Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, The Dear Hunter are a rock act for the thinking man. Their latest CD, Act III: Life And Death tells a story, in almost operatic form. Except that it rocks. And Opera usually do not rock. Gearwire spoke to several members of the project.

First singer/producer/multi-instrumentalist Casey Crescenzo chatted about his First Act Delia and what led him to that guitar.

"My manager at the time asked me if i knew of them, and all I was aware of was the Walmart line," he says. "He directed me to the website and told me to check out the custom shop area."

While his guitar is a Delia it is not an off the rack model. His is custom and the reason he went custom over and off the rack model is simple.

"Honestly, it was because the option was there--having the ability to lay things out is one that I never had, so i took advantage of the opportunity." he says.

The primary difference in his custom Delia and he off the rack made is that it has a Bigsby tremelo, a maple fretboard and a mahogany neck.

Crescenzo says the guitar has an interesting combination of qualities.

"It has the snap of a Telecaster with the springy resonance of an ES or similar hollowbody." says Crescenzo.

The beat feature of the guitar , he notes, is its tone.

"You can really achieve any sound you are looking for--twang, warmth, power, etc. It's all there." he says.

He has used the guitar primarily with a Fender Deville 410.

"I like the 410 because it's more powerful and contained than the 212 model," says Crescenzo. "And I have always been a huge fan of Fender's clean tone. It also has a really great overdrive."

More with the other members of The Dear Hunter soon.