TIM ROSENAU
by Mitch Bohannon
[WM] How did your journey as a musician opening up, my wife and I moved to Nashville cut for the first DC Talk reunion a couple years
begin? to shoot for a career in Christian music. She is a ago, and that thing is just incredible. I have a
pediatric nurse so she was able to support me custom JA15 with a Bigsby that I adore. She
while I chased my dream (Thanks babe!). only comes out to play on special occasions. I
[Tim Rosenau] I remember playing music with
my parents and sister in small churches back in
have an older McCarty that is really special too.
Iowa as a very young kid. We’d sing four part I got a job at Radio Shack, did several auditions, Well, they’re all special! Just great guitars man.
harmony and sometimes I’d play melodies on a some panned out and some didn’t, and finally Oh, my Starla is sick! That thing has chime for
tiny white Casio keyboard while my Dad would found myself in an audition for Toby. The rest days!
strum his acoustic. I really enjoyed it. I took is history. I honestly don’t believe there could piano as early as I can remember, and started possibly be a better gig in the world, so praise [WM] What amps and pedals are you using?
trumpet in elementary school in Monticello, God for the auditions that didn’t pan out! I pretty Tell us about your signal chain?
Iowa. I’ll never forget the first downbeat I felt much felt I’d won the lottery of gigs. One day in the jazz band. I couldn’t believe the sound I I was working at Radio Shack, the next I was [Tim] With Toby, I’ve used the same amp
was engulfed in. I totally loved playing in band on a tour bus. It was epic. I try not to take it for configuration for years and years. It helps that
and singing in choir. It was the highlight of granted or forget how incredible this all really is. I have an incredible amp guy, Steve Sinclair,
my day. I had absolutely incredible band and
who’ll spend the time with me making sure my
choir teachers all through high school, and we [WM] TobyMac’s band is known for being a tone is what I want. He’ll sit and change tubes,
had one of the better music programs in the very tight band. Tell us about the rehearsals that and bias the amps differently so I can hear and
state. When I was around seventeen years old go into tour preparation? feel the difference. He’s good… real good. I
I started plunking around on my Dad’s twelve-
play an early 90’s Marshall Superlead and an
string acoustic. Shortly after that, my parents [Tim] We usually book a few days with just early 90’s Mesa Dual Rectifier - both have 100
surprised me with my first electric. That was the band to learn any new material Toby’s got watt heads, but I run the Marshall at 50. They
a black Fender Squire Bullet with a Peavey or rework some transitions or arrangements. go into their own 4x12 cabs. I changed the
Bandit amp. Life changing! Then Toby and vocalists come in and we have top two speakers of each cab to mismatched
several days of full production. Depends on the Webber speakers. That took things over the
tour as well, or if Toby has a new record out. top for me for sure. I use a Shure wireless
I still loved jazz and was more serious about
horn than anything (except the girl I was dating
that’s crazy high-end. Sinasoid cables because
and would marry six years later) but once Jimi [WM] You play PRS guitars. Which models
Hendrix got a hold of me, there was no looking and what attracted you to them?
back. After high school, I attended a small
they’re the best.
My signal chain for now goes like this, from
jazz studies program call The Phil Mattson [Tim] I play several single cut’s, 245’s and wireless into a Radial SGI, into TU2 where the
School Of Music and learned a ton. I studied 250’s. They got me into a 594 McCarty single mute signal goes to a DI for acoustic, and the
theory, vocal arranging, and jazz piano. What through line goes to my Wampler Ego Comp
needed to stick, stuck, and I’m thankful for into my TrueTone Volume pedal. I do that
that. After a couple years there, I returned because I like everything all in front of me and
to Cedar Falls, Iowa, worked at my parents compact, and I like to maintain my own gear.
Christian Bookstore and volunteered at a big From my volume pedal, I go to a Box of Rock,
church doing music. Soon after, I married my Jekyll and Hyde, Big Muff Deluxe, Line 6 HXFX,
high school sweetheart and started working full amp selector. Pretty sure that’s it. Ha! I’m so
time at the same church as a worship leader. stinking impressed with the HXFX that may be
Around 2002, through some amazing doors
Everything
October 2019
about all I use. I’m really not a gear guy. I like
Subscribe for Free...
111