Q: What about a brief biography?



DG: I started playing guitar at 6. My father played banjo and was a

member of a band with Richard Green and Peter Rowan around 1965 - 67. So

I was surrounded by such music since I was pretty young. I went to

festivals or we had house concerts. My father taught me some basic chords

like C and G and I played along Bill Monroe's records. Mostly I'm

self-taught by ear.



Q: When did you start as a professional?



DG: About 20 years old. I joined a band called "Full Time" in Virginia and

I played electric there. I have a rare vintage electric, a 1952 Fender

Esquire. A great guitar



Q: Who influenced you most?



DG: Clarence White



Q: He came to your house often?



DG: Yes, Bill Monroe and Clarence White always stopped by whenever they came

to the area. I was a kid so they usually jammed with my father. My father

still has the tape recordings. That's so cool to listen to.



Q: You used to use D-18



DG: Yes, I got a 1955 D-18 with pick up. I own another one [and he brings

out a guitar]



Q: It's a Mark Whitebook, isn't it?



DG: Yes, 1974



Q: Which year was Clarence's?



DG: I don't know. Roland has it now so he must know.



Q: You like this one because of Clarence?



DG: Yes



Q: What about the Nashville guitar? When did you get it?



DG: September 10, 1992



Q: How did you end up with this?



DG: I've known Marty Lanham for a long time. He did repairs on my Martin

and did refretting. He lives not too far from here so I visited his shop

often. One day he asked me to try a new guitar he built. It was a nice

guitar but a little different from what I wanted, so he made another. I

think this one [the one he owns] is the third guitar Marty made with me

in mind.



Q: What was it that you asked him?



DG: I asked him to make the neck exactly same as my Martin. Then he

measured the neck very carefully and reproduced it as closely as possible.



Q: Is that why the binding is like D-18 than D-28?



DG: I guess so.



Q: Is this Indian or Brazillian rosewood?



DG: It's Brazillian



Q: You Martin D-18 is a mahogany.



DG: Yes, I like the sound of mahogany used beck then but not the sound of

recent mahogany [he's not talking about age but the sound quality of wood

available]



Q: Strings?



DG: D'Addario medium light J-14



Q: Pick?



DG: I use David Grisman model, very heavy stuff



Q: Looks like everyone's using it now a days [It looks like his pick is

falling off his fingers. Almost one half of the pick is exposed but

that's how he holds the pick]



Q: Are you happy with this Nashville guitar? Or are you looking for

anything else? Vintage Martin?



DG: No, I like this guitar. The ones I really like to have are too

expensive, especially vintage Martins.



Q: What do you do for maintenance? A new guitar breaks in and changes the

sound. [I'm so relieved that this interviewer did not ask about loosening

strings :-p]



DG: AS far as this guitar is concerned, it's getting better all the time

so that's not a problem. I've already refretted it once and that's the

only thing I did. I play hard and I need refret once in two years. Oh,

American Airline knocked off this guitar and broke the headstock but

Marty repaired it so it's OK.



Q: You don't use a pick up?



DG: No, it's all natural



Q: You use Paige capo?



DG: Yes



Q: you asked for Shaller tuners? The one we saw at the workshop had

Weaverleys.



DG: Yes, I asked for the Shaller tuners but it doesn't really matter as

long as they stay tuned.



Q: Compared to other players, your playing is much smoother. For example,

Clarence played with a lot of attack. Your sound is smooth, like Les Paul

used to play. Is it intentional?



DG: Yes, I'm conscious of the way I play, although it takes time.



Q: Do you practice everyday?



DG: No, just some times.



Q: You don't play fingerpicking?



DG: No, I don't. If I do, I only use my thumb



Q: Your band (the interview took place after the band's practice) sounded

jazzy



DG: Yes, it's more like a swing band



Q: Your own band?



DG: Yes, and today was the first rehearsal. WE got two gigs at Station

Inn in Nashville so we are getting ready for that. We don't really decide

what we do. I like old timey music, and I do bluegrass. I'm also

interested in swing. And I play electric guitar, too. I just love playing

guitar



Q: Any advice to younger players?



DG: Practice. Do what you like to play and practice on that.