Paul Gilbert & Steve Morse talk improvisation, tone and Ernie Ball at NAMM 2026

The Guitar Center team caught up with Steve Morse and Paul Gilbert at the Ernie Ball Music Man booth at Winter NAMM 2026 to talk about the show’s energy, their history playing together and why they’ve stayed with the Ernie Ball family. They discuss live improvisation, changing approaches to playing as they age and personal stories about gear, hearing, and friendship. The conversation ranges from humorous stage metaphors to practical tips on string gauges and staying in the moment while performing.

“There’s nothing like this show in terms of the chaos that you hear when you walk on the floor.” – Steve Morse