Marcus King Talks Toy Factory Project & Shows Off Setup For ‘Rig Rundown’ Series

The Marcus King Band is the subject of PremierGuitar’s latest “Rig Rundown” web series. Among the topics discussed were frontman Marcus King speaking about the Toy Factory Project, a tribute to The Marshall Tucker Band guitarist/songwriter Toy Caldwell, with Blackberry Smoke‘s Charlie Starr and bassist Oteil Burbridge.

The episode kicks off with The Marcus King Band’s slide guitarist Drew Smithers taking viewers on a spin through his pedalboard and axes, a pair of Gibson Les Pauls including a 1964 Jr. for slide work. Smithers also rolls through the MKB’s impressive array of Marshall stacks.

For King’s segment, Marcus and his dad Marvin go a bit more in depth on the Marshall JMP Super Lead. Marcus also talks his rare 1959 sunburst Les Paul whose previous owner etched their initials MK into the headstock, giving an air of fate to it landing in King’s hands via Nashville’s Carter Vintage Guitars.

Following a journey through his pedalboard and more guitars, Marcus discusses the MKB’s first album in seven years, Darling Blue. The conversation closes with King speaking about the inspiration behind playing with the Toy Factory Project. Formed by original Marshall Tucker Band drummer Paul T. Riddle, Marcus is joined in the group by Starr, Burbridge and Josh Shilling.

King talked about the huge impact southern rock and one of the genre’s key groups, The Marshall Tucker Band, had on rock in general as well as the jam band scene.

“I saw the impact that the Grateful Dead was able to have on a whole new generation of kids,” Marcus said, “and in my mind I was like ‘I feel like nobody’s really doing that for the Marshall Tucker Band or for the South in general, right?’ And like what a tremendous impact the South as a whole had on jam music.”

Watch PremierGuitar’s full “Rig Rundown” with The Marcus King Band below: