I saw him live a couple weekends ago at the Bluenote in Milan, Italy. Small venue -- about 200-300 people. Apart from his music and playing, while I was listening, I was thinking that the guitar he was playing was totally irrelevant. The sound system and his soundman (who traveled all the way from Oklahoma City to get the right sound), even in that small venue, were infinitely more important to his sound than his guitar. You could hear processed, amplified strings and that's it. Any playable guitar that stayed reasonably in tune with decent intonation would have sufficed, no doubt.
Just an observation . . .

Interesting. As much as I admire Doc Watson, I have never heard him play acoustically. Rather, in the 8-10 times I've seen him, his acoustic guitar has been plugged in, and what you hear are electronic tones. To each his own, but it's not very appealing to me.

I agree on both counts. With Doc and Tommy it probably doesn't matter which guitar they play. I don't mind listening to TE plugged in. But I never much cared for Doc's plugged in tone.

When I was in college (not yestiddy, btw), I saw Doc and Merle play several times sans pickups...straight into mikes. We'd just holler it out and they'd play it. About 5 feet away from the stage with a bucket of beer at the Southeast Music Hall in Atlanta. Changed my musical leanings forever.
Soon thereafter, saw Frosty Morn at Legion Field in Athens and they were all plugged in with the little amps on stage. About 1/2 way through the 1st set, Doc made 'em turn off his....couldn't abide it.

My assumption with Doc is that plugging in frees him from worrying about keeping his guitar in proper relation to a microphone without being able to gauge it visually.

I have to agree with redavide ...

I saw Tommy Emmanuel in Oklahoma last year and I would have a hard time imagining a situation where the type of guitar or the strings he uses or whether he uses special bridge pins or whatever else would be less relevant. He just needs a guitar that stays in tune and that has good intonation.

Food for thought.

I saw Tommy Emmanuel for the first time in Feb. 2008. Decided then and there that I needed a guitar that would allow me to work on his material. Bought an OM1A varnish - then a Blazer OM-28. Quickly discovered that it's not the guitar.
With gratitude
Alan

I think TE is a fine guitar player and a great entertainer, but I agree with what's been said about choice of guitar and strings.

I went to see one show of his and enjoyed it tremendously. However, I doubt he'd be remembered for the tone of his guitar (except maybe by his hardcore fans, many of whom think he has the best live sound of any acoustic guitar player!?); though he probably would be remembered (by me at least) for the very high volume levels he put out through the house sound system (waaaaay too loud IMO, and totally unnecessary).

Stu

edit: supposedly his choice of Maton guitars is based on them having individual pole pieces for the UST, which allows him to better balance the string volume, etc.

The first time I saw Tony Enamel play, many years ago, I had on a Collings T. He saw me pre-show and we had a chat, him expressing his admiration for Collings. He said he used Maton because it allowed him to get that "in your face" (his words) sound with his electronics.

If you've ever played a Maton you'd know it's not something you'd want to play unplugged. Having said that, TE could and would sound magnificent in your living room with a nice unplugged OM.

Re Mr.Arthel "Doc" Watson , I once saw him follow an opening bluegrass band that was loud, fast, turbulent, and very good. Prior to playing (unplugged) he apologized if he should come off as tame compared to the tornado that just left the stage. He then singlehandedly proceeded to completely blow them away. Is there a larger icon in flatpick guitar that this gentleman? There are faster. There are flashier. But, IMO, they're small beer compared to the original.

With Tommy's talent, it really doesn't matter what he plays. He'd be amazing on ANYTHING. Yet . . . Jim Baggett once told me about a time when Tommy was staying at his place and Tommy started sampling the Vintage Martins in Jim's personal collection. Tommy playing one of Jim's Vintage D-18's. Now THAT is something I would love to have heard.

I agree with Stuart.

We have a concert/workshop series near here each year called Tommyfest. I've been a few times. I enjoy seeing him, but have walked away both times thinking that the sound is way too loud and unneeded. Maybe its part of his schtick to get the crowd worked up. I'd go every week though to see him play Somewhere Over The Rainbow and Man With The Green Thumb.

Doc cold play a Les Paul thru a marshall stack with a grunge pedal and he would still MOVE me