An institution within the world of Texas blues, David Grissom is one of our longest serving Signature Artists. David’s road-tested feedback and attention to detail have been instrumental in the development of multiple PRS offerings, both before and since the introduction of his signature DGT and DG 30 amplifier. In addition to his career as a solo artist, David has remained an in-demand touring guitarist and songwriter. Over the years, he has collaborated with artists including Buddy Guy, John Mellencamp, Joe Ely, Storyville, The Allman Brothers Band, The Dixie Chicks, Chris Isaak, Robben Ford, John Mayall, and Ringo Starr.

FIVE MINUTES WITH DAVID GRISSOM

PRS: You have a long, rich history with PRS Guitars, what are your fondest memories of working with the company?

David: My fondest memories are the friendships I’ve made over the years, working with Paul on all aspects of guitar design, Doug Sewell on amp design and of course, the music I’ve made and the tone I’ve arrived at playing PRS Guitars.

PRS: Your relationship with us has birthed both celebrated guitars and amplifiers. What has been the most fulfilling aspect of being a PRS Signature Artist for so many years?

David: I feel incredibly thankful for the opportunity to help develop a guitar that works for me like no other instrument. I’ve been able to bounce ideas off of Paul for 30 years now, and the constructive exchange of ideas and mutual respect we have for each other is awesome. The same goes for the signature amp I helped develop with Doug Sewell. I’m also grateful that the artist relations team is always there when I need something or have a concern.

PRS: Your ongoing residency at the Saxon Pub in Austin has yielded many memorable performances over the years, including the tunes captured on your 2020 record Trio Live. At this point, do you feel more “at home” and creatively free there compared to other venues?

David: Yes, I definitely feel at home there. It’s a great sounding room. My weekly gig there really helps keep my chops up, and the audience is very open to the different musical places we go each week.

PRS: In the aftermath of Covid, your web presence has increased with regular live streaming. Are there aspects of playing and interacting with students in this way that you’ve found to be particularly challenging or rewarding?

David: The biggest challenge for me is sound quality. I’ve been lucky to do livestreams on 2ghtr.co. They have figured out a way to get the audio to translate very much like I am hearing it in my studio. In that environment it feels very much like a gig and doing it solo has given me the opportunity to grow and try things that would not have happened otherwise.

PRS: Looking ahead towards the future, what are your plans for the new year?

David: I am trying to write my way into a new record. By that I mean coming up with a group of tunes that feel like a cohesive body of work. I strive for each record to have its own identity. I will continue to do sessions and most likely head back to Europe to tour in the summer. Of course, I am also very excited about the release of the SE DGT and I’m looking forward to getting the DGT into the hands of more players

PRS: The announcement of the SE DGT Models has been met with considerable excitement, what most excites you about these new guitars?

David: I am very excited about how great the guitar came out. I was somewhat skeptical at first, but it has definitely exceeded my expectations! I have received so many requests over the years for a lower cost alternative to the Core model, and I’m thrilled that a lot more people will get to make music on this great guitar!

PRS: As we’ve seen in our recent “The Making of the PRS SE DGT” videos, there is a lot that goes into the launch of a signature SE. From your perspective, how did the process differ from the creation of your Core models?

David: It was very different in that the Core model developed over the course of almost 20 years starting with the McCarty model. All the heavy lifting in terms of design philosophy had been done, so it was really a matter of getting all the unique qualities of the Core model to translate to the SE. I worked closely with Jack and Bev from the beginning, and I always felt they understood my expectations of how good the SE had to be. The neck shape and pickups were my 2 biggest concerns and PRS nailed both.

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Watch "The Making of the PRS SE DGT" series below!