Don Miggs of three-piece rock act, Miggs, is one of the more engaging folks we have spoken to over the past few years. That is good but what is better is that he has an insane guitar collection. He has around 30 now and there isn't a single one (at least not that he has mentioned to us) that isn't something that will make other guitarists green with envy. The last time we ran into Miggs was at Space in Evanston, Illinois, on tour with Green River Ordinance. He had his Fender Andy Summers Telecaster on hand as well.

"The Andy summers is probably my fave piece of gear right now. We are on tour with Green River Orchestra and those guys were like 'can we play it too'?" says Miggs.

Both bands now used the guitar on the tour. No one in Green River Ordinance spilled a beer on the guitar either (to our knowledge).

"I think fender made either 150 or 250 and it is something you are not going to see it around a lot it is really sort of expensive it is a boutique guitar so if you get a chance to play it you want to play it. What Andy did, he didn’t have money at the time, so when he was doing Roxanne and that 1st album, he had a ’63 tele and he modded it by putting a humbucker in the front and left the single coil in back and so now you have the opportunity to switch between the humbucker and single coil and can get a warmer sound when you need. it You do not have to switch guitars," says Miggs. "That is important for a band like ours because we are a three piece. And with that sort of lull ,if there isn't someone else to pick that up, it can kill you on stage. And so to have the ability to go; 'O.k. I want a single coil because it is more of a Tele tune.' I have that right there or go over to the humbucker."

You can also still adjust the treble, mids and lows since each pickup has three switches.

"The other cool thing is he put a pre-amp on it. If I am away from my pedals, I have this crazy pedal rack, but if I am away from pedals and need to do a lead or need some extra boost I just push that thing on and it gives it to me." says Miggs.

This guitar, as you might imagine, was not slopped together by indifferent employees of a gigantic company. This is not an off the rack thing. They spare no expense in hardware, wood or craftsmanship.

"The parts are all good, they spare no expense. When people say the humbucker and single coil thing is not really going to work and no one is going to use it? It really works with a guitar like this." he says.

Summers was on hand to check out each guitar and the instrument comes with a DVD and signed book. Every single one of these guitars, right down to dings and belt rash, is identical to Summers original.

"The guitar feels authentic. Feels like what you have in your hand is a '63 Tele. There is no B.S. about it--no some of the parts are from India (and there is nothing wrong with that ) but there is a big difference playing a Mexican Strat or Tele versus something made in a custom shop. All the wiring is even perfect," says Miggs. "The guys in Green River Ordinance are using this tele a bunch and we were talking about how the problem is that most of public go into a store and are playing sub par guitars (mostly). The stuff on the wall is all shiny and looks good but they are not setting the guitars up really well and every tom dick and harry is in there whaling away on it. Strings are not consistent, you might have 10s and 11.s there is always something weird."

Miggs doesn't deal with that anymore. Sure, you can go in and find a gem and if you have the time why not try it? Especially true if you don't have the money for custom instruments. But if you have the option? Head to the custom shops.

"I never go in those (guitar stores) anymore. I go into custom shop, usually in Nashville, and I see the guys," he says. "I am endorsed by Gretsch and Fender and I go in play a few and say “that’s the one.” Then I know they are setting it up. I know I am getting exactly what is really going to sing for me. As opposed to taking a shot in the dark."

But who is going to like this instrument? Sometimes Telecasters are associated with country, with Bruce Springsteen but a lot of rock guys use them, nonetheless.

"That was my biggest problem I am a rock guy and you are supposed to play a Les Paul. When I started using a Tele it felt a little weird to me," says Miggs. "I have a 63 tele and I love the guitar. The problem is, it is limited, it can get a little high-endy. The Andy Summers guitar, I don't care what your style, is unless it is metal metal, you can get your sound. The neck , coming from a guy who used to play a lot more notes,; It holds up. I like it more than my Les Pauls. If you can find this guitar you buy it. It is an investment piece. If you play on weekends it maybe isn't for you, we are not taking cheap, it is going to cost you like ten grand. They don’t even make it any more so it might make it even make it more expensive."

But if you are touring, working musician? And you can afford it? Get one. Of course, there are many who don't think an expensive instrument should be taken out of the house or studio. Miggs isn't one of these. He owns a number of limited edition and vintage instruments--the Billy CorganStrat, the Thurston Moore Jazzmaster and the Eric Johnson Strat. He will take most of them out with him.

"I am trying to bring more Strats in. I have a' 56. People think I am nuts I bring it on road but we have good security, Our equip is never left alone. Those guitars lived in venues, small smoky bars somewhere, if it is a 63 or 56 it has life on it. It is equivalent of taking some grandparent of yours who is saying “I am not dead yet” and telling them they cannot go out and play. I never understood the living room where you are not allowed to sit on the couch."

So new or old, Miggs brings his guitars with him. He has an eye on '59 Billy Gibbons Les Paul. Gibson has one left and Eric Clapton has an eye on it. If Clapton doesn’t get it Miggs will and he wont hang it on the wall either (just like he did with the Andy Summers).

“I will still take it on the road, it needs to be played. I will take it on the road.” says Miggs.

More From Don Miggs soon.