Vince Welnick

1. Final

   1990–1995

   Instrument

   Wersi Zone Masterboard (main keyboard throughout) + Kurzweil MidiBoard (MIDI controller, 3-zone split, 8 MIDI channels) + Hammond XB-2 (from late June 1991 — early production XB-2, NOT a real B-3) + Korg T-1; likely driving the Bralove-era MIDI rack (2x Roland MKS-20 piano modules, Kurzweil 250RMX, Roland S550, Oberheim Matrix 1000) inherited from Brent's setup

   Signal

   MIDI controllers → rack of sound modules → keyboard mixer → stage PA. The XB-2 is a digital Hammond emulator (NOT a real B-3 — Jerry's call) — runs into a Leslie cabinet or modeled Leslie effect.

   Defining

   Vince's role is harder than Brent's was: he's replacing a beloved frontman-keyboardist, joining mid-tour with two months notice, and isn't allowed to use the very instrument (B-3) that defined his predecessor's sound. The Wersi Zone Masterboard becomes his signature visual presence onstage. His vocal contribution — high tenor harmonies — is consistently strong even when his keyboard role gets pinned into a supporting position.

   Dial in

   Modern parallel: a high-quality MIDI controller + Hammond clone (Hammond XK / SK series, or Nord C2) + the same module-rack concept (a piano VST + a sampler with strings/choir + a polysynth like a Prophet for pads). Layer them via MIDI zones — strings on the left hand, piano in the middle range, organ on the right. The Wersi-like 'orchestra at your fingertips' approach.

   Listen

   9/7/90 Richfield Coliseum (Vince's debut) · 10/9/90 MSG (early shows) · 3/29/90 Nassau Coliseum (just before Vince joined — Brent's last full run, for comparison) · 7/9/95 Soldier Field (Vince's last GD show)

SourcingVince's tenure: 1990-09-07 → 1995-07-09 (joined two months after Brent's death, sole keyboardist by 3/24/92 when Hornsby phased out). Rig cross-checked against ryanstorm.substack.com 'The Grateful Dead Keyboard Rigs,' Sotheby's auction catalog (which lists multiple original Vince instruments), and the Bonhams catalog. Confirmed instruments: Wersi Zone Masterboard (main keyboard 1990-1995, photographed in nearly every live shot) → Kurzweil MidiBoard (MIDI controller only, no built-in sounds — designed to split into 3 zones across 8 MIDI channels) → Hammond XB-2 (early production unit, added late June 1991 — notably Vince was NOT allowed a real B-3 because Jerry felt it would too closely echo Brent's sound) → Korg T-1 (in the rig per Substack). Bralove's MIDI rack from the late-Brent era likely continued under Vince. Verify which sound modules drove the MidiBoard outputs before publishing.