I tend to experiment with different instruments/textures when I'm looking to add ''coloring'' to my recording projects.

I'm working on one right now, that marries fingerpicking guitar with ragtime piano, and a little bit of Dixieland thrown in (clarinet/trumpet).

About the strangest sounding combination to my ears, are certain David Bromberg tunes where the band is essentially playing bluegrass with all the traditional blue grass instruments one (or at least I) would tend to associate with that sound, as in guitar, fiddle, banjo, dobro, bass, drums....with alto sax playing fills....which just doesn't seem to cut it for me. The alto just feels all wrong, and it annoys me...but that's why he's David Bromberg and I'm lowly little Michael K.