When he decided to start doing music again Los Diablos singer/guitarist Mark Dubin only had one piece of gear to his name.

"When I decided to come back into the ring, the only thing I had left equipment wise was an old beat up acoustic that was mine by default," he says "The dude who owned was in jail."

Los Diablos is a sort of punk-country, Steve Earle meets Orange County band based in South Florida. The members have been playing there, in various bands, for the past twenty years. Los Diablos had been around before and a few years back called it quits. Dubin brought out his guitar one night to play some new material for the band's drummer who was unimpressed.

"I think he said something like it sounded like I just picked up from where I left off," says Dubin. "That got me going a bit--so I played three or four tunes that were from the new batch of personal shit. I guess he dug it cause two weeks later I get a call from him saying that he put the band together and I needed to show up for rehearsal that night."

Gearwire's Patrick Ogle spoke to Dubin and guitarst Jorge Hernandez.

Patrick OgleYou started doing music as hell raising punk rockers. Now you do music that is a tad more subtle. What are the not so obvious changes in your live set up? How about studio set up?

Mark Dubin- As far as gear goes I’m afraid I’m still in the dark ages. I’m very minimalistic. Some compression and a bit of reverb. I like the sound of my fingers sliding on the strings and too many effects mutes that out. I never really knew about guitars or sounds. I was all about loud and fast. I just kept plugging in guitars and amps till I found a combination that sounded good. Obviously that doesn’t work so well with acoustics.

Jorge Hernandez- I use a Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue. My pedal board has a Little Lanei Reverb, Fulltone Full-Trem, Guyatone Delay, Keely Katana, Fulltone Fulldrive, Durham Crazy Horse and a Boss Tuner, Bullit cables, Fender White Heavy Picks. They have to be the white ones. I also use a Jet Slide. How many kids are gonna run out and buy all this stuff?

Have you been doing any recording? How you do try to capture your live sound in the studio?

Mark Dubin- Since we basically just got back together again after a few years of solo stuff we’re gearing up for a few weeks in the studio. We have a new bass player, Will Trev, and a great new guy on lap steel, Tom “Cat” Stanckus. Tom’s great--he plays anything with strings from acoustic all the way down to mandolin and banjo.

Jorge Hernandez- For recording we are going for a classic sound, Fender Champs, Blackface and Silverface era', Deluxe Reverb amps. You can't go wrong with these, they're warm and break up nicely when cranked up.

Mark Dubin- Getting the live sound is the most important thing. Maybe I’m partial to it since most of the bands I listened to growing up were too poor to afford separation in the studio.

Any surprising bit of gear that you use in your music? Something outside the "acoustic music" norm?

Jorge Hernandez- We use Durham Sexdrive pedals at our acoustic gigs. This is an amazing pedal that was designed for Bob Dylan's guitar player.

What piece of gear could you not live without that isn't a guitar? Why?

Jorge Hernandez- Little Lanelei Reverb, when used nicely it creates an aura of mystery. When you have songs of despair, anguish, despondency, reverb works.

Mark Dubin- Hey man--that’s why guys like me rely on engineers and lead guitar players. I have know idea what goes on in the background. I know they tell me that when I’m singing.I don’t eat the mike and when recording the back up vocals never pronounce the first letter of the first word of the phrase (Nashville is “Ashville).

What sort of guitar do you use. Why?

Jorge Hernandez- A Fender Telecaster, from Relic Master's. If it's good enough for "keef" (Keith Richards), it's good enough for me! I love the sound. For our type of music, it let's me capture tones which compliment the songs.

Mark Dubin- For awhile I was using those newer Fender top line acoustics… I switched up (under pressure) to Martins but they felt weak… I’m introducing myself to jumbo Gibsons and Guilds lately. Jorge and Tom (lap steel guitarist) have been turning me onto the standards.