’ll lead w/ the acoustic too (on a Norman – small guitar maker from Canada, i think)
Hi my name is Neal and…
1. I lead JHers at a Christian School and SHers at church, and I am on a men’s ministry worship team.
2. I do use cds from Hillsong Kids and up to recently a Taylor 314CE, but I was borrowing it and had to give it back…so if anyone is looking to get rid of a Taylor let me know
1. hi, my name is craig eakright. i lead musical worship most sundays at grace gathering in new haven, indiana.
2. i lead from my favorite acoustic, a larrivee d-09 equipped with an lr baggs dual source pickup.
1. Yes. http://www.accesslakeland.com
2. I lead playing a Gibson L4-a acoustic guitar and a Gibson L-130 acoustic guitar.
this almost feels like… LWA (Lead Worshipers Anonymous) . . . hello, my name is Erica and I’ve had a worship addiction for five years… jk but seriously:
1. My name is Erica and I lead once a month at a homeless shelter in downtown Atlanta as well as once a month up at a church in Cartersville called The Well, and for special Nites of Worship at FBCW or for Celebrate Recovery
2. voice is my primary instrument (specs: it’s used, 27 years old, but just keeps getting better with age, one of a kind, mezzo to soprano) though sometimes I will play keys. Privia 310 (in Bosendorfer clothing)
1) I’m sort of in between right now, as I just switched churches a few months ago, so I’m not active at the moment. That may be changing soon though. I am no stranger to playing guitar at church in any case. I can’t sing very well, unfortunately, but I love playing.
2) I just got an ESP LTD EC-401FR last week (Les Paul Style). It’s an amazing instrument. Since I just got it I haven’t actually used it in a worship setting yet. My tried and true guitar is a Schecter Omen 6, which I later put an EMG-81/85 pickup system in. I can’t wait to use the ESP though.
hi my name is klint.
1. i am the worship pastor at my church and lead every week.
2. i lead mostly from a Godin a6 Ultra. It has dual acoustic and electric outputs. the acoustic side goes through my tuner pedal and then to the soundboard. The electric side runs into my volume pedal, overdrive, delay, pod, and then to the house. I don’t have an electric player at the moment so I play all the electric and acoustic parts.
I’m the lead worshiper in a very small, traditional church in the great state of SC! I just use piano and voice, but would LOVE to incorporate my accoustic guitar a little, in which, the congregation would just FLIP, which would be cool.
Just took the position about a month ago after a long break from another church. That church was voice and piano as well.
what tone are you looking for? Do you have an electric you use, or are you looking for a different one? I know of a fender 50th anniversary stratocaster I might get my hands on for way cheap!
tweet me if you are interested Chris__Horton
Dawg, I do lead worship (as well as drum) from time to time (used to regularly), and I’m still keeping it real with my Taylor 310. Love the warmth and boom of the dreadnought with the Sitka top. Looking forward to upgrading, though, as well as picking up a Tele one o’ these days.
Drums: 4 pc. Yamaha Maple Absolute Custom (20″ kick, 13″ and 16″ toms, 14″ snare) with K custom dark ride and hats and A custom cymbals. Natural burnt orange finish.
Anyone got a higher end Taylor dread they wanna give me a deal on, hit me up.
Hi, I’m Paul Joseph.
Does anybody actually read reply number 104?
Just in case they do…
I’m the Pastor of Worship Arts at Fellowship Bible Church in Dalton, GA.
I lead worship from behind a keyboard.
Currently I use a Yamaha P250. 88 weighted keys, built-in speakers, great piano sound. I use a layered grand piano and electric piano sound for 75% of the tunes I lead. The rest of the time I’ll use grand piano and synth pad, or rhodes/wurly sound.
The P250 has been discontinued, their latest model is the CP300. I’ll probably upgrade to that eventually…it has built-in 3-pin connectors, and improved sounds.
BTW, the keyboard player for Casting Crowns uses the P250 also. She loves it.
Oh…
and hi, Carlos.
1. Hi! I’m David Goodwin, I’m music director for Awesome Church in Sydney. We don’t have a position called worship pastor…
2. I don’t play any instruments. None of our singers play any instruments. So we lead with our voices and hand signals
1. Yep. 100 cities/year, mostly churches, sometimes colleges, the occasional VFW hall or skating rink.
2. Yamaha Compassion (CPX-15) acoustic, tuned a little funny and with a 26 solid steel G-string (on the guitar) instead of the usual wound. AND any old piano (but I love the Yamaha P-200 or 250 or CP300)
1. I lead worship each week for the Heights Church in Noblesville, Indiana.
2. I presently lead with a Taylor 314ce, but hope to be adding a Yamaha CP300 in the near future. I enjoy using cut capos on the Taylor.
Our local music store manager said that Taylors were “Church” guitars. After reading this list, I think I believe him.
Why do so many people in churches use Taylor Guitars?
Hi Carlos – I’m Brian.
My wife and I are worship leaders at First Covenant Church in Willmar, MN.
My primary instrument was the piano but over the past few months I’ve transitioned to leading from a Breedlove Acoustic/Electric SD25SF and an Epiphone Les Paul, Ebony edition hooked up through a Line 6 Pod XT-Live.
I lead worship pretty consistently with my youth band. I use a fender tele american deluxe, through pedalboard (assortment of overdrives, delays and reverb) and an AC15 with an alnico blue speaker. I love leading with an electric.
i am the worship pastor at the gateway church in des moines, ia.
i lead from acoustic 90% of the time with a Martin DCM as my main guitar and a Guild DV6 as my secondary. the other 10% i lead from electric with an Epiphone Dot Studio paired with a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe.
also, since we are a brand new church that just launched a few weeks ago we are still in our mostly-acoustic phase. in acoustic settings i always use an Ellis Stompbox (http://www.ellisguitars.com/stompbox.html). they have a great natural sound, super simple to use, and help drive the energy during some of the upbeat songs. love it.
~c
When I lead acoustic, I use my trusty 314! But the awesome thing about it is its an 02 limited so it has maple back and sides and the 02’s were before the ce so it has the fishman, which i prefer. The fishman matrix. When I use my electric I play an Ibanez AGS83B with 2 humbuckers. Maple body with mahogany neck.
1) yes. Week: Chapel and Women’s worship at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Sunday: Calvary Baptist Church, Peabody MA. Soon to be moving back to the dirty south, to join up with a church down there. But can’t announce those details or descriptions… yet.
2) Martin DC-15E – and, preferably, a vocal compressor.
1) I lead worship on occasion. My preference is leading worshipers though
By that I mean, I definitely enjoy leading the congregation in music to express a collective worship to our God, but I also really, really enjoy leading the team that creates that environment. Those people are amazing! Seeing them “get it” day in and day out, walking with them through life’s ups and downs, and really building family beats “on stage” song leading all day in my book!
2) When I do lead music, I use an acoustic guitar, usually an old ovation. It’s a little buzzy and could use some work, but I love it, and it’s all I have. I also lead from keys, my preference is a real piano, call me old school.
I am a worship director at The Chapel in the Chicago area (www.thechapel.org). I play a 65 London Amp that has been perfect in anything I needed to do. Gives you everything in the Vox chime to Marshall. I have a few different guitars I play depending on others. Fenders Custom Shop Tele stuff is great. Nash is a cheaper alternative and well built. I also play a reg Gibson 335 which serves me well. Eventide Delay, Klon and I am normally pretty happy with the tones I have. Hope that helps.
Man, Lots of comments here!
1. i lead worship at my my church (gccstl.org)
2. i sometimes use my taylor 114ce (nice entry level taylor but great tone/feel) but i play electric a lot. I have two G&L guitars which are absolutely amazing! one is an ASAT Classic (early 90’s special) and the other is called the G&L S-500 which is one that you should def check out. looks like a strat but has a switch option that normal strats don’t have. in first and fifth posistions when you enable the switch you activate the two outside pickups so you “tele tones”…in the second and fourth position you activate the switch and it activates all three pickups at once and you can start wailing. It’s my main guitar. i have two amps. one ‘71 Fender Deluxe Reverb that i inherited from my uncle and an orange tiny terror which is absolutely amazing as well. Check that stuff out. you won’t be disappointed.
1. I lead most Sundays at my church (www.eaglesnest.ch) and at ministry events several times a year
2. I’m normally just an acoustic guy. I play a Rainsong OM1000 and a Taylor 812ce and the occasional Highway One Strat through an XT Live.
I’m the keyboard player in “the band”, playing about 3 Sundays a month.
Nord Stage 88 is my perfect keyboard – just the classic sounds, has a very playable Yamaha C7 piano that cuts through the mix, and a great sounding B3 with Leslie sim.
Shortest and lightest “weighted” full-size keyboard out there, easy to gig.
1. yep. i lead weekly at Seacoast Church in Charleston, SC
2. acoustic: either my 2007 Gibson Hummingbird or my 1979 Guild D-25 with a Baggs M1 (which is the best pickup i’ve ever used, and i’ve used a lot…)
electric: typically either my 1988 MIJ Fender Tele or my Roadworn 50’s Fender Strat. occasionally i’ll pull out the Firebird if the moment is right…
Matt – I’m selling a Taylor 310-CE that has a bit of normal wear but sounds/looks great. My email is on my web site.
1. Hi. My name’s PJ. I’m the lead worshiper 48-50 Sundays a year. I get really sweaty doing it, but wouldn’t trade it for the world!
2. I lead from my assortment of Electrics (with the rare acoustic moment from Takamine EAN40C Mahagony/satin Walnut top thrown in).
- Epi Sheraton II (my blonde baby)
- Reissued ‘78 Tele Deluxe
- Tradition Les Paul (not as frequently used after the purchase of the Epi)
I run them all through a crazy programed chain of FX starting with a BOSS GT-8’s A/B channel selet then compressor then out to a Marshall ED-1 compressor, Ibanez TS-9, Line6 MM4 & DL4 back into the BOSS for finish up with reverb control, modded RAT, flange, Auto Wah, Slow Swell, and solo db boost into a Fender Twin Reverb with 6L6 tubes.
If you’re seriously considering a trade… I’d be interested.
1. My name’s Paul Kerslake, I share lead worshipping with my wife, Hannah and others. Recently been employed a day a week to be the Creative Director (grand title…needs changing) at church a day a week.
2. My main instrument is actually drums, and I still play for other’s when not leading. But when I do lead it’s with an Epiphone EJ200CE or a Telecaster depending on the music. Through a pedalboard I built.
Hey Folks!
Andrew Heath from McKinney, TX. I lead each Sunday at First Baptist McKinney in our Theatre Venue. I am currently using a Taylor 514ce played through and Avalon U5 di box. Absolutely love the tone from the Taylor and Avalon. I often get guitar envy and want to change it up but I really have nothing to complain about with the Taylor. I have a Rhodes that I’m trying to work into the set but it just seems a little big to be sitting for more than 75% of the set.
Yes, I play guitar in our worship band at RiverPoint Church in Newton Kansas on Sundays.
I run an Epiphone Les Paul Studio or a Dean EQA Accoustic/Electric, both go through a Line 6 Floor Pod Plus.
I lead worship at Faith United Methodist Church in Fairmont WV every sunday.
I play a Gibson Songwriter Deluxe Ovangkol and a Yamaha mo6.
If I need to play Electric I use a Ibanez AS120 SemiHollow through a Fender HotRod Deluxe with 4 10’s
I’m blessed to get to lead worship every Sunday at The Pursuit in Boise, Idaho. I play an Taylor 714- and a G&L ASAT Classic through a POD X3 Live, Line 6.
Greetings. I am blessed to lead worship at New Covenant Worship Center of Ft Wayne, IN. I lead from three keyboards (Yamaha Motifs). I know that’s a little different from the norm. Furthermore, I cant’ sing!!! I truly must be the only non-singing worship leader on the planet!
Hey there!! yep, lead worshipper at my church, and wherever the door open or there is a need … I lead from the piano… have a roland electric piano, but really love love the acoustics of the real genuine thang!
Bless you!! Amy
Hey! My name is Judson Harris and each week I am A lead worhsipper at First Baptist Church of Okeechobee’s Youth Group. I am the lead singer and lead acoustic guitarist for my youth praise band. Our youth group splits the middle schoolers(6th-8th) and the highschoolers(9th-12th) as Monday is highschool night, Tuesday is middle school night-this is only because we have a large number of students on each night and we cant hold them all in our youth facility on one night, so we split em. Anyway, on each night I play a Breedlove Atlas Series AC25/SM acoustic guitar. I am sooooo blessed to even have a guitar of this quality. It has a very deep sound, but it’s playable-I sortra like to call it a Martin/Taylor mix because it has the playability of a taylor, but the deep sound of a Martin. Anyway, I am very blessed to have it because this guitar costs somewhere around $1,000 retail, but I was lucky to buy it from a friend of my parents for only $450. It was a true blessing from God. It’s a verrry nice guitar, but I am currently looking for a Crowdster Plus with a Koa top. This would be the ast guitar I get because it’s so phenominally sounding and it plays well. Im sure you’ve all heard of it, and Im having some trouble getting one; but if it’s in Gods will, hten one day Ill get one. For now Im gonna stick to what Ive got, which isnt bad at all. But anyway, so , yea, there it is.
God Bless!