Rig Rundowns: Recent Episodes
Premier Guitar
Premier Guitar’s world-famous Rig Rundowns take you backstage to explore the live gear used by your favorite guitar and bass players. Whether you’re into shred, country, indie, or classic rock, Rig Rundowns give you the lowdown on the instruments, pedals, and amps powering the biggest acts on the road today—and often we even coax them into demoing their favorite settings. Listen now and pick up new tricks for how to set up your rig!
Bill Murray might be most famous for his acting in classics like Caddyshack, Ghostbusters, and Groundhog Day, but he’s also a bona fide belter and has performed as a singer on stages big and small over the years. A while back, he linked up with guitarists Mike Zito, Albert Castiglia, and Jimmy Vivin...Watch the full Rig Rundown: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/bill-murray-and-his-blood-brothers
The Wilco frontman’s ’90s pawn shop raids are paying off decades later.Watch the full Rig Rundown: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/jeff-tweedy
The Australian shredder keeps things simple with signature PRS, Orange, and Gibson gear.Watch the full Rig Rundown: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/orianthi
The long-running punk quartet pick prototypes, P basses, and Pauls for their latest live shows.Watch the full Rig Rundown: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/afi-2025
Thanks to some key years working at a celebrated music store, this band of brothers has the goods.
Watch the full Rig Rundown: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/the-band-royale
Henri and Bill Cash, the brotherly guitar duo behind Los Angeles glam-rock band Starcrawler, linked with PG’s John Bohlinger before their gig at the Pinnacle in Nashville to show off some rose-colored rock tools. Check out highlights of their dazzling setups below, and tune into our full Rig Rundown to scope the full details.
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The in-demand gunslinger brings a load of silverware to arenas across the world.Watch the full Rig Rundown: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/devon-eisenbarger
The cosmic-country cowboy touts a rig inspired by the greats and powered by a mix of vintage and modern-day gear.Watch the full Rig Rundown: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/daniel-donato
Check out the gear that guitarists Frank Iero and Ray Toro and bassist Mikey Way brought out to shake stadiums this summer.Watch the full Rig Rundown: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/my-chemical-romance
Step onstage for an inside look at the gear Pete Townshend and Jon Button relied on for the band’s legendary farewell shows.Watch the full Rig Rundown: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/the-who-tour
California metal giants Deftones returned this year with Private Music, their first album in five years. In support of it, they ripped across North America on a string of headline shows and support slots with System of a Down.Watch the full Rig Rundown: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/deftones
California metal giants Deftones returned this year with Private Music, their first album in five years. In support of it, they ripped across North America on a string of headline shows and support slots with System of a Down.
Watch the full Rig Rundown: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/deftones
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/system-of-a-down
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
The metal giants return to the stage with a show powered by gold-and-black axes and pure tube power.
Except for two new singles in 2020, alt-metal icons System of a Down haven’t released new music in 20 years. But luckily for their fans, System—vocalist Serj Tankian, guitarist/vocalist Daron Malakian, bassist Shavo Odadjian, and drummer John Dolmayan—took their catalog of era-defining, genre-changing hard-rock haymakers on tour this year across South and North America.
PG’s Chris Kies connected with Malakian onstage at Soldier Field in Chicago ahead of System’s second show at the football stadium. Malakian and his tech, Patrick Lachman, explained how some color-coded Gibson, Ibanez, and Friedman gear give Malakian the fire he needs to burn through the band’s legendary set.
0:00 - Mark Tremonti & D'Addario
0:15 - Daron Malakian Guitar Solo Intro
1:28 - Subscribe to Rig Rundowns!
1:38 - Chris Kies Intro
1:53 - Daron Malakian Running Into SOAD Cover Band in Chicago
5:08 - History of Stolen Guitars
6:46 - What Does Daron Malakian Need From His Guitar?
9:36 - Songwriting Tools
10:17 - Unexpected Guitar Influences
12:29 - Pride in Writing 'Addicted to the Violence' Album
17:11 - Musical Phases & Abstract Songwriting
19:12 - Freedom in Creating Your Own Art
20:31 - Gibson Flying V to Honor Albert King's Lucy
21:29 - Daron Malakian Large Triangle Guitar Picks & Playing Style
23:55 - Daron Malakian Guitar Solo 2
24:53 - D'Addario Players Circle Rewards
25:54 - Guitar Tech Patrick Lachman
26:21 - Gibson SGs
27:28 - Daron Malakian Strings & SOAD Tunings
28:20 - When Do Guitar Changes Happen?
28:57 - Ibanez Iceman
29:42 - Gibson Flying V (Honoring Albert King Lucy)
30:10 - Gibson ES-355
31:36 - Ibanez Iceman (Gold Binding)
32:09 - Setting Up Guitars for Daron Malakian
33:24 - Rack Gear
35:07 - Friedman BE-100 & BE-100 Deluxe Amps
36:29 - Speaker Cabinets & Speakers
37:30 - EQ'ing Daron Malakian's Amps
38:31 - Daron Malakian Pedalboard
39:04 - MXR Smart Gate Pro
39:47 - Orbel Babayan Controlling Daron's Effects
40:45 - Daron Malakian Guitar Solo 3
41:58 - Joe Glaser & D'Addario
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/system-of-a-down
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© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2025
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Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/linkin-park
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Learn how the reunited nu-metal pioneers are taking on the world once again.
Linkin Park went on hiatus for seven years after lead vocalist Chester Bennington’s death in 2017, but last September, the band announced that they were returning with new music and a new lineup—including vocalist Emily Armstrong and drummer Colin Brittain. A new album, From Zero, was released in November 2024, followed by the single “Up From the Bottom” earlier this year, and this summer, the band tore off on an international arena and stadium comeback tour. Founding lead guitarist Brad Delson is still a creative member of the band, but has elected to step back from touring. And so on the road, Alex Feder takes his place alongside founding guitarist/vocalist/keyboardist Mike Shinoda, DJ Joe Hahn, and bassist Dave Farrell.
PG’s Chris Kies headed to downtown Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena to meet up with Mike Shinoda, plus techs Mark, Ben, and Tracy, to learn how the band pulled off their much-anticipated gigs this year.
0:00 - Wolf Van Halen & D'Addario
0:15 - Mike Shinoda Intro
0:59 - Subscribe to Rig Rundowns!
1:08 - Chris Kies Intro
1:24 - Mike Shinoda on Playing Guitar & Keyboards Live
2:08 - How Does Each Instrument Inspire Mike Shinoda
4:07 - Mike Shinoda on Approaching Guitar
4:55 - Guitar Shopping in Nashville
5:47 - Mike Shinoda's "What I've Done" Strat
6:41 - Mike Shinoda on Choosing Guitars for Tour
8:30 - Mike Shinoda on Recreating Album Tones Onstage
10:23 - Mike Shinoda on Production
13:06 - Mike Shinoda's 'Meteora' PRS Custom CE 24
14:51 - Mike Shinoda's Killspencer Leather Straps
17:16 - Mike Shinoda's "Given Up" Gibson SG
18:05 - Who Got Into PRS Guitars First?
19:21 - Mike Shinoda's Fender Blacktop Baritone Telecaster
21:05 - Mike Shinoda's Evolution as a Guitarist
23:20 - What Gear Inspired Mike Shinoda on From Zero
24:44 - Mike Shinoda's Keyboard Setup
29:24 - Does Mike Shinoda Have More Fun on Guitar or Keys
31:28 - Ever Thought About Keytar?
31:51 - MIDI Guitar on "Casualty"
33:10 - Mike Shinoda's Solo Section on Keyboards
34:40 - D'Addario Players Circle Rewards
35:40 - Mike Shinoda & Alex Feder (Brad Delson) Rack Setups
47:41 - Brad Delson's (Alex Feder) "Hybrid Theory" PRS
49:36 - Brad Delson's (Alex Feder) "One Step Closer" PRS
50:10 - Brad Delson's (Alex Feder) PRS DC3 for 7-String Songs
51:52 - Setting Up Brad Delson's Gear for Alex Feder to Play
52:48 - Brad Delson's (Alex Feder) Fender Rory Gallagher Strat
53:51 - Brad Delson's (Alex Feder) Fender Custom Shop Strat
54:44 - Brad Delson's (Alex Feder) PRS Cust
55:48 - Coup Card Game
56:00 - Picks for Brad Delson & Alex Feder
56:23 - Linkin Park Tunings
57:36 - Dave "Phoenix" Farrell Basses
1:02:53 - Dave "Phoenix" Farrell Rack Setup
1:04:11 - Joe Glaser & D'Addario
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/linkin-park
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© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2025
guitar #linkinpark #rigrundown #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/adam-miller
Visit the Underdog: http://theunderdognashville.com/
The prolific Australian guitarist brought his mastery to east Nashville, where we got a look at the gear he’s trusting overseas.
Adam Miller has been compared to plenty of his most sacred influences— Tommy Emmanuel, Chet Atkins, Charlie Hunter, Bill Frissell—but he’s certainly carved a path of his own. This year alone, he’s released three records and undertook a U.S. tour to bring his delightful mix of jazz, groove, and beyond to eager listeners.
Before his show at the Underdog in east Nashville, Miller took some time to show PG’s Chris Kies around his trusted tools for international touring, including a gorgeous custom Huber electric, a Collings acoustic, and some key items on loan.
Shop Adam’s Gear:
Seymour Duncan Wavelength Duo https://sweetwater.sjv.io/aOkLyj
D’Addario NYXL https://sweetwater.sjv.io/6yRAoG
D'Addario Nickel Bronze https://sweetwater.sjv.io/GK5QaE
Grace Design ALiX preamp https://sweetwater.sjv.io/rQYR6D
Line 6 DL4 MkII Delay Modeler Pedal https://sweetwater.sjv.io/mOo3Oe
Strymon Flint https://sweetwater.sjv.io/QyAKk9
0:00 - Joe Glaser & D’Addario
0:15 - Adam Miller Playing Intro
1:39 - Subscribe to Rig Rundowns
1:45 - Chris Kies Intro
2:15 - Line 6 DL4 MkII
3:17 - Recording Gallery Solo Improv Show
4:08 - Gear Philosophy for Trio v Solo Gigs
5:04 - Recording Neumann Sessions at Studio 606
8:10 - Nik Huber Adam Miller Model
12:12 - Strings & Tunings
13:04 - Novo Serus J Baritone
15:56 - Developing Rythmnic Touch
17:26 - Collings C10 Deluxe
19:10 - Grace Design ALiX
20:57 - D’Addario Players Circle Rewards
21:56 - Two-Rock Studio Signature
23:16 - EQ’ing an Amp
24:33 - Adam Miller’s Pedalboard
32:26 - Pick
33:29 - Advice for Guitarists
35:38 - Adam Miller Outro Jam
36:08 - D’Addario
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/adam-miller
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Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/ty-myers
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When Ty Myers got injured a few years back and couldn’t play sports, he took to posting videos of himself on TikTok. Before long, his song “Tie That Binds” went viral on the platform, blasting him to overnight-star status. Now, with his debut album, The Select, under his belt, the 18-year-old is taking his songs on the road to packed-out rooms.
PG’s John Bohlinger linked with country’s newest wunderkind at the Egyptian Room in Indianapolis to see how he brings his old-time-meets-new-world country to life onstage.
Shop Ty's Gear:
Fender Custom Shop Masterbuilt Stratocaster https://sweetwater.sjv.io/6y5m43
Fender Stratocaster http://sweetwater.sjv.io/dO3Kbk
Gibson SJ-200 https://sweetwater.sjv.io/2a9Z4G
Dunlop Volume (X) Mini https://sweetwater.sjv.io/q4n5vq
Peterson StroboStomp LE https://sweetwater.sjv.io/3JrgGA
Origin Effects Cali76 https://sweetwater.sjv.io/RG37ky
JHS Pedals Berkeley https://sweetwater.sjv.io/dOjYmy
Keeley Katana https://sweetwater.sjv.io/N937rN
Boss GE-7 7-band EQ Pedal https://sweetwater.sjv.io/AWnK4J
MXR Duke of Tone https://sweetwater.sjv.io/yqQY7y
Keeley Noble Screamer https://sweetwater.sjv.io/jrVEyb
Boss VB-2w https://sweetwater.sjv.io/YR37Jq
Boss TR-2 https://sweetwater.sjv.io/9gQOYW
JHS Flight Delay https://sweetwater.sjv.io/K037Dz
EarthQuaker Devices Dispatch Master https://sweetwater.sjv.io/PyVNgM
Strymon Zuma https://sweetwater.sjv.io/rQ0aNy
Strymon Ojai https://sweetwater.sjv.io/xkdnmx
0:00 - D'Addario
0:15 - Ty Myers Playing Intro
0:46 - Subscribe to Rig Rundowns!
0:57 - John Bohlinger Intro
1:09 - Fender Stratocaster with Fat ’50s Pickups
4:16 - Fender Custom Shop Master Built Strat (Dale Wilson)
7:13 - Gibson SJ-200
9:28 - Gallagher Ragtime Special
12:35 - Two-Rock Silver Sterling Signature
15:17 - D'Addario Backline Gear Transport Bags
15:57 - Ty Myers' Pedalboard
27:24 - Ty Myer's Sold-Out Select Fall Tour
28:35 - Joe Glaser & D'Addario
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/ty-myers
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© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2025
guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear
Presave WM's New Album: https://firebird.lnk.to/WhompWhackThunder
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/whiskey-myers-2025
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
From couchsurfing to playing the Ryman, rockers Whiskey Myers of Palestine, Texas, have had one hell of a Cinderella story. We caught up with guitarist John Jeffers back in 2021 for a virtual Rig Rundown, but this time around, ahead of the September release of their seventh LP, Whomp Whack Thunder, PG’s Chris Kies met up with Jeffers and rhythm guitarist Cody Tate before their July 19 gig at Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater to get a tour of their latest and loudest noisemakers.
Shop Whiskey Myers’ Gear:
Empress Compressor Mk II - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/daWeOK
EarthQuaker Devices The Depths - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/e1PKX6
Orange Custom Shop 50 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/qzX49b
AmpRx Backline 1200 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/xLDkax
Voodoo Labs Switcher - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/5gV32L
Boss ES-5 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/ZQgj6K
JHS Morning Glory - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/7aevm5
JHS Unicorn - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/9LagD4
JHS Prestige - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/5553k9
Dunlop Wah - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/AWa9Xx
Boss TU-3w - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/750ngO
Marshall JCM 800 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Gm36zV
Fender Stratocaster - http://sweetwater.sjv.io/dO3Kbk
Gibson Les Paul - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/GKOP7L
Gibson SG - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/GKOP7L
Gibson Firebird - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/6eJ3rr
0:00 - Joe Glaser & D'Addario
0:15 - John Jeffers Guitar Solo Intro
0:43 - Subscribe to Rig Rundowns!
0:55 - Chris Kies Intro
1:15 - John Jeffers' OG Les Paul
4:56 - John Jeffers' 2021 Gibson Custom Murphy-Painted 1960 Les Paul 60 Reissue
6:02 - John Jeffers' 1972 Gibson Les Paul '54/'58 Reissue
7:31 - John Jeffers on 1st Tours in Chevy Suburban
10:22 - John Jeffers on Working with Producer Jay Joyce
13:43 - John Jeffers' 1992 Gibson SG Custom '67 Reissue
15:26 - John Jeffers' Gibson Firebird I
17:06 - John Jeffers' Orange Custom Shop 50 & Vox AC30
20:15 - John Jeffers' Pedalboard
24:53 - John Jeffers' on Whomp Whack Thunder Album Name
26:06 - Rig Rundowns & D'Addario Backline Gear Transport Packs
26:47 - Cody Tate on Working with Producer Jay Joyce
27:22 - Cody Tate's Fender American Deluxe HSS Stratocaster
30:34 - Cody Tate's Pedalboard
31:42 - Cody Tate's Fender Rarities Flame Koa Stratocaster
34:02 - Cody Tate's Eastwood Mandocaster
34:47 - Cody Tate's Fender Custom Shop Strat
37:19 - Cody Tate: Cars or Guitars?
37:49 - Cody Tate's Marshall JCM 800 Amps
40:14 - D'Addario
Presave WM's New Album: https://firebird.lnk.to/WhompWhackThunder
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/whiskey-myers-2025
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© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2025
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Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/keith-urban
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The muti-Grammy winning country guitar hero is going sans pedalboard this time around as he cranks up on stages across the country.
New Zealand’s number one country guitar export—and November 2024 Premier Guitar cover model—Keith Urban rolled into Cincinnati’s Riverbend Music Center last month, so John Bohlinger and the Rig Rundown team drove up to meet him. Urban travels with a friendly crew of vintage guitars, so there was much to see and play. In fact, so much that they ran out of time after getting through the axes! Later, Bohli and Co. met up with Urban tech Chris Miller to wrap their heads around the rest of the straightforward pedal-free rig he’s rockin’ this summer.
Last year, Urban released High, his 12th studio record, so you’ll be sure to catch those tunes and more in his extensive jam-friendly sets. Here’s a look at what Keith is bringing with him to stages across the U.S., including a prototype signature PRS to vintage Gibsons and a pair of heavy-lifting Marshalls.
0:00 - Joe Glaser & D'Addario
0:15 - Keith Urban Playing Intro
0:35 - Subscribe to Rig Rundowns!
0:49 - John Bohlinger Intro
1:04 - PRS Keith Urban Prototype
3:51 - 1989 Fender Custom 40th Anniversary Telecaster "Clarence"
4:29 - PRS Custom with Wooden Truss Rod
7:50 - 1964 Fender Strat
8:56 - No Distortion Pedals -- Using Marshall Super Lead for Gain
9:38 - Novo Solus
10:45 - 1972 Fender Mustang Bass
12:29 - 1964 Gibson SG Junior
14:21 - 1952 Gibson Les Paul
16:10 - Taking Vintage Guitars on the Road
17:44 - Maton Mini Maton Diesel EMD6
19:37 - Keith Urban & D'Addario
20:07 - Keith Urban Tech Chris Miller Intro
20:36 - Keith Urban's Picks & Strings
24:25 - Late 1970s Marshall JMP Super Leads 100W
27:03 - 1970s Marshall 4x12 with Celestion G12H-150 Redback Speakers
29:05 - Acoustic Sciences Corporation Speaker Baffles (from Pete Townsend)
32:46 - Powering Keith's Rig
34:57 - What Amps Did Keith Use on Previous Tours?
37:11 - Signal Chain & Pedalboard (Not Being Used)
43:40 - Rack Gear (Fractal, Marshall JMP-1 Power Amp, Acme Audio Motown Preamp DI)
49:20 - D'Addario
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/keith-urban
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© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2025
guitar #rigrundown #keithurban #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/queens-of-the-stone-age-troy-van-leeuwen
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Fresh off a substantial break and a live acoustic recording from Paris’ infamous catacombs, hard-rock titans Queens of the Stone Age stormed back to life this spring with an American tour, including back-to-back nights in Boston at Fenway’s MGM Music Hall.
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/queens-of-the-stone-age-troy-van-leeuwen
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Win Guitar Gear: https://bit.ly/GiveawaysPG
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Shop TVL's Rig:
Echopark Guitars & Pedals - https://www.echoparkguitars.com/
GMI Public Address Systems - https://www.gmipublicaddress.com/
Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster -https://sweetwater.sjv.io/jea0ZZ
Vox AC30 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/POnE4R
Eventide H9 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/baQr0x
Electro-Harmonix Superego - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/nLVZB7
EarthQuaker Devices Tentacle - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/q40z6N
EarthQuaker Devices Rainbow Machine - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/oqk6E9
0:00 - Mark Tremonti & Wolf Van Halen + D’Addario
0:15 - “Emotion Sickness” Intro with Troy Van Leeuwen
0:48 - Subscribe to Rig Rundowns!
1:13 - Troy Van Leeuwen on 1st Show of 2025
2:15 - Echopark De Leon Clarence
4:13 - Troy Van Leeuwen’ Strings & Tunings
4:42 - Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster
7:03 - What Does Troy Demand from His Road Gear?
8:02 - Is Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster a Strat Guy?
8:53 - Fender Custom Shop Telecaster-Jazzmaster Doubleneck
12:54 - Fender Custom Shop 12-String Telecaster
14:36 - Custom Echopark
17:00 - What Got Troy Van Leeuwen Into Guitar & Music?
19:24 - Echopark Vlad
21:59 - Performing Inside Paris Catacombs
24:31 - GMI 33F6 Amps
26:59 - Rig Rundown & D’Addario
27:30 - Signal Flow, Cabinets & Speakers
29:08 - Troy Van Leeuwen Pedalboard
37:15 - Chandler Lap Steel Guitar
40:07 - Troy Van Leeuwen’s Gain Stages
43:23 - Joe Glaser & D’Addario
[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2025
guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear #queensofthestoneage #qotsa
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/sol-philcox-littlefield
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Vintage Fenders, Gibsons, and Gretsches get the job done for one of Nashville’s veteran studio players.
Trusted session guitarist Sol Philcox-Littlefield, known for his work with Luke Combs, Tim McGraw, Kelsea Ballerini, and Elle King, among many others, was at Nashville’s FrontStage Studios for some recording work recently, and he invited PG’s John Bohlinger to get a look at all the tools he uses to cut a stellar country record.
Shop the Rig:
Gibson ES-335 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/LKWeV0
Fender Jazzmaster - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/OeK13K
Fender Telecaster - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/kONLeV
Fender Stratocaster - http://sweetwater.sjv.io/dO3Kbk
Kahayan Amp Switcher - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/EEWQmD
Fender Bassman - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/XYB1rG
Fender Bandmaster - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/7aQ3j5
Marshall JCM800 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Gm36zV
TC Electronic PolyTune - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/k0oEQV
Dunlop Volume Pedal - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/1rxG0m
Barn3 OXU Three Switch - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Z6R0nQ
Line 6 HX Effects - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/3JLb6X
Bogner Ecstasy - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/q4xXvq
Way Huge Swollen Pickle - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/e1gqLj
Eventide H90 Harmonizer Multi-effects Pedal - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Y9PJdr
Strymon El Capistan - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/k0MG20
Jackson Audio/Silvertone Twin Trem - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/QjWRNo
Electro-Harmonix POG III - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/NkOD2q
Strymon Deco - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/3eRx9n
Strymon Mobius - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/OrOAOZ
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/sol-philcox-littlefield
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© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2025
0:00 - Joe Glaser & D'Addario
0:15 - Sol Philcox-Littlefield Playing Intro
1:58 - Subscribe to Rig Rundowns!
2:07 - John Bohlinger Intro
2:39 - 1967 Gibson ES-335
6:42 - 1962 Gibson SG
11:16 - 1966 Gretsch Chet Atkins Tennessean
17:17 - 1959 Fender Jazzmaster
24:36 - Watching John Breaking Jack White's Bigsby
27:05 - 1963/64 Fender Stratocaster
31:10 - Fender Telecaster with Glaser Bender
37:39 - 1963 Gibson SG Special
42:52 - Working at The NuttHouse Recording Studio
43:41 - Recording Shelby Lee Lowe
45:13 - Working & Collaborating in Nashville Studios
48:35 - 1970 Gibson Les Paul Custom
51:13 - Jerry Jones Baritone
53:48 - Silvertone
58:15 - Rig Rundowns & D'Addario
58:40 - Amps
59:34 - Fender Bandmaster
1:02:07 - Guytron GT100
1:05:44 - Fender Bassman & Matchless DC30
1:08:36 - Marshall JCM 800
1:10:22 - Fulltone Tape Echo & Roland RE-501 Chorus Echo
1:12:56 - Sol Philcox-Littlefield Pedalboard
1:30:17 - D'Addario
guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear
Full Camera Gear Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/camera-gear
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Premier Guitar has been producing the Rig Rundown for more than 15 years. After over 700* episodes, the list of video equipment and accessories has been extensive.
Longtime host & PG videographer Perry Bean walks through the cameras and audio gear currently being used to bring you in-depth looks at your favorite artist's rigs. You'll see how Chris and Perry have evolved the setup over the years and how a recent chance encounter led to a major upgrade with help and advice from the experts at @sweetwater !
If you're looking to start creating your own content, there is no better place to start than Sweetwater.com, or check our article to find detailed links and descriptions for all of the upgrades:
https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/camera-gear
From the Video:
Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PocketCam6KP--blackmagic-design-pocket-cinema-camera-6k-pro-body-only
Kondor Blue Blackmagic Pocket 6K Pro Base Rig - Black: http://sweetwater.com/store/detail/PCC6KPBase--kondor-blue-blackmagic-pocket-6k-pro-base-rig-black
SanDisk Professional Pro-Blade 2TB SSD MAG: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ProBldMag2TB--sandisk-professional-pro-blade-2tb-ssd-mag
Kondor Blue Pro-Blade SSD Handle: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/KBPBSSDBk--kondor-blue-pro-blade-ssd-handle
Shure ADX5D: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ADX5DUSA--shure-adx5d-axient-digital-dual-channel-portable-wireless-receiver
Shure ADX1 Wireless Bodypack Transmitter: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ADX1--shure-adx1-wireless-bodypack-transmitter-with-ta4-connector
More Shure Axient Options: https://www.sweetwater.com/shure-axient-digital/series
PG's Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierguitar
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© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2025
guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear #camera #cameragear
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/kaleo
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Icelandic blues rockers Kaleo released their fourth full-length LP, Mixed Emotions, on May 9 via Elektra. To celebrate the album in their adopted hometown, they threw a party at American Legion Post 82 in East Nashville.
Some of the band’s gear had already been shipped to Red Rocks Amphitheatre, where the official release show took place on May 10, but “Kentucky Fried Scandinavian” lead guitarist Rubin Pollock gave PG’s Chris Kies a look at the must-haves loaded in for the legion gig.
Shop Kaleo's Gear:
Strymon El Capistan - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/k0MG20
Strymon Flint - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/QyAKk9
JHS Colour Box - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/MmeQkM
DigiTech Whammy Ricochet - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/ZQMj91
Boss TU-3 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/jryA4M
Fulltone Octafuzz - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/9Lr2k3
Gibson ES-335 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/NkaNeq
Radial Stage Bug - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/jeBVb0
MXR Ten Band EQ - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/21oDPA
Orange AD30 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/POWBxQ
Orange 1x12 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/kONV6d
Fender Mustang - http://sweetwater.sjv.io/3eOoWK
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/kaleo
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
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Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
Merch & Magazines: https://shop.premierguitar.com
PG's Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierguitar
PG's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/premierguitar/
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PG's Threads: https://threads.net/@premierguitar
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0:00 - XPND Pedal Power Battery Kit
0:15 - Rubin Pollock Intro
0:51 - Subscribe to Rig Rundowns!
0:58 - Chris Kies Intro @ American Legion Post 82 in East Nashville
1:50 - Kaleo Performing in a Volcano & on an Iceberg
3:07 - New Album Mixed Emotions Recorded in Nashville
4:36 - Rubin Pollock's 1960s Gibson ES-345
8:45 - Rubin Pollock's 1970s Kustom K200
12:56 - Rubin Pollock's 1960s Fender Mustang
15:24 - Rubin Pollock's Guitar Influences
16:33 - Rubin Pollock's Tunings & Strings
18:14 - Rubin Pollock's Austen Hooks-built projector Amp
19:28 - Guitar Market in Iceland
20:28 - John Bohlinger & XPND Pedalboard
21:19 - Rubin Pollock's Pedalboard
30:51 - Jökull Júlíusson's Rig
33:27 - Kentucky Fried Scandanivian?
35:43 - D'Addario
[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr & XPND Pedalboard: https://ddari.io/xpnd.rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2025
guitar #rigrundown #kaleo #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/dann-huff
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
The all-star producer invites John Bohlinger to his home studio for a glimpse of his most treasured gear.
Veteran producer and behind-the-scenes guitar superstar Dann Huff released his debut solo album, When Words Aren’t Enough, on May 30, but his career began long before that. He’s been making records and playing guitar for roughly 50 years, working with everyone from Taylor Swift to Rodney Crowell to Michael Jackson.
His home studio is where the magic happens, and for this Rig Rundown, he invited PG’s John Bohlinger over to talk about his career, his new record, and the best bits of gear he’s played along the way. Keep an eye out for our feature on Huff online and in our August print issue.
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
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Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
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0:00 - Mark Knopfler & D'Addario
0:15 - Dann Huff Playing Intro
1:00 - Subscribe to Rig Rundowns!
1:08 - John Bohlinger Intro
1:48 - Musical Start in Brentwood with Gordon Kennedy
5:58 - White Heart Years
8:16 - Moving to SoCal at 23 to Start Studio Career
13:15 - Giant Band 1987–1992
18:40 - Moment He Knew Music Was Changing
19:58 - Moving Back to Nashville as Session Guitarist
23:58 - Working with Mutt Lange & Shania Twain
26:54 - Becoming a Nashville Producer
29:53 - Working with Keith Urban
41:39 - Living with Imposter Syndrome
43:22 - Learned & Growing From Instagram Guitar Virtuosos
46:36 - Writing & Recording New When Words Aren’t Enough Album
59:00 - James Tyler Guitars Dann Huff Original Classic
1:07:29 - Revv D40
1:08:12 - Rig Rundowns & D'Addario
1:08:44 - Chet Atkins Parallel & Using a Gretsch 6120
1:15:31 - Fender Custom Shop Telecaster (Gift from Keith Urban)
1:16:15 - 1960s Rickenbacker 360 Capri
1:19:51 - 1960 Fender Jazzmaster
1:23:43 - Using Studio Monitors vs Headphones When Recording
1:26:28 - Fixing a Guitar Solo While on Vacation
1:31:17 - Joe Walsh is the "Master of Midrange"
1:33:40 - Revv D40 & Dann Huff Pedalboard
1:37:40 - What's Next After Releasing When Words Aren’t Enough Album?
[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2025
guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear #dannhuff
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/poison-the-well
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Last August, metalcore giants Poison the Well gave the world a gift: They announced they were working on their first studio album in 15 years. They unleashed the first taste, single “Trembling Level,” back in January, and set off on a spring North American tour during which they played their debut record, The Opposite of December… A Season of Separation, in full every night.
PG’s Perry Bean caught up with guitarists Ryan Primack and Vadim Taver, and bassist Noah Harmon, ahead of the band’s show at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl for this new Rig Rundown.
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Win Guitar Gear: https://bit.ly/GiveawaysPG
Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
Merch & Magazines: https://shop.premierguitar.com
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PG's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@premierguitar
0:00 - Electronic Audio Experiments & D'Addario
0:15 - Poison the Well Live Intro
1:20 - Subscribe to Rig Rundowns!
1:32 - Perry Bean Intro
2:02 - Ryan Primack's Telecasters
4:49 - Ryan Primack's Bad Cat Lynx 50 & PRS Archon 50 Amps
6:30 - Ryan Primack's Pedalboard
13:30 - Vadim Taver's Fender Telecaster & Balaguer Woodman T-style
17:35 - Vadim Taver's Orange Rockerverb 100 Amps
20:47 - Vadim Taver's Pedalboard
25:14 - Rig Rundown & D'Addario
25:29 - Noah Harmon's Fender Duff McKagan Deluxe Precision Bass
28:05 - Noah Harmons' Orange AD200B MK III Amp
29:47 - Noah Harmon's Fender Classic Series ’70s Jazz Bass
31:51 - Noah Harmon's Pedalboard
36:05 - D'Addario
[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2025
guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear #metalcore
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Win Guitar Gear: https://bit.ly/GiveawaysPG
Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
Merch & Magazines: https://shop.premierguitar.com
PG's Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierguitar
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© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2025
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/fontaines-dc-2025
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
The Irish post-punk band’s three guitarists go for Fairlane, Fenders, and a fake on their spring American tour.
We caught up with guitarists Carlos O’Connell and Conor Curley from red-hot Dublin indie rock outfit Fontaines D.C. for a Rig Rundown in 2023, but we felt bad missing bassist Conor “Deego” Deegan III, so we’ve been waiting for the lads to make their way back.
This time, riding the success of their fourth LP, 2024’s Romance, we caught up with all three of them at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works ahead of their April 30 gig to see what they brought across the pond.
Shop Fontaines D.C.'s Gear:
Fender Deluxe Reverb - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/rQLg5B
Fender Twin Reverb - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/DK1nGj
Ampeg V4B - http://sweetwater.sjv.io/EEGb5K
Fender Precision Bass - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/daxa3Q
Fender Jazz Bass - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/RGYP4b
Squier Classic Vibe Bass VI - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/k0PMW3
Fender Stratocaster - http://sweetwater.sjv.io/dO3Kbk
Fender Mustang - http://sweetwater.sjv.io/3eOoWK
Fender Johnny Marr Jaguar - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/3eOoWK
Fender Jazzmaster - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/OeK13K
TC Electronic PolyTune - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/k0oEQV
Strymon Volante - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/LKoazY
Eventide H9 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/baQr0x
Radial BigShot ABY - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/EKxXzD
MXR Micro Amp - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/VmY3dk
MXR Smart Gate - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/PyA9rj
Dunlop Volume (X) Mini Pedal - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/q4n5vq
Boss TU-3 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/jryA4M
EHX Hum Debugger - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/xkbQG5
Boss TR-2 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/9gQOYW
Ibanez Analog Delay - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/k0kO1V
Boss CE-2w - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/xkx3kx
Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/m5e5rD
TC Electronic PolyTune3 Noir - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Qy1KGa
Strymon Timeline - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/0ZyayO
Boss RV-6 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/g1Ngnr
Boss BF-3 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Pyk4Qz
Strymon Sunset - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/3eOoKK
Strymon Deco - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/3eRx9n
EHX Nano POG - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/OrA1aZ
Lehle Little Dual - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/jrjoR5
0:00 - Electronic Audio Experiments & D'Addario
0:15 - Conor Curley Playing Intro
0:35 - Subscribe to Rig Rundowns!
0:44 - Chris Kies Intro
1:06 - Conor Curley on Playing Romance Songs on Tour
1:32 - Conor Curley on Writing & Recording Romance
2:23 - Conor Curley on Singing "Sundowner"
3:49 - Connecting with '90s Nu Metal Bands
5:15 - Conor Curley's Fairlane Zephyr
7:59 - Conor Curley's American Vintage II 1966 Jazzmaster
9:33 - Conor Curley's Keeley Loomer
11:53 - Conor Curley on Romance Producer James Ford
12:40 - Conor Curley's Fender '68 Custom Twin Reverb Amps
13:41 - Conor Curley's Pedalboard
18:15 - Conor Curley on "Favourite"
25:10 - Rig Rundown & D'Addario
25:34 - Conor “Deego” Deegan III on Starting Fontaines D.C.
26:00 - Deego's Fender Jazz Chinese Copy
31:53 - Deego's Squier Bass VI
35:25 - Deego's 1972 Fender P Bass
38:02 - Deego's Ampeg Ampeg V-4B Bass Amp
40:14 - Deego's Pedalboard
42:21 - Carlos O'Connell's 1964 Fender Mustang
44:30 - Carlos O'Connell's Fender Custom Shop Rory Gallagher Signature Strat
48:42 - Carlos O'Connell's Vintage Martin
50:06 - Carlos O'Connell's Fender Twin Reverb and Deluxe Reverb Amps
52:03 - Carlos O'Connell's Pedalboard
1:02:17 - Carlos O'Connell's Mellotron & Synth Station
1:09:01 - D'Addario
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
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© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2025
guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear #bass #bassguitar #bassist
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/umphreys-mcgee-2025
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Axe-wielders Jake Cinninger and Brendan Bayliss take us through their current gear garages.
It’s been just over 10 years since we had legendary South Bend, Indiana, jam band Umphrey’s McGee on Rig Rundown, so when we saw that they were coming to play at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium in early April, we figured it was time to reconnect.
Guitarists Jake Cinninger and Brendan Bayliss showed PG’s John Bohlinger what pieces of kit they’re digging these days, and how they orchestrate their incredibly broad range of sounds.
Shop Umphrey's McGee Gear:
G&L Comanche - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/4GLBM9
PRS McCarty - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/dODqrM
PRS Mark Tremonti Signature - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/N9eYE7
D'Addario XL Strings - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/ba0NoM
MXR Smart Gate - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/PyA9rj
MXR Distortion III - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/19gKOa
TC Electronic Flashback - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/y2XqeG
Boss PH-3 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/vNko9N
Morley Bad Horsie - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/VxQj0a
Morley 20/20 Bad Horsie Wah - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Z6meRQ
Keeley Compressor - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/B0drY9
MXR Custom Badass Modified OD - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/LKaMP0
MXR Timmy - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/eKDKBg
Boss OC-5 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/vNOonL
Boss CE-5 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/GmB2Ar
MXR Phase 95 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/LXm313
Eventide H9 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/baQr0x
Boss DD-20 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Wy9P0G
Celestion 12″ Speakers - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/RGLDE9
Boss TU-3 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/jryA4M
0:00 - XPND Pedalboard
0:15 - Jake Cinninger Playing Intro
1:08 - Subscribe to PG!
1:23 - John Bohlinger Intro
1:50 - Jake Cinninger's G&L Comanche
3:30 - Jake Cinninger's Jake Blade Vibrato
7:12 - Jake Cinninger on Working with G&L Guitars
9:20 - Jake Cinninger's Strings, Tunings & Picks
12:36 - Jake Cinninger's G&L S-500
16:50 - Jake Cinninger's Schroeder & Oldfield Amps
22:29 - Jake Cinninger's Pedalboard
28:02 - John Bohlinger & XPND Pedalboard
28:51 - Brendan Bayliss' PRS Mark Tremonti & McCarty Guitars
31:46 - Brendan Bayliss' Mesa/Boogie & Oldfield Amps
32:52 - Brendan Bayliss' Pedalboard
43:01 - XPND Pedal Power Battery Kit
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
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Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
Merch & Magazines: https://shop.premierguitar.com
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PG's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@premierguitar
[Brought to you by D’Addario XPND: https://ddari.io/xpnd.rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2025
guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear #umphreysmcgee #jamband
Dunable Guitars Tour: https://youtu.be/TsQXn4qIFyA
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Two guitars, two amps, and two people is all it takes to bring the noise.
The day before they played the coveted Blue Room at Third Man Records in Nashville, the Washington, D.C.-based garage-punk duo Teen Mortgage released their debut record, Devil Ultrasonic Dream. Not a bad couple of days for a young band.
PG’s Chris Kies caught up with guitarist and vocalist James Guile at the Blue Room to find out how he builds the band’s bombastic guitar attack.
Full Rig Info:
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Win Guitar Gear: https://bit.ly/GiveawaysPG
Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
Merch & Magazines: https://shop.premierguitar.com
PG's Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierguitar
PG's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/premierguitar/
PG's Twitter: https://twitter.com/premierguitar
PG's Threads: https://threads.net/@premierguitar
PG's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@premierguitar
0:00 - Wolf Van Halen & D'Addario
0:15 - Teen Mortgage Live
0:37 - Subscribe to PG!
0:46 - Chris Kies Intro
1:07 - Starting Teen Mortgage & Using Craigslist
3:34 - Musical Vision & Two-Piece Band
5:05 - Dunable Cyclops DE
6:44 - Using Two Amps: Music Man 410-HD & Orange Crush Bass 100
11:47 - Rig Rundown & D'Addario
12:10 - James Guile's Pedalboard
19:27 - Connecting with '90s Skateboarding, Art & Music
22:39 - Teen Mortgage "Doctor" Live at Blue Room Nashville
26:18 - D'Addario
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© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2025
guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear #teenmortgage
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/charlie-worsham
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
The country artist and session weapon packed a range of acoustics for some recent studio time.
Charlie Worsham was just wrapping up some tracking down at Sony Studios in Nashville when PG’s John Bohlinger caught up with him for a look at what tools he packs for a recording gig. Worsham had with him some of his most treasured acoustics, electrics, mandolins, banjos, and more, plus a collection of primo picks for all applications. Check out the highlights below.
Shop Charlie Worsham's Gear:
Gibson ES-335 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/ZQJLaW
Martin D-28 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/092A9V
D'Addario Bluegrass Strings .012-.056 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/yqW9r2
Fender '68 Custom Princeton Reverb - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/vNXN1A
Strymon El Capistan - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/k0MG20
Electro-Harmonix Canyon Delay & Looper - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/xLOQJ5
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/charlie-worsham
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0:00 - Joe Glaser & D'Addario
0:15 - Charlie Worsham Playing Intro
1:09 - John Bohlinger Intro
1:33 - 1963 Martin D-28
6:30 - Pedalboard
12:54 - 1954 Gibson J-50
13:43 - Guitar Picks
18:11 - Live Rig vs Studio Gear
20:18 - Recording Eric Church's "Like Jesus Does"
24:53 - Recording Dierks Bentley's "High Note"
26:04 - Recording Dierks Bentley's "Drunk on a Plane"
28:32 - Rig Rundown & D'Addario
29:04 - Parker Mandolin
31:25 - Burkett Terz
33:23 - Ome 5-String Banjo
35:34 - 1960s Gibson EM-150 Mandolin
41:17 - 1970s Fender Stratocaster & Recording Eric Church's "Keep On"
45:33 - 1960 Gibson ES-335 Gifted from Vince Gill
52:38 - Fender '68 Custom Princeton Reverb & Nashville Amp Works 5E3
54:09 - Nashville Session Guitarist
55:04 - Importance of Rig Rundowns
56:17 - D'Addario
[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2025
guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear #charlieworsham #bluegrass
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/darkside
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Guitarist Dave Harrington concedes that while there are a few mile markers in the music that he and musician Nicolas Jaar create as Darkside, improvisation has been the rule from day one. The experimental electronic trio’s latest record, Nothing, which released in February on Matador, was the first to feature new percussionist Tlacael Esparza.
Taking the record on tour this year, Darkside stopped in at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl, where Harrington broke down his complex signal chains for PG’s Chris Kies.
Shop Dave Harrington's Gear:
Gibson SG - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/GKOP7L
Fender Twin Reverb - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/GKOP7L
Fender Hot Rod DeVille - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/xkNdxd
Electro-Harmonix Pitch Fork - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/EKxEPQ
Xotic EP Booster Mini Boost Pedal - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/0ZLNRP
Line 6 DL4 MkII Delay Modeler Pedal - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/mOo3Oe
Walrus Audio Monument Harmonic Tap Tremolo Pedal V2 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/qzO3z5
Eventide PitchFactor Harmonizer Pedal - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/551Qkj
D’Addario NYXL .010-.046s - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/B0Yy2W
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/darkside
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
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Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
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0:00 - D'Addario XPND Pedalboard
0:15 - Dave Harrington Playing Intro
2:23 - Chris Kies Intro
2:47 - 2000s Gibson SG
5:07 - Started Playing Bass & How That Impacts His Guitar Playing
6:44 - Strings & Tunings
7:23 - Fender Twin Reverbs & Fender Hot Rod DeVille Amps
9:04 - Evolution of Gear Choices & Abundance
10:41 - New Pedals for Nothing Album
13:03 - Evolution of Darkside's Creativity
14:20 - Gibson SG Mod with Expression Pedal for DL4
17:37 - Making a Loop & Manipulating Sound
21:15 - XPND Pedal Power Battery Kit
21:31 - Structured Set vs Organic Improv
24:07 - EHX 45000 & Pitch Fork and ZVEX Mastotron
25:42 - Friendship with Nels Cline
27:37 - EHX 45000 & Hologram Electronics Microcosm
30:54 - Boss RT-20 Rotary Ensemble
32:29 - In-Ear Monitors vs Wedges
33:45 - Walrus Monument Tremolo
34:50 - Eventide PitchFactor
36:13 - Mu-Tron Micro-Tron IV
37:22 - Chase Bliss Habit
39:23 - Auditioning New Pedals
41:08 - Amped Innovations JJJ Special “Harmonics Extender” Preamp Pedal
42:31 - Chase Bliss Brothers
43:03 - JHS Notaklon
43:47 - HexeFX reVOLVERs
46:36 - Does Dave Harrington Play Acoustic Guitar?
46:52 - Approaching Pedals Like an Instrument
49:05 - D'Addario Strings
[Brought to you by D’Addario XPND: https://ddari.io/xpnd.rr & D'Addario - https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2025
guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear #darkside
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
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The Austin-based guitarist sticks with a tried-and-true combo of American guitars and British amps.
If you’ve been on the path of this spring’s Rhett Schull/Zach Person tour, you’ve been treated to one of the coolest rock ’n’ roll double bills criss-crossing North America this year. Person, who is based in Austin, put out his second full-length record, Let’s Get Loud, in March 2024, and it was packed with alt-, blues-, and psychedelic-rock anthems built around his take-no-prisoners playing.
This year, Person is road-doggin’ it around the United States as a two-piece unit with just a drummer, and PG’s Chris Kies caught up with him before he and Shull played the Eastside Bowl in Madison, Tennessee, to see what goods Person is bringing for this spring’s shows.
0:00 - D’Addario
0:15 - Zach Person Playing Intro
0:54 - Chris Kies Intro
2:41 - Custom Shop ’63 Reissue SG Les Paul Custom
8:54 - ’67 Gibson SG Special
15:17 - “Jeanie” ’57 Gibson LG-1
21:02 - D’Addario
21:52 - Marshall JTM45
24:04 - Pedal Board
24:06 - JHS Packrat
24:40 - Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer
27:35 - Strymon El Capistan
28:10 - Boss TU-3 Tuner
28:45 - Boss BF-2 Flanger
29:41 - Digitech Drop
30:56 - Earthquaker Devices Hoof Reaper
31:51 - Interstellar Audio Machines Marsling Octafuzzdrive
32:14 - Vox Wah
32:47 - TC Helicon Mic Mechanic
34:03 - AmpRX Brown Box
39:09 - “If 6 Was 9” Hendrix Cover
42:01 - D’Addario
[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr & D'Addario XPND: https://ddari.io/xpnd.rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2025
guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear #zachperson
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/my-morning-jacket
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
The legendary Louisville rockers brought tons of vintage tone tools on the road this year.
My Morning Jacket’s Is, their 10th album, released on March 21, and as we reported in our feature on the band in our May print issue, it showcased a band exercising their classic strengths as well as newfound vision and curiosity. Helmed by superstar producer Brendan O’Brien, Is finds MMJ at their anthemic, psychedelic best.
We caught up with Carl Broemel for a Rig Rundown back in 2015, but on this year’s tour, PG’s John Bohlinger checked in with all three axemen—Jim James, Broemel, and bassist Tom Blankenship—to hear about their road rigs. In Broemel’s estimation, they’re lazy—they just like to bring everything.
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/my-morning-jacket
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0:00 - Joe Glaser & D’Addario
0:15 - Jim James Playing Intro
1:26 - John Bohlinger Intro
1:45 - Jim James’ Gibson Custom Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom
3:58 - Jim James’ 1998 Gibson Flying V
7:03 - Jim James’ “Jimmy” Baxendale-Converted Harmony/Kay
9:00 - Jim James’ Epiphone Signature ES-335
11:39 - Jim James’ Fender Custom Shop Telecaster
14:54 - Jim James’ Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster
16:05 - Jim James’ 1960s Gretsch Country Gentleman
17:40 - Jim James’ DADFAD & DADF#AD Tunings
21:39 - Jim James’ 1960s Gibson Barney Kessel
24:03 - Jim James’ Amps
26:52 - Jim James’ Pedalboard
34:03 - Rig Rundown & D’Addario
35:05 - Carl Broemel’s Gibson Les Paul Standard Faded36:38 - Carl Broemel’s 1988 Gibson Les Paul Standard
38:40 - Carl Broemel’s Creston Custom Offset
41:03 - Carl Broemel’s Duesenberg Starplayer TV
42:57 - Carl Broemel on Playing Pedal-Steel Guitar
46:02 - Carl Broemel’s GFI Ultra Pedal-Steel Guitar
50:38 - Carl Broemel’s Fender Custom Shop Telecaster Custom
51:59 - Carl Broemel’s Amps & Emperor Cabs
54:04 - Carl Broemel’s Pedalboard
1:05:29 - Tom Blankenship on Being Center Stage
1:06:16 - Tom Blankenship’s Creston Custom P & Salvaged Pine Basses
1:10:07 - Tom Blankenship’s Mesa/Boogie Amps & Emperor Cabs
1:11:29 - Tom Blankenship’s Pedalboard
1:17:04 - D’Addario
[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2025
guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear #mymorningjacket #bass #bassist #bassplayer #bassguitar
Stillwater Strong Relief: https://www.stillwaterstrong.org/
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/rhett-shull
Rhett Shull’s a busy guy. Between being one of the most prolific YouTubers in the guitar sphere, working as a trusted hired gun, and creating his own original music, including last year’s EP The Early Days, he’s an avid cyclist. Just a week before we met up with Rhett at Eastside Bowl in Madison, Tennessee, for this Rig Rundown, he was slated to ride a 100-mile race in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Those plans were dashed when 70-mile-an-hour winds stoked a wildfire near town and burned just over 26,000 acres. But the show must go on: The next night, Shull played a gig in town, a special release for people reeling from a brutal natural disaster.
Shull’s a certified gear aficionado and tone wizard, so PG’s Chris Kies headed to Eastside Bowl to have him walk us through his current live rig. Check out the Rundown here, and stay tuned; Shull’s got more music coming later this year.
Shop Rhett's Gear:
Gibson Custom Shop Firebird 5 Non-Reverse - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/K04Qqa
Fender Triplecaster - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Jz9MbR
Line 6 HX One - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/mOZQXD
Boss Space Echo RE-202 -https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Mm6BOo
Source Audio ZIO - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Qj4k6Y
TC Electronic PolyTune3 Noir - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Qy1KGa
Lehle Little Dual - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/jrjoR5
Strymon Ojai - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/xkdnmx
Strymon Zuma - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/rQ0aNy
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/rhett-shull
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Win Guitar Gear: https://bit.ly/GiveawaysPG
Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
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PG's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/premierguitar/
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0:00 - D'Addario XPND Pedal Power Battery Kit
0:15 - Rhett Shull Playing Intro
0:57 - Chris Kies Intro
1:27 - Rhett Shull's Channel & Content
2:05 - 2017 Novo Serus J
5:18 - Stillwater Fires & Mid-South Festival
7:19 - Rhett's Passion for Cycling
9:10 - 2017 Novo Serus J Sound Demo
10:30 - Fender Jack White Triplecaster
14:25 - 2020 Gibson Custom Shop Firebird V
19:06 - Two-Amp Setup
19:46 - Two-Rock Classic Reverb
22:21 - D'Addario & Rig Rundown
22:52 - David Edwards Designs Apollo
26:41 - Rhett Shull's Pedalboard
37:04 - Plans for Rhett's Music & YouTube Channel
38:40 - "For Penny" Live at Eastside Bowl March 20, 2025
41:50 - D'Addario XPND Pedalboard
[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr & D'Addario XPND: https://ddari.io/xpnd.rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2025
guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear #rhettshull
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/vundabar
Visit Grimey's: https://www.grimeys.com/
A pair of Fender amps and a custom-built Baranik helped the Boston band’s guitarist come back from a broken arm.
When Brandon Hagen broke his arm a few years ago, his life changed in an instant. He’d been fronting Boston indie rock outfit Vundabar since 2013, and suddenly, he was unable to do the things he’d built his life around. Recovery came, in part, in the form of a custom guitar prototype built by Mike Baranik of Baranik Guitars. Hagen deconstructed and rehabilitated his relationship to the 6-string on that instrument, an experience that led to Vundabar’s sixth LP, Surgery and Pleasure, released on March 7.
On tour supporting the record, the band appeared at Grimey’s in Nashville for a performance on March 11, and PG’s Chris Kies caught up with Hagen to hear about his journey and learn what tools the guitarist has brought on the road. As Hagen tells it, his setup is less about expertise and received wisdom, and more about “intuitive baby mode”—going with what feels and sounds good in the moment.
Shop Vundabar's Gear:
Ernie Ball Slinky Strings - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/qzZAay
Fender Hot Rod Deville - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/DynQvn
JHS Colour Box - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/MmeQkM
Keeley Compressor - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/B0drY9
Electro-Harmonix 2020 Tuner - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/jeZz95
Electro-Harmonix Pitch Fork - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/EKxEPQ
Electro-Harmonix Micro POG - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/LX5qZ0
Boss Blues Driver - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/55YAvL
Way Huge Swollen Pickle - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/e1gqLj
MXR Carbon Copy - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Qyn3X9
Boss DD-7 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/KjDAax
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/vundabar
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Win Guitar Gear: https://bit.ly/GiveawaysPG
Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
Merch & Magazines: https://shop.premierguitar.com
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PG's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/premierguitar/
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PG's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@premierguitar
0:00 - D'Addario XPND Pedalboard
0:15 - Vundabar "I Need You" Live at Grimey's
1:06 - Chris Kies Intro
1:39 - Brandon Hagen's Custom Baranik B4
4:56 - Fralin P-90s & Baranik Goldfoil Pickups
7:51 - Baranik B4 Controls
9:15 - Klon Clone in the Guitar?!
13:02 - Brandon Hagen's 2009 Japanese Fender Jazzmaster ’62 Reissue
15:54 - Recording "I Need You" & Surgery and Pleasure Album
22:47 - Relearning Guitar After a Broken Arm
24:25 - 2009 Japanese Fender Jazzmaster ’62 Reissue Sound Demo
26:02 - D'Addario XPND Pedalboard & John Bohlinger
26:51 - Brandon Hagen's Fender Fender Pro Junior & Blues Junior
31:37 - Brandon Hagen's Pedalboard
42:48 - Creating Tones for "Greenland"
44:39 - Brandon Hagen's Strings & Tunings
49:35 - Vundabar Live at Grimey's
[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr & D'Addario XPND: https://ddari.io/xpnd.rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2025
guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/shovels-and-rope
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Teamwork makes the dream work for the Charleston, South Carolina, twosome, who trade off multi-instrumental duties throughout their sets.
Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst have been making music as Shovels & Rope since 2008. The husband-and-wife duo from South Carolina specialize in rootsy, bluesy rock, Americana, and alt-country, but they don’t confine themselves to traditional two-piece arrangements. They switch off on vocal, guitar, percussion, and synth duty throughout their shows, orchestrating a full-band ruckus with all available limbs.
Their seventh full-length, Something Is Working Up Above My Head, released in September last year, and while touring in support of it, they stopped at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl in late February. PG’s John Bohlinger caught up with Trent before the gig to see what tools he and Hearst use to maintain their musical juggling act.
Shop Shovel & Rope's Gear:
Gretsch Black Falcon - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/YRnPxO
Gibson J-45 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/PyY7WX
Fender Blues Junior - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/7aOq73
Universal Audio OX Amp Top Box - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/rQzyVB
Dunlop Max-Grip Picks - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/LKmBqa
MXR Blue Box - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/qzx93n
Electro-Harmonix Nano Big Muff - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/jrPr2n
EarthQuaker Devices Hummingbird - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/xL5a3k
Boss OC-5 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/vNOonL
Walrus Canvas Tuners - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/6eDxb3
Walrus Canvas Passive Re-Amp - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/9LzDPe
Radial J48 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/raDr3G
Mesa/Boogie Stowaway Compact Input Buffer - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/jey03n
Korg microKORG Synthesizer - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/kOME3M
Electro-Harmonix Bass9 Bass Machine Pedal - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/e1EXMg
Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail Nano Reverb Pedal - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/q4k2Mn
Radial ProDI - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/GmW3x6
Electro-Harmonix Mel9 Tape Replay Machine Pedal - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/6eK2WK
Truetone 1 SPOT Pro - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/aOAVmj
Radial ProD2 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/PyqVbN
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/shovels-and-rope
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
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0:00 - Molly Tuttle & D'Addario
0:15 - Shovels & Rope Playing Intro
0:43 - John Bohlinger Intro
0:54 - Gretsch G6636T Players Edition Falcon Double-Cut Bigsby
2:21 - Developing the Duo's Massive Live Sound
4:50 - Gibson J-45
6:27 - Loar & Recording King Guitars
7:04 - Shovels & Rope Pedalboard
10:52 - Rig Rundown & D'Addario
11:25 - Electro-Harmonix Nano Big Muff
12:46 - Thing 1 & Thing 2 microKORGs & Roland PK5 Controller
17:39 - Shovels & Rope's Amps: Fender Blues Junior & Fender Rumble
20:05 - Shovels & Rope's Strings, Tunings & Picks
23:22 - Recording 2024's Something Is Working Up Above My Head
26:40 - D'Addario
[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2025
guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/phantogram
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Along with contemporaries like MGMT and Passion Pit, Greenwich, New York, duo Phantogram’s experiments crosspollinating hip-hop, indie, and punk rock helped cement and elevate a new era of electronic-influenced alt-rock and indie music. At the start of the 2010s, you’d be hard-pressed to find a college radio station or dorm-room playlist that didn’t include a Phantogram hit.
Sixteen years after the release of their debut record, band leaders Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel, who started Phantogram in a town of just a few thousand people, are touring behind their latest full-length, 2024’s Memory of a Day. The tour included a sold-out stop at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium—a different sort of barn than the kind they used to perform in back in Greenwich—where PG’s John Bohlinger caught up with Carter and Barthel. Courtesy of some help from their tech, the duo showed us how they’re pulling off their theatrical live experience.
Shop Phantogram's Gear:
Neural DSP Quad Cortex - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/5gmox9
Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/YRnd3K
Seymour Duncan single-coil-sized humbucker - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/yqbrQB
Custom Fender bass - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/vPj2qW
Fender Jazzmaster - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/OeK13K
Fender Bassman - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/XYB1rG
Ernie Ball Paradigm Strings - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/AWL1B1
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/phantogram
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
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Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
Merch & Magazines: https://shop.premierguitar.com
PG's Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierguitar
PG's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/premierguitar/
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PG's Threads: https://threads.net/@premierguitar
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0:00 - XPND Pedal Power Battery Kit
0:15 - Phantogram Josh Carter Playing Intro
0:32 - John Bohlinger Intro
0:43 - Josh Carter's Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass Guitars
4:44 - Josh Carter's Move From Pedals to Neural DSP Quad Cortex
9:25 - Josh Carter's "Run Run Blood" Tones
13:14 - Josh Carter's "Black Out Days" Tones
16:00 - Controlling & Choreographing Quad Cortex
17:58 - Pedals Used on Memory of a Day Album
18:55 - Josh Carter's Amps Modeled in Quad Cortex
20:30 - XPND Adjustable Daisy Chain
21:01 - Phantogram's History
22:53 - Sarah Barthel Intro
23:04 - Sarah Barthel's Fender Mustang Bass
24:07 - Sarah Barthel Adding Bass Guitar to Phantogram
25:23 - Sarah Barthel's Synth Bass Sounds
26:25 - Sarah Barthel's "Feedback" Tones
28:04 - Sarah Barthel on Using a Pick with Bass While Singing
28:32 - Sarah Barthel's "Attaway" Tones
29:54 - Sarah Barthel's Fender Jazzmaster
31:08 - Sarah Barthel's "Happy Again" Tones
32:18 - Sarah Barthel Reconnecting with Josh Carter to Form Phantogram
34:10 - Creating the Phantogram Show Aesthetic
35:44 - Early Phantogram DIY Shows
37:36 - XPND Isolator
[Brought to you by XPND - Pedal Power Battery Kit: https://ddar.io/power-rr / XPND - Adjustable Daisy Chain: https://ddar.io/daisychain-rr / XPND - Isolator: https://ddar.io/isolator-rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2025
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/marty-friedman
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
The Japan-based shredder brings his current roadshow to life with the help of his tech, Alan Sosa.
Marty Friedman, the ex-Megadeth guitarist and celebrated mixologist of heavy metal and Japanese music, released his latest solo record, Drama, in April 2024. Last month, PG’s John Bohlinger caught up with Friedman before his show at the Basement in Nashville to see what key pieces of gear he brought out on the Drama tour. Friedman and his trusted tech, Alan Sosa, who handles all effects switching manually during the show, showed us the goods.
0:00 - Wolf Van Halen & D'Addario
0:15 - Marty Friedman Playing Intro
0:55 - John Bohlinger Intro
1:07 - Jackson Pro Series Signature Marty Friedman MF-1
4:22 - EMG MF Marty Friedman Signature Pickups
6:25 - Marty's D'Addario NYXL 10-46 Strings
7:10 - Jackson USA Marty Friedman MF-1
8:41 - ENGL Marty Friedman Inferno Signature 100W Amp
10:27 - Glaser Instruments & D'Addario
10:43 - Marty Friedman's Pedalboard
23:24 - Improv in Live Shows
24:02 - Marty Friedman's Picking Technique
25:16 - Marty Friedman on Living & Performing in Japan
27:25 - Marty Friedman's Ability to Create Uncompromised Art
28:37 - D'Addario
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/marty-friedman
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© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2025
guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #martyfriedman #jacksonguitars #guitargear
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/paul-moak
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Grammy-nominated session guitarist, producer, mixer, and engineer Paul Moak stays busy on multiple fronts. Over the years he’s written, played, produced and more for TV sessions (Pretty Little Liars, One Tree Hill) and artists including Third Day, Leeland, and the Blind Boys of Alabama. But most recently he’s worked with Heart and Ann Wilson and Tripsitter.
PG’s John Bohlinger caught up with Moak at his Nashville studio known affectionately as the Smoakstack.
0:00 - XPND Pedalboard
0:15 - Paul Moak Playing Intro
0:40 - John Bohlinger Intro
1:26 - 1963 Fender Stratocaster
4:47 - 1959 Gibson Les Paul Jr
7:49 - 1976 Fender Telecaster
11:53 - Paul Moak's D'Addario NYXL Strings & InTuneGP Picks
13:20 - 1970 Gibson Les Paul Custom
16:25 - 1963 Fender Jaguar
20:25 - 1982 Gibson Anniversary Series Firebird
24:16 - Hammertone OC-12 12-String Octave Guitar
27:44 - Jerry Jones Neptune Baritone
30:52 - 1991 Gibson J-100
33:12 - 1890 Washburn Parlor Acoustic
34:29 - 1968 Vox Folk Twelve Electro
36:31 - John Bohlinger & XPND Pedalboard
37:21 - 1990s Marshall Bluesbreakers
39:30 - Pinstripe Pedals DISO+ System
42:25 - Smoakstack Amp Collection
47:42 - Smoakstack Cabinet Collection
48:12 - Paul Moak's Pedalboard
1:07:02 - Smoakstack Control Room & Outboard Gear
1:14:20 - Glaser Instruments & D'Addario
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/paul-moak
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[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr & D'Addario XPND: https://ddari.io/xpnd.rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2025
guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear #studio #studiotour
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/the-jesus-lizard-2025
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
When the Jesus Lizard released their seventh studio record, Rack, last September, it ended a 26-year hiatus between recordings, and lovers of raucous, steely rock music around the world rejoiced. As guitarist Duane Denison told PG’s Nick Millevoi in our feature story, the key to the album’s vitality—and reviving the band’s brutal sound—was simple: “Practice loud.”
Ahead of a hotly anticipated U.K. tour celebrating the record, the band gathered at SIR’s rehearsal space in Nashville to do exactly that. PG’s Chris Kies stopped by to see what Denison and bassist David Wm. Sims were stuffing into their suitcases for the trip across the pond.
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/the-jesus-lizard-2025
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0:15 - Duane Denison Playing Intro
1:08 - Celebrating Band's Longevity & New Album Rack
2:18 - Duane Denison's Powers Electric Type A
5:04 - Why Duane Denison Practices Really Loud
6:43 - What Duane Denison Needs From His Guitar Tone
7:44 - The Jesus Lizard Tunings
8:42 - Duane Denison's Core Tone (Hide and Seek)
10:02 - Duane Denison's Chorus Tone
11:42 - Duane Denison's Delay & Unison Notes
12:53 - Duane Denison's "Oddball" Sound
13:44 - How Duane Denison Uses Space in His Guitar Playing
16:55 - Duane Denison's Stringjoy Strings & Picks
18:37 - How Duane Denison Warms Up & Stays Limber
19:44 - Duane Denison's Victory VS100 Super Sheriff
21:25 - Duane Denison's Line 6 Helix Floor
23:25 - Duane Denison's Soloing Technique ("Grind")
25:35 - What Still Excites Duane Denison About Guitar?
27:03 - "Puss" Live
27:42 - John Bohlinger & XPND Pedalboard
28:33 - David Wm. Sims' Memphis Jazz Bass Copy
31:20 - David Wm. Sims on Using a Pick & Rotosound Strings
32:28 - David Wm. Sims' Core Bass Tone
33:18 - David Wm. Sims Gallien-Krueger 800RB
34:01 - David Wm. Sims on Recording 'Rack'
34:48 - David Wm. Sims Cabinet & Speaker Preferences
35:55 - David Wm. Sims' Pedals
37:30 - David Wm. Sims' "What If" Bass Tone
38:36 - David Wm. Sims' Favorite Songs & Most-Difficult Parts
39:43 - Final Thoughts & Outro
40:23 - D'Addario Strings
[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr & XPND Pedalboard: https://ddari.io/xpnd.rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2025
guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/mj-lenderman
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The fast-rising indie-rock outfit shows how they bring their varied 4-piece string section to life on their recent tour.
Last year’s Manning Fireworks was a breakout moment for Asheville, North Carolina’s MJ Lenderman, which is both the name of the band and the actual name of singer and guitarist Jake Lenderman, who also plays in the band Wednesday. The record topped plenty of year-end lists and drew favorable comparisons to the likes of Neil Young, Dinosaur Jr., and other stars of the pre- and post-’90s indie-rock boom.
On tour behind the record, the band stopped in at Birmingham, Alabama, joint Saturn on February 1. PG’s Chris Kies met up with Lenderman, guitarist Jon Samuels, pedal-steel player Xandy Chelmis, and bassist Landon George before the show to get the dirt on their dirt.
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/mj-lenderman
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0:00 - XPND Pedalboard
0:15 - MJ Lenderman & the Wind “Joker Lips”
1:12 - Chris Kies Intro
1:36 - MJ Lenderman’s 1979 Gibson The “SG”
3:10 - MJ Lenderman’s Tunings & Capo Usage
4:26 - MJ Lenderman on Working with Producer Alex Farrar
5:35 - MJ Lenderman on Recording Manning Fireworks
6:50 - MJ Lenderman’s 1979 Gibson The “SG” Tone
7:23 - MJ Lenderman’s Squier J Mascis Signature Jazzmaster
8:05 - MJ Lenderman’s “You’re Every Girl to Me” Tuning
9:17 - MJ Lenderman Performing with Dinosaur Jr
10:34 - MJ Lenderman’s Fender American Vintage II 1977 Telecaster Deluxe
12:18 - MJ Lenderman’s 2008 Fender Jazzmaster
13:47 - MJ Lenderman’s Hiwatt Custom 50
16:30 - MJ Lenderman’s Pedalboard
19:57 - MJ Lenderman on Playing Songs Live
21:26 - MJ Lenderman on Michael Jordan’s “Hangover Game”
22:33 - MJ Lenderman on Manning Fireworks Popularity & Solo Success
23:41 - Jon Samuels’ Fender Player Telecaster
26:59 - Jon Samuels’ Fender Hot Rod DeVille
27:33 - Jon Samuels’ Pedalboard
33:45 - John Bohlinger & XPND Pedalboard
34:34 - Xandy Chelmis’ 10-string ZB Custom Pedal-Steel Guitar
38:36 - Xandy Chelmis’ Pedal-Steel Tuning & Slide Bar
41:44 - Xandy Chelmis’ Fender ’65 Twin Custom 15
42:40 - Xandy Chelmis’ Goodrich H-120
44:43 - Xandy Chelmis’ Guyatone SD2 Sustainer
46:39 - Landon George’s 2006 Fender Mike Dirnt Precision Bass
49:46 - Landon George’s Flatwound Bass Strings
50:35 - Landon George’s Sunn Beta Bass Amp & Ampeg SVT 8x10
52:19 - Landon George’s Pedalboard
57:10 - D’Addario Strings
[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr & D'Addario XPND: https://ddari.io/xpnd.rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2025
guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear #mjlenderman #bass #bassplayer
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/dweezil-zappa-2025
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
The shredder and son of legendary artist Frank Zappa gives a tour of his up-to-date gear, including a complex stereo switching system, four racks of pedals, and some of his father’s favorite guitars.
Dweezil Zappa was always going to end up being an incredible guitarist. His dad, Frank Zappa, is celebrated as one of the most talented and creative guitarists in history, and by age 12, Dweezil was recording music produced by Eddie Van Halen. (Little surprise that he’s covering Van Halen’s 1981 stunner “Push Comes to Shove” lately.) He’s been a bona fide guitar star ever since, releasing seven original solo records, six tribute records, two LPs with his brother Ahmet Zappa, and guesting on recordings across the music universe.
Ahead of his gig at Memphis’ Minglewood Hall on his 2024 Rox(postroph)y tour, which celebrated the 50th anniversary of Frank Zappa’s Apostrophe (') and Roxy & Elsewhere records, Dweezil gave PG’s John Bohlinger a boot-to-bonnet look at his current road setup. There’s a lot of ground to cover between his and his father’s catalogues, and Dweezil loves the challenge, which he meets with a mix of his own gear and some special vintage assists courtesy of his dad.
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/dweezil-zappa-2025
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0:00 - Wolf Van Halen & D'Addario
0:15 - Dweezil Zappa Playing Intro
0:59 - John Bohlinger Intro
1:11 - Frank Zappa's Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar Les Paul
2:23 - Recreating Frank Zappa's Sound
6:06 - Frank Zappa's Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar Les Paul Mods & Tones
12:22 - Frank Zappa's Roxy & Elsewhere-era Gibson SG
18:22 - Exploring Weird Zappa Sounds in Dweezil's Rig
25:46 - Dweezil Zappa's Expression Pedals & Wah Controls
30:17 - XPND Pedalboard & John Bohlinger
31:07 - Dweezil Zappa's Onstage Pedalboard
40:54 - Dweezil's Shabat Lynx DZ Signature & Van Halen's "Push Comes to Shove"
46:19 - Dweezil's Shabat Lynx DZ with Push-Pull Out-of-Phase "Octavia" Sound
47:19 - Lollar El Rayo Bridge Humbucker & Special S Single-Coils
49:02 - Dweezil's Shabat Lynx DZ with Vega Trem VT1
50:06 - How Often Does Dweezil Play Guitar?
51:51 - Dweezil Zappa's Rack Pedals
1:07:52 - Why Dweezil Brings a "Recording Studio" on Tour
1:10:19 - Dweezil Zappa's Strings & Picks
1:12:48 - Joe Glaser & D'Addario
[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr & XPND Pedalboard: https://ddari.io/xpnd.rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2025
guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear #frankzappa
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/oni
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Oni’s guitar duo cover 16 strings between them with a pair of Neural Quad Cortexes and some choice patches.
Jared Dines had been writing for Canadian metalcore outfit Oni—fronted by Jake Oni—for a few years before Jake invited Dines to join him onstage. Dines had just two days to learn the entire set before rehearsals began. But Eric Palmer can one-up him. He was teching for the band when Jake conscripted him—with just one day to pick up the set before a performance. Palmer rose to the occasion, and he and Dines have formed Oni’s two-guitar tornado for the past year.
Ahead of their gig at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl in December, Dines and Palmer walked PG’s Chris Kies through their spartan, one-guitar rigs—no backups, no mercy.
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/oni
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[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
0:00 - Joe Glaser & D'Addario
0:15 - Jared Dines & Eric Palmer Playing Intro
1:18 - Chris Kies Intro
1:46 - How Jared & Eric Joined Oni
4:19 - Using 8-String Guitars in Oni
4:49 - Eric Palmer's Jackson Concept MDK8 HT8 MS Modern Dinky
5:48 - Jared Dines' Ernie Ball Music Man Majesty 8
7:03 - Jared Dines' Guitar World Cover & Martin Tour
9:45 - Rig Rundown & D'Addario
10:17 - Oni Using Neural DSP Quad Cortex
13:30 - Simplifying & Enjoying Tours with Guitar Modelers
16:55 - What Still Excites Jared Dines About Guitar?
19:37 - 2025 Plans for Oni
20:30 - Jared Dines on Working with Ernie Ball Music Man for StingRay
23:55 - D'Addario Strings
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2025
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/la-lom
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
The Los Angeles League of Musicians—LA LOM for short—brought the vintage vibe with them on the road last year.
It wasn’t long ago that LA LOM—guitarist Zac Sokolow, bassist Jake Faulkner, and percussionist Nicholas Baker—were cutting their teeth together as the house band at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, playing poolside for guests. Now, with eight EPs and a full-length record (2024’s The Los Angeles League of Musicians) since 2021, they’re a full-blown sensation, celebrating and interpreting the instrumental traditions of cumbia and Peruvian chicha.
The trio played Nashville’s The Basement back in December, where PG’s John Bohlinger caught up with Sokolow and Faulkner to see what road rigs they use to bring their psychedelic cumbia dream to life.
Shop LA LOM's Gear:
Origin Effects Bassrig Super Vintage - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/KjLRjz
MXR Ten Band EQ - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/21oDPA
Korg Pitchblack Advance - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/LXZkvL
Ampeg Venture V12 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/QjJxZM
Fender Bassman 410 Neo Cabinet https://sweetwater.sjv.io/XYB1rG
Fender Twin Reverb https://sweetwater.sjv.io/DK1nGj
TC Electronic Polytune - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/k0oEQV
Fulltone Full-Drive 3 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/raG1k5
Catalinbread Topanga - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/POKqJX
TC-Helicon VoiceTone -https://sweetwater.sjv.io/55AB29
Fender Vintera II '60s Precision Bass - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/aO5Zvb
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/la-lom
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[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
0:00 - Ken Parker & D'Addario
0:15 - Zac Sokolow Playing Intro
0:57 - John Bohlinger Intro
1:11 - Zac Sokolow's 1960s National Val-Pro
4:09 - Zac Sokolow's 1960 Kay Style Leader
5:57 - Zac Sokolow's Fender Twin Reverb
7:28 - Zac Sokolow's Pedalboard
11:35 - Rig Rundown & D'Addario
11:58 - Jake Faulkner's Johnson Upright Bass
15:50 - Jake Faulkner's Fender Vintera II ’60s Precision Bass
18:14 - Jake Faulkner's Ampeg Venture V12
19:26 - Jake Faulkner's Pedalboard
21:51 - LA LOM Experience as Roosevelt Hotel House Band
23:21 - D'Addario Strings
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2025
guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear #bass #bassplayer #bassist #lalom
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/chat-pile
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
The fast-rising Okies use solid-state amp heads, baritone guitars, and a bit of Peavey magic to bring their nightmare-rock to life.
Oklahoma City sludge rockers Chat Pile have had a busy few years. Their 2022 LP, God’s Country, broke them internationally, and their critically acclaimed 2024 follow-up, Cool World, solidified them as one of the most exciting heavy bands of the moment. We spoke with bassist Stin and guitarist Luther Manhole about the record for our November 2024 issue.
Now, we bring you the band’s first official Rig Rundown, filmed ahead of their show at The End in Nashville last fall. Tune in to see how Stin and Luther conjure the band’s brutal soundstorms on the road.
Thumbnail Photo by Bayley Hanes.
Shop Chat Pile's Gear:
Ernie Ball Mammoth Slinky Strings - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/APK1Oa
Quilter Tone Block 202 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Vx4vkj
TC Electronic Polytune - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/k0oEQV
Suhr Riot - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Z6rvGz
Electro-Harmonix Memory Boy - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Xm1va3
TC Electronic Hall of Fame - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/MmMANn
Ernie Ball Slinky Cobalts (.060–.125) - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/WyYvee
Ernie Ball Everlast .73 mm - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/09YM6N
Trace Elliot 4x10 Redline Cab - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/vNq193
Boss TU-3 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/jryA4M
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/chat-pile
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Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
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0:00 - Wolf Van Halen & D'Addario
0:15 - "Shame" Luther Manhole Guitar Intro
1:36 - Chris Kies Intro
2:03 - Luther Manhole on 1st Europe Headline Tour
3:21 - Luther Manhole on Quitting His Day Job
5:23 - Luther Manhole's Earliest Guitars
7:25 - Luther Mahole's Ernie Ball Music Man BFR Axis Super Sport Baritone
10:00 - Luther Manhole's Jericho Baritone
10:15 - Chat Pile Tunings
11:22 - Luther Manhole on Recording Chat Pile Albums
12:46 - Luther Manhole's Favorite Part of Being in a Band
13:55 - Luther Manhole's Quilter Tone Block 202 & Ampeg VT-40 Cab
17:35 - Luther Manhole's Pedalboard
20:09 - Luther Manhole on Chat Pile Being Bass-Forward Band
21:43 - Luther Manhole's Guitar Influences
24:26 - Suhr Riot on Luther Manhole's Board
26:40 - Chat Pile Pedal Formula & Trying Tube Amp Distortion
28:05 - Rig Rundown & D'Addario
28:30 - Bass Player Stin Intro
29:01 - Stin's Peavey T-40 Bass
31:23 - Stin's Favorite Part of Being in Chat Pile
31:55 - Stin on Writing While Touring
32:24 - How Stin Records Chat Pile
33:52 - Stin on Ben Greenberg Mixing Cool World
35:01 - Capturing Chat Pile's Live Energy on Recording
37:33 - Stin on His Photography for Chat Pile Albums
40:22 - Stin's Quilter Bass Block 802
43:10 - Stin's Tronographic Rusty Box and Live Tone
45:16 - Stin's Bass-Playing Motto
46:12 - Stin's Bass Player Influences
47:16 - "Funny Man" Riff
48:16 - Korn & Nu-Metal
49:35 - Chris Kies Outro
49:58 - "Masc" Live at The End in Nashville, TN
51:22 - D'Addario Strings
[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2025
guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear #bass #bassplayer #bassguitar #bassist #chatpile
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/whores-2024
Visit Eastside Music Supply: https://eastsidemusicsupply.com/
Since forming in 2010, Atlanta noise rockers Whores had only released one LP, 2016’s Gold.—until this year. Eight long years later, their new full-length, WAR., dropped in April, and Whores celebrated by tearing across the country and blasting audiences with their maelstrom of massive, sledge-hammering rock ’n’ roll.
The day after their gig at Cobra Nashville, Whores frontman Christian Lembach, dressed in his Nashville best, met up with PG’s Chris Kies at Eastside Music Supply to run through his brutal road rig.
Shop Whores' Gear:
D'Addario NYXL Strings (.013-.056) - https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/NYXL1356W--daddario-nyxl1356w-medium-with-wound-3rd-nickel-wound-electric-strings-013-056
Marshall JCM800 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Gm36zV
Celestion G12T-75 Speakers - https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/G12T-758--celestion-g12t-75-12-inch-75-watt-replacement-guitar-speaker-8-ohm
Beetronics Swarm - https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SwarmFuzz--beetronics-fx-swarm-fuzz-harmonizer-pedal
Electro-Harmonix Green Russian Big Muff Clone - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/eK6yoj
EHX POG - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/NkP4x7
EHX Superego+ - https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SuperEgoPlus--electro-harmonix-superego-plus-synth-engine-with-effects
CIOKS DC10 - https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/CIOKSDC10--cioks-dc10-10-output-isolated-guitar-pedal-power-supply
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/whores-2024
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[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr & XPND Pedalboard: https://ddari.io/xpnd.rr]
0:00 - Electronic Audio Experiments & D'Addario
0:15 - "Fake Life" Live at Cobra Nashville
1:27 - Chris Kies Intro
1:57 - How Does Performing Onstage Provide Catharsis
3:20 - Indulgent Rig For Himself
4:40 - Deciding on Run Time for War Based on Vinyl Quality
6:53 - Bonding with the Esquire Model
9:35 - Six-Saddle Bridge from Amazon
11:19 - Clone of Mark Knopfler Schecter F520T Pickups
13:25 - Beetronics Swarm
14:42 - Working with Producer Ryan Boesch
18:52 - Whores' Tunings & Strings
21:09 - Guitar Pick Choices
22:00 - Furlan Guitars Custom Model with Greenville Beauty Parlor P90s
28:56 - John Bohlinger & XPND Pedalboard
29:45 - 1973 Marshall Super Lead & 2002/2003 1959SLP Amps
35:11 - Marshall JCM 800 4x12s with Celestion G12T-75s
35:57 - Whores' Main Sound Big Muff + Super Hard On
36:58 - Earth Guitars Esquire Built by Jason Beebe
37:57 - Bullet Cable Classic Coil
38:42 - Pedalboard
42:02 - ZVEX Whores Fuzz Factory
45:45 - Devi Ever FX / Dwarfcraft Devices Soda Meiser
47:22 - Beetronics Swarm Pt 2
50:37 - Keeley Nova Wah
52:28 - Boss TU-2 Tuner
53:25 - Spiral Electric FX Yellow Spiral
55:59 - Boss NF-1 Noise Gate
56:54 - Alexander Pedals Radical Delay II Plus
57:36 - Clone of EHX Green Russian Big Muff
58:53 - Electro-Harmonix Micro POG & Superego+
01:02:32 - Lehle Switcher & CIOKS DC10
01:03:32 - Using 9V batteries
01:05:28 - More Fun Covering AC/DC or Black Sabbath?
01:06:32 - D'Addario
01:06:46 - "I Am Not a Goal-Oriented Person" Live at Cobra Nashville
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
guitar #rigrundown #noiserock #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/alan-parsons-live-project
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Jeff Kollman is a lifelong gigging guitarist whose resume stretches from Deep Purple’s Glenn Hughes to Chad Smith’s Bombastic Meatbats. Since 2017, he’s been performing with famed engineer, producer, and songwriter Alan Parsons, who worked on Abbey Road, Dark Side of the Moon, and a host of other records that you’ve probably owned for decades. It should come as no surprise, then, that as a member of the Alan Parsons Project, Kollman’s gig is to sound great. And he does so with a quick-and-easy rig.
After getting into Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium from a sweaty gig from the night before in Georgia, the band got set up and PG’s John Bohlinger rolled in to catch up with Kollman about his simple road setup.
Shop Jeff Kollman's Gear:
Gibson SG SG Faded Special - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/XmmjqX
Xotic EP Booster - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/0ZLNRP
Xotic SP Compressor - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/q414NO
Xotic RC Boosters - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/21v9v0
Ibanez Tube Screamer TS-808 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/DKkxEo
TC Electronic Polytune - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/k0oEQV
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/alan-parsons-live-project
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[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
0:00 - Mark Knopfler & D'Addario
0:15 - Jeff Kollman Playing Intro
1:23 - John Bohlinger Intro
1:46 - Gibson SG Faded Special
4:19 - Fender Wildwood '59 Stratocaster
8:43 - Gibson Custom Shop Historic Featherweight Wildwood Spec Les Paul
12:49 - Marshall JCM 2000
15:24 - Rig Rundown & D'Addario
15:48 - Jeff Kollman's Pedalboard
23:55 - D'Addario
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear #alanparsonsproject
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/rob-mcnelley
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Rob McNelley spends a lot of time at Sound Stage Studios in Nashville. When he says, “I live here,” he’s only half kidding. McNelley has recorded with country superstars like Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Luke Combs, and more, and he’s performed with Wynonna Judd, Delbert McClinton, Bob Seger, and Lee Ann Womack—and that’s on top of his own solo releases. He’s probably listened to his rig with headphones more than without.
McNelley ditches the headphones when PG’s John Bohlinger pays him a visit at Sound Stage for this Rig Rundown. Check out McNelley’s choice gear below.
Shop Rob McNelley's Gear:
1953 Gibson Les Paul goldtop - https://tidd.ly/49mBVvN
1955 Fender Telecaster - https://tidd.ly/4ikCkmj
1963 Fender Stratocaster - https://tidd.ly/4fUmIVa
Mule Resophonic Guitars Mulecaster - https://tidd.ly/41cUUXx
Gibson Rick Nielsen “Collector’s Choice” Les Paul - https://tidd.ly/3CZzp2n
FX engineering RAF Mirage Compressor - https://tidd.ly/41Avd3t
Diamond Memory Lane - https://tidd.ly/3Vp1E0z
Strymon Mobius - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/WyyDPA
Strymon TimeLine - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Xmmx5X
Analog Man King of Tone - https://tidd.ly/3OKCZQh
Boss VB-2w - https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/VB2W--boss-vb-2w-waza-craft-vibrato-pedal
Strymon Flint - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/GKKjYm
Mission Engineering Expressionator - https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ExpMini--mission-engineering-inc-mexp-mini-expressionator-multi-expression-controller
EHX POG2 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/e114jO
Ibanez MT10 Mostortion - https://tidd.ly/41hbJjR
Xotic Effects RC Booster - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/DyyVa2
Basic Audio Scarab Deluxe - https://tidd.ly/3ZC7A9d
Dunlop Volume X pedal - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/N99KEV
ARC Effects Klone - https://tidd.ly/3OFmvJw
Apollo Approved Audio Devices Sawdust - https://tidd.ly/49jILlu
AmpRx BrownBox - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/2aarJQ
Fender Bassman - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/6yybDG
Marshall SV20H MK II - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/EEEaWK
Fender Deluxe Reverb - http://sweetwater.sjv.io/POO0kQ
Warehouse ET 65 speakers - https://stewmac.sjv.io/mOOgkM
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/rob-mcnelley
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
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Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
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0:00 - Joe Glaser & D'Addario
0:15 - Rob McNelley Playing Intro
0:54 - John Bohlinger Intro
1:41 - 1953 Gibson Les Paul
8:16 - 1963 Fender Stratocaster
12:09 - Mule Resophonic Baritone StratoMule
16:26 - 1960s Fender Telecaster
22:43 - 1959 Gibson ES-355 Mono
27:20 - Gibson Rick Nielsen “Collector’s Choice” Les Paul
30:56 - Silvertone Acoustic with Rubber Bridge
35:44 - Rig Rundown & D'Addario Artists
36:15 - Rob McNelley's Studio Amps
54:08 - Rob McNelley's Studio Pedalboard
1:29:47 - Rob McNelley's Solo Record
1:33:29 - D'Addario
[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear #nashville #countrymusic #countryguitar
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/the-fearless-flyers
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Back in March 2022, we caught up with Cory Wong in the middle of an international tour to film a Rig Rundown. This time around, we found Wong with his Fearless Flyers pals sticking in one spot, at Cory Wong’s Syncopated Summer Camp. The four-day, four-night summit, held in Nashville, brought together ace players like Ariel Posen, Larry Carlton, and Theo Katzman to offer clinics on all things rhythm. Aside from the camp, Wong and his fellow guitar Flyer, Mark Lettieri, both had new releases to celebrate: Lettieri’s recent solo record, Can I Tell You Something?, dropped in July, and Wong’s Live in London and Starship Syncopation came out in May and July, respectively—plus, the Flyers’ new EP was released in February.
Both Lettieri and Wong toured us through the guitar gear they brought along for the camp.
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/the-fearless-flyers
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Win Guitar Gear: https://bit.ly/GiveawaysPG
Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
Merch & Magazines: https://shop.premierguitar.com
PG's Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierguitar
PG's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/premierguitar/
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PG's Threads: https://threads.net/@premierguitar
PG's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@premierguitar
0:00 - Joe Glaser & D'Addario Strings
0:15 - The Fearless Flyers Jam
0:37 - John Bohlinger Intro
1:11 - Cory Wong's Neural DSP Quad Cortex Archetype Setup
3:00 - Wampler Cory Wong Compressor
4:30 - Jackson Audio The Optimist Overdrive & EQ
6:25 - Hotone Cory Wong Press Expression/Wah/Volume
9:00 - More Cory Wong Settings in Quad Cortex
11:41 - Cory Wong's Routing Quad Cortex & Onstage Monitor
12:48 - Cory Wong on Playing Baritone in Fearless Flyers
13:31 - Fender Cory Wong Signature Stratocaster
17:25 - Rig Rundown & D'Addario
17:56 - Mark Lettieri's PRS Fiore Signature Guitar
21:38 - Mark Lettieri's Fearless Flyers Pedalboard
29:37 - Mark Lettieri's PRS HDRX 20 Amp
30:36 - Mark Lettieri's PRS SE 277 Baritone Guitar
36:51 - D'Addario Strings
[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
guitar #guitarist #rigrundown #guitarplayer #guitargear
IDLES 2021 Rig Rundown: https://youtu.be/ZyofmA3bJk4
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Between 2016 and 2024, Bristol outfit IDLES have gone from being snarling, post-punk underdogs to being snarling, post-punk champions. Their debut LP, Brutalism, was an immediate hit, and since then they’ve turned out a string of full-length records that have expanded their creative vocabulary while increasing their popularity. It’s all come to a head this year with Tangk, their Grammy-nominated fifth album, which dropped in February.
Along the way, IDLES’ sound has mutated into experimental offshoots and outgrowths, so it’s little surprise that the rigs of guitarists Mark Bowen and Lee Kiernan, along with bassist Adam Devonshire, have done the same. While they still tour with some of the gear they showed off on our 2021 Rig Rundown, each player has fun new trinkets that contribute to their run of shows this year. But even with all the new toys, they keep an element of danger in the mix, and certain variables mean the set sounds different every night: “People come to see an IDLES show ’cause it almost falls apart all the time,” grins Bowen.
IDLES 2021 Rig Rundown: https://youtu.be/ZyofmA3bJk4
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Win Guitar Gear: https://bit.ly/GiveawaysPG
Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
Merch & Magazines: https://shop.premierguitar.com
PG's Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierguitar
PG's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/premierguitar/
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0:00 - Electronic Audio Experiments & D'Addario
0:15 - IDLES Live
0:39 - Chris Kies Intro
0:59 - Mark Bowen's Baritone Stratocasters
5:37 - Mark Bowen's "Stinky" 1972 Strat
7:43 - Mark Bowen's Amps & Cabinets
10:14 - Mark Bowen's Fender Mustang with Fishman TriplePlay
12:57 - Mark Bowen's "Crawler" Pedal & Synth Rig
16:17 - Recreating Tangk Album Live Onstage
20:10 - Mark Bowen's Sonic Curiousity
22:19 - Does Joe Talbot Get Tired of Gear Experimentation?
23:17 - Working with Nigel Godrich on Tangk
25:14 - Lee Kiernan Intro
25:45 - Lee Kiernan's Fender 70th Anniversary Esquire
27:54 - Lee Kiernan's Fender Mustang
29:55 - Lee Kiernan's Jackson Soloist SL1
32:12 - Lee Kiernan's Amps
33:20 - Lee Kiernan's Marshall 1987X Plexi
35:34 - Lee Kiernan's Hiwatt Custom DR88
36:35 - Lee Kiernan's 1970s Peavey Deuce
40:00 - Rig Rundown & D'Addario
40:23 - Lee Kiernan's Pedalboard
40:55 - Lee Kiernan's Pedals for "Jungle"
45:57 - Lee Kiernan's Pedals for "Dancer"
50:41 - Lee Kiernan's New Earthquaker Devices Gary Pedal
55:39 - Lee Kiernan's Baritone Esquire
56:36 - Lee Kiernan's Pedals for "Roy"
01:03:00 - Adam Devonshire Intro
01:03:44 - Adam Devonshire's Fender American Ultra Jazz Bass
01:04:38 - Adam Devonshire on IDLES Gear Evolution
01:06:15 - Adam Devonshire on Holding Down Rhythm with Jon Beavis
01:07:07 - Adam Devonshire on Bass Influences
01:08:19 - Adam Devonshire Custom Neck for Jazz Bass
01:09:30 - Adam Devonshire on Recreating Tangk Onstage
01:11:25 - Adam Devonshire's 1970s Fender Precision Bass
01:14:25 - Adam Devonshire's Serek Lincoln Bass
01:16:04 - Adam Devonshire's Fender & Hiwatt Amps
01:17:08 - Adam Devonshire's Pedalboard
01:24:55 - D'Addario Strings
[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
guitar #rigrundown #idles #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear #bass #bassguitar
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/sturgill-simpson
You might think alt-country veteran Sturgill Simpson would need no introduction by this point in his career, but this year, he set out to reintroduce himself to the world—as Johnny Blue Skies. That’s the moniker he created for his new record, Passage du Desir, which was released in July on High Top Mountain. Simpson promised that the album was the first step in a new phase of his creative life; the next was the subsequent tour.
Simpson, looking his Waylon Jennings best, met up with Premier Guitar’s John Bohlinger before his headlining gig at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Sporting a new-to-him Gibson ES-335 and an army-camo jacket, he told Bohlinger he’s not trying to be a star guitarist: “I’m trying to be a much less educated version of Bob Weir,” he grins. The star turn is for the Estonian guitarist Laur Joamets, who handles plenty of leads along with pedal steel.
The guitar duo took us through their Blue Skies-era gear, featuring an array of Magnatone amplifiers, guitars old and new, and the simplest pedalboard you’ll ever see on an arena stage.
Shop Sturgill Simpson's Gear:
Dunlop EP103 Echoplex - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/LX7gb0
Fender Esquire - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Y9XVBR
Fender Stratocaster - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Py1vBY
Magnatone Panoramic Stereo - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/y2jrVy
Magnatone Varsity Reverb - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/yqRmvb
MXR Booster - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/K0eZGy
MXR Tap -
https://sweetwater.sjv.io/7amJVd
Peterson Stomp Classic - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/rQLdLj
Peterson StroboStomp - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/rQLdLj
Source Audio True Spring Reverb - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/mOg2va
T-Rex Replica - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/NkM3Mq
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/sturgill-simpson
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
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Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
Merch & Magazines: https://shop.premierguitar.com
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PG's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/premierguitar/
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PG's Threads: https://threads.net/@premierguitar
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0:00 - Molly Tuttle & D'Addario
0:15 - Sturgill Simpson Playing Intro
0:55 - John Bohlinger Intro
1:13 - Sturgill Simpson's 1962 Gibson ES-335
4:13 - 1962 Gibson ES-335 Custom Wiring
6:41 - Sturgill Simpson's 1956 Fender Esquire
11:17 - Sturgill Simpson's Pedalboard
13:09 - Sturgill Simpson's Magnatone Panoramic Stereo Combos
16:09 - Rig Rundown & D'Addario
16:34 - Laur Joamets' 1974 Fender Telecaster
21:34 - Laur Joamets' Fano Guitars PX6
24:26 - Laur Joamets' Fender Stratocaster
26:49 - Laur Joamets' Amps
29:28 - Laur Joamets' Pedalboard
34:39 - Laur Joamets' Pedal-Steel Guitar
[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
guitar #rigrundown #sturgillsimpson #guitarist #guitarplayer #telecaster #music
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/the-red-clay-strays
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Mobile, Alabama’s Red Clay Strays started out as a local cover band. In 2016, they officially formed as the Strays, adding a couple players to round out the five-person outfit. After a few years gigging around the state and some festival slots, the band hit it big in 2023 when their song “Wondering Why” went viral on TikTok. It climbed up the Billboard charts and landed the band a deal with RCA Records. That led to their Dave Cobb-produced second studio LP, Made by These Moments, which was released on July 26.
In September, the band made their debut at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on tour behind the record, and guitarists Drew Nix and Zach Rishel brought a beautiful stable of American-made 6-strings for the occasion. They gave PG’s John Bohlinger a tour of the goods.
Shop The Red Clay Strays Gear:
Gibson ES-339 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/dOKMK2
Gibson Les Paul Classic - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/yqgXgG
Fender Twin Reverb - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/DK1nGj
Pedaltrain Metro 24 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/YRDMDr
Ernie Ball VP JR - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/da9AdQ
Peterson Strobostomp - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/rQLdLj
JHS Morning Glory - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/7aevm5
Xotic EP Booster
Strymon El Capistan - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/0ZLNRP
Strymon Flint - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/QyAKk9
Fender Super Reverb - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/ZQD0bq
TC Electronic Polytune - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/k0oEQV
MXR Custom Badass Modified OD - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/LKaMP0
TC Electronic Hall of Fame - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/MmMANn
Keeley Dark Side - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/55avb1
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/the-red-clay-strays
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Win Guitar Gear: https://bit.ly/GiveawaysPG
Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
Merch & Magazines: https://shop.premierguitar.com
PG's Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierguitar
PG's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/premierguitar/
PG's Twitter: https://twitter.com/premierguitar
PG's Threads: https://threads.net/@premierguitar
PG's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@premierguitar
0:00 - Molly Tuttle & D'Adarrio
0:15 - John Bohlinger Intro
0:38 - Drew Nix's Guitars
6:47 - Drew Nix's Fender Twin Reverb
7:57 - Drew Nix's Pedalboard
13:56 - Rig Rundown & D'Addario
14:27 - Zachary Rishel's Guitars
18:08 - Zachary Rishel's 1968 Fender Super Reverb
19:10 - Zachary Rishel's Pedalboard
24:04 - D'Addario Strings
[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear #redclaystrays #music #countrymusic
It’s been a busy year for Jack White. The enigmatic artist and Third Man Records boss rolled out his sixth solo album, No Name, this summer, first as secret, unmarked vinyls distributed to Third Man customers, then with a full-blown digital release on August 2. He celebrated the record with a tour of last-minute-notice, small-room gigs around the U.S., proving that mystery and randomness can still exist in the world of algorithms and overblown marketing.
That’s not all. In September, Fender and White launched a line of signature products that were years in the making, including the eye-popping Pano Verb amplifier and feature-packed Triplecaster. PG’s John Bohlinger scored an invite to White’s Nashville headquarters to do a full walk-through of White’s current touring rig, courtesy of tech and collaborator Dan Mancini.
Here’s a sneak peek at some key pieces of White’s arsenal, but you’ll have to watch the full rundown to catch Jack’s custom Jazzmaster with some Mancini-executed “redneck engineering,” his new Triplesonic Acoustasonic model, and a cameo from the Third Man himself—right after Bohlinger accidentally breaks one of his guitars.
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/jack-white
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Shop Jack White's Gear:
Jack White Triplesonic Acoustasonic Telecaster - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/yqggv3
Jack White Triplecaster Telecaster - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Jz9MbR
Fender Jack White Pano Verb - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/g1mxPr
Custom Fender Jazzmaster - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/K0KKGN
Boss TU-3w - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/750ngO
Radial Big Shot ABY - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/EKxXzD
Dunlop 535Q Cry Baby - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/k0MGAv
Digitech Whammy - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/q4LBRO
ISP Technologies Deci-Mate - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/LKaa1M
Third Man Records x Gamechanger Audio Plasma Coil - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Dy00m2
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/jack-white
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Win Guitar Gear: https://bit.ly/GiveawaysPG
Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
Merch & Magazines: https://shop.premierguitar.com
PG's Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierguitar
PG's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/premierguitar/
PG's Twitter: https://twitter.com/premierguitar
PG's Threads: https://threads.net/@premierguitar
PG's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@premierguitar
0:00 - Joe Glaser & D'Addario
0:15 - John Bohlinger & Tech Dan Mancini Intro
1:42 - Fender Jack White Collection Collaboration
2:56 - Fender Jack White Triplecaster
6:36 - Fender Jack White Triplecaster Controls & Wiring
8:06 - Fender Jack White Triplecaster Pickups
10:53 - Glaser Bender
12:51 - Fender Jack White Triplecaster Prototype 1
15:42 - Fender Jack White Triplecaster Prototype 2
22:04 - Fender Jack White Triplecaster Production Model
22:58 - Custom Fender Jazzmaster Blue Sparkle
26:40 - Jack White Triplesonic Acoustasonic Telecaster
29:19 - 1950s Kay Archtop
33:42 - Jack White's Pedalboard & Signal Flow
36:21 - Boss Tuner & Radial BigShot
37:01 - Dunlop 535Q Cry Baby Wah
37:27 - DigiTech Whammy
39:32 - MXR Micro Amp
40:40 - Rig Rundown & D'Addario
41:11 - MXR + Third Man Double Down
42:04 - Electro-Harmonix Big Muff NYC
42:51 - Donner + Third Man Triple Threat
44:33 - Klon Centaur
45:18 - ISP Technologies Deci-Mate
47:30 - Coppersound + Third Man Triplegraph
50:55 - Anasounds + Third Man La Grotte Pedal
53:59 - Eventide + Third Man Knife Drop
56:48 - John Bohlinger Tries the Rig!
57:50 - Jack White Cameo
59:53 - Bohlinger Tries Eventide Knife Drop
01:02:02 - Union Tube & Transistor + Third Man Bumble Buzz
01:02:41 - Mantic + Third Man Flex
01:03:09 - Electro-Harmonix Nano Q-Tron
01:03:47 - Gamechanger Audio + Third Man Plasma Coil
01:05:03 - Fender Jack White Pano Verb Amps
01:16:36 - D'Addario Strings
[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
rigrundown #guitar #jackwhite #guitarist #guitarplayer #electricguitar #guitargear
Full Rig Details: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/matt-freeman
Matt Freeman's Bass Bunker: https://youtube.com/@MattFreemansBassBunker
This summer, a Bay Area punk-rock extravaganza rolled across the world. In support of the 30th and 20th anniversaries of their records Dookie and American Idiot, Green Day arranged the summer’s best stadium-rock tour, with support from Smashing Pumpkins and fellow Bay bashers Rancid.
PG’s Chris Kies met up with Rancid bassist Matt Freeman just before the tour’s stop at Nashville’s Geodis Park.
In this Rundown, in addition to trotting out his breadwinner bass rig, Freeman tells Kies his bass origin story, including his early and enduring influences, and shares how he developed a unique playing style suited to his smaller hands. Later, tech Warren Lee takes over to give us the scoop on Freeman’s backstage rack. Tune in to get the details.
Shop Matt Freeman's Gear:
Fender American Pro II P Bass: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/daxa3Q
Fender Bassman 800 Head - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/da44O3
Fender Bassman 810 Neo 8x10" Bass Cabinet - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/baEe4x
Avalon U5 Class A Active Instrument DI and Preamp - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/y2GGqB
Fender Precision Bass - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/daxa3Q
Fender Nickel Plated Steel Bass Strings -https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Y9WWRK
Full Rig Details: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/matt-freeman
Matt Freeman's Bass Bunker: https://youtube.com/@MattFreemansBassBunker
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
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[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
0:00 - Nita Strauss & D'Addario
0:15 - Matt Freeman & Chris Kies Intro
0:46 - Custom Fender American Pro II P Bass (Chambered)
3:39 - John Entwistle is Matt Freeman's Biggest Influence
5:17 - Dunlop Tortex .60 mm picks & Playing Style
7:55 - Rig Rundown & D'Addario
8:26 - Fender American Pro II P Bass
9:51 - Trying to Play Other Basses
11:17 - Fender Bassman 800HD Head & 8x10 Cab
12:33 - Matt Freeman's Bass Bunker Channel
13:38 - Fender Nickel Plated Steel Bass Strings
14:32 - Avalon U5 DI & Way Huge Pork Loin
15:48 - D'Addario Strings
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
guitar #bass #rigrundown #rancid #bassguitar #bassist #bassplayer #mattfreeman #punk #punkrock
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/olivia-rodrigo
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts was last year’s pop-rock album of the year, with singles like “All-American Bitch,” “Get Him Back!,” and “Bad Idea Right?” igniting a revival of early-’00s pop-punk, but with quite a bit more nuance and grit.
Rodrigo’s tour behind the critically acclaimed record has been rolling around the world since February. To bring it on the road, the star has hired guitarists Emily Rosenfield and Daisy Spencer, along with bassist Moa Munoz. PG’s Chris Kies caught up with the three musicians before Rodrigo’s show at San Francisco’s Chase Center in early August to see what gear powers the pop-rock machine.
Special thanks for helping out to guitar techs Luis Munoz and Maurizio Pino.
Shop Olivia Rodrigo Band's Gear:
Kemper Profiler - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/rQ2z45
Kemper Profiler Remote - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/DKkb0o
Shure AD4Q - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/da2ynK
Radial JX42 V2 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/DKDZBn
Line 6 Helix Rack - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/LXyWv3
Line 6 Helix Control - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/QyVv0A
Mesa Boogie Subway D-800 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/9gvj2y
Gibson Hummingbird - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/rQjqRR
Gibson Les Paul Standard - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/k0qrzM
Gibson Kirk Douglas Signature SG - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/jrKGV5
Fender Stratocaster - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Py1vBY
Fender Acoustasonic Player Jazzmaster - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/5gODKL
Ernie Ball Music Man Valentine - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/k0L1VN
Fender American Professional II Precision Bass - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/4P3PR1
Guild Starfire I Bass - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/eKd5aj
Ernie Ball Paradigm Strings - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/AWL1B1
Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinky .045-.105 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/xk3xkO
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/olivia-rodrigo
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
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Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
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PG's Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierguitar
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0:00 - Blu DeTiger & D'Addario
0:15 - Emily Rosenfield Playing Intro
0:46 - Chris Kies Intro
1:02 - Emily Rosenfield on Broadway vs Touring
3:42 - Emily Rosenfield's Gibson Kirk Douglas Signature SG
8:56 - Emily Rosendfield's Fender Acoustasonic Jazzmaster
11:09 - Emily Rosenfield's Recording King Dirty 30s Single 0
15:52 - Emily Rosenfield's Music Man Valentine
18:51 - Emily Rosenfield's Gibson Les Pauls
21:18 - Emily Rosenfield's Gibson Hummingbird
22:10 - Emily Rosenfield's Taylor 652ce 12-string
24:28 - Emily Rosenfield's Fender CME Exclusive '50s Tele
25:43 - Yvette Young & D'Addario
25:58 - Daisy Spencer's Shabat Guitars Leopard
29:10 - Daisy Spencer's Role in Olivia Rodrigo's Band
29:38 - Daisy Spencer on Learning Kemper Profiler
32:59 - Daisy Spencer's 1972 Fender Strat
36:10 - Daisy Spencer's Ernie Ball Valentine
40:37 - Daisy Spencer's Gibson L-00 Standard
42:53 - Moa Munoz's 1981 Rickenbacker 4001
46:37 - Moa Munoz's Fender American Pro II P Bass
48:36 - Moa Munoz's Guild Starfire I Bass
50:16 - Moa Munoz's Mesa Boogie Subway D-800
50:47 - Moa Munoz's Line 6 Helix
52:29 - Nita Strauss & D'Addario
[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
guitar #bass #rigrundown #oliviarodrigo #guitarist #guitargear #guitarplayer #bassguitar #bassist
Full Rig Info:
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Jerry Cantrell’s forthcoming solo record, I Want Blood, is a return to beastly form for the legendary grunge guitarist. Featuring spots from Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo and Faith No More drummer Mike Bordin—two old friends who played on Cantrell’s 2002 solo release, Degradation Trip—along with Duff McKagan and more, it’s a glorious, riff-filled reunion.
Ahead of the record’s release, PG’s Perry Bean caught up with Cantrell for an updated rundown of his current touring rig. Watch the whole Rig Rundown to catch all the details, and hear some special stories about how late Alice in Chains vocalist Layne Staley encouraged Cantrell’s singing.
Full Rig Info:
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Win Guitar Gear: https://bit.ly/GiveawaysPG
Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
Merch & Magazines: https://shop.premierguitar.com
PG's Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierguitar
PG's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/premierguitar/
PG's Twitter: https://twitter.com/premierguitar
PG's Threads: https://threads.net/@premierguitar
PG's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@premierguitar
0:00 - Joe Glaser & D'Addario
0:15 - Perry Bean & Jerry Cantrell Intro
0:41 - Jerry Cantrell's Live Guitars
5:58 - Bogner Fish Preamps & Fryette Power Amps
8:37 - Collaborating with Artists & Friends for I Want Blood
12:17 - Rig Rundown & D'Addario
12:48 - Jerry Cantrell's Amps & Effects
[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
guitar #rigrundown #jerrycantrell #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear #aliceinchains
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/bones-uk
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Just ahead of the release of their second full-length record, Soft, the British trio Bones UK tore through the US on a summer tour. PG’s John Bohlinger caught up with lead guitarist Carmen Vandenberg before their Nashville gig to see how she covers the band’s slick, aggressive sonic territory.
Shop Carmen Vandenberg's Rig:
1963 Fender Telecaster - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/MmGYZ2
Duesenberg Julia - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/75RB4d
Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Strings - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/0ZKWB3
Dunlop Cry Baby - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/AWa9Xx
Boss TU-3 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/jryA4M
Fulltone OCD - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/xkDxWd
Supro Drive - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/q45G1N
Pigtronix Octava - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/DK9M5a
EHX Micro POG - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/LX5qZ0
Supro Chorus - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/QyZxBx
Blackstar Dept. 10 Boost - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/9g4BNj
EarthQuaker Dispatch Master - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/PyVNgM
MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/PyJqoN
Catalinbread Belle Epoch - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/LX14BY
Boss NS-2 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/JzDdK2
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/bones-uk
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Win Guitar Gear: https://bit.ly/GiveawaysPG
Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
Merch & Magazines: https://shop.premierguitar.com
PG's Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierguitar
PG's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/premierguitar/
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PG's Threads: https://threads.net/@premierguitar
PG's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@premierguitar
0:00 - Blu DeTiger & D'Addario
0:15 - Carmen Vandenberg Playing Intro
1:04 - John Bohlinger's Intro
1:24 - 1963 Fender Telecaster
3:08 - Duesenberg Julia
5:54 - Blackstar CV30 Amps
7:35 - Nita Strauss & D'Addario
7:50 - Carmen Vandenberg's Pedalboard
22:15 - Duesenberg Julia Demo with Pedalboard
25:52 - Yvette Young & D'Addario
[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #guitarplayer #bonesuk #guitargear
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/adrian-belew-2024
Visit Eastside Music Supply: https://eastsidemusicsupply.com/
Adrian Belew is one of the most inventive guitarists of the past half-century—an incandescent player and songwriter who has a vast menagerie of tones and sounds at his command. You’ve heard him with King Crimson, Talking Heads, David Bowie, and Frank Zappa, among others, and with his pop band the Bears and on his solo recordings and tours.
This fall, Adrian is following dates with the Talking Heads-fueled Remain in Light tour, which he co-led with Heads keyboardist and guitarist Jerry Harrison, with the BEAT Tour—a run drawing on his recordings with King Crimson in the ’80s: the albums Discipline, Beat, and Three of a Perfect Pair. Of course, this is just a small—but extremely potent and influential—portion of his 30-year collaboration with Crimson founder Robert Fripp, who has given BEAT his blessing. But putting this repertoire in the hands of Belew, fellow Crimson alum and super-bassist Tony Levin, the incendiary Steve Vai (playing the guitar role of Fripp), and the Earth-shaking drummer Danny Carey from Tool promises magical performances. It’s also one of the year’s most-anticipated tours.
As I write this, Belew, Levin, Vai, and Carey are rehearsing on the West Coast, and by the time this video posts, they will have played their first BEAT dates. So, word is likely to have spread that Belew has brought some crucial pieces of gear he played with ’80s Crimson back into play. But here, you’ll get a close up look and listen as Premier Guitar joins Adrian—with tech Blair White of Nashville’s Eastside Music Supply—at his mid-Tennessee home for a pre-tour Rig Rundown. Dig in!
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/adrian-belew-2024
Visit Eastside Music Supply: https://eastsidemusicsupply.com/
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Win Guitar Gear: https://bit.ly/GiveawaysPG
Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
Merch & Magazines: https://shop.premierguitar.com
PG's Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierguitar
PG's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/premierguitar/
PG's Twitter: https://twitter.com/premierguitar
PG's Threads: https://threads.net/@premierguitar
PG's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@premierguitar
[Brought to you by D’Addario Strings - https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr & XPND Pedalboard - https://ddari.io/xpnd.rr]
0:00 - Andre' Cholmondeley & D'Addario
0:15 - Adrian Belew Playing Intro
1:02 - Recreating 1980s King Crimson
4:52 - Pairing Pedals with Parker Fly
6:55 - Roland GR-300 Analog Guitar Synthesizer
8:46 - Adrian Belew BEAT Pedalboard
11:17 - XPND Pedalboard & John Bohlinger
12:07 - Eventide H9 Settings
12:37 - Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus Amp
15:40 - Twang Bar King Guitar
20:40 - Adrian Belew’s Signature Parker Fly
24:23 - D'Addario & Joe Glaser
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
guitar #guitarist #rigrundown #guitarplayer #guitargear #adrianbelew #kingcrimson #beat
Full Rig 2024 Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/green-day-2024
Green Day 2013 Rig: https://youtu.be/7uomdMrkNgA
This year marks two huge anniversaries for Green Day. They defined an entire era of pop-punk with their 1994 major-label debut, Dookie, then did it all over again 10 years later with the punk-rock-opera American Idiot. This year, Idiot turns 20; Dookie is 30.
To celebrate the milestones, Green Day has been blasting through stadiums across North America playing both albums in full, back-to-back, with a few odds and ends from their 30-plus years together, plus choice hits from their 2024 record, Saviors. It’s a ton of ground to cover—especially considering each epoch seems to have different and defining sonic characteristics. The guitar and bass tones on Dookie alone are the subject of amp mods, guitar pedals, and signature guitars.
At the band’s Nashville stop at GEODIS Park, techs Darian Polach and Gabe Monnot, who manage the rigs of bassist Mike Dirnt and guitarist Jason White respectively, took Premier Guitar’s Chris Kies through the rockers’ gear wardrobes for this mammoth tour.
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/green-day-2024
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Win Guitar Gear: https://bit.ly/GiveawaysPG
Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
Merch & Magazines: https://shop.premierguitar.com
PG's Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierguitar
PG's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/premierguitar/
PG's Twitter: https://twitter.com/premierguitar
PG's Threads: https://threads.net/@premierguitar
PG's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@premierguitar
[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
0:00 - Nita Strauss & D'Addario
0:15 - Chris Kies Intro
2:12 - Mike Dirnt Tech Darian Polach
2:30 - Fender Mike Dirnt Signature Precision Basses
5:24 - Fender Custom Precision Basses
9:52 - Richter Mike Dirnt Leather Straps
11:11 - Fender "Saviors" Precision Bass
12:18 - Mike Dirnt' Original 1970s Gibson G-3 Bass
14:35 - Epiphone Mike Dirtn G-3 Signature Bass Prototypes
16:16 - Mike Dirnt's Fender Super Bassman & Rack Gear
18:13 - Rig Rundown & D'Addario
18:46 - Jason White's Green Day Guitars
29:27 - Jason White's Pedals & Rack Gear
33:46 - Jason White's Marshall Amps with Dookie & SE Mods
35:39 - Yvette Young & D'Addario
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
rigrundown #guitar #greenday #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear #punk #punkrock
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/mononeon
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
MonoNeon, aka Dywane Thomas Jr., came up learning the bass from his father in Memphis, Tennessee, but for some reason, he decided to flip his dad’s 4-string bass around and play it with the string order inverted—E string closest to the ground and the G on top. That’s how MonoNeon still plays today, coming up through a rich, inspiring gauntlet of family and community traditions. “I guess my whole style came from just being around my grandma at an early age,” says Thomas.
His path has led him to collaborate with dozens of artists, including Nas, Ne-Yo, Mac Miller, and even Prince, and MonoNeon’s solo output is dizzying—trying to count up his solo releases isn’t an easy feat. Premier Guitar’s Chris Kies caught up with the bassist before his show at Nashville’s Exit/In, where he got the scoop on his signature 5-string, Ampeg rig, and simple stomp layout, as well as some choice stories about influences, his brain-melting playing style, and how Prince changed his rig.
Shop MonoNeon's Rig:
Fender MonoNeon Jazz Bass V - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/QyBQeM
Ampeg SVT - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Jz03zN
DigiTech Whammy - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/q4LBRO
CIOKS SOL - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/jrPL2v
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/mononeon
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Win Guitar Gear: https://bit.ly/GiveawaysPG
Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
Merch & Magazines: https://shop.premierguitar.com
PG's Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierguitar
PG's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/premierguitar/
PG's Twitter: https://twitter.com/premierguitar
PG's Threads: https://threads.net/@premierguitar
PG's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@premierguitar
[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
0:00 - Blu DeTiger & D'Addario
0:15 - MonoNeon Playing Intro
1:32 - Chris Kies Intro
1:52 - Working with Mavis Staples & George Clinton
2:40 - Expanding Songwriting on Quilted Stereo
3:49 - MonoNeon Signature Fender Jazz V Bass
4:51 - Flipping the Bass
5:27 - Family Means Everything to MonoNeon
6:37 - MonoNeon Tunings
6:50 - Exploring MicroTonal Music
7:27 - MonoNeon's String-Bending Style
8:15 - Prince Introduced the DigiTech Whammy to MonoNeon
8:53 - Impact of Performing & Recording with Prince
10:57 - Joe Glaser & D'Addario
11:13 - Humbuckers in MonoNeon Jazz V
12:27 - Ampeg SVT-CL Half Stack
12:51 - MonoNeon Pedalboard
14:42 - Making Melodies Out of Viral Videos
16:01 - MonoNeon's Love for Dadaism & Grandma's Quilts
17:14 - MonoNeon Outro Playing
17:59 - D'Addario Strings
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
BARONESS Drum Rundown: https://youtu.be/SFSTU1_oObE
Full Rig Info: https://bit.ly/BaronessRR24
Hard rockers Baroness were busy writing during the early days of the pandemic, sharing ideas and bits of songs over weekly video calls until they had enough for a new record. Then, after scouting for potential recording locations, they rented an Airbnb in a tiny town in New York and got to work.
The band brought all their gear along with them: They literally loaded up a U-Haul truck and left no pedal behind—a bit unnecessary in retrospect. At the end of their stay, they’d all but finished their sixth studio album, Stone, which was released in September 2023. On their recent summer tour supporting the record, the quartet played Nashville’s Basement East, where PG’s Chris Kies met up with vocalist/guitarist John Baizley, guitarist Gina Gleason, and bassist Nick Jost to get an in-depth look at their current road rigs.
Shop Baroness' Gear:
Roland Jazz Chorus-120: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/eKMoKZ
Fender '68 Custom Deluxe Reverb: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/9gQO6W
Fender Bassman: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/baEe4x
Fender '68 Custom Princeton Reverb: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/vNXN1A
Fender American Professional Telecaster: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/4P3PR1
Fender American Professional Stratocaster: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/NkP4W7
Fender Precision Bass: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/daxa3Q
Fender American Professional Jazz Bass: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Y9O94O
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 800: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/MmZmoP
Ampeg 8x10 Cab: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/KjVj2a
Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Drive DI: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/m5e5rD
MXR Iso-Brick: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/LXJXra
Boss TU-3: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/jryA4M
Xotic Effects Bass BB Preamp: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/q414Nn
Boss ODB-3: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/QyByeY
MXR Stereo Chorus: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/9gNgQe
Modded EHX Big Muff: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/jrPr2n
Boss DD-3: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/21QdzO
MXR Dyna Comp: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/DKoEko
Pro Co RAT: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/XYaJnG
MXR Phase 90: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/vNbBJj
Boss TR-2: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/9gQOYW
EHX Deluxe Memory Man: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/QyX0rz
EarthQuaker Devices Dispatch Master: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/PyVNgM
DigiTech Whammy: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/q4LBRO
Boss DM-2w: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/5gRgLn
EarthQuaker Devices Tentacle: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/q40z6N
Peterson StroboStomp: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/rQLdLj
Beetronics Overhive: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/k050bM
EarthQuaker Devices Zoar: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/y2oyK2
MXR Timmy: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/eKDKBg
MXR Super Badass Distortion: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/LXJXrO
Xotic SP Compressor: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/q414NO
MXR EVH Phase 90: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/vNbBJj
UAFX 1176 Compressor: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/VmB3A6
Ernie Ball Volume Pedal: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/da9AdQ
D'Addario NYXL .110 Strings: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/xkBkbO
Strymon TimeLine: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/0ZyayO
BARONESS Drum Rundown: https://youtu.be/SFSTU1_oObE
Full Rig Info: https://bit.ly/BaronessRR24
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Win Guitar Gear: https://bit.ly/GiveawaysPG
Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
Merch & Magazines: https://shop.premierguitar.com
PG's Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierguitar
PG's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/premierguitar/
PG's Twitter: https://twitter.com/premierguitar
PG's Threads: https://threads.net/@premierguitar
PG's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@premierguitar
0:00 - Gina Gleason & D'Addario
0:15 - Double Rundown Intro with Chris Kies & Jarrad James
2:19 - Baroness "Shock Me" Intro
3:24 - John Baizley & Gina Gleason Intro
3:54 - Recording Baroness' 'Stone' in an Airbnb
11:34 - Rare, Vintage Gear Used for 'Stone' Recording
14:07 - Recording Acoustics & Unplugged Electrics for 'Stone'
17:48 - John Baizley's Franken-backer 620 & 660 model
19:13 - John Baizley's Fender American Pro II Stratocasters
20:19 - Gina Gleason's Fender American Pro II Telecasters
21:45 - Guitar Strings & Tunings for Baroness
23:30 - Baroness' Guitar Amps for John Baizley & Gina Gleason
26:20 - Gina Gleason & D'Addario Strings
26:35 - John Baizley's Pedalboard
32:44 - Baroness "The Sweetest Curse"
33:28 - Gina Gleasons' Pedalboard
42:13 - Baroness "A Horse Called Golgotha"
42:59 - Nick Jost's Fender Precision & Jazz Basses
47:05 - Nick Jost's Gallien-Krueger Legacy 800 Amp
48:03 - Nick Jost's Pedalboard
50:25 - Baroness "Green Theme"
52:00 - D'Addario Strings
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© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
guitar #rigrundown #baroness #guitarplayer #guitarist #heavymetal #guitargear #bass #bassguitar
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/chris-shiflett-2024
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The last time PG caught up with Chris Shiflett, Chris Kies paid a visit to Foo Fighters headquarters at Studio 606. This time, he meets Shiflett in Cincinnati, onstage at Great American Ballpark ahead of the Foos’ July 25 headlining date at the stadium. It was a hot one out there, but that didn’t stop our jeans-wearing Kies and towel-drying Shifty from tackling the guitarist’s new and improved 2024 tour rig.
You’ll see some familiar faces, but some new ones too, including a sharp ’80s shredder and a pink partscaster. The biggest change of all comes in the form of a Dave Friedman-designed pedalboard, an impressive rackmount setup with a massive RJM switcher to hit all the set pieces. Plus, Shifty gives some juicy teasers on future signature gear collabs and talks about how hosting Shred With Shifty has impacted his own playing.
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/chris-shiflett-2024
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0:00 - Nita Strauss & D'Addario
0:15 - Chris Shiflett Playing Intro
1:39 - Chris Kies Intro
2:46 - Comments Inspired Shifty to Upgrade Rig
3:43 - Shred with Shifty Podcast Experience
4:50 - Favorite Shred with Shifty Guests
5:51 - SWS Season 2 Guests??
6:29 - SWS Guests Influence Playing or Gear?
8:28 - Dream Interview for Shred With Shifty?
8:58 - Fender Custom Shop CS "Cleaver" Telecaster
10:54 - 1983 B.C. Rich Mockingbird
13:08 - 80s-inspired Shreddy Partscaster
17:34 - Gibson Korina Explorer reissue
20:01 - Fender Chris Shiflett Telecaster Deluxe
21:43 - Rig Rundown & D'Addario
22:16 - Gibson ES-335
23:53 - 1957 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop
25:31 - Friedman BE-100s & Vox AC30s
26:39 - Chris Shiflett's Pedalboard
37:24 - Kies & Shifty Final Thoughts
38:10 - D'Addario Strings
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
guitar #rigrundown #foofighters #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/elijah
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Philadelphia-raised metal guitarist Xander Raymond Charles has built himself quite a following on YouTube—his subscribers now number over 120,000. But when he’s not YouTubing, he’s playing live, and earlier this year, he went out on a national tour with metalcore artist elijah. Charles formed half of elijah’s brutal dual guitar section, along with Brandon Kyle. Ahead of a recent Nashville gig, the two shredders sat down with PG’s Chris Kies to share what they packed for the road trip.
Shop Elijah's Gear:
D'Addario XL Strings - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/1rjWzD
EMG JR Daemonum Pickups - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Jz3mZ2
Stringjoy Strings - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/g1zW5g
ESP LTD XJ-1 HT - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/oq2yJo
Fishman Fluence Pickup - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/zNQ2O0
Neural DSP Quad Cortex - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/5gmox9
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/elijah
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0:00 - D'Addario & Nita Strauss
0:15 - Elijah Playing Intro
0:49 - Chris Kies Intro
1:43 - Brandon Kyle's ESP LTD TE-401
4:50 - Xavier Raymond Charles' Fender Jim Root "Partscaster"
9:06 - D'Addario & Rig Rundown
9:38 - Xavier Raymond Charles' Going from YouTube to Tour
12:19 - Xavier Raymond Charles' Strings
12:37 - Xavier Raymond Charles' Lessons Learned Touring
14:11 - Brandon Kyle's ESP LTD XJ-1 HT
15:38 - Xavier Raymond Charles' Squier Vintage Modified Baritone Jazzmaster
17:07 - Xavier Raymond Charles' 7-string Cerberus Signature Prototype
20:08 - Elijah Using Neural DSP Quad Cortex
24:13 - D'Addario Strings
[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #normansrareguitars #guitarplayer #guitargear #jazzmaster #baritone
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/michael-lemmo
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
“It’s a loony bin.” That’s how Michael Lemmo describes Norman’s Rare Guitars, the coveted Los Angeles shop. Lemmo was tapped to join the store and eventually host their popular Guitar of the Day web series after Norm’s son Jordan spotted Lemmo jamming in the store and introduced him to his shop-owner dad. Norm kept in touch and eventually offered Lemmo a job, starting with his Lemmo Demo series of affordable guitars.
Lemmo toured through July with Allan Rayman. Ahead of their date at Nashville’s Basement East, PG’s Chris Kies caught up with the guitarist for some unofficial Lemmo demos.
Shop Michael Lemmo's Gear:
Fender Jazzmaster - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/zNLVne
D'Addario NYXL Strings - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/B0Yy2W
Fender Twin Reverb - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/DK1nGj
Korg Tuner - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/LXZkvL
Xotic EP Booster - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/0ZLNRP
Red Panda Context - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/EKoNRe
TC Electronic Ditto - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/9grbgE
Truetone 1 SPOT Pro CS7 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/nL0QWo
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/michael-lemmo
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0:00 - Molly Tuttle & D'Addario
0:15 - Michael Lemmo Playing Intro
1:29 - Working at Norman's Rare Guitars
4:12 - Meeting Norman Harris & Getting the Gig
6:09 - Most Memorable Moment at Norman's Rare Guitars
8:14 - "Godzilla" Jazzmaster Sound
10:44 - Meeting Eddie Van Halen
12:48 - Rig Rundown & D'Addario
13:20 - More Lemmo & Eddie Van Halen
14:27 - "Godzilla" Jazzmaster Demo
17:59 - Developing Michael Lemmo's Playing Style
19:39 - Using His Thumb to Mute Strings
20:42 - 2000s Fender Jazzmaster
22:04 - Fender Twin Reverb reissue
22:55 - Michael Lemmo's Pedalboard
26:40 - Outro + Michael Lemmo Playing Outro
[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #normansrareguitars #guitarplayer #guitargear #jazzmaster
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/chris-buck
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
It didn’t take too long for Welsh guitarist Chris Buck to go from making YouTube videos to playing the legendary Royal Albert Hall. Earlier this year, he brought his band Cardinal Black to the U.S. for a short tour that included a stop at Nashville’s Basement East. That’s where PG’s John Bohlinger caught up with Buck before the gig for a look at what’s powering his blues-rock sound these days.
Buck’s trademark goldtop Yamaha Revstar is out for the rip, and he spared little space on his double-tiered pedalboard, but a special loaner Gibson and a modded Fender amp added some extra flair to the Nashville show.
Shop Chris Buck's Gear:
Gibson 1958 Les Paul Junior Double Cut Reissue - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/rQ6DM3
Ernie Ball Mega Slinky Strings - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Py3VxQ
Fender Deluxe Reverb - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/rQLg5B
Dunlop Cry Baby - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/AWa9Xx
Origin Effects Cali76 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/g1VyPr
Universal Audio Golden Reverberator- https://sweetwater.sjv.io/1rD3xg
Keeley Katana - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/MmO4N3
Catalinbread Echorec - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/oqdnGo
Line 6 HX Stomp XL - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Y9Qnej
Universal Audio Starlight Echo Station - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/B0zQg9
Boss RE-202 Space Echo - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Mm6BOo
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/chris-buck
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[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
0:00 - D'Addario Strings & Joe Glaser
0:15 - Chris Buck Intro
0:58 - John Bohlinger Intro
1:35 - Custom Yamaha Revstar Professional
6:52 - Chris Buck's Strings & Picks
9:14 - Springer Guitars Firehawk
13:29 - Gibson 1958 Les Paul Junior Double Cut Reissue
16:18 - D'Addario Strings & the Rig Rundown
16:49 - Fender Deluxe Reverb & Victory V40 Deluxe Combos
22:17 - Chris Buck's Pedalboard
50:00 - D'Addario Strings
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear #chrisbuck
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/drain
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
We had the good fortune of catching up with California hardcore outfit Drain on their Good Good Tour, a year after the release of their 2023 LP, Living Proof. A few hours before the band ripped Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl, guitarist Cody Chavez gave PG’s Perry Bean the scoop on how he achieves his brutal rhythm and lead tones that form the basis of the band’s thrashy, metallic hardcore.
Shop Drain's Gear:
Jackson American Series Virtuoso - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/q4J1vO
Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/DKP5mq
Fender Tone Master Pro - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/9gxL0E
Seymour Duncan PowerStage 700 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/jrGBEb
Marshall 1960A 4x12 cab - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/XYvVea
Seymour Duncan '59™ SH-1N Humbucker (neck) - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Jz6DV2
Seymour Duncan JB TB-4 Humbucker (bridge) - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/QyoBXz
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/drain
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Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
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0:00 - D'Addario & Yvette Young
0:15 - Cody Chavez Playing Intro
0:46 - Drain's Hardcore Influences
2:46 - Jackson American Series Virtuoso
5:01 - Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX
6:53 - Switching from Randalls to Modelers
8:18 - D'Addario & the Rig Rundown
8:50 - Drain's Fender Tone Master Pro Settings
12:45 - Seymour Duncan PowerStage 700 & Marshall 1960A 4x12
15:28 - Core Drain Sounds
17:08 - D'Addario Strings
[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
guitar #rigrundown #drain #hardcore #guitarist #guitarplayer
Andy Hurley Drum Rundown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLCiHZl7C4o
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/fall-out-boy-2024
Back in March, Chicago’s Fall Out Boy blasted through Birmingham, Alabama, in the middle of a year-long tour supporting their 2023 release, So Much (for) Stardust. It was their first solo headline tour since 2018, and they brought along loads of new noisemakers for the occasion.
Frontman Patrick Stump has moved on from his trademark Gretsch electrics, guitarist Joe Trohman scored an Explorer that may or may not remind us of a certain purple McDonald’s character, and Pete Wentz packs some basses that bring both ice and fire to the gig. And while tube amps still reign supreme in the studio, including the recording of So Much (for) Stardust, the band goes digital and speaker-free on the road.
Shop Fall Out Boy's Gear:
DiMarzio Super Distortion Humbucker - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/5g6D03
Seymour Duncan Little ’59 (neck) - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/k0e123
Seymour Duncan Dimebucker (bridge) - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/eK95ZX
Sterling by Music Man Pete Wentz StingRay - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/anq9Go
Neural DSP Quad Cortex - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/5gmox9
Radial JX44 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/anmJnQ
Line 6 HX Stomp - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/3e3z7n
Andy Hurley Drum Rundown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLCiHZl7C4o
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/fall-out-boy-2024
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[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
0:00 - D'Addario Strings
0:15 - Chris Kies Intro
1:30 - Patrick Stump Intro
1:57 - Patrick Stump's Vintage Guild S-60D Guitars
9:08 - Patrick Stump on Moving to Neural DSP Quad Cortex
11:19 - Patrick Stump on TV Scoring vs Fall Out Boy
13:10 - Patrick Stump on Quiet Stages
19:44 - Patrick Stump's Halo Guitar
21:48 - Patrick Stump's Martin X Series acoustic
24:13 - D'Addario & Rig Rundown Team
24:37 - Joe Trohman's Zemaitis The Portrait Hisashi Signature
27:20 - Joe Trohman on Switching to Digital Modelers
30:02 - Joe Trohman on In-Ear Monitors & No Speakers
31:16 - Joe Trohman on Playing Surprise Song Each Night
35:52 - Joe Trohman's ’80s Gibson Custom Shop Explorer
40:33 - Joe Trohman's Squier Telecaster Signature
43:10 - Pete Wentz's Sterling By Music Man StingRay Basses
46:40 - Pete Wentz's Flamethrower StingRay Bass
49:48 - Pete Wentz's Line 6 HX Stomps
51:26 - Yvette Young & D'Addario Strings
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
guitar #rigrundown #falloutboy #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/cage-the-elephant
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Cage the Elephant was formed nearly 20 years ago in Bowling Green by vocalist Matt Shultz, guitarists Brad Shultz and Lincoln Parish, drummer Jared Champion, and bassist Daniel Tichenor. That core lineup has only changed once, with Nick Bockrath replacing Parish onstage in 2013 and officially in 2017. CTE’s earliest albums—2008’s Cage the Elephant and 2011’s Thank You, Happy Birthday—captured their punk-rock pandemonium that turned venues into hurricanes. Cage’s mayhem cloaked melodies, like a Trojan horse creating early-career earworms and sing-alongs out of hits “In One Ear,” “Ain't No Rest for the Wicked,” “Shake Me Down,” and “Aberdeen.”
2013’s Melophobia brandished a trio of mellower, melodious singles: “Come A Little Closer,” “Take It or Leave It,” and “Cigarette Daydreams.” Then, 2015’s Tell Me I’m Pretty saw the band enter Easy Eye Sound to work with Dan Auerbach, sending the band’s sonics back to the ’60s with an emphasis on direct, pointed performances and console-driven fuzz. Their last two albums, 2019’s Social Cues and 2024’s Neon Pill, partnered them with producer John Hill, who helped wrap their memorable hooks in a smokier, after-hours backdrop that incorporated ’80s sheen with drum machines, shifting synth textures, and sleek production that pulses with flow and emotion.
The constant glue that holds these albums together (aside from the members' cohesive creativity) is the constant application—in varied amounts—of garage rock, psychedelia, and a little bit of danger. Even their softest, smoothest work portrays these gripping vibes. And while the velvet packaging of their songs have them sounding more Abbey Road than Albini—earning the group back-to-back Grammys for Best Rock Album for Tell Me I’m Pretty and Social Cues—the Shultz brothers still bring their signature piss-and-vinegar performances to the stage, where the front row will likely play host to both throughout any given setlist.
Before the band’s Bonnaroo set on Saturday June 15, Cage the Elephant invited PG’s video team to their rehearsals inside East Nashville’s Steel Mill space to cover the gear they’d be touring with in support of their sixth album, Neon Pill. On guitar, lap steel, and pedal steel, Nick Bockrath starts off the Rundown going through his sizzling setup that includes custom guitars, a bountiful pedalboard, and a special instrument from a deceased friend and Nashville legend. Then, tech Mason Osman details how Brad Shultz transformed his rig to mimic his preferred recording setup that relies on studio tube preamps and compressors for a direct, broiling sound. Lastly, tech Bailey Griffith shows a simplified-but-tsunami-sounding bass setup that includes two Fender 4-strings and 300W tube heads that kick like a mule.
(Thumbnail photos by Neil Krug.)
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/cage-the-elephant
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[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
0:00 - D'Addario Strings
0:15 - Nick Bockrath Intro
1:58 - Chris Kies Intro
2:17 - Neon Pill & Working with John Hill Again
6:00 - Nick Bockrath's Harper Guitars Marilyn
11:20 - Nick Bockrath's 1990s Gibson Les Paul Deluxe
15:23 - Nick Bockrath's 1970s Gibson SG Custom
18:08 - Nick Bockrath on Performing with a Broken Knee
19:59 - Nick Bockrath's Russ Pahl Partscaster Tele
24:10 - Nick Bockrath's Vintage Gibson BR-6 lap steel
25:45 - D'Addario & the Rig Rundown
26:17 - Nick Bockrath's GFI Ultra pedal-steel
29:56 - Nick Bockrath's Pedalboard
43:24 - Brad Shultz's Guitars
47:17 - Brad Shultz's Rack Gear (Preamps & Compressors)
48:41 - Brad Shultz's Pedalboard
51:31 - Daniel Tichenor's Bass Rig
57:18 - D'Addario Strings & Joe Glaser
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #cagetheelephant #guitarplayer #guitargear
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/in-flames
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
If In Flames didn’t invent melodic death metal, they cemented the genre’s arrival with Lunar Strain and Subterranean, and if those were early blueprints to the burgeoning style, the Swedes’ The Jester Race and Whoracle were the impeccable benchmarks that made the aggressive artform matter. They’ve continued to push the genre forward with ten subsequent releases—including 2023’s raw, visceral Foregone—further strengthening their core sound that, at its heart, is a modernized blend of intensified Iron Maiden and accelerated Black Sabbath.
Before the band’s headlining show at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works, In Flames’ Björn Gelotte, Chris Broderick, and Liam Wilson welcomed PG’s Perry Bean for a conversation about their powerful setups. Gelotte detailed his workingman’s signature Epiphone Les Paul Custom before his tech Greg Winn showcased a pair of unknown Marshall prototype amps never featured on a Rundown. Shredmeister general Chris Broderick discussed hands-on approach to designing his signature sound that includes a beveled Jackson Diabolic CB2, modified DiMarzio humbuckers, and a thumbpick he invented. Lastly, Wilson compared the requirements and difficulties between playing bass with Dillinger Escape and In Flames before dissecting his morphing setup that’s trying to feel like home but honor Peter Iwers and Bryce Paul thunderous footsteps.
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/in-flames
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[Brought to you by D’Addario: http://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
0:00 - D'Addario & Nita Strauss
0:15 - Perry Bean Intro
1:52 - Björn Gelotte Intro
2:20 - Epiphone Björn Gelotte Les Paul Custom
4:36 - Using EMG 81/85 Pickups
6:30 - In Flames Tunings
8:32 - Tech Greg Winn & Marshall MD61 Amps
14:24 - Björn Gelotte's Effects
17:41 - Björn Gelotte's Strings & Picks
18:55 - D'Addario & Yvette Young
19:10 - Chris Broderick Joining In Flames
20:48 - Jackson Chris Broderick Diabolic CB2 (Black)
22:06 - Jackson USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 7
23:57 - Custom DiMarzio Humbuckers
25:02 - Jackson Chris Broderick Diabolic CB2 (White)
26:52 - Jackson Pro Series Chris Broderick Signature HT7 Soloist
27:13 - Chris Broderick's Custom Thumbpick
29:30 - Chris Broderick Engl Savage 100
34:27 - Chris Broderick's Effects
36:43 - Chris Broderick's Strings & Tunings
38:21 - Liam Wilson Playing in Dillinger Escape Plan & In Flames
40:55 - Liam Wilson's Zon Sonus Special 4 Basses
46:54 - Liam Wilson's Amps & Effects
54:40 - D'Addario Strings
guitar #rigrundown #inflames #guitarist #guitarplayer #deathmetal #heavymetal
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/helmet-2024
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
“I could not exist without guitar,” admits Helmet founding lead guitarist and singer Page Hamilton. “I know this to be true because I’m a miserable asshole if I don’t play guitar. When I wake up in the morning, the first thing I do is play guitar. It’s an incredible instrument and I just love it.”
But what does one do with that creative codependency? Page Hamilton’s impactful contributions to rock music were cemented when Helmet wrote and recorded a pair of back-to-back blisters with 1992’s Meantime and 1994’s Betty. Those pillars of ’90s alternative metal and guitar granite forever chiseled out his place in hard-rock history.
Since 1989, Hamilton and Helmet have dished out a total of nine studio albums (plus a live set) that balance punishing, fastened-down ferocity with mercurial moments of melody that make their sledgehammer fall harder.
Beyond that legacy, Page was a part of David Bowie’s band for the 1999 Hours tour, playing Saturday Night Live and being included on two live albums from the Starman. Further diversifying his guitar vocabulary, he’s contributed to several film scores for Heat, Titus, In Dreams, Catwoman, and Chicago Cab. He’s explored the instrument’s outer realms with German avant-garde guitarist Caspar Brötzmann on a live improv album (1996’s Zulutime), and expanded his vocabulary by diving into jazz guitar, noting in our Rundown he’ll release an album next year. Hamilton has even put out a guitar instruction DVD, Sonic Shapes: Expanding Rock Guitar Vocabulary for Hal Leonard. All of this (and more) accomplished because guitar is his lifeblood.
And we found out during our Rig Rundown—filmed May 7, 2024 at Nashville’s Exit/In—that most of this material was spawned from three key ingredients, all still in his rig: ESP Horizon guitars, Fryette amps, and DiMarzio humbuckers. These partnerships with each company are not gratuitous or grifting. He’s been aligned with ESP since 1989. He started working with DiMarzio in the early ’90s, and he and Steven Fryette have sharpened his sound since 1996. These three friendships have fostered an integral strand in Page’s tonal DNA, and Hamilton covers each at length with us. Plus, he breaks down the simplifying move from a complicated Bradshaw rack-switching system to something more modern and efficient, with five Boss boxes and a duo of H9s.
Shop Page Hamilton's Gear:
ESP LTD Horizon 87 Solidbody Electric Guitar - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/9gKdg4
DiMarzio Air Norton - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/k0x2O0
D'Addario EXL140 XL Strings - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/anEGON
Eventide H9 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/baQr0x
Boss MT-2W Metal Zone Waza Craft - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/AW4MPK
Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/1r4d9D
Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/JzDdK2
Boss ES-5 Effects Switching System - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/ZQgj6K
Pedaltrain Nano+ - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/XYJ9mG
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/helmet-2024
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0:00 - D'Addario Strings
0:15 - Chris Kies Intro
1:43 - Page Hamilton Intro
3:09 - ESP LTD PH-600
4:23 - ESP LTD PH-600 MG
5:51 - Helmet Tunings
6:26 - "Sinatra"
7:32 - Scoring Films and TV on Guitar
10:08 - Working on In Dreams Movie at Abbey Road
10:51 - Touring in David Bowie's Band
12:08 - Page Hamilton Strings & Picks
13:57 - Codesigning DiMarzio Air Norton
16:25 - ESP Horizon Customs
18:02 - Page Hamilton Studied Martial Arts
19:54 - D'Addario & the Rig Rundown
20:27 - Fryette Pittbull Ultra-Lead 3-channel amp
26:23 - Page Hamilton Pedalboard
31:50 - Why Page Hamilton Still Plays Guitar
33:47 - D'Addario Strings
[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
guitar #rigrundown #helmet #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear
Full Rig Details: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/donny-benet
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
There’s comical bands (Gwar), there’s parody bands (Steel Panther), and there’s clever combinations of both (Mac Sabbath). The Italian-Australian Donny Benét is none of those and all of those at the same time. His polished compositions, breezy rhythms, and funky fretwork are no laughing matter. Instead, Donny is the joke … or is he?
“I thought, “What would I think if I saw some bald, chubby dude shredding on bass and fretless?’ I’d be like ‘hell yeah,’ so I might as well be the guy that’ll do it,” explains Benét.
Donny (born Ben Waples) is from a musical family in Sydney, Australia. He grew up performing on several instruments, became classically trained on piano, and earned a master’s degree in double bass. The fluent musician started a career as a jazz bassist for various artists in Sydney, and eventually shifted to an experimental jazz/electronica band, Triosk. While both endeavors were challenging and rewarding, Ben wasn’t having fun. After Triosk disbanded, Waples continued writing and recording on his own. It started with Cubase and a Line 6 DL4 that gave him 48-second loops. He started making “Donny Benét” joke songs. His friends and family continued encouraging him to make more, and before he knew it he had enough material to create Don’t Hold Back. (To this day he still records all the parts except saxophone, played by his brother Daniel Waples.) And through his passion for creating music combined with his love for ’70s funk and R&B—he mentions his introduction to electric bass was via a VHS tape featuring Larry Graham, Bernard Edwards, and Nile Rodgers—infused with the aesthetic and aura of Itala-disco performers, Donny Benét was born.
“I’m a seriously trained jazz musician in a prior life, and I try not to take myself too seriously now, but I’m deadly serious about taking the piss out of myself. I like humor, but I definitely don’t make joke music,” states Benét.
Since 2011, he’s released six albums, all showing an evolution and refinement of the Don. Each release has revealed a new part of Benet’s infinite swagger, blending influences of Prince, Alan Vega, Lou Reed, Tom Jones, and, of course, James Jamerson, “Duck” Dunn, and the funk forefathers. Yes, Donny B can sweep you off your feet, but that’s because one thing reigns supreme—the music.
“With Donny I’ve always taken the approach of ‘what would I listen to?’ I started there and I continue to follow it. If no one likes it, that’s fine, so long as I like it. If someone else likes it, even better,” says Benét.
Before his headlining gig at Nashville’s Basement East, Donny B welcomed PG’s Chris Kies onstage to chat about his minimal-but-musical setup. Benét explains the origins of “Donny,” covers his custom Furlanetto 4-string and why he calls it “probably the best live instrument I got,” and discusses scoring tons of gear when the exchange rate presents deals.
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/donny-benet
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0:00 - D'Addario Pedalboard Essentials
0:15 - Chris Kies Intro
0:49 - Donny Benét Intro
1:42 - Donny Benét Origins
8:55 - Custom Furlanetto "F Bass" VF4
13:39 - D'Addario & Rig Rundown
14:11 - Touring with One Bass
15:23 - Donny Benét's Strings
16:20 - Bergantino Forté HP 2 & NXT410-C
18:10 - Korg monologue analog synthesizer
19:38 - Gear Hunting in Australia
22:05 - Donny Benét's Pedalboard
25:30 - Favorite Donny Benét Bass Lines
[Brought to you by D’Addario Pedalboard Essentials: https://ddar.io/wykyk-pb & D'Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
guitar #rigrundown #bass #guitarist #bassist #guitarplayer #bassplayer #guitargear #bassgear
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
The Food Stamps have been cooking onstage behind the redheaded songwriter pretty much since he left Appalachia and began touring as a full unit. These loyal road dogs have worn the rubber off the tires touring with Mr. Childers. First, they were strictly a live band enlisted to recreate and recharge the material from his first three studio albums Bottles and Bibles (2011), Purgatory (2017), and Country Squire (2019). But with the last two studio records—the triple-album, gospel-country opus Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven? and last year’s classic-meets-contemporary Rustin' in the Rain—the Food Stamps went from being his road-warrior comrades to eating big time alongside their leader onstage and in the studio.
During Childers’ headlining arena run and before his second sold-out night at the Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville, the Food Stamps’ CJ Cain (acoustic/electric guitar/mandolin), Jesse Wells (electric guitar/mandola/banjo/baritone/fiddle), James Barker (guitar/pedal-steel), and Craig Burletic (electric bass/double bass) invited PG’s Perry Bean inside their “living room” stage set. When we last chatted with them in 2019, the boys were burning through the small-club circuit with many of the same tone tools still in their rig today, but as venues grow and tours extend, gear needs change and the arsenal capacity increases. In this hour-long Rundown, we cover all their fresh friends, old standbys, and everything else these four buckaroos require to make music that matters.
Thumbnail photo by Emma Delevante: https://www.instagram.com/emmadelevante/
Fender Vintera II '60s Stratocaster: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/k0YVB0
Amplified Nation Overdrive Reverb 50-watt Tube Head: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/eKYaV1
Dunlop EP103 Echoplex Delay Pedal: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/LX7gb0
Keeley Katana Mini Clean Boost Pedal: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/DK7BXb
JHS Pulp 'N' Peel V4 Compressor Pedal: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/bayxMk
Peterson Strobostomp: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/rQLdLj
Strymon El Capistan: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/k0MG20
L.R. Baggs Venue DI: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Qy70m6
Grace Design ALiX Acoustic Instrument Preamp: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/rQYR6D
Morley ABC Pro 3-button Switcher/Combiner Pedal: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Py7B3R
Fender Custom Shop Time Machine '68 Thinline Telecaster: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/5goK91
Fender Stories Collection Eric Johnson 1954 "Virginia" Stratocaster: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/jrYVkM
Gretsch G6128T-GH George Harrison Duo Jet: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/eKYaVQ
Danelectro 59X12 12-string Electric Guitar: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/an7PaY
Fender '64 Princeton Reverb 1x10": https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Gm7Ez2
Grace Designs Felix preamp: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/VmPOEE
L.R. Baggs acoustiseries Reverb: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/1rJ2qz
L.R. Baggs Para acoustic DI: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Vm7gqj
Universal Audio UAFX Golden Reverberator Pedal: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/1rD3xg
TC Electronic PolyTune: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/k0oEQV
MXR Phase 90 script: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/g1YJZX
Strymon Flint: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/QyAKk9
Wampler Tumnus: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/eKggxr
Radial Engineering Headlight: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/oqYVEW
Gibson Custom 1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue Electric Guitar: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/0ZV2LN
Full Rig Info:
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Merch & Magazines: https://shop.premierguitar.com
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[Brought to you by D'Addario Strings: https://ddar.io/tuttle-rr & http://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
0:00 - D'Addario & Molly Tuttle
0:15 - CJ Cain Intro
0:47 - CJ Cain on Joining the Food Stamps
2:15 - CJ Cain Electric Guitars
7:43 - CJ Cain "Electric" Pedalboard
15:15 - CJ Cain "Acoustic" Pedalboard
19:03 - CJ Cain Will Parsons Mandolin
23:18 - CJ Cain Acoustic Guitars
27:30 - Jesse Wells' Guitars & Instruments
31:45 - Jesse Wells' Amps
32:20 - Jesse Wells' Pedalboards
34:39 - D'Addario & the Rig Rundown
35:11 - James Barker's Guitars
39:18 - James Barker's Amps
40:30 - James Barker's Pedalboards
44:30 - James Barker's Show Pro Pedal-Steel Guitar
46:32 - Craig Burletic's Fender P Basses
51:25 - Craig Burletic's American Standard Double Bass
54:34 - Craig Burletic's Amps
56:05 - Craig Burletic's Pedalboard
58:17 - Tyler Childers' Collings Guitars
1:00:20 - Tyler Childers' Square Amps in TV
1:01:26 - Tyler Childers & the Food Stamps Outro Jam
1:02:32 - D'Addario & Tom Crandall
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
guitar #rigrundown #tylerchilders #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/erra
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Before ERRA’s headlining show at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl in support of their latest album, Cure, cofounding member Jesse Cash and newcomer Clint Tustin—a pair of proficient guitar-playing pyrotechnicians—invited PG’s Chris Kies onstage for a conversation that was both lighthearted and enlightening. They cover their speedy 7-strings from Jackson and Ibanez, explain why they landed on their preferred DiMarzio and Fishman pickups, and reveal all the ways the Neural DSP Quad Cortex has condensed, streamlined, and optimized the duo’s stage attack.
Shop ERRA's Gear:
Ibanez Prestige RG2027XL - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/k01Nnv
DiMarzio D Activator 7 Humbuckers - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/KjMoON
Ibanez Prestige 752. - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/75vWng
Jackson Pro Plus Series DK Modern EverTune 7 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/q4aemY
Fishman Fluence 7-String Modern Humbuckers - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/xkg0r1
Neural DSP Quad Cortex - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/5gmox9
Sennheiser EW G4 IEM Wireless - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/QyMRAo
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/erra
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Win Guitar Gear: https://bit.ly/GiveawaysPG
Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
Merch & Magazines: https://shop.premierguitar.com
PG's Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierguitar
PG's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/premierguitar/
PG's Twitter: https://twitter.com/premierguitar
PG's Threads: https://threads.net/@premierguitar
PG's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@premierguitar
[Brought to you by D’Addario Strings: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr & D'Addario XPND: https://ddari.io/xpnd.rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
0:00 - D'Addario & Yvette Young
0:15 - Chris Kies Intro
1:55 - ERRA Intro with Jesse Cash & Clint Tustin
3:00 - Moving From Tube Amps to Modelers
7:17 - Jesse Cash & Clint Tustin Partnership
9:48 - Setting Up the Quad Cortex for ERRA
12:10 - Writing "Snowblood"
13:20 - Capturing Creativity
16:39 - D'Addario XPND & John Bohlinger
17:28 - Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7
19:41 - ERRA Strings & Tunings
22:09 - Ibanez Prestige RG2027XL
25:40 - DiMarzio D Activator 7 Humbuckers
27:31 - Jackson Pro Plus Series DK Modern EverTune 7
29:13 - Ibanez Prestige 752LWFX
33:43 - D'Addario & Gina Gleason
guitar #erra #rigrundown #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/loathe
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Loathe is a challenging listen. In 10 years, they’ve released three dissimilar albums, a pair of pulverizing EPs, and a couple reinventive, collaborative covers (with Sleep Token and Teenage Wrist) of their own material, proving they thrive on juxtaposition and keeping your ears off guard. The Liverpool foursome morph from blissful dream state to Nightmare on Elm Street and everything in between. Their sound can be familiar like an old friend but thrilling like a first date.
From the ashes of Our Imbalance’s pure metalcore madness—featuring guitarist/vocalist Erik Bickerstaffe, vocalist Kadeem France, and drummer Sean Radcliffe before recruiting guitarist Connor Sweeney and bassist Shayne Smith—rose the reformation that became the experimental Loathe in 2014. (Current bassist Feisal El-Khazragi replaced Smith in 2018 and Sweeney left the band in 2021.)
Nu-metal bounce, djent precision, shoegaze shimmer, post-hardcore chaos, synth segues, barbwire breakdowns, moody melodies, and singalong choruses aren’t groundbreaking elements. But how they make them gel and grate against each other is what makes Loathe special. In a matter of minutes, they can make you scream, cry, and then dance before inciting you to do all three at once. The difference is in the disparate.
Their creative applications of the past, present, and future keep them ahead of the audience providing a deep musical menu. If you don’t like the first Loathe song you hear, there’s a chance the next one will be your favorite.
“The four of us have very differing influences, but when we work together, we create something very unique,” contends Bickerstaffe.
Even Bickerstaffe’s guitar choices are at odds. He wants the heaviest sound possible but avoids using 7- or 8-string guitars because of their brash tones and jagged aesthetics. He prefers to swing the sledgehammer in a classic costume of a Gretsch Jet (and formerly a Jazzmaster).
“We wanted a British-rock sound that pushes further into modern extreme-metal influence when we were writing. I don’t like anything too metallic or sharp sounding. For the band we are and what we’re trying to do musically, it’s not the right thing,” states Bickerstaffe.
It’s been over four years since their heralded I Let It In and It Took Everything, and the fans are growing impatient. The band is aware of the wait and are concerned with impressing themselves rather than capitalizing on the attention.
“There’s music in the world the four of us as individuals miss hearing, and we want to be the people that create that in our own style. Hopefully, people who agree with us are along for the ride, and if not, that’s absolutely cool. We’ve been through a lot, and we’re working really hard together to make sure the music that we put out is exactly what we want to put out. We’ll let it speak for itself when we release it,” explains Bickerstaffe.
Before Loathe’s opening slot supporting Knocked Loose on May 1 at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works, Bickerstaffe carved out some time to talk with PG’s Chris Kies. Bickerstaffe details the obtainable instruments that help him deliver both deathly and dreamy moments, why he shies away from the metallic edges of metal, and what fans should expect from the ever-evolving outfit’s new music.
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/loathe
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
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Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
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[Brought to you by D’Addario Strings: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr & D'Addario XPND: https://ddari.io/xpnd.rr]
0:00 - D'Addario & Yvette Young
0:15 - Chris Kies Intro
1:44 - Erik Bickerstaffe Intro
3:01 - Gretsch G5260 Electromatic Jet Baritone
5:59 - Erik Bickerstaffe's Guitar Influences
8:36 - Erik Bickerstaffe's Strings & Tunings
11:55 - D'Addario XPND & John Bohlinger
12:45 - Amps & Fractal Audio Axe-Fx III
17:14 - Erik Bickerstaffe's Pedalboard
21:06 - Loathe's Next Album
23:06 - D'Addario & Yvette Young
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #guitarplayer #loathe
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/dixie-dregs
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Steve Morse and Andy West are legendary players. In addition to co-founding the Dixie Dregs together in Augusta, Georgia, in 1970, both virtuosos have colorful personal resumes.
Guitar giant Morse’s is more high-profile. He remains the leader of the Steve Morse Band, who opened the Dregs’s late April show at Nashville’s CMA Theater, where this Rundown was filmed, with 45 minutes of smart shred. He’s also been a member of Kansas and Deep Purple, as well as another instrumental powerhouse, Flying Colors.
Besides his tenure in the Dregs, West has recorded with Vinnie Moore, the Steve Morse Band, Paul Barrere, and Henry Kaiser, with whom he’s been a member of the Mistakes, Crazy Backwards Alphabet, and Five Time Surprise, which also includes Messthetics guitarist Anthony Pirog. (Full disclosure: I recorded a version of Steppenwolf’s “The Pusher” with Kaiser and West as part of Kaiser’s Moods & Modes of Halloween video quarterly in 2023.)
The Music City show was classic Dixie Dregs, with more than two hours of high-wire playing, all anchored by the bold melodies that mark their compositions. Joined by longtime Dregs drummer Rod Morgenstein, violinist Allen Sloan, and keyboard player Steve Davidowski, the concert was an affirmation of Morse and West’s vitality and musical partnership after sharing stages for more than 50 years.
In the video, Steve and Andy explain their rigs in person and in detail.
Shop Dixie Dregs' Gear:
Roland GK-3 Divided Pickup - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/R5MGOv
Engl Steve Morse Signature 100-Watt Amps - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/vNJP4L
ENGL Amplifiers E412VSB 240-watt 4 x 12-inch Amplifier Cabinet - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/daMO92
Roland GR-55 Synthesizer - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/NkM9Q1
Keeley Compressor - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/B0drY9
TC Electronic Flashback - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/y2XqeG
TC Electronic Hall of Fame Reverb - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/MmMANn
Ernie Ball 2023 Super Slinky Paradigm Electric Guitar Strings - .009-.042 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/75vaJ5
Line 6 Helix Guitar Multi-effects Floor Processor - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Qy6Lnz
Electro-Voice ZLX-12P-G2 1000W 12-inch Powered Speaker Pair - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/LXMKZ0
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/dixie-dregs
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Win Guitar Gear: https://bit.ly/GiveawaysPG
Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
Merch & Magazines: https://shop.premierguitar.com
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PG's Threads: https://threads.net/@premierguitar
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[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
0:00 - D'Addario & Joe Glaser
0:15 - Steve Morse Intro
0:56 - Steve Morse's No.1 Ernie Ball Music Man Guitar
2:29 - Steve Morse's Custom String Mute
4:08 - Steve Morse's Custom Pickup Switching
6:07 - Recreating Dixie Dregs' Back Catalog
7:31 - Steve Morse's Signature Engl Amps & Cabs
8:18 - Steve Morse's Pedalboard
11:19 - Designing the Engl Steve Morse Signature
13:56 - Steve Morse's Roland GR-55
15:45 - Steve Morse's No. 2 Ernie Ball Music Man Guitar
18:19 - Andy West's Gould Basses
22:09 - Andy West's Line 6 Helix Floor & EV Speakers
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
guitar #guitarist #rigrundown #guitarplayer #bass #bassist #guitargear #stevemorse
Knocked Loose Drum Rundown: https://youtu.be/3WOPb983Pss
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/knocked-loose-2024
If hell had a guitar tone, it’d be what Knocked Loose’s Isaac Hale and Nicko Calderon conjure up from their Ibanez 7-string beasts. The band’s mission since day one has been to pummel listeners with the most-extreme form of hardcore music. The past decade they’ve throttled through all limits making each break down, each riff, each scream, and each performance outdone by the next. A more recent (and seemingly) conflicting goal has been to infect the mainstream with their brutality. Their brand-new third album, You Won't Go Before You're Supposed To paired them with pop producer Drew Fulk (Kevin Gates, NLE Choppa, Disturbed, Lil Wayne), the last two years they’ve played Coachella and Bonnaroo, in 2022 they partnered with hip-hop duo $uicideboy$ for a sold-out tour, and they were just announced as direct support for Slipknot’s 25th anniversary tour. Both goals are being accomplished as their sound has never been more punishing or popular.
Before Knocked Loose’s sold-out show at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works, guitarists Isaac Hale and Nick Calderon invited PG’s Perry Bean onstage for a fresh conversation about their updated mercenary squad. During our time with the Hale and Calderon, we learn about their custom 7-string Ibanez doom brooms, Hale explains moving on from tube amps and pedalboards to Quad Cortex units and MIDI switching, and Calderon details finding his place in the band and adjusting to an extra low-B string.
Shop Knocked Loose's Gear:
Ibanez Iron Label Iceman ICTB721 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/9gjr1Q
Ibanez Prestige AZ24047 Electric Guitar - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/oqMZme
Seymour Duncan Nazgul High Output Bridge 7-string Humbucker Pickup - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/zNM9Zx
Neural DSP Quad Cortex - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/5gmox9
Electro-Harmonix Freeze - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/OraQ9P
Seymour Duncan PowerStage 200 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/3eQr6y
Orange PPC412-C - 240-watt 4x12" Straight Cabinet - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/R5Q3g2
Celestion Vintage 30 Speakers - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Y934ve
Shure GLXD16+ Digital Wireless Guitar Pedal System - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Y9AL9R
Radial ProDI 1-Channel Passive Instrument Direct Box - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/GmW3x6
D'Addario NYXL1164 NYXL Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings -.011-.064 Regular Light, 7-String - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/y2MQJB (edited)
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/knocked-loose-2024
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[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr
D'Addario XPND: https://ddari.io/xpnd.rr]
0:00 - D'Addario & Yvette Young
0:15 - Perry Bean Intro
1:49 - Isaac Hale Intro
2:35 - Isaac Hale's Ibanez Custom 7-String Iceman
4:00 - Isaac Hale's Strings & Picks
5:17 - Isaac Hale Makes Move to Quad Cortex
8:34 - Isaac Hale's EHX Pedals
10:48 - XPND Pedalboard & John Bohlinger
11:37 - Nicko Calderon Intro & Joining Knocked Loose
13:17 - Nicko Calderon's Ibanez Prestige AZ24047 Guitars
16:30 - Nicko Calderon & Neural DSP Quad Cortex
20:01 - Nicko Calderon's Core Sounds
22:25 - D'Addario Strings
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #knockedloose #guitarplayer #guitargear
Follow Grace Bowers: https://lnk.to/tellmewhyudothat
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/grace-bowers
Guitarist Grace Bowers is a 17-year old California transplant tearing it up in Nashville. Currently working on her first album with producer John Osborne of the Brothers Osborne, Bowers invited John Bohlinger and the PG team to walk through her studio and live rig.
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/grace-bowers
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[Brought to you by D'Addario.
Molly Tuttle Knows: https://ddar.io/tuttle-rr
XPND Pedalboard: https://ddar.io/xpnd_rr
D’Addario WYKYK: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
0:00 - D'Addario & Molly Tuttle
0:15 - John Bohlinger Intro
0:51 - Grace Bowers Intro
1:44 - 1961 Gibson SG Special
5:01 - John Osborne's 1960 Gibson ES-335
9:25 - Cesar Gueikian's 1959 Gibson Les Paul "Gemini"
11:58 - 1968 Gibson B-25-12
13:03 - Fender '68 Custom Deluxe Reverb
13:35 - Grace Bowers' Pedalboard
guitar #guitarist #rigrundown #guitarplayer #guitargear #gracebowers
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/black-pumas
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
In just seven years since meeting based on a recommendation, Eric Burton and Adrian Quesada formed the Black Pumas, released two albums, and have already been nominated for seven Grammys. However, this fruitful friendship was almost never developed.
Quesada was enrolled at the University of Texas but flunking out due to his dedication to guitar over textbooks. His parents gave him a proposition: Either stay home in Laredo, or return to Austin without a guitar in hand to focus on studying. He went with option B and headed back for school in Austin—or so his parents thought. Quesada took his remaining book money (about $200) and headed to Ray Hennig’s Heart of Texas, where he snagged a Squier Telecaster Thinline. His parents eventually figured out the switcheroo, but Quesada was determined and hasn’t looked back. (Side note: The family obviously sees and supports his musical talents, and attended Black Pumas’ Ryman show the night before the filming of this Rig Rundown.)
That matador move pulled off by Quesada allowed him to become a longtime fixture in the Austin music scene with bands Brownout, Ocote Soul Sound, Spanish Gold, Echocentrics, and Grupo Fantasma (with whom he played for over 15 years, earning a 2011 Grammy for Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album). He started to explore new ideas that didn’t fit the mold for Grupo, and needed someone to narrate his musical vistas. A friend recommended he link up with Austin newcomer Eric Burton, who traded his busking spot on the Santa Monica pier for the bright lights of Sixth Street. The duo met up, and as the results prove, the rest is history.
Before the Black Pumas’ second headlining show at the Ryman Auditorium in downtown Nashville, bandleader Adrian Quesada, bassist Brendan Bond, and band tech Bryan Wilkinson invited PG’s Chris Kies into the hallowed grounds for a chill conversation about their tonal tools. During our time with the Black Pumas, we learned about Quesada’s love for tremolo (he even included it as a secret weapon in a semi-hollow Jazzmaster), Bond’s fateful trip to the Wilco Loft in Chicago, and why a ’59 ES-125 is Wilkinson’s perfect pairing with Burton’s expressive and emotive voice.
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/black-pumas
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[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr & https://ddari.io/xpnd.rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
0:00 - D’Addario XPND Pedalboard
0:15 - Chris Kies Intro
1:57 - Adrian Quesada Intro
3:15 - Touring with Vintage Gear
4:02 - Adrian Quesada’s Fender Custom Shop Telecaster
6:13 - Playing with Fingers or Pick
8:03 - College or Guitar?
9:14 - Adrian Quesada’s Strings
10:00 - Adrian Quesada’s Gibson ES-345
11:53 - Playing ES-345 with DI Fuzz
13:11 - Adrian Quesada’s Fender Custom Shop Jazzmaster Thinline
14:27 - Built-in Tremolo
17:33 - Adrian Quesada’s Fender Limited Edition ’68 Custom Deluxe Reverb
18:36 - Adrian Quesada’s Pedalboard
30:05 - D’Addario XPND & John Bohlinger
30:55 - Brendan Bond Intro
31:49 - Brendan Bond’s 1974 Fender P Bass
36:15 - Brendan Bond Fingerstyle & Bass Strings
38:20 - Brendan Bond on Working at Willie Nelson’s Studio
41:03 - Fender Super Bassman
44:06 - Brendan Bond’s Pedalboard
46:07 - Tech Bryan Wilkinson Intro
46:27 - How Eric Burton’s Busking Past Influenced His Gear
47:03 - Eric Burton’s 1959 ES-125
47:36 - Eric Burton’s Wireless Setup
48:49 - 1959 ES-125 Song Choices
49:50 - Eric Burton’s Fender ’65 Princeton Reverb
50:36 - Eric Burton’s Playing Style & Strings
52:11 - Eric Burton’s Pedalboard
55:01 - Tech Bryan Wilkinson’s Go-To Guitar Items for Tour
58:02 - Eric Burton’s Fender Custom Shop Telecaster Thinline
1:01:33 - D’Addario Sound Better, Play Better
guitar #rigrundown #blackpumas #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/extreme
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Nearly 40 years ago, Nuno Bettencourt walked into Mouradian Guitars Co in Boston where Pat Badger was working and they formed a bond that would change their worlds. In March of 2024, Pat Badger and Nuno Bettencourt, of multi-platinum band Extreme, along with their tech, John Thayer, invited PG’s John Bohlinger to talk through their current rigs.
Shop Nuno Bettencourt & Pat Badger's Gear:
Washburn N4-Nuno Vintage USA Electric Guitar - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/GmyLVn
Washburn Nuno Bettencourt N4 Authentic Signature - Natural Matte - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/1rY4PD
Seymour Duncan SH-1n '59 Model Neck 4-conductor Humbucker Pickup - Black - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Jz6DV2
MXR CSP026 '74 Vintage Phase 90 Pedal - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/g1n36g
Pro Co RAT 2 Distortion / Fuzz / Overdrive Pedal - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/XYaJnG
Boss OC-5 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/vNOonL
EMG 35DC Active Ceramic Modern Humbucker Bass Pickups - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/zNKJb0
Rotosound UM45 UltraMag Type 52 Alloy Bass Guitar Strings - .045-.105 Standard 4-String - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/WqeVdJ
Ampeg SVT-CL 300 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/EK64eW
Ampeg SVT-810AV 8x10" - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/nLKmEV
Ampeg SVT-4PRO 1200-watt Tube Preamp Bass Head - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Jz03zN
EBS Billy Sheehan Ultimate Signature Drive Pedal - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/6e64dQ
Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI V2 Pedal - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/216450
Electro-Harmonix Micro POG Polyphonic Octave Generator Pedal - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/LX5qZ0
Boss GE-7 7-band EQ Pedal - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/AWnK4J
Boss TU-3 Chromatic Tuner Pedal with Bypass - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/jryA4M
Full Rig Details: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/extreme
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
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0:00 - D'Addario Strings
0:08 - John Bohlinger Intro
0:57 - Nuno Bettencourt Tech John Thayer Intro
1:12 - Washburn Nuno Bettencourt N4 Signature
3:21 - Nuno Bettencourt's Strings & Tunings
4:50 - Washburn Nuno Bettencourt 12-string Acoustic
5:13 - Washburn Nuno Bettencourt EA20SNB Acoustic
5:33 - Nuno Bettencourt's Amps & Effects
8:28 - Nuno Bettencourt's Guitar Picks
9:21 - Nuno Bettencourt Crashes the Rundown!
9:49 - Nuno Bettencourt Talks "Bumblebee" N4
12:40 - D'Addario Strings & Nita Strauss
12:56 - Pat Badger Intro
13:11 - Pat Badger's Mouradian Basses
20:25 - Pat Badger's 1980s Hamer Blitz Bass
21:25 - Pat Badger's Ampeg Amps & Cabs
23:54 - Pat Badger's Rotosound Strings
24:32 - Pat Badger's Pedalboard
27:40 - Pat Badger's Picks
29:09 - D'Addario Strings & Joe Glaser
[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #extreme #nunobettencourt
Full Rig Details: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/adrian-vandenberg
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Adrian Vandenberg is a Dutch rock guitarist, best known for his tenure as one of the guitarists in Whitesnake during their successful late 1980s period, and also with the band Vandenberg, which he started in 1981. Vandenberg invited PG’s John Bohlinger to his soundcheck before his recent Nashville show to take us through his rig. Special thanks to guitar tech Willem van Roekel for giving us the extra details.
Full Rig Details: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/adrian-vandenberg
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0:00 - D'Addario & Nita Strauss
0:15 - John Bohlinger Intro
0:50 - Adrian Vandenberg Intro
2:20 - Using a Bow in Whitesnake
3:37 - 1980 Gibson Les Paul Heritage
8:29 - Swapping in New Gibson Burstbucker
9:55 - Writing Music on Various Instruments
10:44 - Using Ear Protection
12:06 - Strings, Picks & Fingernails
14:38 - Wrist Injury During Whitesnake's Slip of the Tongue Recording
20:50 - D'Addario XPND & John Bohlinger
21:39 - Peavey Adrian Vandenberg Signature Guitar
30:04 - Taylor T5z Custom Koa Hollowbody Electric
31:50 - Any Classical Music Training?
36:08 - Neural DSP Quad Cortex & Seymour Duncan PowerStage
42:10 - D'Addario & Joe Glaser
[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr & XPND Pedalboard: https://ddari.io/xpnd.rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear #whitesnake
Full Crosses' Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/crosses
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
What if Deftones’ lead singer Chino Moreno fully leaned into his love for the Cure and Depeche Mode—think “Digital Bath,” “Teenager,” “Anniversary of an Uninteresting Event,” and “Cherry Waves?” The short answer is Crosses (often seen as †††). And the sole sonic sniper pillowing and piercing through Moreno’s moodily melodic vocals is multi-instrumentalist Shaun Lopez.
Crosses was formed by cofounding members Lopez and bassist Chuck Doom in the late 2000s before recruiting Chino Moreno to front the dark dance party. The trio released three EPs and a self-titled debut album between 2011 and 2014 before going on hiatus in 2015.
For almost 15 years, the nucleus of Shawn Lopez and Chino Moreno have creatively layered and disguised guitar and synth combining new wave, electronica, goth rock, industrial, and ambient pop producing a soundtrack to neo-noir readaptation of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly that subs the old west and gunplay with after-hours Miami and foreplay.
“When we started Crosses, I was just learning to play piano. I think back then I wanted to make synthy-sounding songs, but I didn’t know how to play synths so I was like, ‘how can I get my guitar to sound like a synth,’ so I just incorporated pedals, lap steel, and anything to make my guitar unrecognizable,” admits Lopez.
Prior to working with Moreno in Crosses, Lopez cofounded Far—an influential post-hardcore 1990s contemporary of the Deftones in Sacramento—and has tallied a variety of producer credits collaborating with Chon, Rob Zombie, Lupe Fiasco, Dead Sara, Whitechapel, and others. That sort of versatility is evident when experiencing Crosses with a pair of headphones or seeing them perform onstage.
Throughout the band’s run, Lopez has interplayed and interwoven guitar and synths countering brooding against beauty and gentle versus tense. When Crosses was revitalized in 2022 with fresh material—and the departure of bassist Chuck Doom—the remaining duo doubled down on their digital-based dynamism featuring even more synths, keys, and electronic experimentation where he would even sample his guitar through his keys.
“Since those first songs, I’ve really learned how to play piano and keyboards and by better understanding that new instrument, at times, I’ve become more inspired by synths over guitar,” recalls Lopez.
But no matter how many synths or keyboards get put to tape, you’ll still see Lopez onstage with a guitar draped over his shoulder.
“I do prefer to play guitar live because it’s more fun and I can run around. I am always chasing sounds no matter the instrument it takes to get there. My sound is growing because I’m always learning. I think if you stop learning you stop progressing. but guitar will always be home,” states Lopez.
Prior to Crosses’ sold-out show at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works, Lopez welcomed PG’s Perry Bean onstage to dissect his setup. The lone instrumentalist showed off six stellar guitars, broke down the heavy lifting his FM9 endures for Crosses’ sets, introduced a peculiar pedal he can’t live without, and demonstrated a Gretsch that sounds like an angry orca.
Full Crosses' Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/crosses
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[Brought to you by D’Addario Strings: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr & D'Addario XPND: https://ddari.io/xpnd.rr]
0:00 - D'Addario & Yvette Young
0:15 - Perry Bean Intro
1:14 - Shaun Lopez Intro
2:08 - Creating Crosses Sound on Record
6:30 - Gibson Les Paul Custom 20th Anniversary 1974
10:11 - Recreating Crosses Albums on FM9
11:04 - Chino’s Gibson SG Special
12:48 - 1960s Gretsch Corvette
16:44 - Gretsch G2420T Streamliner Hollowbody
17:47 - The Heaviest Gretsch Ever!
20:13 - Schecter PT Fastback
21:39 - Schecter Coupe
23:01 - D'Addario XPND & John Bohlinger
23:50 - Shaun Lopez's Main FM9 Sounds & Pedalboard
33:22 - Fender FS-52 Lap Steel & Prophet 6 Synth
36:17 - D'Addario & Joe Glaser
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #crosses #deftones #guitarplayer #guitargear
Sammy Boller on Randy Rhoads: https://youtu.be/Ym-LXU-3nd4
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
“I grew up wanting to be Eddie Van Halen and Randy Rhoads, but over time I’ve found my own dark and aggressive style. These days, my dream as a musician is to make people feel as connected to the cosmos as I feel when I play the guitar,” wishes guitarist Sammy Boller.
Sammy Boller has been playing guitar most of his life. He played in high school orchestra and even attended University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre & Dance. In 2012, his life forever changed when he won Guitar Center’s “Master Satriani” competition. (Watch his submission for “Satch Boogie” here.)
Catapulting off that success, the next year Boller joined Detroit rockers Citizen Zero. The band released their 2016 debut LP, State of Mind, and its lead single “Go (Let Me Save You)” climbed to #17 on Billboard’s mainstream rock chart.
But even with Citizen Zero’s success, Boller wasn’t sending listeners into the stratosphere feeling one with the stardust. Then while shopping his instrumental solo work, he quickly earned a fan in CandyRat Records owner Rob Poland who signed Sammy. (CandyRat was started by Poland in 2004 and began working with Don Ross, Andy McKee, Antoine Dufourto. Boller released his debut solo album and an additional standalone single—Kingdom of the Sun and “Path of the Heart”—in 2020 that snake between Sunset shred and post-rock melodies. The next year was celebrated with Boller’s stunning third release “Ritual Lights” showing Sammy’s first (solo) recorded run in with the wah wah. (Something you’ll now see on his pedalboard later.) He’s since dropped a pair of singles “Spellbound” and “Midnight Garden” that grow off his enchanting formula and adds in heightened technical abilities and deeper rhythmic grooves.
Before his headlining show at Nashville’s Bowery Vault, the fretboard maestro shows off a pair of versatile guitars, explains why the chase for his pinnacle amp is over, and details and demos the select stompboxes that send his sound into the asteroid belt.
Full Rig Details: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/sammy-boller-2024
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[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr & XPND Pedalboard: https://www.daddario.com/XPNDRR]
0:00 - D'Addario Strings with Mark Tremonti
0:15 - Perry Bean Intro
1:16 - Sammy Boller Playing Intro
2:10 - Gibson Les Paul Axcess Custom
5:49 - Tunings, Strings & Picks
9:03 - Friedman NoHo 24
11:01 - Friedman BE-100
15:02 - D'Addario XPND Pedalboard
15:51 - Sammy Boller Pedalboard
33:31 - D'Addario with Yvette Young
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #guitarplayer #sammyboller
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/aj-ghent
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
AJ Ghent’s uniquely inspired Singing Guitar has its roots in the Sacred Steel musical style and African-American gospel traditions that developed out of a group of Pentecostal churches across the South. Ghent comes from a long line of innovative players, including his father, Aubrey Ghent Sr., and grandfather, Henry Nelson. His great uncle Willie Eason is credited as the founder of the Sacred Steel rhythmic guitar style.
Ghent invited John Bohlinger and the PG team to his soundcheck before his show at Nashville’s City Winery to talk through his rig and play some inspiring music on his lap and pedal steels.
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/aj-ghent
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
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Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
Merch & Magazines: https://shop.premierguitar.com
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[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr & XPND Pedalboard: https://www.daddario.com/XPNDRR]
0:00 - D'Addario: When You Know You Know
0:15 - John Bohlinger Introduction
0:52 - A.J. Ghent Playing Intro
3:27 - Asher Lap Steel
10:52 - Rocky Mountain Slide
13:10 - Pedals
13:19 - Eventide H90
15:40 - Boss Loop Station RC-5
17:05 - D'Addario: When You Know You Know
17:58 - Quilter Amps Overdrive 202
19:22 - Milkman Sound The Amp
20:47 - Jackson Maverick Pedal Steel
27:21 - A.J. Ghent Pedal Steel Play off
27:36 - D'Addario: When You Know You Know
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #guitarplayer #slideguitar #lapsteel #pedalsteelguitar #ajghent
Full Rig Details: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/erin-coburn
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Erin Coburn grew up on blues and classic rock. That background has afforded her a spotlight onstage for over half her life, including opening slots ahead of Marcus King and Blackberry Smoke. She released her first album Chaos Before Conformity in 2015 at just 14 years old. She was starting to cut a groove in the blues-rock genre, but the needle stopped when her ear latched onto the darker moods of Alice in Chains, more dynamic music of Sleep Token, and the technical proficiency from modern guitar whisperers Tim Henson and Scott LePage of Polyphia. Since then, her playing has sped up, her tunings have dropped—including the addition of a 7-string Strandberg—and she’s joined the heavier side of riffing with one goal in mind.
“I’m going more towards hard-rock and metal because I love it and that’s where my soul is—I just want to open up mosh pits someday!”
It’ll be interesting to see how she fuses her backbone of blues-rock with the new injection of musical blood. Regardless of the destination, we’re just glad to be sitting shotgun for the ride.
Before her band’s headlining show at Nashville’s Eastside Bowl, Erin Coburn welcomed PG’s Chris Kies onstage for a conversation about gear, music, and surprises in her lunchbox. She dished on how she gravitated (and possibly levitated) towards Strandberg guitars during a NAMM Show visit and then divulged a brand-new offering from Lace that includes some of her own signature of sweet ’n’ heat.
Full Rig Details: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/erin-coburn
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
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Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
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PG's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@premierguitar
0:00 - D'Addario: When You Know You Know
0:15 - Chris Kies Introduction
1:15 - Erin Coburn Playing Intro
2:30 - Strandberg Boden Classic NX 6
7:27 - Strandberg Boden NX 6 Neck-Thru
9:26 - Signature Coburn Lace Pickups
11:25 - D'Addario: XPND Pedalboard
12:14 - New Egypt Folk String Lunch Box Guitars
16:12- Kala Ukulele
18:30 - Neural DSP Quad Cortex
22:56 - “Scary Territory” Coburn Play Through
24:10 - D'Addario: When You Know You Know
[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr & XPND Pedalboard: https://www.daddario.com/XPNDRR]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
rigrundown #guitar #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear #coburn
erincoburn #strandberg #strandbergguitars
Watch Charlie's Drum Rundown: https://youtu.be/Gz-suX8VSqM
Full Rig Details: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/pantera
Original Cowboy from Hell bassist Rex Brown has gone through so much gear. He’s lost amps and donated basses to charity. He’s fostered many fruitful friendships with companies that’s resulted signature wares for war. His latest partnership has him riding high on a pair of namesake Thunderbirds dressed in black and gold. He still tours with old Spectors who feel like home (if home was a thunderstorm). He’s got a proper pedalboard and rack gear that’s been routed through a RJM switcher (first time ever). And he and tech Bobby Landgraf (also guitar player in Honky and Down for Down IV – Part II) detail the whole chain of tonal command. Then we have a blast chatting with Zakk Wylde who covers his toolbox of Warhammers and Master 100 heads. He ponders what it must’ve been like to have been Eddie Van Halen or Randy Rhoads who toured with their iconic instruments and not having any backups! And then his longtime tech Stephen Murillo goes over his rack gear that includes three pieces from Dimebag Darrell’s original Pantera rig.
Watch Eric Morettin's Video on Rex's Jackson Basses: https://youtu.be/_ViTUvT2HUk
Randy Rhoads Iconic Guitars: https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/guitarists/randy-rhoads-guitars
Full Rig Details: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/pantera
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Win Guitar Gear: https://bit.ly/GiveawaysPG
Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
Merch & Magazines: https://shop.premierguitar.com
PG's Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierguitar
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PG's Threads: https://threads.net/@premierguitar
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[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
0:00 - D'Addario When You Know You Know
0:15 - Pantera "I'm Broken" Intro
1:19 - Chris Kies Intro & Shoot Insights
7:32 - Rex Brown Intro
9:16 - Gibson Rex Brown Thunderbird
10:07 - Rex Brown's Spector Bantam 5
10:52 - Rex Brown's Spector Euro 4
12:46 - Epiphone Rex Brown Thunderbird
14:32 - Tech Bobby Landgraf Joins In!
16:15 - Rex Brown's Ampeg SVT-4 Pro
17:32 - Eric Morettin's Video on Jackson Basses
18:57 - Rex Brown's Pedalboard
26:18 - Rex Brown's Strings, Picks, and Rack Gear
29:48 - D'Addario & Nita Strauss
30:04 - "Walk" Outro
30:50 - Zakk Wylde Intro
31:08 - Wylde Audio Guitars
31:36 - Wylde Audio "St. Dime" Lightning Guitar
33:13 - Guitar Heroes Touring Light
34:48 - Wylde Audio Quality Control
36:13 - Zakk on EMG Pickups
38:36 - Wylde Audio Master 100s
39:41 - Electro-Voice EVM12L BL Zakk Wylde Speakers
40:11 - Understanding Tube Differences
41:52 - Zakk Wylde's Pedalboard
43:49 - Zakk on Honoring Dime & Pantera
44:58 - Dimebag Darrell's Pantera Rack Gear
47:09 - Zakk Wylde's Rack Gear
49:31 - Pantera "Floods" Soundcheck Outro
52:04 - D'Addario & Gina Gleason
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
guitar #rigrundown #pantera #guitarist #guitarplayer #bass #bassguitar #rexbrown #zakkwylde
“Will the next Tool album take more than 10,000 days?”
That was an ongoing (and agonizing) joke for Tool fans that awaited the band’s fifth album following the release of 2006’s 10,000 Days. (A cruel clairvoyance of a title.) For those counting, when Fear Inoculum was finally delivered on August 30, 2019, it was just 4,868 days from their previous album. All crummy jokes aside, the anticipation of the album was real for a reason: the music. And the rhythmic cog of their constant contorting of depth and darkness is bassist Justin Chancellor.
Sure, drummer Danny Carey is a living legend bashing everything his large frame can smash and crash. Adam Jones transforms his guitar into a Hans Zimmer production with varied textures, temperaments, and traits his tone expresses. During shows, singer and lyricist Maynard James Keenan prowls in the shadows adding to the band’s musical mysticism. This triumvirate core dished out the punishing EP Opiate in 1992, and their 1993 debut full-length Undertow was more complex and calculated in its rage. But in 1995, when Justin Chancellor replaced Paul D’Amour on bass, Tool immediately expanded their dimensionality. The original three continued to dazzle and dumbfound listeners, but the addition of Chancellor and his pocket-minded role unlocked a collective vocabulary previously unspoken. Simply put, if Tool was an octopus, Chancellor was the head. The others could be momentarily independent tentacles exploring the melodic murkiness of their respective reaches, but when they needed to propel forward, Chancellor was steering. His lines are the base for the band’s groove and attitude that became a focal point on subsequent releases with 1996’s Ænima, 2001’s Lateralus, 2006’s 10,000 Days, and eventually 2019’s Fear Inoculum. The former three went triple-platinum, while the latter three were No. 1 on the Billboard 200. (Ænima landed in the No. 2 spot.)
If you ever catch yourself playing air guitar to Tool, you’re probably mimicking Chancellor’s parts. “Schism,” “The Pot,” “Forty Six & 2,” “H.,” “Fear Inoculum,” “Descending,” “The Grudge,” and plenty of others feature his buoyant bass riffs.
Chancellor’s tone has had a longstanding relationship with Wal basses, Gallien-Krueger amps, and Mesa/Boogie cabs. The evolving part of his rig has been his pedalboard. At this juncture of the band’s run supporting Fear Inoculum, Chancellor’s board is larger than his guitar-playing counterparts. Yet everything has a place and purpose. Some of it is duplicity, some of it is to avoid any required knob-turning during the show, and as we find out in the Rundown, some of it is just for fun. Grab a seat and get comfortable as Chancellor and his tech Pete Lewis walk PG’s elated Chris Kies through his live setup.
Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr
and D’Addario XPND Pedalboard: https://www.daddario.com/XPNDRR
Buffalo Nichols believes in the power of acoustic country blues. He also believes it’s not a fossil, trapped in amber, but a living, breathing musical genre. Which is why he blends elements of the tradition—slide guitar, resonator, open tunings, themes of loss, redemption, and struggle—with loops, samples, drum machines, myriad effects, and modern-day narratives. His new album, The Fatalist, is the culmination of his art to date. Listening to its echoes of Skip James, John Hurt, Pink Floyd, and Dr. Dre is an even stranger experience when you know Nichols started his career in the thundering, downstroke-chiseled trenches of the Midwest metal scene.
When you watch this Rig Rundown, Nichols will explain, and play, it all—it's a fascinating story. And the gear! Get ready for a feast, full of the trad and the rad.
Brought to you by D'Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr
and D'Addario XS Strings: https://ddar.io/xs-rr
Full Rig Details: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundowns/wolfmother
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
When we walked into Nashville’s Eastside Bowl for this Rig Rundown with Wolfmother’s alpha canine, Andrew Stockdale, it sounded like he was playing his SG through a Marshall stack at head-ripping volume. Nope! Stockdale was blasting skulls apart with a Line 6 HX stomp doing the heavy tonal lifting. Surprise!
It's part of his strategy for traveling lite in support of Rock Out, the Australian outfit’s 2021 album, on a make-up tour of the States that was preempted by the Covid shutdown. For Stockdale, the rest of his formula for playing his blood-and-guys rock 'n' roll live includes an SG, a White Falcon, and a vintage Supro, and … no traditional amps.
“I used to have, like, three Voxes–cabs and everything up there. And we had a trailer behind the bus and two guys to carry it, who'd have a beer and high-five each other after they loaded out,” Stockdale recounts. “Now they‘re gone, all the amps, and them gone.”
Here’s a close-up look at what’s onstage with Stockdale right now, as he uses minimalist gear to create maximum sound!
Full Rig Details: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundowns/wolfmother
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Win Guitar Gear: https://bit.ly/GiveawaysPG
Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
Merch & Magazines: https://shop.premierguitar.com
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[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr
D'Addario XPND Pedalboard: https://ddari.io/xpnd.rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
0:00 - D'Addario: When You Know You Know
0:15 - Wolfmother "Pyramid" Live Intro
0:38 - 1961 Reissue Gibson SG
4:06 - Vintage Supro Guitar
5:15 - Gretsch White Falcon
6:52 - Wolfmother's "Apple Tree" Live
8:19 - D'Addario: Bohlinger and XPND
9:08 - Andrews’ Amps and Pedalboard
18:59 - Wolfmother's "Pyramid" Live Outro
19:36 - D’Addario: When You Know You Know
guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #guitargear #guitarplayer #wolfmother
The Menzingers’ albums are storied time capsules. Starting in 2007 with teen angst and rebellion, they’ve refined and reshaped their narratives into self-reflective numbers that continue to balance melody and might. Their most-recent installment—2023’s Some of It Was True—was their eighth chapter that stares down aging with acceptance rather than anger. But don’t get it twisted, these rockers will still charge.
“This record just feels different for us,” Barnett explains. “It’s a really important one in our catalog, and a pivotal moment in our history. We have the liberty of our fans growing with us now, and after writing these lyrical songs about where we are in life, we decided to take other peoples’ stories and make something bigger out of it.” “It brought us back to our energetic side as a band,” May concurs. “We got to let loose, which is what drew us to the energy of being in a band in the first place. This is a live band—why shouldn’t we record live songs? As a result, we’re back to why we started this band in the first place.”
In support of Some of It Was True, the Philly crew toured the States and touched down in Nashville mid-November for a romper at the Marathon Music Works. Before their headlining set in Music City, both singing-guitarists Greg Barnett and Tom May welcomed PG’s Perry Bean onstage to converse about their setups. Barnett explained the pros and cons of being a left-handed player, while May divulged the inspiration for his loved Les Pauls. Both detailed why they prefer a two-amp rig, and each demoed the various sounds set off from their respective pedalboards.
Brought to you by D'Addario:
https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr
https://www.daddario.com/XPNDRR
Robert’s Western World on Nashville’s Lower Broadway was home to the Don Kelley Band for as long as anyone can remember. Kelley’s band was an institution in Nashville, serving as a stepping stone for super-pickers like Guthrie Trapp, Brent Mason, Johnny Hiland, Daniel Donato, JD Simo, and more. “Slick” Joe Fick and Luke McQueary also came up through the ranks of the Don Kelley Band. After Don retired in 2020, Fick and McQueary enlisted drummer/vocalist Billy Van Vleet and kept Don’s old shift going, throwing down at Robert's Western World each night from Wednesday through Saturday. John Bohlinger and the PG team joined Kelley’s Heroes pre-shift at Robert’s to rundown their rigs.
Brought to you by D'Addario:
https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr
https://www.daddario.com/XPNDRR
Jason Isbell’s last Rundown was in 2019. The guitarist and songwriter, who we’ve called “Americana’s poet laureate,” is a huge gearhead though—and his collection is truly the stuff of dreams—so a lot can happen in a few years. Currently touring with his acclaimed 400 Unit band in support of the highly acclaimed Weathervanes album, he rolls with a stash of vintage Fenders and Gibsons that would make even the least gear-motivated among us blush. That’s not to mention his enviable traveling amp and effect closets. Isbell invited Perry Bean and the PG team to the Ryman for a look at his current touring rig and that of Sadler Vaden, the band’s ripping co-guitarist whose relatively more modest collection is still quite the enviable one!
Brought to you by D'Addario:
https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr
https://www.daddario.com/XPNDRR
Full Rig Details: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundowns/kingfish-2024
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Christone "Kingfish" Ingram’s 2019 debut album, Kingfish, hit No. 1 on the Billboard blues album chart and remained on it for an astonishing 91 weeks. From then on, he’s been roaring around the world, bringing his mix of downhome Delta-informed blues and sophisticated turns incorporating funk licks, Hendrix fantasias, jazz runs, and inspired improvisation to club and festival audiences. Late last year, he was a guest performer at BMI’s Troubadour Awards presentation for fan Billy Gibbons. His second album, 662, named after his hometown’s area code, also topped the blues chart and won him a Grammy.
For this Rig Rundown, at Nashville’s sold-out Brooklyn Bowl, he was on the run behind his third album, Live in London, which captures the fire and invention of his guitar work onstage. You’ll be hearing more from Kingfish, but right now, check out his live rig.
Shop the Rig:
Fender Kingfish Telecaster Deluxe - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/NkyRaN
Fender Twin Reverb - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/DK1nGj
ProCo Lil Rat - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Y9mbzq
Marshall ShredMaster - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/KjdO5z
Boss TU-3w Tuner - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/750ngO
Dunlop CBM95 Cry Baby Mini Wah - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/LXdOkO
Pedaltrain Nano Pedalboard - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/QydA1z
Full Rig Details: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundowns/kingfish-2024
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Win Guitar Gear: https://bit.ly/GiveawaysPG
Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
Merch & Magazines: https://shop.premierguitar.com
PG's Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierguitar
PG's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/premierguitar/
PG's Twitter: https://twitter.com/premierguitar
PG's Threads: https://threads.net/@premierguitar
PG's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@premierguitar
Brought to you by D’Addario:
https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr
https://www.daddario.com/XPNDRR
0:00 - D’Addario Brand Vignette Glaser Instruments
0:15 - Kingfish Playing Intro
1:26 - Kingfish Signature Telecaster Deluxe
6:11 - Custom Michael Chertoff LP style Guitar
9:43 - Pedals
10:08 - Boss Waza Craft Tuner
10:22 - Crybaby Mini Wah
11:41 - Marshall Shred Master
13:07 - Boss DD-3T Digital Delay
14:26 - Amplifiers
15:34 - Fender ’65 Re-issue Twin Reverb
16:19 - Peavey Classic 50
18:36 - Shure BLX4 Wireless
20:06 - Kingfish Playing Outro
20:49 - D’Addario Brand Vignette Andre Cholmondeley
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
blues #rigrundown #kingfish #nashville #guitar #hendrix
Full Rig Details: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundowns/mssv-2024
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
The trio mssv is an underground supergroup. They’re not playing the local enormodome, but each musician has a storied career and the ability to leap musical conventions in a single bound, even while rocking like hell … or playing compositions with sections that ricochet from Coltrane to Martian terrain.
The group sprung from guitarist Mike Baggetta’s dream of an ideal, omnivorous band—one that could navigate any kind of musical or sonic path, much as Baggetta has done himself, whether playing with other artists or solo. His first choice of bassist was Mike Watt, a legendary indie music figure who has been releasing daring rock and improv albums for decades, starting with the highly influential ’80s and ’90s outfits the Minutemen and fIREHOSE. And while mssv’s debut album, 2019’s Wall of Flowers, was recorded with the foundational rock drummer Jim Keltner, Keltner’s disinterest in touring caused Baggetta to seek a replacement in Stephen Hodges, one of the few sticks players who can match Keltner’s intention and a brilliant artist in his own right, with decades supporting Tom Waits, Mavis Staple, and other legends.
On the road behind their latest recording, Human Reaction (one of my picks for best albums of 2023), mssv stopped at the Blue Room in Nashville’s Third Man Records complex in late October, where their wily creativity ignited the place. But at soundcheck, Baggetta and Watt explained to the PG team exactly why they dig their rigs.
Full Rig Details: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundowns/mssv-2024
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Win Guitar Gear: https://bit.ly/GiveawaysPG
Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
Merch & Magazines: https://shop.premierguitar.com
PG's Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierguitar
PG's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/premierguitar/
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PG's Threads: https://threads.net/@premierguitar
PG's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@premierguitar
[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
0:00 - D’Addario: WYKYK
0:15 - Mike Baggetta playing intro
1:50 - Mike Baggetta’s Custom Koll Tornado w/ Guyatone Curtis Novak Goldfoils
8:36 - Strings - D’Addario XT 10-46
9:33 - Mike Baggetta’s Pedals
9:49 - Hold Tight Fuzz by Creepy Fingers
10:44 - EHX “Ring Thing” side band modulator
13:16 - Wilson Effects “Freaker Wah” V2
15:09 - Benson Amps “Vincent”
18:45 - Red Panda “Tensor”
21:41 - EHX “Deluxe Memory Man”
23:20 - D’Addario XPND
24:34 - Reverend Guitars “Watt Plower Mk. II” Mike Watt Signature bass
32:18 - Mike Watt Pedals
32:47 - Broughton Hi Pass filter
33:14 - Earthquaker Devices “The Warden” optical compressor
33:36 - Sushi Box FX “Finally” tube direct box
34:52 - Bergantino Forté Bass Amp
36:46 - Bergantino 2x12 Bass Cab
43:13 - D’Addario Glaser Instruments Vignette end roll
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
guitar #rigrundown #mssv #mikewatt #punk #mikebaggetta #guitarist #guitarplayer #bassist #bassgear
Universe: “Super Fuzz or Big Muff?”
Mudhoney: “Both!”
What else would you expect from a band that titled their mischievously visceral ’88 debut EP after both pedals (Superfuzz Bigmuff)?
Formed in the late ’80s by guitarists Mark Arm and Steve Turner after the dissolution of their band Green River (which included future Mother Love Bone and Pearl Jam cofounders Jeff Ament and Stone Gossard), Mudhoney long ago solidified themselves as the Seattle scene’s big brothers and tightest pack. Through their 11 LPs, five EPs, and six live albums, Mudhoney has routinely diversified and further defined their eccentric brand of raucous, aggressive, unfiltered rock ’n’ roll. Possibly more impressive than the band’s wide influence and devoted authenticity is the foursome’s bond. Drummer Dan Peters and bassist Matt Lukin (also a founding member of the Melvins) were the rhythmic bedrock for Arm and Turner’s exploding-M-80 tones since the beginning. (Arm and Turner have been friends since high school and have been playing off each other since then.) But Lukin left the band in 2001 because tour life became too much, and Guy Maddison has been thundering ever since. To see a group’s career that’s pushing past 35 years and only have one member swap is as inspirational as it is baffling. How?!
“We like each other a lot. We get along. We love what we’re doing,” remarks Arm. “Why stop, even if no one gives a shit?”
Friendship matters to Arm and Turner, but gear isn’t a concern unless it points them in one direction—east. More specifically, toward Detroit, Michigan. And even more specifically, to the Stooges. Both namecheck the livewire band and their raw power several times in our Rig Rundown. However, in a 2018 interview with Premier Guitar, they acknowledged regenerating sounds that echo influences from Neil Young and the Byrds to Devo and the Dead Kennedys. But after chasing “I-Wanna-Be-Your-Dog” sizzle, what else leads them to the gear they use? Has that mentality changed since the late ’80s?
“If you think about the aesthetics of where we come from—garage punk, and punk rock in general—a lot of it was made with cheap gear, and a lot of it was reclaiming gear that guitarists had kind of dismissed as garbage. Like the Mustang. That was my ultimate guitar back when I was a kid, but it was poo-pooed when I finally got one. I could get them for $150. The Danelectro and Silvertone amps were kind of high-rated garbage when we were getting into them. We based a lot of our sound on cheap gear, so it makes sense to me that I still buy the cheap gear,” concluded Turner.
They’re still pragmatic about their setups, preferring equipment that’s familiar and reliable. Where they chase the dragon is in stompboxes. Turner trusts the Big Muff (his favorite iteration is from the mid-’80s), while Arm’s torrid tone burns with a Super Fuzz clone. However, both have additional hot-sauce stompboxes and other effects on their pedalboards that are being auditioned trial by fire.
Hours before Mudhoney’s headlining set at Nashville’s Basement East, Arm and Turner brought PG’s Chris Kies onstage to catalog their setups. Turner started the party by talking about a pair of guitars—his battle-tested late-’60s Guild Starfire IV and a recently-acquired Fender Gold Foil Jazzmaster before kicking on his Big Muff and other pedals that unlocked Dante’s inferno. Then, Arm joined the fun by showing off his Gretsch Vintage Select ’59 Duo Jet that eventually gets pulverized by three different fuzzes.
Brought to you by D’Addario.
Full Rig Details: https://bit.ly/MudhoneyRR
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
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Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
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PG's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@premierguitar
[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2023
0:00 - D'Addario When You Know You Know
0:15 - Steve Turner Playing Intro
0:47 - Steve Turner's Fender Gold Foil Jazzmaster
4:09 - Steve Turner's 1968 Guild Starfire IV
6:21 - Steve Turner's Fender Hot Rod DeVille III
7:46 - Steve Turner on Fuzz Pedals
10:31 - Steve Turner's Pedalboard
14:41 - Mark Arm's G6128T-59 ’59 Duo Jet
16:17 - Mark Arm's Strings & Tunings
17:44 - Mark Arm's Fender Super Six
18:37 - Mark Arm on Fuzz Pedals
19:19 - Mark Arm's Pedalboard
guitar #rigrundown #mudhoney #grunge #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear
Full Rig Details: https://bit.ly/RyanLermanRR
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Ryan Lerman is the cofounder of L.A.-based dynamic funk project @ScaryPockets . The musical collective has been crushing it on Youtube since 2017, leading to their taking the show on the road as a successful touring act. Lerman met with PG’s John Bohlinger before the Scary Pockets’ Nashville show at the Brooklyn Bowl to talk through his current touring rig.
Shop the Rig:
Fender '68 Custom Deluxe Reverb - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/9gQO6W
Electro-Harmonix Superego - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/nLVZB7
Eventide H9 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/baQr0x
Lehle Mono Volume - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/OrEvWN
Ross Compressor - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/R5ENWg
Strymon Flint - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/QyAKk9
Full Rig Details: https://bit.ly/RyanLermanRR
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Win Guitar Gear: https://bit.ly/GiveawaysPG
Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
Merch & Magazines: https://shop.premierguitar.com
PG's Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierguitar
PG's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/premierguitar/
PG's Twitter: https://twitter.com/premierguitar
PG's Threads: https://threads.net/@premierguitar
PG's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@premierguitar
[Brought to you by D’Addario XPND Pedalboard: https://www.daddario.com/XPNDRR]
00:00 - D'Addario XPND Pedalboard
00:15 - Ryan Lerman Intro Riffing
00:49 - Origins of Scary Pockets
04:42 - 1964 Gibson Melody Maker
08:57 - 1966 Hofner 459 VTZ
11:58 - Fender '68 Custom Deluxe Reverbs
12:06 - Ryan Lerman's Scary Pockets Pedalboard
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2023
guitar #guitarist #rigrundown #scarypockets #funk #guitarplayer
Full Rig Details: https://bit.ly/47JQxD9
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Jazz guitar god Pat Metheny recently played Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on his solo tour supporting his latest record, Dream Box. Ahead of the show, PG’s John Bohlinger met with Metheny’s tech Andre' Cholmondeley, who pulled back the curtain on what just might be the most complex solo rig ever devised. Afterward, Cholmondeley painstakingly wrote out Metheny’s signal path to help clarify the rig. Buckle up, and keep up if you can.
Follow Andre' Cholmondeley: https://www.instagram.com/guitartour/
Shop the Rig:
Ibanez PM 200 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/NkY0bb
D’Addario NYXL 10s - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/B0Yy2W
EHX Hum Debugger - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/xkbQG5
IK Multimedia TONEX Pedal Amplifier/Cabinet/Pedal Modeler - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/MmYBb2
Squier Classic Vibe Bass VI - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/k0PMW3
LR Baggs M1 Active Acoustic Guitar Soundhole Humbucker Pickup - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/DKMe3a
Bose L1 Pro32 Portable PA System - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/g1Q6W2
Guild D-40 Traditional Acoustic Guitar - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/vNgjVy
Kemper Profiler Power Rack - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/rQ2z45
Lehle 3at1 SGoS Instrument Switcher - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Qyn3Ez
Gamechanger Audio Plus Pedal Piano-style Sustain Effect Pedal - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/6eRdEb
Electro-Harmonix 95000 Performance Loop Laboratory 6-track Looper - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/nLeE29
Radial ProD2 2-channel Passive Instrument Direct Box - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/PyqVbN
Pigtronix Infinity 3 Looper Pedal - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/rQ1DXy
Source Audio Soleman MIDI Controller Pedal - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/MmYBvq
Blackstar Live Logic 6-button MIDI Footcontroller - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/DKMeZ2
Full Rig Details: https://bit.ly/47JQxD9
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© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2023
00:00 - D'Addario When You Know You Know
00:15 - Pat Metheny Playing Intro
01:20 - John Bohlinger & Andre' Cholmondeley Intro
01:34 - Ibanez PM100 Pat Metheny Hollowbody
05:12 - Roland GR-303 Guitar & GR-300 Synth
08:56 - Taylor 8-String Acoustic
12:13 - Manzer Linda 6
13:24 - Manzer Pikasso 42-String Guitar
16:57 - Ibanez PM120 Pat Metheny Hollowbody
19:59 - 1970s Guild D-40
21:27 - Manzer Fanned-Fret Baritone
26:50 - Pat Metheny's Amps, Effects & Signal Flow
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Full Rig Details: https://bit.ly/SteveHackettRR
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“I always apologize to the two Erics [Clapton and Johnson], ‘You have no idea how much I’ve ripped from you,’” joked Joe Bonamassa during a recent video with YouTuber Rick Beato. The Grammy-winning bluesman followed that up with a gracious response: “We all get it from somewhere.”
That “somewhere” is a muse that molds every guitarist’s individualistic style and voice. For example, Eddie Van Halen shook the world and confounded guitarists with his explosive two-hand, finger-tapped “Eruption” performance on Van Halen’s 1978 debut. Yngwie Malmsteen put listeners in awe with his dazzlingly clean and swift sweep arpeggios. They both became synonymous with those talented techniques, and were heralded as pioneering groundbreakers. But where did they get the ideas from before expressing and executing them it in their signature style? Both took a page out Steve Hackett’s prog-rock playbook.
Hackett’s two-hand tapping technique can be heard in the early ’70s on Genesis’ albums Nursery Cryme and Foxtrot. Hackett’s sweep picking was first heard on the 1973 Selling England by the Pound track “Dancing with the Moonlit Knight.” Those contributions alone should’ve been enough to land Hackett in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. (His combined work on six Genesis albums in six years earned him a slot in 2010.) On top of that smashing success and influence, he’s recorded nearly 30 solo albums—ranging from prog-rock and blues to world and classical—over a dozen live albums, and even traded licks with Steve Howe in the short-lived supergroup GTR. Hackett might not be recalled like the other guitar greats, but without his shoulders to stand on, those first-name giants might not have shone as bright.
Hackett’s headlining Ryman Auditorium tour stop in late October 2023 celebrated the 50th anniversary of Genesis’ Foxtrot—a seminal, prog-rock tour de force that was recorded when singer Peter Gabriel, bassist/guitarist Mike Rutherford, drummer Phil Collins, keyboardist Tony Banks, and Hackett were in their early 20s. Before the show, PG’s Chris Kies was invited onstage to go over the minimal-but-mighty setup used by Hackett. First tech Vince O’Malley detailed a Fernandes goldtop (once owned by Gary Moore) with its limitless Sustainer circuit and a treasured nylon-string Alvarez built by master luthier Kazuo Yairi in the 1970s. Then Hackett himself joined the fun and plugged his Fernandes into his pedalboard to show off all the sounds, tones, and colors he requires to honor his days in Genesis.
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0:00 - D'Addario When You Know You Know
0:15 - Steve Hackett Playing Intro
0:36 - 1990s Fernandes Goldtop Owned by Gary Moore
2:56 - Strings & Baby Powder
3:31 - Steve Hackett's Adventurousness in Gear
5:13 - More on the Fernandes Goldtop
6:48 - 1970s Alvarez CY127ce
8:50 - Baby Powder?!
9:36 - Engl Powerball I & Marshall 1960A Cab
11:09 - Steve Hackett & His Pedalboard
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2023
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“Gear is meant to be destroyed in the line of duty,” laughs Ruban Nielson. “I realize I prefer to see my equipment all dinged up rather than sitting perfect in my basement—that’s a dorky thing to do.”
That doesn’t mean Nielson doesn’t care about his sound. He noted in a 2015 interview with PG that he spends countless hours in his basement tinkering on breadboard circuits and swapping out components, trying to maximize a pedal for his needs. “I like the idea that instead of buying your sound, you’re building your sound,” he said.
Over the course of 14 years, five albums, and thousands of touring miles, Nielsen has been custom-fabricating his guitar voice. But as we all know, the quest is never-ending, like trying to catch the horizon. After all, isn’t it the journey, not the destination, that matters?
“I used to be too much of a savage to care about a clean boost or headroom,” says Nielson. “‘Just give me a distortion pedal already!’ But now I’m exploring the intricacies, subtleties, and nuances of guitar.”
Ahead of Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s headlining performance at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl, Ruban Nielson welcomed PG’s Chris Kies onstage to explore his current sonic lab. Nielson covers his two space-age guitars (and what inspired them), explains how he convinced Benson to put a Monarch inside a vintage solid-state Yamaha, and details the pedals—including a few of his own designs—that extract a kaleidoscope of moods.
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Guitarist and singer-songwriter David Ryan Harris rose to prominence as a key part of John Mayer’s band between 2004 and 2012, and he’s backed everyone from Santana to Dave Matthews to Nick Jonas. But as a solo artist and bandleader, Harris has been spinning gorgeous R&B, blues, and funk for decades. Harris took PG's John Bohlinger through his current touring rig before a stop with Scary Pockets at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl on October 5.
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Two-time Grammy Award-winning rockabilly hero Brian Setzer recently played a sold-out show at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium in support of his new solo album, The Devil Always Collects. Tyler Sweet, who has teched for Setzer for 17 years, took PG’s John Bohlinger through the rig that rocked this town, and just about every other town in the world over Setzer’s 40 years of twanging and sanging.
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Formed in 1969 by slide guitar juggernaut Lowell George, disbanded after his death in ’79, then revitalized in 1987, Little Feet combines George’s bandmate and co-writer Fred Tacket along with virtuoso Scott Sharrad in their new recording and touring lineup. Tacket and Sharrad invited PG’s John Bohlinger to their soundcheck at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium to talk gear and tell classic stories from Little Feet’s early days.
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Irish rock band Fontaines D.C. is a dual-guitar ensemble featuring Carlos O’Connell and Conor Curley. At first, the duo used similar guitars, amps, and settings in an effort to work as a symbiotic saw buzzing their way through songs. The indistinguishable incisions lacerated their earliest work with angsty piss and vinegar. But as the quintet’s musicianship has evolved, they’ve embraced wider influences, adding different knives to their collection of cutlery. And more specifically, they’ve learned when to slice, when to dice, and how to work off each other.
“I think we’re trying to be more patient and more conscious of the texture,” Curley told PG in 2022, describing how he and O’Connell have worked together to refine their sound. “The first album was very much in a fighting mode,” he continues, “with the two guitars EQ’d the same and just smashing off each other. On the second one, we learned to play together a little better. We’re still working on it, and sometimes we still try to become as one almost, when the song needs it, but I think now we’ve learned to fit in with how we’re EQing everything. It feels really good.”
Ahead of their opening slot priming crowds for the Arctic Monkeys, O’Connell and Curley invited PG’s Chris Kies onstage at the Ascend Amphitheater in downtown Nashville. Carlos covered his favored Fender solidbodies, while Conor showed off his eclectic hollowbodies, and they both walked through their respective pedalboards.
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“‘Stumbled into guitar’ is a good way of putting our start with the instrument. [Spencer Stewart] and I formed the band in 2015 and that’s when I got my first electric guitar,” admits The Band CAMINO’s vocalist and guitarist Jeffery Jordan.
That sort of sideways T-bone collision into guitardom allows this pop-minded duo to avoid typical tonal tropes like worrying about tubes versus modeling, or imports versus custom. Their focus was and continues to be translating their danceable melodies into guitar-driven rompers and producing the best live show possible.
“We definitely enjoyed a pedalboard-and-amp-era of the band, but the tech has come so far and we’re able to eliminate so much room for error and potential inconsistencies, allowing for a freer performance,” adds Jordan.
As we quickly found out in our Rundown with Jordan and Stewart, the band’s approach favors execution over exhibitionism.
In mid-September, just before the band commenced their headlining Screaming in the Dark tour, in support of the just-released The Dark album, co-frontmen and dueling guitarists Jeffery Jordan and Spencer Stewart invited PG’s Chris Kies to rehearsal for a gear talk. The main chauffeurs of CAMINO explained how grabbing guitar later in life allowed them to avoid a lot of gear gossip and find tonal solutions that enrich their performances. Plus, they both discuss the stable of studs from Fender, Gibson, and Epiphone that give bounce and beauty to their merging of indie-rock and electropop.
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The 15-year history of Rig Rundown has established that guitar gear fascination (and obsession) runs deep in our community. It’s the life blood of our show. But if there was ever antithetical example to guitar gluttony and equipment idolatry, it would be American Football. Their original self-proclaimed “bedroom college project” focused on self-expression, musical creativity, and working with what you had, which wasn’t much.
For the recording of their pioneering American Football album released in 1999, they borrowed most of their gear, shared a single guitar cable and tuner, didn’t use bass, and formulated odd open tunings that allowed for sinuously melodic cinematic passages between Kinsella and Holmes. Their exploration of unique open tunings inspire a legion of players include 6-string virtuoso Yvette Young. (She now ships all her signature Ibanez guitars in a tricky open tuning—F–A–C–G–B–E—derived from American Football.) Their ingenious and scrappy methods went on to inform the brand of Midwest emo that simmered a devoted fanbase waiting for their return after disbanding in 2000. First returning to the stage in 2014 and delivering two more American Football albums in 2016 and 2019, the band continues using minimal gear for maximum art.
Ahead of American Football’s headlining show at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl, cofounding members Mike Kinsella (vocals/guitar) and Steve Holmes (guitar) invited PG’s Perry Bean onstage for a refreshingly practical gear chat. Kinsella recalls the band’s basic beginnings and explains how he starts every American Football demo. Then, Holmes shows off his “gorgeous and favorite” Tele. Plus, we encounter a Rig Rundown first where the tech has veto power over setlists.
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PG’s John Bohlinger hung with Alter Bridge’s two-man guitar army, Mark Tremonti and Myles Kennedy, before their sold-out show at The Orpheum Theater in Memphis. Tremonti and Kennedy showcased some beautiful signature Paul Reed Smith guitars, as well as a not-yet-released PRS signature amp.
Thanks to techs Dave Pate and Scott Davis for their help with the details.
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Emily Wolfe doesn’t play guitar. She bends it to her will. Like a bronco buster taming a stallion, she saddles up on her signature Sheratons and lets it rip. Much of the magic felt and heard on her self-titled debut was pure adrenaline hitting your speaker. And while her second album, 2021’s Outlier, incorporates Wolfe’s love of Motown grooves and modern-pop stickiness refreshening her songwriting with backdrops of more polished, waxy tones, but tumbleweed oscillation, helicopter, square-wave chops, and barbed-wire fuzz are still howls welcomed in this Wolfe pack.
“When I go up there, something could hit me at any point—an emotion that I felt 10 years ago could come out in a bend on the low E. There’s so much rawness [to classic rock]; the edges are not perfect, but there’s a magic in that,” explained Wolfe to PG.
But how do you marry earworm poppiness with a gunslinger’s approach to guitar?
“Some of my rock friends say, ‘Pop isn’t relevant,’ and I’m like, ‘What are you talking about—it’s everywhere!’ It’s so sticky for people, and that’s really fascinating to me. I want my music to have that quality … but also the realness of a raw guitar tone. [With Outlier] I wanted to make something that would be classic 10, 20, 30 years from now,” she told PG in 2021. “That was the goal, and I think we achieved it.”
Before Wolfe’s headlining show at Nashville’s Blue Room (located inside the Third Man Records compound), PG’s Chris Kies joined the shredding songwriter onstage to talk shop. The resulting conversation covers the development behind her Epiphone Sheraton, how a boring night in Cleveland spent with her “Chex-mix crushing, brother-in-tone” bass player Evan Nicholson convinced her play a doubleneck guitar, and we discover what three pedals work together to make what she describes as “the sound that belongs to me.”
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© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2023
00:00 - D’Addario XPND Pedalboard
00:15 - Emily Wolfe Playing Intro
00:34 - Chris Kies & Emily Wolfe Intro
01:08 - Epiphone Emily Wolfe Signature Sheraton Stealth
05:36 - Selecting the Epiphone Alnico Classic PRO pickups
08:48 - Emily Wolfe's Strings & Picks
10:31 - Epiphone Emily Wolfe "White Wolfe" Sheraton Signature
13:09 - Epiphone G-1275
17:05 - Fender Hot Rod DeVille 410 III
19:51 - Emily Wolfe's Pedalboard
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Steve Vai is much more than a great guitarist. The American guitarist has established himself as a key figure in guitar culture, and one of the world’s leading masters of shred. Vai broke on the scene in 1980 as Frank Zappa’s transcriptionist, until Zappa hired Vai, age 20, to join his touring band—Zappa allegedly called Vai his “little Italian virtuoso.”
Bolstering his guitar theatrics with sharp songwriting and producing, Vai went on to conquer the world of guitar music, winning three Grammys and selling 15 million records. PG was lucky to be invited to Vai’s recent show at the Country Music Hall of Fame’s CMA Theatre in Nashville, where his tech, Doug MacArthur, took John Bohlinger through Vai’s jaw-dropping current touring rig.
Special thanks to Doug MacArthur for explaining this incredibly complex rig.
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It might actually be easier to list the artists Derek Wells hasn’t worked with, than the ones with whom he has.
The Nashville-based multi-instrumentalist and producer has lent a hand to more than 100 number one singles over the years, with household staples like Kenny Chesney, Maren Morris, Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood, even Shakira. He’s also piled up production credits with artists like Hardy, Lainey Wilson, Maddie & Tae, and Scotty McCreery, and over the years he’s collected a flashy mantle’s-worth of awards: the Academy of Country Music named Wells their Guitar Player of the Year two times, and he was MusicRow’s 2022 Guitarist of the Year.
Wells invited PG’s John Bohlinger to the studio to run down his main recording rig.
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When some people travel, they take photos on their phone to remember the trip. Old-soul voyagers will recount their adventures with pen and paper. But for Alejandro and Estevan Gutiérrez, who together make the globetrotting Ecuadorian-Swiss duo Hermanos Gutiérrez, their experiences conjure soundtracks, and a visit years ago to the American Southwest changed their sound forever.
A couple years after forming their duo, the brothers took a trip through Death Valley and the Mojave Desert. “It just blew our minds,” Estevan told PG. The desert, he says, “is where our music was born.”
“Part of what we’re doing is traveling together as brothers,” Alejandro told PG in 2022. “We go to places, we come back and we’re feeling inspired, and we feel like we’ve gotta write something about this place.”
After finding bountiful inspiration in the West, the duo began turning out mystical compositions, like sonic souvenirs and passport stamps on their consciousness. “It’s just beautiful where we can go with this music,” Alejandro said last year. “It’s just my brother and I together, and we’re so happy to have this.”
The sold-out Hermanos Gutiérrez concert at Nashville’s Basement East on June 20th marked their first time performing in Music City since recording El Bueno Y El Malowith Dan Auerbach at Easy Eye Sound in 2022. The pair invited PG’s Chris Kies onstage to decode their spellbinding cinematic sounds. The conversation touched on their symbiotic alchemy, enchanting hollowbodies, and how a single Strymon reset their slow-burn backdrop.
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Nashville has long been the hub for all things country music but in the last two decades, transplant rockers like Jack White, the Black Keys, Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine, Judas Priest’s Richie Faulkner and others, have all have made the 615 home. Adding to its growth is the organic blossoms generated via the rock block, cultivating names like Paramore, All Them Witches, Bully, Moon Taxi, The Wild Feathers, The Band Camino, and the guitar extraordinaires that make up Diarrhea Planet.
We got caught up with the semi-retired fearsome foursome for their first headlining performance at the Ryman Auditorium ahead of their return to Bonnaroo. We covered why neck humbuckers are useless (but neck dives rule), how the whole band was gifted Klon KTRs, and what each shredator does to stand in and out among their collective guitarmegeddon.
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For more than two decades, trailblazing acoustic guitarists Rodrigo Sánchez and Gabriela Quintero have been blending metal, flamenco, pop, and jazz with their Grammy-winning duo Rodrigo y Gabriela, and they’re not showing any sign of slowing down. They’re currently on the road in support of their seventh full-length album, In Between Thoughts…A New World, released in April. It’s a characteristically adventurous endeavor, arranged as a single, album-length composition and augmented with electronics and orchestral elements.
The eclectic guitar maestros toured PG’s John Bohlinger through their respective rigs before their show at Nashville’s Historic Ryman Auditorium.
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A decade ago, Vince Gill and Paul Franklin recorded Bakersfield, a tribute to the raw-boned country music that came out of the rough-and-rowdy clubs patronized by oil-field hands and agricultural workers in the ’50s and early ’60s—packed with songs by Merle Haggard and Buck Owens. And we visited with them for a Rig Rundown then.
Now, just for the good times, these two legends of modern country music—the real deal kind—have recorded Sweet Memories: The Music of Ray Price & The Cherokee Cowboys. Price was known for his warm, baritone approach to melody, which is a perfect springboard for Gill’s and Franklin’s nuanced approaches to their own instruments.
If you don’t know Gill’s work, it’s about time you got informed. He has won more CMA Awards than any performer in history, plus 21 Grammys. He’s also sold more than 21-million albums and is currently in the Eagles, where his sweet tenor voice and skill with harmonies makes him a perfect match. (You can also hear Gill talk about his work on Cory Wong’s Wong Notes podcast, from November 2020.)
Although Franklin spends his time over the pedal steel, this artist is no slouch. He’s played on more than 500 albums, has been named Best Steel Guitarist by the Academy of Country Music multiple times, and is in the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame and the Musician’s Hall of Fame. Franklin is the most nominated artist in CMA history. He is also a member of Grammy-winning outfit the Time Jumpers.
Along with the PG video team, I met them at Gill’s Nashville studio, where they recorded Sweet Memories. The goal: to get a close-up look at Franklin’s steel rig and some of the incredible acoustic guitars Gill used on this album.
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Since the early ’70s, the guitar legend has trusted his 1960 “Hitmaker” Strat to turn out chart toppers that have changed the course of music history and shaped cultures around the world. We explore its unusual origins and DNA as well as uncover some ordinary tools making extraordinary grooves.
Guitarist and producer Nile Rodgers has received virtually every significant honorific that exists for musical achievement. He’s a hall-of-famer twice over, having been inducted to both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He’s won six Grammys, including the prestigious Lifetime Achievement award.
The accolades hardly begin to capture how monumentally important and influential Rodgers’ music career has been. Since beginning with his disco-funk-rock fusion outfit Chic in 1972, Rodgers has been pioneering musical language that, among other things, sparked the advent of hip-hop. He’s also the producer who introduced the world to Stevie Ray Vaughan via Bowie’s “Let’s Dance.”
Rodgers invited John Bohlinger and the PG team to the Chic show at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, where they met with his trusty tech Gert Marckx. Marckx took us through Rodgers’ streamlined touring rig, capped off with Rodgers’ holy grail guitar—the instrument that’s at least partially responsible for the sale of half a billion records around the world.
(Intro video captured by https://www.youtube.com/@Biorupp)
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00:00 - D’Addario XPND Pedalboard
00:15 - Nile Rodgers & Chic Perform "Let's Dance"
00:55 - John Bohlinger & tech Gert Marckx Intro
01:09 - Nile Rodgers' 1960 "Hitmaker" Stratocaster
05:27 - Fender Nile Rodgers Hitmaker Stratocaster Signature
06:23 - Nile Rodgers' Strings & Picks
06:54 - Nile Rodgers' Pedalboard
09:39 - Fender Hot Rod Deville 410s
10:35 - Keith Urban's Guest Rig
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2023
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It’d be hard to argue that anyone has changed their sound as much as Billy Strings has in the last 10 years. If you reference the pre-war traditional collaboration albums he first did with Don Julin (Rock of Ages and Fiddle Tune X), and his solo debut EP Billy Strings, and then witnessed one of his recent high-voltage shows, the songs and sounds are both worlds apart … yet familiarly rooted. He went from opening on the Bluegrass circuit to a crossover festival headliner that’s more Dead than Doc. He’s now filling arenas and amphitheaters as an evening-with performer that often crushes for over three hours by incorporating sideways jams and creative covers. However, each set still includes moments where the four musicians onstage stand around a single mic, just as their bluegrass forefathers did generations ago. So, even as he sends bluegrass into the cosmos, he keeps one foot planted in Appalachia.
Strings shared his thoughts on that juxtaposition during a 2019 PG interview: “Before writing my own music, I used to be boxed in by bluegrass, but enjoying other musical genres made me realize it’s a self-made, transparent box,” he said. “Music should be freeing, with no borders. I want to express myself emotionally with my guitar, however it pours out of me.”
When the Rig Rundown team traveled north to Indianapolis’ TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park, we didn’t know what to expect, but Strings’ full-monty setup did not disappoint. His rig still has delightful dreadnoughts, including some new old friends from Martin, but the many tricks rolled up his sleeve (or in his rack) allows this psychedelic sorcerer to cast spells over audiences all night long. Billy gave an hour to PG’s Perry Bean, where they covered electrifying acoustics, just whose ashes are in his 1945 Martin D-28, and how he continues coloring outside the traditional lines with stompboxes and modelers.
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Canadian alt-country group the Bros. Landreth have become known for bringing not just layers of blues, rock, and eclectic modern influence to the traditional country sound, but for Joey Landreth’s depth as a guitarist and stunning tone on the instrument.
Built on a lifetime of brothers Joey and Dave’s absorbing classic country music, the band was launched with the release of 2013’s Let It Lie, through which they not-long-after made a mark on the scene when the album garnered a JUNO Award for Roots and Traditional Album of the Year in 2015. Following the release of 2019’s ’87, the group later received another major accolade when Bonnie Raitt covered Let It Lie’s “Made Up Mind” on her 2022 release, Just Like That…
While the original lineup included drummer Ryan Voth and pianist Alex Campbell, and the band has toured with guitarist Ariel Posen, the brothers have since taken a step back from the larger band arrangement to lead as a duo. Their latest, 2022’s Coming Home, spotlights the two in that dynamic, while featuring a few backing players.
Joey Landreth hung with John Bohlinger and the PG team before the Bros. Landreth’s show at Nashville’s Riverside Revival, where Landreth played some mind-blowing guitar and demoed his unique method for reproducing his studio sound live.
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Kurt Ballou takes tone very seriously. He’s been on the leading edge of aggressive guitar sounds since 1990, and Converge’s fourth album, 2001’s Jane Doe, is still seen as a game-changing release, with its ferocious performances and masterful production. His sonic temple, God City Studio, is the destination for artists looking to make their rawest, heaviest, brutalist work. Ballou has even developed a gear brand (God City Instruments) that includes guitars, pedals, and pickups, all in the pursuit of turning ideas into art.
During our conversation before Converge’s sold-out performance at Nashville’s Basement East on May 22nd, Ballou dove into his Line 6 Helix spice rack and shared how 30 plus years as a guitarist and in-demand producer have informed his guitar-design philosophy. Plus, he detailed why his goal is to get to a place where “gear doesn’t matter.” And then, longtime bassist Nate Newton joined the fun by showing off his “Riffblaster” setup and how a special P-Bass helps him honor a dear friend.
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Tennessee has a rich tradition that has helped shape American music. Memphis was a big contributor to blues, soul, and early rock ’n’ roll thanks to Sun, Stax, and the influx of Delta musicians. Nashville has been the long-standing capital of country music, and more recently, has developed as a hotbed of Americana storytellers. The Smokies and the surrounding Appalachian areas have given us bluegrass and undeniable icon Dolly Parton. However, while metal has eluded the Volunteer State’s thumbprint, Whitechapel’s six roughriders from Knoxville are looking to change that by showing off something a little harder than peepaw’s moonshine.
Since 2006, the three-guitar stampede has dished out eight devastating albums that combine death metal, hardcore, and melodic black metal, proving the Smokies can slay. This spring, Whitechapel took to the road, playing their seventh album The Valley in its entirety, along with favorites from their earlier work. Originally, their final stop was slated to be Nashville’s Basement East, but after it quickly sold out, their promoters elevated them to Marathon Music Works (which, once again, sold out). And that’s where the Rig Rundown crew caught up with them to talk gear.
Whitechapel’s guitarists Zach Householder, Ben Savage, and Alex Wade and bassist Gabe Crisp invited PG’s Chris Kies sidestage to cover their signature guitars, the inner workings of their unusual Kemper profiles, and how flip-flopping DiMarzio humbuckers made all the difference.
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Over the last four decades, the courageous and creative Flaming Lips have put out 16 studio albums. Their genre is an alphabet soup that ranges from acid rock and ambient to zany psychedelia, all while pumping on a pop heartbeat. They’ve won three Grammys, written and filmed an alien colonization movie and soundtrack (Christmas on Mars), reimagined Dark Side of the Moon with Henry Rollins, had their hit “Do You Realize??” named the official rock song of Oklahoma, and of course, performed in bubbles before and during the pandemic.
As members of one of rock’s most adventurous bands, founding frontman Wayne Coyne and his longtime collaborator, multi-instrumentalist Steven Drozd (who originally joined the band in 1991 as a drummer), have tried almost everything, including transforming their sensitive-smash album, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, into a Broadway musical. And Yoshimi was back in the spotlight this spring as the Lips toured for its (delayed) 20th anniversary, playing it front to back for their show dates later in the season.
Before the band delighted a sold-out crowd at the Ryman Auditorium with Yoshimi and 11 other of their greatest hits, Drozd invited PG’s Chris Kies onstage to catalog his bizarre-yet-basic setup. Steven details the origins and deterioration of his 1967 Fender Jazzmaster (and why there’s a Hot Rails in the bridge), explains the superficial reason why his doubleneck only has one fretboard, and shows off a pedalboard that’s probably smaller than yours.
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Since we last saw Yvette Young in 2019, the guitar-playing musical illustrator has been challenged, and proven courageous.
“I went from a situation where I was afraid of one of my bandmates, and did what I needed to do to free myself from what I felt to be an emotionally, and thus creatively draining, situation,” Young revealed to PG earlier this year. She parted ways with Covet’s members during the recording sessions for the new album, Catharsis, and had the bass parts re-done by noted touring and session bassist Jon Button.
Through the writing and recording process she found personal purification. “I feel like, on Catharsis, some of the songs are a bit darker and it was definitely me having an outlet for some stuff that was painful, but a lot of it is uplifting and very happy and dance-y,” Young said. “Music is transformative. If you’re ever feeling in a bad mood, if you write music that sounds really happy, it can uplift you. Writing music that sounds like how you wish you felt can be really helpful sometimes.”
And while processing her feelings through the guitar, she became reinvigorated with the instrument and rediscovered its inherent joy.
“I really have to be my own fortress and I have to really stay in tune with what excites me,” admitted Young. “The direction I go in becomes really clear when I focus on what gives me goosebumps when I’m playing, what makes me jump up and down ’cause I’m so excited about it.”
Her charismatic, vivid guitar stories excite us, so we wanted to get the scoop on her ever-changing tools and palette. Weeks after releasing Catharsis, Yvette Young and her Covet bandmates headlined Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl. She invited PG’s Chris Kies onstage for a conversation covering her Ibanez YY10 signature models (and their potential upcoming changes), her dream pedal, and the key switches (and the alternative tones they produce) on her stomp station since the last Rundown.
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Maestro Warren Haynes invited PG’s John Bohlinger to Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium, where they hang out after Gov’t Mule’s soundcheck and take a tour through his live rig. This Gibson-heavy collection has been a 40-year-work in progress for the guitarist, who has spent his career playing with David Allan Coe, Dickey Betts, The Allman Brothers, The Dead, leading Gov’t Mule, and much, much more.
New Gov't Mule Album Peace...Like A River out 6/16.
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It’s all about the yin and yang … and the heavy guitar tones when Scott Holiday of Rival Sons plugs in and rocks out onstage. This year, the band has got something special cooking: a pair of albums, the just-released Darkfighter and the upcoming Lightbringer, speaking of yin and yang.
On the current Darkfighter tour, Rival Sons recently stopped at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works and invited PG onboard their stage for a tour of Scott’s gear. He’s made some changes since his 2017 Rig Rundown. He’s still a Firebird devotee, and that epic moustache is untouchable. But there are plenty of 6-string additions and some big changes in the amp department. Check it out!
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Two months ago, Lindsay Ell released her latest single, “Sweet Spot,” plus she’s on the way to issuing a new album, following up 2020’s Heart Theory. And for the tour leading into her next record, she’s also got a passel of updated gear since her 2018 Rig Rundown. No surprise, since there’s always something new happening with Ell—whether it’s touring under her own banner or with Shania Twain, scooping up Canadian Country Music Association awards, or serving as a judge on Canada’s Got Talent.
When it comes to guitars, Ell’s 6-string tastes run to the classics and custom-builds, and she’s got her signature OD aboard, so let’s take a look.
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Two months ago, Lindsay Ell released her latest single, “Sweet Spot,” plus she’s on the way to issuing a new album, following up 2020’s Heart Theory. And for the tour leading into her next record, she’s also got a passel of updated gear since her 2018 Rig Rundown. No surprise, since there’s always something new happening with Ell—whether it’s touring under her own banner or with Shania Twain, scooping up Canadian Country Music Association awards, or serving as a judge on Canada’s Got Talent.
When it comes to guitars, Ell’s 6-string tastes run to the classics and custom-builds, and she’s got her signature OD aboard, so let’s take a look.
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Theo Katzman plays with a fluency and fire that makes this guitarist, producer, singer, and songwriter an MVP of modern, funk-fueled rock and pop. At a recent gig at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl outpost, Katzman—who’s also a member of the formidable Vulfpeck collective—invited PG’s Rig Rundown team to soundcheck, to see the gear that makes his tone sing. And Katzman’s tech, Nick “Turk” Nagurka, provided assistance.
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Fourteen years after their Grammy-winning debut, Raising Sand, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss followed up with Raise the Roof—which was nominated for three more Grammys. Now on tour, the duo also has a new band that includes bassist Viktor Krauss, guitarist JD McPherson, and utility player Stuart Duncan. But before they hit the road, Krause, Duncan, and McPherson—and their techs Paul Ackling and Kevin Devogel— invited the PG team to a rehearsal at Soundcheck Nashville for a look behind the gear curtain. Here’s a sampling of what our team of John Bohlinger, Chris Kies, and Perry Bean saw. Watch the Rundown for the whole picture.
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Our third Rig Rundown with Periphery’s Jake Bowen, Mark Holcomb, and Misha Mansoor—at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works on April 2—caught the band on their final tour stop for a spring run in support of the brand-spankin’-new Periphery V: Djent Is Not a Genre. Our time with the triumvirate of tone reminded us that these fellas never rest their ears. They know gear and how to make it work for them. That’s why each of them has spent extensive time in several R&D collaborations with some of the biggest, most influential companies in guitardom. This time Bowen, Holcomb, and Mansoor all dish on the evolutions of their signature gear and how everything meshes and molds together for the greater, Transformer-like machine that is Periphery. Whether it’s going up to 27 frets, utilizing Alnico 8 magnets, or adding an Evertune bridge to compensate for deeply dropped tunings, this trio of tone hounds will sniff it out. Let’s dig in!
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“Tone is not important,” is an interesting phrase to hear while filming a Rig Rundown. But Underoath’s Tim McTague has good reason to shake his head at tone purists.
“Gear infatuation can be super cool because it’s a passion or a hobby, but it’s not necessary for me to do my job. I don’t want to degrade anyone who is into it, but it’s not my thing,” admits McTague.
So, what is his thing? We found that what he had to say during this Rundown echoed what he told PG in 2018 after recording Erase Me.
“One of the special things about Underoath is we’ve always been energy- and vibe-focused. We play as much or just enough to where it gets the point across.”
And during our Rundown, he continued along those sentiments: “To me, what’s important is energy and things that move the needle with a room full of people. My tech Diego Casillas is a tone geek, so when I can get someone to use technology that’s efficient for my onstage focus and sounds awesome, it’s really the perfect marriage.”
While he’s not precious about his gear, the resulting conversation with PG’s Perry Bean at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works before a sold-out show on April 2 was both provocative and pragmatic. He explained why he “doesn’t need to tour with nice guitars” but also acknowledged the benefit of digital gear and programming. He noted that he tries to keep it “punk rock as possible.” Then the next thing he said, sarcastically, was “wanna check out my computer?” All in all, what this Rundown lacks in guitar gluttony, it makes up for in rational substance.
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“Our relationship is everything about this band,” conceded Rebecca Lovell to PG in 2022. “The way that we communicate, the way that we play together, the way that we facilitate one another’s musicianship. It is the air that we breathe as a band, and everything revolves around our siblinghood.”
Their symbiotic sorcery has taken them from budding bluegrass pickers in the Lovell Sisters (then alongside older sister Jessica Lovell) to real-deal rockstars as Larkin Poe with several No. 1 albums on the Billboard blues chart. Since 2010, when the sisters regrouped as an electric duo, they’ve released six studio albums, five EPs, and one live set. Each musical installment from the twosome continues to bring fresh songwriting and sonic influences, further intensifying and enlivening their core chicken-fried, boot-stompin’, roots-rockin’ sound.
On the penultimate day of their first touring leg in support of 2022’s Blood Harmony, the sensational Larkin Poe sisters, Megan and Rebecca Lovell, welcomed PG’s Chris Kies onstage at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl to talk tone. Megan shows off her brand-new Beard signature Electro-Liege lap steel and a 1950s Rickenbacker B6, featuring some ingenious engineering that inspired the Liege’s unique silhouette. Rebecca explains how she fell for the HSS Stratocaster and why she’s finally ready to be in a committed relationship with fuzz. Plus, we find out who’s taking who’s gear when it comes to the Lovell sisters and their significant others.
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Tim Pierce’s guitar can be heard on more than a thousand recordings, starting in the ’80s, when he played on hits by Bon Jovi, John Waite, and Rick Springfield. In subsequent years, he’s added to his resume with recorded performances for Crowded House, Christina Aguilera, Seal, Avril Lavigne, Tracy Chapman, Joe Cocker, Ricky Martin, Meat Loaf, Rod Stewart, Elton John, Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, Rob Thomas, Rick Springfield, Phil Collins, Madonna, Toy Matinee, Don Henley, Santana, Rascal Flatts, Chris Isaak, Jewel, Faith Hill, Celine Dion, Dave Matthews Band, the Goo Goo Dolls, Lana Del Ray, Demi Lovato, Jason Mraz, Kelly Clarkson, and many more.
These days, Pierce also has a popular YouTube channel with more than 400,000 subscribers and offers an online masterclass program for thousands of users. You can get more information at timpierceguitar.com.
Meanwhile, here’s what we saw—and learned—when Pieces shared the wisdom and the gear he’s accumulated in four decades of playing sessions.
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Crobot’s hard-riffin’, smooth-groovin’ rock anthems often ride on the back of guitarist Chris Bishop’s handiwork. The guitarist carefully corrupts his tone with creative pedal tweaking, but he’s never lost sight of his role within the quartet.
“The groove is the most important thing in the song and, being the only guitar player, my main focus is to make sure that’s there,” explains Bishop to PG in 2016.
And when you’re opening for the party-rocking Steel Panther, no goal can be greater than making the crowd move ’n’ groove. Before Crobot’s set at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works, Bishop welcomed PG’s Chris Kies onstage to detail his trio of guitars—a beloved offset and a pair of P-90-loaded Teles—his parti-colored pedalboard, and the Victory VS100 Super Sheriff and Kemper Profiler that work together to create his massive sound.
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Steel: hard metal. Panther: one of the most ferocious animals. Put them together, and you have perhaps the greatest band of the 21st century. And, hot off the release of their latest, most ass-kicking album ever, Steel Panther is re-invading America. While in Nashville, before they played a blistering set for a packed crowd at Marathon Music Works, Panther’s lead guitarist Satchel invited PG’s John Bohlinger to soundcheck to show off his mighty rig.
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Eric Gales is back again. Since last chatting with John Bohlinger in 2017, the blues maestro’s rig has transitioned to include more signature Raw Dawg gear pieces—including pedals, amps, and, of course, his signature Magneto guitars. Just last year, the lefty slinger released the Grammy-nominated, Crown, which features collabs with his pal Joe Bonamassa. Gales was touring in support of that record when he rolled through Nashville.
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00:00 - D’Addario XPND Pedalboard
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18:06 - Future Plans
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Bush had an unbelievable debut with 1994’s Sixteen Stone that eventually surpassed 6x platinum status. The post-grunge juggernaut continued making moody, mercurial, and sometimes menacing music has continuing mutating while keeping them modern with a total of nine full-length releases with 2022’s The Art of Survival as their most recent chapter.
The band’s headlining Ryman tour stop was furthering their support for the October 2022 release where the camp invited PG’s Chris Kies onstage to catalog their compact setups. Guitarist Chris Traynor starts the chat covering his instruments that run the gamut from import steals to one-off custom baritones with and without frets. The baton gets passed to Gavin Rossdale tech Trace Foster who covers the frontman’s arsenal of Strats, SGs, and Jazzmasters before breaking down Rossdale’s core patches living within his Fractal Audio FM9.
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Right now, they’re in Europe, but Atlanta-based rockers with a distinctly Southern musical accent, Blackberry Smoke, smoked Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium for two nights in February before jumping the pond.
Their latest album, You Hear Georgia, was produced by Dave Cobb in Nashville, and hit the top of the Billboard Americana/Folk chart when it was released in mid-2021. PG’s John Bohlinger caught up with guitarists Charlie Starr and Paul Jackson before their sold-out show at the Ryman to run down their ever-expanding universe of gear.
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It’s been 11 years since Kenny Wayne Shepherd filmed his previous Rig Rundown. PG’s John Bohlinger caught up with the blues-rocker before his recent sold-out show at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium to hear some killer playing and see some untouchable—by anyone but Kenny and his tech—gear.
The tour stop was supporting the December 2022 release of Trouble Is … 25, a re-recording of his 1997 breakthrough album, which had four top 10 hits when it was originally issued: “Slow Ride,” “Somehow, Somewhere, Someway,” “Everything is Broken,” and “Blue on Black.” There have been seven other studio recordings since then, and while he’s still mostly a Strat player, some other instruments have joined his armada, too. And Dumbles … he has lots of Dumbles.
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College internships can run the gamut. They can lead you into a career or dissuade you from pursuing one altogether. In 2004, while still attending the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, singer Rachael Price, bassist Bridget Kearney, guitarist Mike “McDuck” Olson, and drummer Mike Calabrese joined forces to perform as what they dubbed a “free country band,” where they intended to play country music in an improvised, avant-garde style. As it goes with many college-years experiments, it didn’t stick, but the fervid foursome pushed forward in continuing to develop their own sound. They quickly graduated to a bona fide band cultivating a buzz with infectious concerts, creative covers, and complex, groovy originals. Through their mutual influences and complimentary counterpoints, their sound matured into a harmonious fusion, as if Berry Gordy produced the Beatles in Nashville’s RCA Studio.
If starting a band and shaping their sound was an internship and bachelor’s degree, self-releasing records and organizing U.S. tours would be their master’s and doctorate. They self-released 2007’s In This Episode... and 2008’s Promises, Promisesbefore joining Signature Sounds, who put out 2010’s Lake Street Dive and 2014’s Bad Self Portraits. (The latter slotted them on the Billboard charts—No. 18 in the 200 and No. 5 in Top Rock Albums.) They then signed to Nonesuch, where they’ve dropped three more albums—most notably 2016’s Side Pony, which put them atop the Top Rock Albums chart, while 2021’s Obviously netted them their highest single, with “Hypotheticals” hitting No. 2 on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart.
And while the band has continued to evolve, experiment, and expand their signature sound, they have kept to their core identity—having fun. They seem never to miss a Halloween dress-up show, and still aren’t gun-shy about covering classics and making them their own. Setlists are often littered with audience requests and reinterpretations of the Beatles, Hall & Oates, George Michael, Bonnie Raitt, Elvis, Shania Twain, the Pointer Sisters, the Jackson Five, the Kinks, Steely Dan, Annie Lennox, Sly & the Family Stone, and countless others.
The afternoon before their second consecutive sellout at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, Lake Street Dive’s Bridget Kearney and James Cornelison welcomed PG’s Chris Kies on stage for a casual gear chat. Kearney explained how she uses a pair of octave pedals through her standup double bass, and what she’s doing with four tuners! Plus, she explains what restarted her slow-burn courtship with electric bass. Then, Cornelison walks us through his setup, which includes leftover pieces from cofounding guitarist Mike “McDuck” Olson and a ratty pickup bought off a former PGstaffer. It both honors the band’s catalog and carves his own musical fingerprint.
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“I feel like a lot of people, when they see me play, they think, ‘Oh, it's going to be super aggressive, and there's a lot of shades of that,” shares Jared James Nichols. “But I'm so obsessed with the tone, the feel of it…. Growing up listening to Jeff Beck, Albert King, guys like that; the super feel stuff to me is where it's at.”
That sentiment is overwhelmingly clear when hearing just a single note of Nichols’ playing. And what makes his musicianship that much more compelling is his abandonment of the pick—most of the time, he’s not really “fingerpicking,” but he uses his fingers to shred like any picking guitarist. He explains, “I'm a lefty, so that's where it originated. I tried to use a pick, and I was really uncoordinated. I can play a lot of the same riffs that someone could do with a pick, but play ’em and they sound a lot different.”
Earlier this year, Nichols came out with his third full-length release, Jared James Nichols, which adds to his catalog 12 more dirt-covered, gritty tunes that dig in with his infectious passion and signature, glistening tone. The album comes on the heels of Nichols’ growing success, bolstered by his extensive touring and tens and thousands of new fans.
Given his commitment to Les Pauls, it’s fitting that Nichols was born in Waukesha, Wisconsin, the birthplace of the guitar’s namesake inventor. Now, Nichols is a global ambassador of Gibson Guitars, an honor shared by only four other guitarists. And, since his last Rig Rundown, he was honored with a signature Epiphone guitar. In this new look at his rig, he shares his legion of trusty Les Pauls, as well as why he prefers simplicity when it comes to amps and pedals.
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Since their debut, Before the Sun Goes Down, in 2014, Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley have made a name for themselves as some of the hottest country and bluegrass players in the business. As individuals, their credits range from Willie Nelson to Earl Scruggs to Merle Haggard—and as a duo, they’ve toured and recorded with artists including Tommy Emmanuel, Taj Mahal, Jorma Kaukonen & Hot Tuna, Luther Dickinson, and Molly Tuttle. It’s likely their forthcoming full-length release, Living in a Song, will only bolster their already impressive reputation.
Out on February 10th, Living in a Song is a new collection of two covers and 10 originals that were inspired by Ickes and Hensley’s life on the road. They collaborated with long-time producer Brent Maher (Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson) along with some award-winning songwriters to compose a total of 40 songs, which were then trimmed down to the resulting selection. That final cut of material leans into a classic country sound, with some Americana and bluegrass thrown in.
Along with the aforementioned credits, Ickes and Hensley have long been established, separately, as formidable musicians. Ickes has been International Bluegrass Music Association Dobro Player of the Year an incredible 15 times, and Hensley made his debut performance at the Grand Ole Opry at just 11 years old. In other words, the two have been around the block, and especially know their way around dobros and flattop acoustics.
Earlier this month, PG’s John Bohlinger met up with the duo at 3Sirens Studio in Nashville, where they played some mind-blowing music, and gave a rundown of some of their favorite guitars and gear.
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“You gotta remember, I wasn’t really shit until about a year-and-a-half ago,” Bartees Strange reminds the crowd at Nashville’s Basement East just before performing his song, “Hennessy.” “I was just in my basement playing guitar. And my wife was like, ‘Do the dishes ... Do something other than play guitar.’ Now all I do is play guitar again [laughs].”
Strange (born Bartees Leon Cox, Jr.), is a sponge and synthesis of everywhere he’s been and everything he’s seen or heard. Born in England and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, his experience performing with Brooklyn-based post-hardcore outfit Stay Inside and a later move to Washington D.C. have all contributed to his singular cosmic sound. He notes during the Rundown that, as an adolescent, his guitar heroes were Thomas Erak of the Fall of Troy and Omar Rodríguez-López of At the Drive-In and the Mars Volta. But in the next sentence, he confesses his love for Nelly.
“I always thought people aren’t really honest all the time with what they’re listening to,” asserts Strange. “I think a lot of people like a lot of things. I grew up in a pretty country town, and everyone would say they just like country music. But I was like, ‘You like the Nelly record, dog. You like Get Rich or Die Tryin', man, and you also like LeAnn Rimes and Toby Keith songs, and Brad Paisley’s guitar playing. But you also jam B2K and pop songs, too.’ I’ve never been afraid or ashamed of what I like, so it all goes into my own music.”
What he’s been saying through 2020’s Live Forever and 2022’s Farm to Table has been connecting with fans and critics alike. The magnetism is Strange’s smooth synergy. This allows him to touchpoint influences from albums like Nelly’s Country Grammar, At the Drive-In’s Relationship of Command, the National’s Boxer, and Phoebe Bridger’s Punisher into one harmonious, original package that has landed him on dozens of year-end lists and earned him an 83/100 rating from Metacritic for both of his full-length releases. [Editor’s Note: The Metacritic website uses their proprietary Metascore to distill the opinions of the most respected critics’ writing online and in print to a single number.]
Finishing his earlier thought to the Nashville crowd, he summarized: “‘Hennessy’ is a song I wrote when I was a kid, and growing up I thought there was all these weird stereotypes I had to get over to become who I am … [The hook of the song is meant] to kind of say, I know there’s all these expectations of what a black person does … but I just want you to see me for who I am and for what I’m trying to say.”
He might not have been “shit” 18 months ago, but he’s certainly on his way to becoming the something of the sort in the coming years. We’ll be here listening and appreciating.
Ahead of Strange’s final 2022 tour date supporting Farm to Table, Bartees and his guitar-playing compatriots welcomed PG’s Chris Kies onstage at Nashville’s Basement East to talk shop. During the interview, the trio explained how their “guitar wars” create a compatibly melodic arms race and structure their cohesive sound. We get introduced to a collection of oddball axes and go through their collective setups—which Strange fondly refers to as “Tone Capital”—assisted by a store’s-worth inventory of pedals. Plus, stick around after the Rundown to check out a heartfelt message from Bartees and the band’s wonderful performance of “Hennessy.”
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When it comes to jazz virtuoso Julian Lage, you’d be hard-pressed to find an electric guitarist who uses less gear. “Any time I’ve [used too much equipment], there’s an awkwardness where I’m still grappling with the fact that I play here,” he says, gesturing to his guitar, then gesturing to his amp, “but the sound comes out there.” He continues, “It sounds like a joke, but it’s been a struggle for me. Any time there’s layers or filters or anything, I feel dissociated.” Of course, Lage’s rig, which buoys his clean, no-frills tone, makes sense for a musician like himself—whose playing often comes across fluidly, and as gently as his personality.
For Lage, that fluidity stems from his conception of music as a language. “I think that the way people speak is often more unfettered,” Lage told Premier Guitar in 2021. “There might not be an obvious correlation between the way people speak in a lecture and the notes on the guitar. But it's just a little stretch of the imagination to see that those are pitches, those are rhythms, those are phrases."
On View with a Room, Lage’s second release on the hallowed Blue Note Records, he’s offering a fresh, bold continuation of the conversation he’s created over the years. The album features his latest ensemble, made up of himself, bassist Jorge Roeder, and drummer Dave King—but this time, he’s added the legendary Bill Frisell. Together, the musicians help to expand Lage’s body of work with performances of 10 of his original compositions.
While on tour for the album, Lage invited PG’s John Bohlinger to the soundcheck before his show at Brooklyn Bowl inn Nashville to share his insights into why he likes a straightforward rig and “honest” tone. In the interview, Lage elaborates on his three main guitars (his Nachocaster, Collings signature, and ’55 Les Paul), explains why he prefers low volume on his amps, and offers a remarkably brief tour of his pedalboard.
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We’ve featured loud rigs. We’ve stood strong in front of Matt Pike’s octet of Oranges, been washed over with waves of volume from Angus Young’s nine Marshalls for AC/DC’s “small gig setup” in an arena, trembled from J Mascis’ three plexi full stacks, and even withstood Bonamassa’s barrage of seven amps at the Ryman, but nothing prepared us or compared to the Godzilla-rising-from-the-Pacific roar that is Sunn O)))’s auditory artillery. And it’s more than the sheer sight of 14 amps and 16 cabs or the dishing of deafening decibels; it’s the interplay of these characters and their conductors.
“The third member of the band is the amplifiers!” laughed Greg Anderson in a 2014 interview with PG. “We use vintage Sunn Model Ts from the early ’70s. They’re a crucial part of the show. I’ve got more amps than I have guitars.”
Stephen O’Malley takes a more metaphysical outlook to the connection between him and the thundering Model Ts. “My philosophy is that I’m just part of this bigger circuit of the instrumentation,” he says. “You have, of course, the amplifier valves, the speaker, effects pedals acting like different and various voltage filters, the air in the room, and the feedback generated from all this equipment, so who’s in the band is immaterial.”
We learned more about O’Malley’s perspective when, following a 90-minute drive southeast from Nashville to Pelham, Tennessee, and a short descent into The Caverns, the Sunn O))) guitar tag team welcomed PG’s Chris Kies onstage for an amplifying chat. O’Malley details his signature Travis Bean Designs SOMA 1000A, while Anderson explains how a broken guitar led him to his beloved Les Paul goldtop. Both pay homage and reverence to the eight Sunn Model Ts that form the band’s foundational tonal force, and explain why the LM308-chip Rat influenced their Life Pedal collaboration with EarthQuaker Devices.
Special Silver 25th anniversary edition of the V.3 Life Pedal
Sunn O)) Official Website
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KingTone’s The Duellist is currently Ariel Posen’s most-used pedal. One side of the dual drive (the Bluesbreaker voicing) is always on. But there’s another duality at play when Posen plugs in—the balance between songwriter and guitarist.
“These days, I like listening to songs and the story and the total package,” Posen told PG back in 2019, when talking about his solo debut, How Long, after departing from his sideman slot for the Bros. Landreth. “Obviously, I’m known as a guitar player, but my music and the music I write is not guitar music. It’s songs, and it goes back to the Beatles. I love songs, and I love story and melody and singing, and there was a lot of detail and attention put into the guitar sound and the playing and the parts—almost more than I’ve ever done.”
And in 2021, he found himself equally expressing his yin-and-yang artistry by releasing two albums that represented both sides of his musicality. First, Headway continued the sultry sizzle of songwriting featured on How Long. Then he surprised everyone, especially guitarists, by dropping Mile End, which is a 6-string buffet of solo dishes with nothing but Ariel and his instrument of choice.
But what should fans expect when they see him perform live? “I just trust my gut. I can reach more people by playing songs, and I get moved more by a story and lyrics and harmony, so that’s where I naturally go. The live show is a lot more guitar centric. If you want to hear me stretch out on some solos, come see a show. I want the record and the live show to be two separate things.”
The afternoon ahead of Posen’s headlining performance at Nashville’s Basement East, the guitar-playing musical force invited PG’s Chris Kies on stage for a robust chat about gear. The 30-minute conversation covers Posen’s potent pair of moody blue bombshells—a hollow, metal-bodied Mule Resophonic and a Fender Custom Shop Jazzmaster—and why any Two-Rock is his go-to amp. He also shares his reasoning behind avoiding effects loops and volume pedals.
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Swarms of musicians and guitarists have found social media’s current 60-second attention span inspirational and fruitful. But what happens after that first minute? Well, for TikTok bass tycoon Blu DeTiger, you become a shooting star. However, her story isn’t that sudden or serendipitous. She’s been working towards the spotlight since she first picked up the bass to jam with her drummer brother, Rex, at age 7.
“He was playing drums and I wanted to play an instrument,” recalls DeTiger. “As a girl, I thought guitar was ‘mainstream’ because I saw that everywhere and thought bass was rare and it would be more unique to play. I fell in love with it and my passion took over.”
Further fanning her musical flame, she joined School of Rock and performed semester-ending concerts covering Zeppelin, Bowie, Prince, the Stones, and others. She collaborated and performed with Chromeo and Jack Antonoff’s Bleachers. Inspired by horn-playing DJs, she even toted her bass to DJ gigs, where she laid down the funkiest lines she could muscle out over the top of her playlists.
“I saw people playing saxophone or trumpet over songs they were DJ-ing and I had really never seen bass used in that context. Bass is fire and it should feel good in a club because of the low frequencies hitting you.” An added benefit of the symbiotic sets was elevating her improvisational skills.
Then, the pandemic hit and DeTiger took to social media, finding a creative outlet on TikTok by adding dance-y flourishes and bouncy thunder to classic tracks. She earned a spot helping announce Fender’s Player Plus P and scored a deal with ALT:VISION Records, releasing the How Did We Get Here? EP in early 2021. She’s since graduated to being an UMG Recordings/Capitol Records artist and continues to embrace the snippet culture by churning out singles: “Blondes,” “Blutooth,” “enough 4 u,” “Crash Course,” and “Hot Crush Lover.” Yeah, you might only see 60 seconds of her talent before the algorithm pushes you by, but she’s put in years of sweat to get this far. What’s the plan going forward? To throw one helluva party, of course!
Ahead of her headlining set at Nashville’s Basement East, the booming bass star jumped at the chance to give her eager fans what they’ve been asking for—a Rig Rundown. In the chat with PG’s Chris Kies, she covers why she saw the bass as an underdog, how a Jazz tops a P bass, and explains the reason behind not going through her “crazy pedal phase” yet.
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We revisited setups for Anthrax, Megadeth, Guthrie Govan, Bonamassa, and others, introduced ourselves to Cory Wong's and Wolf Van Halen's gear, but who's guitarsenal got the most clicks?
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Inspired to by play guitar by his 6-stringing father, Shawn Tubbs emerged from the Christian-music scene. By his late teens, he was doing club and session gigs, and became part of The Violet Burning. In 1992, he played with Stone Temple Pilots on an episode of MTV Unplugged, then got deeper in the high-profile Nashville session scene, and began touring with Carrie Underwood. He’s since stopped road-tripping in favor of the studio, where he’s a first-call player and his credits include recent work with David Crosby. The 30-year-veteran guitarist’s current album, Demolition, A Collection of Short Jams, can be heard on SoundCloud, and he’s got a popular YouTube channel, but you can hear him demo is own gear in this Rig Rundown, filmed at his home studio.
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When you produce acts like Taylor Swift, Fall Out Boy, Panic at the Disco, Weezer, Green Day, Pink, Rayland Baxter, Keith Urban, and Harry Connick Jr., it’s hard to find time for your own music. Yet in 2022, Butch Walker managed to release his 10th album, Butch Walker as … Glenn—a surprising tribute to the ’70s piano-rock balladeers that were among the rulers of FM radio in his youth. Nonetheless, that didn’t stop him from bringing a fleet of cool Fender and Gibson guitars, and a hemi of an amp, a Two-Rock Bloomfield Drive, on his recent It’s About Damn Tour tour.
For Walker, playing those guitars is something of a comeback celebration. In 2007, the house he was renting in Malibu from Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers caught fire and the Rome, Georgia, native lost the collection of classic axes he’d spent a lifetime accumulating, as well as the masters to every song of his own that he’d recorded. As Walker explains in the Rundown, it was a hard lesson about keeping up with insurance and making sure all his valuable instruments are covered—which they weren’t.
Today, he splits time in Nashville, where he’s also built a new version of his RubyRed studio in the old Warner Music building, from the 1950s. As Walker said in a Facebook post. “There’s been countless hits and amazing country and rock ’n’ roll songs recorded here over the years. It smells a little funny. It’s maybe haunted (hell, it was a morgue at one time). But I love it. It’s got vibe for days, sounds incredible, and people dig working here.”
So, dig into Walker’s Rig Rundown, which we filmed in November at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl.
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Trivium steadily raised its metal flag through the old-fashioned method—relentless touring. The band took any and all opening slots, priming crowds for Metallica, Iron Maiden, Killswitch Engage, Machine Head, DragonForce, Korn, and Megadeth before graduating to headliner status. That constant grind was fueled by 10 full-length releases that incorporate varying tints and tinges of their three core musical tenets: metalcore, melodic death metal, and thrash. (The band derives their name from a Latin word that means “three-way intersection,” describing their combination of these aggressive subgenres.)
And while tone dictates many decisions made by a guitarist, touring comes with a cost and might be the one thing that could trump a player’s desired setup or sound. Now, with elevated gas prices, venues fleecing bands for merch cuts, and overall hiked inflation, many artists are having to compromise and condense their live arsenal. Thankfully, digital modelers like the Fractal Axe-Fx and Kemper Profiler have made that decision easier (or harder, depending where one sits on the digital-versus-analog debate). Trivium embraced the future in the early 2010s, when they shifted towards the Axe-Fx II and then pivoted to the Kemper Profiler.
“We were one of the first bands to use Axe-Fx and Kemper, and both those things rule,” says Matt Heafy. So, it’s rare to see a hard-charging, globetrotting force like Trivium—who were rocking Kempers during our 2014 Rig Rundown—return to their roots, blasting through furious 5150-style heads after nearly a decade on the digital dial.
“In 2019, when we were in the studio recording What the Dead Men Say, we didn’t have any amps and it was a bummer. We had to scramble to find somebody who had tube amps that we could use to track, so after we finished that album, I never wanted to be stuck in that situation again. I scoured Reverb and bought all my favorite amps and everything we used for all our past albums. Through that process, I really got back into messing with gear,” explains Corey Beaulieu.
Onstage, the return of the stacks enhanced their performance. “The modelers had a slight latency—I don’t think the crowd noticed the difference—and I felt that if we could shave off a little bit of that by bringing back the amps, reducing the response even closer to zero, we’d be better for it. We’ve just really loved returning to live tube heads.”
The afternoon ahead of Trivium’s headlining performance at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works on October 14, guitarists Beaulieu and Heafy joined PG’s Chris Kies to cover the pair’s smorgasbord of signature gear—they know what they like, and brands are eager to hit their high standards—and why they transitioned back to traditional tube-drenched tone.
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Rut busting and reconstructing has probably been happening since the discovery of fire and advent of the wheel. Guitarists confront it each time they pick up a new instrument to avoid predictable patterns and tones. Premier Guitar contributor (and recent Rig Rundown subject) Pete Thorn has addressed this by suggesting several practices to approach our beloved 6 strings in a fresh perspective. And recently John Bohlinger recommended playing a different instrument to fertilize musical crops. But what does a guitar-playing producer and multi-instrumentalist do to shake things up for his band’s fourth album? Well, for Puscifer’s Mat Mitchell and the band’s 2020 release, Existential Reckoning, you go back in time 40 years to 8-bit synth sounds and the archaic sampling lurking inside the proto-digital Fairlight CMI.
“Part of [the appeal],” Mitchell told PG in a 2021 interview, “is the flow—the way that you work when you’re using these tools. It forces you to do things differently. They are very limited, and being creative within very set boundaries is really good.” And being the creative force he is, Mitchell found gold in the antiquated sounds and tech.
“They sound very unique,” he explains. “Of course, you can sample one and put it in a laptop, but it’s different. All the voices are separate hardware. When you hit a note, it is bouncing around between [processor] cards, so you can hit a note five times and it may sound different all five times. There are all these little things that affect the way it sounds when you’re performing, which is a very different sound from what you get when you sample.”
But he would never tour with this digital dino, so how does Mitchell recreate 8-bit tones in a performance setting? Thankfully, moments ahead of the audience filling the pews of Nashville’s iconic Ryman Auditorium, Puscifer’s aural architect welcomed PG’s Chris Kies for a chat about how Existential Reckoning’s inspiration took him back to the future, and how his live rig has metamorphized and been miniaturized with contemporary gear to realistically represent those superannuated sounds.
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The Smashing Pumpkins' first two albums, Gish and Siamese Dream, were a huge part of the soundtrack for the early ’90s alternative rock revolution. Still sounding revolutionary all these years later, the band’s leader, Billy Corgan, recently brought the Smashing Pumpkins to Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena for the Spirits on Fire tour, on the heels of their 11th studio album, Atum: A Rock Opera in Three Acts.
The concept album is a sequel to the Smashing Pumpkins’ definitive three-LP masterwork Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, from 1995—which also brought them crushing into the mainstream. Acts two and three of Atum are scheduled for January and April 2023. But meanwhile, there are live shows … and all the gear it takes to recreate more than three decades years of the band’s signature sounds. PS: Special thanks to super-tech Trace Davis for his help with the fine points.
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If you were to ask my wife, “What two things sum up Chris?” … she’d likely respond with “grilled meats and heavy metal.” So, given the chance to interview the self-appointed (and unchallenged) founders of “Drive-Thru Metal” that solidified their crispy claim with classic cuts “Frying Pan,” “Sweet Beef,” and “Pair-a-Buns,” I ordered a full plate.
The thing is, you don’t just interview guitarist Slayer MacCheeze and bassist Grimalice. Not because they’re from the “bowels of outer space” and don’t speak or understand English. They converse quite well. But these seasoned freaks don’t do anything for free. Everything’s on the menu and it’s all for sale. Thankfully, minutes before doors opened at Nashville’s longstanding rock beacon, Exit/In, Mac Sabbath’s techs Bill Woodcock and Jonathan Hischke summarized their monster masters’ tangy tone tools. The flash-fried, seedy conversation quickly taps some key signature gear of another Sabbath that equally sweetens and thickens the band’s sound like a condensed and chilled milkshake. Plus, there’s a story about how one fateful Black Friday deal provided an iconic, golden-arch bass. Here’s to a fun-hearted Rundown with the Milky Way marauders that fight back against stale food and rotten riffs. And by the end, we bet you’ll be saying “I’m loving it.”
Pete Thorn has constructed a dream career on being heard, not seen. He’s toured the world backing Chris Cornell, Don Henley, Melissa Etheridge, Jewel, and Japanese rock icon Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi (even performing at Mt. Fuji for over 100,000 fans on the biggest concert stage ever assembled in Japan). For a self-proclaimed “guitar nerd” (check out Pete’s 2011 album under the same name), it was a 21st century guitarist’s goal. After that, what does one do in between tours to stay busy and relevant in a modern world? You become a beloved YouTuber, of course!
His channel is a great destination for gear demos and comparisons, but Pete’s content stands out with his simple, and east-to-apply tone tips. (It’s worth noting that Pete did this very thing inside Premier Guitar for years with his “Tone Tips” column. Check it out!) The fun, diverse, informative videos Thorn has delivered have blossomed into a parallel profession with a built-in audience pushing 250k subscribers.
While PG was on the road in SoCal, Thorn graciously invited Chris Kies into his Hollywood-based recording sanctuary, where his YouTube channel takes form. The hour-long chat covers Thorn’s signature Suhr gear (guitars, amps, and humbuckers), he shows how his setup can switch between eight tube amps in a flash (only outdone by his ability to interchange cabs, mics, and speakers in a snap), and we dive deep into Pete’s primary pedalboard.
Brought to you by D’Addario XS Coated Strings.
Pete Thorn has constructed a dream career on being heard, not seen. He’s toured the world backing Chris Cornell, Don Henley, Melissa Etheridge, Jewel, and Japanese rock icon Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi (even performing at Mt. Fuji for over 100,000 fans on the biggest concert stage ever assembled in Japan). For a self-proclaimed “guitar nerd” (check out Pete’s 2011 album under the same name), it was a 21st century guitarist’s goal. After that, what does one do in between tours to stay busy and relevant in a modern world? You become a beloved YouTuber, of course!
His channel is a great destination for gear demos and comparisons, but Pete’s content stands out with his simple, and east-to-apply tone tips. (It’s worth noting that Pete did this very thing inside Premier Guitar for years with his “Tone Tips” column. Check it out!) The fun, diverse, informative videos Thorn has delivered have blossomed into a parallel profession with a built-in audience pushing 250k subscribers.
While PG was on the road in SoCal, Thorn graciously invited Chris Kies into his Hollywood-based recording sanctuary, where his YouTube channel takes form. The hour-long chat covers Thorn’s signature Suhr gear (guitars, amps, and humbuckers), he shows how his setup can switch between eight tube amps in a flash (only outdone by his ability to interchange cabs, mics, and speakers in a snap), and we dive deep into Pete’s primary pedalboard.
Brought to you by D’Addario XS Coated Strings.
When Joe Robinson was learning to play in the remote village of Temagog, New South Wales, Australia, YouTube was his teacher. Then he discovered Tommy and Phil Emmanuel—Australia’s sibling 6-string slicers—and set out on a path that would lead him to Nashville, where he’s been a part of the city’s guitar cognoscenti for the past 13 years. At 31, Robinson’s fans include https://www.premierguitar.com/rig-rundown-tommy-emmanuel-cgp (Tommy Emmanuel) (who’s been a committed mentor), https://www.premierguitar.com/rig-rundown-steve-vai (Steve Vai), https://www.premierguitar.com/rig-rundown-robben-ford (Robben Ford), https://www.premierguitar.com/gear/rig-rundown-eric-johnson-2018 (Eric Johnson), https://www.premierguitar.com/gear/rig-rundown-totos-steve-lukather (Steve Lukather), https://www.premierguitar.com/gear/rig-rundown-albert-lee (Albert Lee), https://www.premierguitar.com/gear/rig-rundown-deep-purples-steve-morse (Steve Morse), and https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/guitarists/lee-ritenour-dreamcatcher (Lee Ritenour). He’s released six acclaimed albums, performed in 40-plus countries, and continues to serve a large online audience through livestream concerts and his own popular YouTube channel. Robinson shared his current touring rig before an October 18 show at his adopted hometown’s City Winery. Brought to you by https://ddar.io/XSE.RR (D’Addario XS Coated Strings).
When Joe Robinson was learning to play in the remote village of Temagog, New South Wales, Australia, YouTube was his teacher. Then he discovered Tommy and Phil Emmanuel—Australia’s sibling 6-string slicers—and set out on a path that would lead him to Nashville, where he’s been a part of the city’s guitar cognoscenti for the past 13 years. At 31, Robinson’s fans include https://www.premierguitar.com/rig-rundown-tommy-emmanuel-cgp (Tommy Emmanuel) (who’s been a committed mentor), https://www.premierguitar.com/rig-rundown-steve-vai (Steve Vai), https://www.premierguitar.com/rig-rundown-robben-ford (Robben Ford), https://www.premierguitar.com/gear/rig-rundown-eric-johnson-2018 (Eric Johnson), https://www.premierguitar.com/gear/rig-rundown-totos-steve-lukather (Steve Lukather), https://www.premierguitar.com/gear/rig-rundown-albert-lee (Albert Lee), https://www.premierguitar.com/gear/rig-rundown-deep-purples-steve-morse (Steve Morse), and https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/guitarists/lee-ritenour-dreamcatcher (Lee Ritenour). He’s released six acclaimed albums, performed in 40-plus countries, and continues to serve a large online audience through livestream concerts and his own popular YouTube channel. Robinson shared his current touring rig before an October 18 show at his adopted hometown’s City Winery. Brought to you by https://ddar.io/XSE.RR (D’Addario XS Coated Strings).
When Chris Shiflett left No Use for a Name and joined the Foo Fighters in 1999, he almost had no gear. The band was rehearsing to support their third album, There Is Nothing Left to Lose, and leader Dave Grohl was doing an inventory check on their newest member. “Dave asked me how many guitars I had, and I said, ‘Well, I have two, but one has a broken headstock,’” recalls Shiflett. “Dave chuckled and said, ‘We gotta get you a few more guitars.’” The duo ventured down to Sunset Boulevard hitting all the guitar shops and Grohl gifted Shifty a pair of Gibsons (that we’ll meet later). (This story is even more proof that Grohl is one of the coolest rock stars ever.) “I had been going to some of those Sunset stores since I was a teenager, and they’re never nice to you because they know you’re not buying anything. So, when I went in there with Dave Grohl and his AmEx card, it was a real moment for me. Here I am joining my dream band, and he’s like, get whatever you want … and he really meant it!” Shiflett’s gear germination didn’t stop there. “When I joined the band, I didn’t have any pedals. And now my bandmates constantly make fun of me for the size of my pedalboard—it’s ridiculously big and there are a lot of pedals on it—but my view has always been, ‘as long as I don’t have to carry it around, bring them all [laughs].’” But they all serve a purpose and allow Chris to stand out in a three-guitar band. “I do love that my role in Foos over the years has become the color guy with all these pedals.” His growth as an artist doesn’t stop there. Shiflett’s put out punk albums in Jackson United and for nearly 25 years, he sparked endless good times in the best punk-rock cover band (Me First and the Gimme Gimmes). In 2010, he shifted his creative outlet to busting out alt-country twangers and Bakersfield barroom bruisers as Chris Shiflett & the Dead Peasants, and then, later, solo. Since 2013, he’s been hosting a podcast (https://walkingthefloor.com/ (Walking The Floor with Chris Shiflett)) that’s featured conversations with https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundowns/mammoth-wvh (Wolfgang Van Halen), https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/mike-campbell-rides-again (Mike Campbell), https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundowns/greta-van-fleet-2021 (Greta Van Fleet), https://www.premierguitar.com/rig-rundown-billy-strings (Billy Strings), and recent Rig Rundown subject https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundowns/marcus-king (Marcus King). Where does the dude find the time?! Following Foo Fighter’s recent Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert at L.A.’s Kia Forum to honor their dearly departed drummer, Shiflett carved out some precious time and invited PG’s Chris Kies to the Foo’s HQ, Studio 606. The laidback conversation covered his essential live guitars (including a not-so-golden ’57 Les Paul and a few gracious gifts from Grohl), some custom Friedmans, and a pair of unusual AC30 stacks that only he and Sir Paul have … and all his pedals that sting, sparkle, shimmer, and sizzle.
When Chris Shiflett left No Use for a Name and joined the Foo Fighters in 1999, he almost had no gear. The band was rehearsing to support their third album, There Is Nothing Left to Lose, and leader Dave Grohl was doing an inventory check on their newest member. “Dave asked me how many guitars I had, and I said, ‘Well, I have two, but one has a broken headstock,’” recalls Shiflett. “Dave chuckled and said, ‘We gotta get you a few more guitars.’” The duo ventured down to Sunset Boulevard hitting all the guitar shops and Grohl gifted Shifty a pair of Gibsons (that we’ll meet later). (This story is even more proof that Grohl is one of the coolest rock stars ever.) “I had been going to some of those Sunset stores since I was a teenager, and they’re never nice to you because they know you’re not buying anything. So, when I went in there with Dave Grohl and his AmEx card, it was a real moment for me. Here I am joining my dream band, and he’s like, get whatever you want … and he really meant it!” Shiflett’s gear germination didn’t stop there. “When I joined the band, I didn’t have any pedals. And now my bandmates constantly make fun of me for the size of my pedalboard—it’s ridiculously big and there are a lot of pedals on it—but my view has always been, ‘as long as I don’t have to carry it around, bring them all [laughs].’” But they all serve a purpose and allow Chris to stand out in a three-guitar band. “I do love that my role in Foos over the years has become the color guy with all these pedals.” His growth as an artist doesn’t stop there. Shiflett’s put out punk albums in Jackson United and for nearly 25 years, he sparked endless good times in the best punk-rock cover band (Me First and the Gimme Gimmes). In 2010, he shifted his creative outlet to busting out alt-country twangers and Bakersfield barroom bruisers as Chris Shiflett & the Dead Peasants, and then, later, solo. Since 2013, he’s been hosting a podcast (https://walkingthefloor.com/ (Walking The Floor with Chris Shiflett)) that’s featured conversations with https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundowns/mammoth-wvh (Wolfgang Van Halen), https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/mike-campbell-rides-again (Mike Campbell), https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundowns/greta-van-fleet-2021 (Greta Van Fleet), https://www.premierguitar.com/rig-rundown-billy-strings (Billy Strings), and recent Rig Rundown subject https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundowns/marcus-king (Marcus King). Where does the dude find the time?! Following Foo Fighter’s recent Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert at L.A.’s Kia Forum to honor their dearly departed drummer, Shiflett carved out some precious time and invited PG’s Chris Kies to the Foo’s HQ, Studio 606. The laidback conversation covered his essential live guitars (including a not-so-golden ’57 Les Paul and a few gracious gifts from Grohl), some custom Friedmans, and a pair of unusual AC30 stacks that only he and Sir Paul have … and all his pedals that sting, sparkle, shimmer, and sizzle.
Since https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/marcus-kings-old-soul (Marcus King’s) previous https://youtu.be/4MQ3EHzq1tI (Rig Rundown) in 2017, he’s made two albums—produced by https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/the-black-keys (the Black Keys’) Dan Auerbach—and scored a Grammy nomination. He’s also busted out his own signature Orange amp with an allusive name, and upped his profile, stepping from clubs to big halls. Not bad for a South Carolina kid with blues in his bloodline. And, really, not entirely unexpected. King hit the scene in his teens as a full-blown virtuoso, playing club gigs at night and going to high school by day. He was initially championed by Warren Haynes, who was so impressed that he released the Marcus King Band’s 2015 debut, Soul Insight, on his Evil Teen Records label. And then the hard-playing young roots genre-blender rode that wind under his wings. Before his September 29 gig at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, touring behind his recent release Young Blood, he entertained PG’s John Bohlinger—with some help with the details from guitar tech Cody Bates—with a close-up look at his current touring rig. Dig in! Brought to you by https://ddar.io/XSE.RR (D’Addario DS XS Strings).
Since https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/marcus-kings-old-soul (Marcus King’s) previous https://youtu.be/4MQ3EHzq1tI (Rig Rundown) in 2017, he’s made two albums—produced by https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/the-black-keys (the Black Keys’) Dan Auerbach—and scored a Grammy nomination. He’s also busted out his own signature Orange amp with an allusive name, and upped his profile, stepping from clubs to big halls. Not bad for a South Carolina kid with blues in his bloodline. And, really, not entirely unexpected. King hit the scene in his teens as a full-blown virtuoso, playing club gigs at night and going to high school by day. He was initially championed by Warren Haynes, who was so impressed that he released the Marcus King Band’s 2015 debut, Soul Insight, on his Evil Teen Records label. And then the hard-playing young roots genre-blender rode that wind under his wings. Before his September 29 gig at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, touring behind his recent release Young Blood, he entertained PG’s John Bohlinger—with some help with the details from guitar tech Cody Bates—with a close-up look at his current touring rig. Dig in! Brought to you by https://ddar.io/XSE.RR (D’Addario DS XS Strings).
What would you get if you put the heaviness of Converge, the industrial sounds of Nine Inch Nails and Type O Negative, the catchiness of ’90s metalcore, the frantic delivery of Black Flag, and the sampled-chopped-and-glitched production of hip-hop into a blender and hit liquefy? You’d get 100 percent of your daily intake of Code Orange. The band was formed—as the Code Orange Kids—in 2008 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, by Eric “Shade” Balderose (vocals, keys, programming, and guitars), Reba Meyers (guitars and bass), Jami Morgan (drums and vocals), and guitarist Greg Kern (who left in 2010). The current lineup also includes bassist Joe Goldman and guitarist Dominic Landolina. They’ve always played heavy and fast, rising quickly in the hardcore ranks with 2012’s Love Is Love/Return to Dust and 2014’s I Am King, but things took a dramatic, dense turn in 2017. (The band shortened their name ahead of the 2014 release.) Their Grammy-nominated, critically-acclaimed third and fourth albums, 2017’s Forever and 2020’s Underneath, incorporated all hues of heavy—drawn from all corners of crunch. In a https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/code-orange-attack-of-the-sonic-cyborgs (2020 interview with PG), Meyers explained the progression: “We took as much of it into our own hands that we could—writing, recording, mixing, mastering—and it drove us crazy, but we knew if we really did this record how we imagined it, it could become something that we’re extremely proud of and is recognized by people beyond the niche world of hardcore that we come from. That was proven to us a little bit on Forever, because of the Grammy nod. We realized that if we really took what we do to the absolute fucking edge, we could make something important and bigger than ourselves. Especially bigger than our individual selves, because it’s a full-band effort.” Creativity and performance are one thing, but how does a guitarist convey all the ideas in his or her head into a specific sound and where does that explorer mentality arise? “We didn’t have shit growing up. I would borrow people’s old Carvin amps that barely worked, and through that you’d learn what really mattered. The crap gear sometimes would produce cool sounds that you wouldn’t expect, and your ears grow and evolve,” recalls Meyers. “Bottom line, what matters most is your hands, your creativity, and your performance. For that reason, I pick pedals that are loud and proud to speak in my language and Code Orange’s language.” The afternoon before Code Orange’s middle slot for hip-hop duo $uicideboy$’s arena tour stop at Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium, Meyers pulled her gear aside and invited PG’s Chris Kies backstage to catalog her eviscerating setup. In this RR, she details her signature ESPs (and why they no longer have EMGs), shows how she breaks down the digital-versus-analog wall by pairing an Axe-Fx III with a 100W 5150, and chronicles the “toys” she enlists to converse in the band’s dialect. Brought to you by https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr (D’Addario XPND Pedalboard).
Amyl and the Sniffers are pragmatic. They rock fast and write and record even faster. Legend has it they knocked out their debut EP, 2016’s Giddy Up, from start to finish in just 12 hours in the band’s shared home. And their Australian Recording Industry Award-winning (Best Rock Album) self-titled full-length debut is a sweltering, swaggering, scallywag’s set of 11 songs that clock in at 30 minutes. During Australia’s Covid shelter-in mandate, the frenzied foursome locked themselves in their home once again to pen 13 rambunctious-yet-buffed jams that combine blazers with slow burns. Regardless of tempo, danger lurks in their every note and word. With the disregard of Iggy, the venom of Lemmy, and power of Angus, their live performances are tornadic events. Lead singer Amy Taylor is the charismatic lightning, while guitarist Declan Martens, bassist Gus Romer, and drummer Bryce Wilson are the locomotive thunder. Hours before Amyl and the Sniffers’ headlining set at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl, Martens invited PG’s Chris Kies stage right to chronicle his Hemi-like setup. In this episode, we meet his paired live instruments from Gibson, unwrap the story behind his “Excalibur” pedal, and understand Martens’ MO to work smarter, not harder.
If you’re a devoted follower of the https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundowns/ (Rig Rundown series), you’ve probably noticed our recent rash of thrash. We’ve featured nearly every corner of the genre—heavyweights https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundowns/megadeth (Megadeth), torchbearers https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundowns/anthrax (Anthrax), revivalists https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundowns/municipal-waste (Municipal Waste), and, now, pioneers Exodus get their (re)visit. Their four-decade reign and 11 gnashing albums are brimming with sinister, trouncing, wood-splitting riffs and vividly vicious narratives. And the blade of this chainsaw collective is its longest-tenured member, fretboard flyer https://youtu.be/fhJTt7ATYiE (Gary Holt), whose last Rig Rundown appearance was in 2015. During the afternoon of Exodus’ middle slot for the ongoing The Bay Strikes Back tour—featuring neighbors Testament and Death Angel—at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl, Holt’s tech Steve Brogden invited PG’s Perry Bean onstage to catalog the thrasher’s setup. In this RR, Brogdon details the murderous axes, custom cabs, and more that Holt is packing into the trailer and onto the stage. Brought to you by http://ddar.io/Nexxus.RigRundown (D’Addario Nexxus 360 Tuner).
If you’re a devoted follower of the https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundowns/ (Rig Rundown series), you’ve probably noticed our recent rash of thrash. We’ve featured nearly every corner of the genre—heavyweights https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundowns/megadeth (Megadeth), torchbearers https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundowns/anthrax (Anthrax), revivalists https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundowns/municipal-waste (Municipal Waste), and, now, pioneers Exodus get their (re)visit. Their four-decade reign and 11 gnashing albums are brimming with sinister, trouncing, wood-splitting riffs and vividly vicious narratives. And the blade of this chainsaw collective is its longest-tenured member, fretboard flyer https://youtu.be/fhJTt7ATYiE (Gary Holt), whose last Rig Rundown appearance was in 2015. During the afternoon of Exodus’ middle slot for the ongoing The Bay Strikes Back tour—featuring neighbors Testament and Death Angel—at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl, Holt’s tech Steve Brogden invited PG’s Perry Bean onstage to catalog the thrasher’s setup. In this RR, Brogdon details the murderous axes, custom cabs, and more that Holt is packing into the trailer and onto the stage. Brought to you by http://ddar.io/Nexxus.RigRundown (D’Addario Nexxus 360 Tuner).
https://www.premierguitar.com/mort-deaths-apprentice-brutal-death-metal-riffs (Death metal) is a genre built on precision and power. Chelsea Grin’s articulate picking and gut-rattling riffs are its foundation. But thanks to a rotating cast of ripping guitarists (including Rig Rundown alumnus https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundowns/all-that-remains-2022 (Jason Richardson)), their five albums have shown subtle brick-and-mortar flair by incorporating elements of djent, metalcore, doom, black metal, and even post-hardcore. The current lead guitar chair has been filled by Stephen Rutishauser since 2015. His input has given their chaotic sound a more meticulous gnarl and complex rhythmic density that binds discord and darkened melodies. Hours before Chelsea Grin’s rare club gig at Nashville’s the End, the gruesomely heavy guitarist invited PG’s Chris Kies onstage to talk gear. In this RR, the band’s face-melter details the sparkle-covered Petrucci signatures that he carries on tour and breaks down the dialed-in digital patches that color their brutal barrage. [Brought to you by https://ddar.io/dBud.RR (D’Addario dBud Earplugs).
If you’ve perused YouTube for videos dealing with triple rectifiers, https://www.premierguitar.com/gear/reviews/evh-5150-iconic-series-40w-1x12-combo (5150s), the cheapest guitars imaginable, or absurd gear listings on eBay and Reverb, you most certainly know https://www.premierguitar.com/hooked-ryan-fluff-bruce-on-foo-fighters-for-all-the-cows (Ryan “Fluff” Bruce). The mastermind behind https://www.youtube.com/c/fluff191riffsandbeards (Riffs, Beards & Gear) has amassed over 400K subscribers and nearly 100 million views since starting his channel in 2006. His charm is a mixture of quality, inviting guitar-related content with high-brow information and effective, well-timed low-brow comedy. And, of course, some high-brow goofs, too. On top that, Bruce often leaves his Pacific Northwest video sanctuary to continue chasing his main passion—playing guitar in a band. His current venture is Dragged Under. The quintet is a Negroni of rock, stirring in equal parts upbeat pop-punk (with anthemic choruses), melodic metalcore moshers, and spine-testing breakdowns. Occasional garnishes include sinister synths, acoustic guitars, and even orchestral overtones. They formed in 2019 from the ashes of Rest, Repose—with carryover members vocalist Anthony Cappocchi and fellow guitarist Josh Wildhorn. Bassist Hans Hessburg and drummer Kalen Anderson filled out the lineup for their 2020 debut, The World Is In Your Way. And since that release, guitarist Sean Rosario has replaced Wildhorn and helped bring their brand-new batch of jams, Upright Animals, together for a June 2022 release. Ahead of Dragged Under’s headlining show at Nashville’s punk-rock lair the End, on September 1, PG’s Perry Bean jumped onstage to talk shop. “Fluff” showcased his attractive and adaptable Music Man riff cannons, detailed the development of his signature Fishman Fluence humbucker (and who’s voicing he stole for one of his own), described his transition from the Line 6 Helix to Axe-Fx III, and spearheaded a jovial chat that involves a peculiar Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Warlock. Brought to you by https://ddar.io/StringFinder.RR (D’Addario String Finder).
Anthrax went to church when they brought their Covid-delayed 40th anniversary tour to Nashville—the Mother Church of Country Music, that is, aka the Ryman Auditorium—on August 15. And PG’s Perry Bean was there to welcome the thrash metal royals and talk with guitarists Scott Ian and Jon Donais, and bassist Frank Bello. Some things have changed in their gear since our https://www.premierguitar.com/gear/rig-rundown-anthraxs-scott-ian-and-rob-caggiano (earlier Rundown), in 2012, but not Ian’s loyalty to Jackson, which makes the signature-model King V’s he loves to play. Donais is equally stoked on his Dean Exile signature axe, which he also used on the recent Shadows Fall reunion tour. And Bello shared his new signature Charvel bass and EMG pickups. Ian kicked things off, playing his V with a vintage-diner-tile-style finish, his current favorite. Check it out! Brought to you by https://ddar.io/XSE.RR (D’Addario XS Coated Strings).
https://www.premierguitar.com/lessons/cram-session-thrash-metal-rhythms (Thrash metal) has seen a resurgence since its ’80s heyday. https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundowns/megadeth (Megadeth) earned a Grammy for their 2016 album Dystopia, and very recently Stranger Things’ brave headbanger Eddie Munson brandished a https://www.premierguitar.com/gear/reviews/b-c-rich-beginnings (B.C. Rich) Warlock for a literally death-defying performance of Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” that catapulted the song into widespread pop-culture consciousness. But for metal purists, Municipal Waste and their cofounding guitarist Ryan Waste, plus their track record of seven mosh-motivating albums over the past 21 years, prove the genre’s brand of battle-axe riffery wasn’t a fad. Sure, the band’s sound has diversified the artform with the subtle incorporation of hardcore breakdowns and punk-rock-like choruses—but everything is still in fifth-gear, baby! Ahead of their headlining show at Nashville’s Basement East on August 10, PG’s Perry Bean jumped onstage to talk gear. Guitarists Waste and Nick “Nikropolis” Poulos prove they can travel light but stay lethal with a few riff-makers, gassed-up Marshalls, and some green and yellow Japanese drives. Brought to you by http://ddar.io/Nexxus.RigRundown (D’Addario Nexxus 360 Tuner).
After moving back to New York City, Joe Bonamassa spent some lockdown time in Germano Studios in Manhattan’s NoHo neighborhood, tightly winding the music for his latest album, https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/guitarists/joe-bonamassa (Time Clocks). His longtime producer Joe Shirley had to work with the powerhouse guitarist remotely, from his home in Australia. Yet the result is as seamlessly Bonamassa as ever, with riveting guitar work that has echoes ranging from Africa to Led Zeppelin. “My ADD transcends into my musical life,” the other JB told longtime Premier Guitar contributor Joe Charupakorn in our December feature. “It’s a very different record for me. It’s not a blues record, for sure. I just try to make records that don’t bore me all the way through—we’ve got this groove covered, we’ve got that groove covered, let’s put a sorbet in, something out of left field.” They don’t serve sorbet at Nashville’s hallowed Ryman Auditorium music hall—although I’m putting that in their suggestion box. But Bonamassa did dish out plenty of guitar flambé at his August 2 headliner there. And melded the music of Time Clocks with a selection of some of his favorite classic and original blues. PG’s JB—that’s me—connected with Joe onstage before the show, where I also did a https://www.premierguitar.com/gear/rig-rundown-joe-bonamassa-2018 (Rig Rundown) with that other guy with my initials in 2018. This time, there were some new members of Bonamassa’s ever-growing-and-shrinking collection of gear—which he spoke about at length earlier this year with Cory Wong on the rhythm guitar kingpin’s https://www.premierguitar.com/podcast/wong-notes/joe-bonamassa-interview-podcast (Wong Notes podcast) for PG—pressed into service, including some recent-arrival Les Pauls, of course, and perhaps the most covetable collection of historic badass amps ever played on the Ryman stage. But rareness, novelty, or familiarity isn’t what determines which toys come out to play. Bonamassa starts by building a rough set list, and then chooses the right instrument and amps for each song. So, watch, look, and listen! Brought to you by https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr (D’Addario XPND Pedalboard).
Grammy-winning metal legends Megadeth and their massive headlining 2022 run hit Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on May 5. Before the headbanging started, PG’s Chris Kies talked gear with Megadeth leader Dave Mustaine, who ran down the specs of https://www.premierguitar.com/news/gibson-dave-mustaine (his signature Gibson Flying V) and showed us why it’s the best body shape for ripping onstage. The band’s dangerously dexterous lead guitarist Kiko Loureiro showed off his stash of dashing Ibanez doublecuts. And both players (plus their techs) share insight on downsizing from an Axe-Fx to a gig-bag-friendly https://www.premierguitar.com/gear/reviews/neural-dsp-quad-cortex (Neural DSP Quad Cortex). Brought to you by https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr (D’Addario XPND Pedalboard).
“Supergroup” is a tired, overused term in music. However, when musical aces like guitarist https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/guthrie-govan-the-linguist (Guthrie Govan), bassist Bryan Beller, and drummer Marco Minnemann jam… they are an unrivaled force of nature. Each player has a remarkable resume: Govan has worked with https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/guitarists/porcupine-tree (Steven Wilson), Hans Zimmer, and Asia; Beller with https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/guitarists/joe-satriani (Satriani), https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/guitarists/steve-vai (Vai), https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/brendon-small-sh-t-i-couldnt-do-a-year-ago (Dethklok), and https://www.premierguitar.com/gear/rig-rundown-dweezil-zappa (Dweezil Zappa); and Minnemann with the Mute Gods, Trey Gunn, H-Blockx, and Mike Keneally—among many others. What makes a supergroup novel is generally the collective’s previous endeavors and collaborations. The magic with these three cats is that their superpowers combine to become a flashy and fluent highflying act. Formed unceremoniously for a performance at the 2011 Anaheim NAMM Show, this tremendously talented trio has released nine albums (five studio and four live) in 11 years. The attraction for both the audience and the band is the same: variety. In any given performance, you can hear them shift from Return to Forever to https://www.premierguitar.com/gear/rig-rundown-yes-steve-howe-and-chris-squire (Yes) to https://www.premierguitar.com/gear/rig-rundown-king-crimsons-robert-fripp (King Crimson) to https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/the-big-5/steve-vai (Vai) to https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundowns/tom-morello (Rage) to Funkadelic to moments of deranged Zappa. “We’ve been a pretty strange, eclectic band to begin with, as the music we do tips our hats to a lot of different styles,” notes Govan. “All I’ve ever done over the years I’ve been playing guitar is to just listen to everything around me and absorb the aspects of it that I liked. I’ve never felt an urge to specialize. I’m happy to keep combining whatever flavorings I like and rolling them all together.” The result: These three executive chefs put on a spicy clinic that would even please Gordon Ramsay. The Aristocrats’ headlining 2022 run landed at Nashville’s City Winery on July 27. Before the musical throwdown commenced, PG’s Chris Kies hosted conversations that covered Beller’s booming setup, including some old favorites and recovered friends (via social-media sleuthing), while Govan focused on detailing the slight-but-crucial changes to his signature Charvel and explaining his live tonal evolution—modernized with an all-encompassing Fractal Audio unit. [Brought to you by D’Addario XPND Pedalboard: https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr%5D (https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr])
It’s common for prog bands to create a fictitious narrative for their concept albums. Often, the lyrics tell a linear story, while the adventurous, experimental, and elevated musicianship provides emotional support and dynamism to the album’s arc. Some ambitious wordsmiths may even spread their yarn over two albums or releases, but Coheed and Cambria’s Claudio Sanchez has penned an entire science fiction tale called https://www.boom-studios.com/series/amory-wars/ (The Amory Wars) that has been transcribed in comic books and graphic novels published by Evil Ink Comics. All but one of the band’s 10 albums, including the brand-new Vaxis–Act II: A Window of the Waking Mind swim in his solar system called Heaven’s Fence—a collection of 78 planets and seven stars wholly envisioned by Sanchez. (The Color Before the Sun, from 2015, is the lone release not centered in The Amory Wars universe.) Crafting a daring soundtrack for these narratives requires an equally bold group of musicians. Through two decades, this fearless foursome have incorporated prog orchestrations, synth flourishes, pop-punk hooks, menacing metalcore, hardcore aggression, and electronica ballads—and yet it’s always felt like Coheed. No matter the direction they turn or how their colors and hues shift, it’s unmistakable. Having no genre allows for all genres. It’s worth noting the band’s name is lifted from two main characters in The Amory Wars. Their original name in the late ’90s was Shabütie, and that trio (consisting of guitarist/vocalist Sanchez, bassist Michael Todd, and drummer Nate Kelley) released three EPs before rebranding for Coheed’s 2002 debut, The Second Stage Turbine Blade, released on Equal Vision Records. That first Coheed lineup included the Shabütie carryovers of Sanchez and Todd, and welcomed guitarist Travis Stever and drummer Josh Eppard. (The earliest incarnations of Shabütie included Stever, too.) The band’s current lineup has been solid since 2012, when bassist Zach Cooper joined. Coheed’s headlining 2022 run is a dual celebration. They’re honoring the 20th anniversary of their debut and the just-released Vaxis–Act II: A Window of the Waking Mind. Before their July 23 show at Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium, PG’s Chris Kies hosted conversations that covered upgrading Gibsons, overhauling an entire bass rig during shutdown, and how a stolen Big Muff eventually led to a signature sound and pedal. Brought to you by http://ddar.io/xpnd.rr (D'Addario XPND Pedalboard).
Any band that hammers along for 43 years should be praised. But for a hardcore outfit that first seethed “I don’t wanna live / To be thirty-four / I don’t wanna die / In a nuclear war” 42 years ago on their 1980 debut Group Sex, pushing on for over four decades is a bit of a miracle. The Circle Jerks should be honored with a skanking statue in their hometown of Hermosa Beach, California. “If you would’ve told me in my 20s that I’d be in a seminal hardcore-punk band in my 60s, I would’ve said ‘you’re fucking crazy, dude! I’m going to be dead by that time,’” jokes longtime Circle Jerks bassist Zander Schloss. “Now I say, live slow, die old!” The Circle Jerks were formed in 1979 by former Black Flag vocalist Keith Morris and ex-Redd Kross guitarist Greg Hetson. (Hetson has also been a member of another seminal SoCal punk rock band, https://www.premierguitar.com/gear/rig-rundown-bad-religion (Bad Religion), from 1984-2013.) They were joined by bassist Roger Rogerson and drummer Lucky Lehrer. Group Sex is one of the most important albums in the first swell of hardcore. It’s worth noting that the 14-song collection was crammed into less than 16 minutes of tape. Tasmanian devil Morris raged his commentary on sex, drugs, politics, the rich, and even self-reflection. His bandmates redlined to keep up. Hetson’s swift, stabbing guitar parts pierced and slit through the slamming, double-time rhythmic pistons that were Lehrer and Rogerson. Their 1982 follow-up, Wild in the Streets, contained five songs over two minutes long and three covers (“Wild in the Streets,” “Just Like Me,” and “Put a Little Love in Your Heart”), but all 15 tunes were still laced together with the same frenetic guitar bursts and rambunctious rhythms of Group Sex. The last of their most-influential works was 1983’s Golden Shower of Hits, which alternated between short, melodic mayhem and slower-but-still-acerbic stompers. The next year saw the arrival of Schloss, who contributed heavily to the band’s final three studio releases: Wonderful (1985), VI (1987), and Oddities, Abnormalities and Curiosities (1995). While out in support of the latter, their major-label debut, the Circle Jerks imploded. In subsequent years, Hetson focused on Bad Religion, started Punk Rock Karaoke, formed Black President, and built out his Hetson Sound studio. Schloss played guitar for Joe Strummer, drove the bass for the Weirdos, and even entertained on the silver screen, starting with the role of Kevin in Repo Man. While Morris battled health issues (he fell into diabetic comas in 2008 and 2013), he was able to get several projects off the ground and revisit old ones including Midget Handjob, Off!, and FLAG. The latter’s a Black Flag byproduct featuring former members bassist Chuck Dukowski, guitarist/vocalist Dez Cadena, and Bill Stevenson—who produced most of their 1980s catalog—on drums, plus Stevenson’s https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/guitarists/descendents-stephen-egerton (Descendents) bandmate https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundowns/descendents (Stephen Egerton) on guitar. Before the current celebratory run marking the band’s first live shows in 11 years (and first full U.S. tour in 15), they announced drummer Joey Castillo (Queens of the Stone Age, Danzig, Eagles of Death Metal) would be propelling the Circle Jerks’ runaway train. And since the band’s core members are now all in their 60s, and the resolution of the ripping “Live Fast, Die Young” is yelled out at each show (“I don’t wanna live / To be fifty-seven / I’m living in hell / Is there a heaven?”), they’re well aware that according to their own canon they shouldn’t be here and certainly not having this much fun. “I never thought the Circle Jerks would tour again, but you know what? Dreams do come true, and in some weird way, we’re doing better than ever and this world tour proves it,” remarks Schloss. But is
Over the past decade and through four albums, Foxing has shown a lot of musical personalities. They’ve embraced the quirky, eclectic folk of Neutral Milk Hotel. Guitarist Eric Hudson has shown off some deft fretwork wrapped around complex rhythms similar to https://www.premierguitar.com/gear/rig-rundown-tiny-moving-parts (Tiny Moving Parts)’ Dylan Mattheisen. They’ve dabbled in complicated, ambiguous instrumentation that echoes Radiohead. Most recently, the band has flexed a cinematic, post-rock cohesion that connects plot points via varied emotions and energy rather than analogous storytelling. And during the Rundown, Hudson hints at heavier, darker moments to come as they’ve been writing in tunings reserved for https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/behemoths-adam-nergal-darski-shades-of-black (Behemoth) and https://www.premierguitar.com/gear/rig-rundown-melvins-buzz-osborne-2015 (Melvins). All of these experimentations and transformations have allowed Foxing to carry on without needing a roadmap to their rock. And we’re just along for the ride. The St. Louis indie rockers formed in the early 2010s out of the demise of Hunter Gatherer. Originally, the band was a trio with singer/guitarist Conor Murphy, bassist Josh Coll, and drummer Jon Hellwig. Prior to recording their 2013 debut, The Albatross, they expanded to a quintet with the addition of guitarists Eric Hudson and Ricky Sampson. However, Coll left ahead of Foxing’s third album, Nearer My God, and prior to recording their 2021 release, Draw Down the Moon (co-produced by https://www.premierguitar.com/gear/rig-rundown-manchester-orchestra (Rig Rundown alumnus Andy Hull of Manchester Orchestra)). And then Sampson departed the band. Murphy, Hellwig, and Hudson are the core members and tour with a rotating cast of contributors. Ahead of Foxing’s July 5 headlining show at Nashville’s Basement East, Chris Kies hopped onstage and talked gear with Hudson, who touched on his love of “clanky” Strats, illustrated how his dual pedalboards can project him from pastoral to delirium, and explained why it always pays off to have good friends and to hang out at the merch booth. [Brought to you by https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr (D’Addario XPND Pedalboard).]
It’s been https://www.premierguitar.com/rig-rundown-def-leppard (eight years since Def Leppard’s Vivian Campbell and Phil Collen) met with PG while they were on the band’s arena-filling odyssey in 2014. Now they’re on the aptly titled Stadium Tour, playing packed mega-venues with openers Mötley Crüe, Poison, and https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/first-look/epiphone-joan-jett-olympic-special (Joan Jett), delivering songs from the 12 studio albums they’ve recorded over the past 45 years. It’s quite a legacy, with “Bringin’ On the Heartbreak,” “Photograph,” “Rock of Ages,” “Animal,” “Love Bites,” and plenty more classic hits. At their June 30 show at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium, John Bohlinger talked with Collen, Campbell, and their techs, Scott Appleton and John Zocco, about the guitarists’ muscular live-show arsenal. Brought to you by https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr (D’Addario XPND Pedalboard).
After a five-year break in studio releases, Train came roaring back this year with AM Gold and a tour with dates stretching into 2023 that’s delivering their new songs and a sampling of the group’s 28 charting singles from their nearly 30-year history. PG’s John Bohlinger stopped in on the band’s two guitar players, Jerry Becker and Taylor Locke, and bassist Hector Maldonado, before their June 21 show at Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater. They displayed the big bevy of instruments they use to recreate the Train sound live. PS: Special thanks to techs Wayne Davis and Stephen Ferrera-Grand for help running down the rigs. Brought to you by http://ddar.io/Nexxus.RigRundown (D’Addario Nexxus 360 Tuner).
Punk rock is about energy, attitude, and message. It’s been the gateway drug for a lot of guitarists and music lovers. And those forces are what steered East Bay Ray away from his bar-band gig in 1978. “The little hairs on the back of my neck stood up,” Ray remembered during a https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/forgotten-heroes-east-bay-ray (2016 PG interview). “I saw the Weirdos playing. I said, ‘This is what I want to do.’ I phased myself out of the bar band and put an ad up in Aquarius Records and Rather Ripped Records. Klaus Flouride (bassist Geoffrey Lyall) and Jello Biafra (singer Eric Boucher) answered the ad.” And with the addition of drummer Ted (Bruce Slesinger), the Dead Kennedys were born. By the time they recorded their 1981 EP In God We Trust, Inc. (on their own independent label, Alternative Tentacles), Ted was gone and D.H. Peligro (Darren Henley) became their stalwart skin slammer. Through the band’s initial eight years, four albums, and an EP, their subversive harpoon of jagged political commentary was tipped by Biafra’s lyrics. That got the nation’s attention, but what inspires musicians to this day was the power trio’s cohesive combination of familiar and unfamiliar elements of punk and primal rock. Sure, you’ve got the power chords and the four-on-the-floor tempos, but depth and nuance under the biting messaging is essential to the DK’s chemistry. Their punk-rock bangers have modal tendencies and atonal flourishes, and some of their most thrilling songs have odd-metered backbones. Their debut single, “California Über Alles,” is a take on composer Maurice Ravel’s Boléro, no less. And nobody else in the land of the 6-string shreds quite like East Bay Ray. “One of the reasons our songs have lasted so long is the structure underneath has a lot in common with a Beatles song or a Motown song or even a ’30s standard,” he says. “There are basic constructions that make a song work. I really had a hard time copying or figuring out solos off my favorite recordings when learning to play, so I’d develop my own musical method to get from one place to another. It’s actually a lack of technique that helped with the music.” His creativity and resourcefulness don’t stop there. East Bay Ray was the band’s co-producer/engineer on most recordings, and he’s tinkered with his own tone tools, assembling partscasters that best suited his approach. Ray has jammed humbuckers into the bridge of a T-style for a twangier bite that helps his rapid-fire arpeggios sting a bit more. He’s slapped on short-scale Japanese F-style necks for slinkier playability. And, most notably, he put a Maestro Echoplex in front of his amp to create the signature clanging sound heard on his classic recordings with the band. (“One of my favorite records of all time is Elvis Presley’s Sun Sessions. That is one of the records that inspired me to get an Echoplex, to get that slapback echo.”) “We just didn’t know the rules on what to play and how to play,” he relates. “That’s where not knowing something forces you to make your own solution, creating something unique and new, proving that necessity is the mother of invention. The lack of technique and knowledge helped create our sound and the music.” Before the Dead Kennedys’ headlining show at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl on June 15th, PG hit the stage for a brief but illuminating tone talk. We covered Ray’s economically rich setup that includes a single Schecter doublecut and a simplified, solid-sounding Marshall, and we were enlightened about why he puts his Line 6 delay ahead of the amp and what that does to repeats. [Brought to you by http://ddar.io/Nexxus.RigRundown (D’Addario Nexxus 360 Tuner).]
The last two years have given us plenty of reasons to seek a jaunty, joyous listening experience in our music. And one of the best finds around is https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/the-big-5/los-bitchos (Los Bitchos)—the all-female, internationally assembled outfit consisting of Australia-born Serra Petale (guitar), Sweden’s Josefine Jonsson (bass), Uruguay’s Agustina Ruiz (keytar), and South Londoner Nic Crawshaw (drums). Los Bitchos’ bubbly instrumental psychedelia cocktail mixes their collective musical ingredients (Argentinian cumbia, Peruvian chicha, Turkish Anatolian rhythms, and classic American surf rock), creating a devilishly delicious concoction that’s refreshing as a mojito, hits like a negroni, and is as tropical as a mai tai. The good-time gals socked the world with their 2022 debut, Let the Festivities Begin!, showcasing their superpower of rump-shaking revelry. Before Los Bitchos’ Nashville opening slot in support of Belle and Sebastian, PG was invited to the historic Ryman Auditorium for a quick and loose gear chat. We covered their streamlined setups that include a favored, fast Italian ride (not a Ducati) that made the trip from the U.K., learned why Petale is “Miss Chorus” and loves the effect’s “sad sounds,” and was schooled on why Jonsson just needs a J bass and an Ampeg amp to make the room twist and shout. https://ddar.io/XSE.RR (Brought to you by D’Addario XS Strings).
For nearly two decades and across five albums, https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/the-war-on-drugs-driving-music-for-the-american-dreamscape (The War on Drugs)’ founder and frontman Adam Granduciel has narrated our complex modern lives while his band has scored our dreams. The captivating moods of their music, much like us, morph from dense melancholy to saturated, swirling madness and everywhere in between. Granduciel often layers his Springsteen-meets-Young proletariat prose atop a post-rock soundscape, but the heartbeat of their impressive, expansive live shows is their gear and how it is implemented. “I could play the whole tour with two or maybe three guitars—a https://www.premierguitar.com/gear/1958-gretsch-6136-white-falcon (White Falcon), Strat, and maybe a Jazzmaster—but I bring all these out just for fun,” he says with a laugh as he considers his trove of axes. So, let’s have some fun already! Before a full evening of The War on Drugs’ jams in support of 2021’s I Don’t Live Here Anymore, PG was invited to Nashville’s historic http://ryman.com/ (Ryman Auditorium). We covered Granduciel’s growing guitar collection, got the skinny on how Jerry Garcia’s monstrous setup played into the bandleader’s theatre rig, and we took in a cockpit view of his stompbox squadron full of tone ticklers, sizzlers, and wigglers. In addition, bassist David Hartley showed off a trio of Ps, an armada of Ampegs, and demo’d a fuzz that has ended his quest for razing tones. Brought to you by https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr (D’Addario XPND Pedalboard).
Mike Harris says he “Forrest Gump-ed” his way into the Grammy-winning Americana string band Old Crow Medicine Show when he was drafted to join in January 2021. But rather than picking his spot in the group from life’s box of chocolates, Harris’ initial connection was his friendship with drummer Jerry Pentecost. He quickly proved himself an important member of the https://www.premierguitar.com/pro-advice/last-call/nashville-broadway-bars (Nashville)-based outfit of “Wagon Wheel” fame, thanks to his flexible guitar, mandolin, banjo, resonator, and vocal abilities. Harris invited PG to Old Crow Medicine Show’s East Nashville studio, where they recorded their latest album, Paint This Town, for some show-and-tell about his favorite traveling and recording instruments. Brought to you by https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr (D’Addario XS Strings).
Following in a parent’s professional footsteps is daunting. Imagine re-treading that ground in the public eye. Now conceptualize walking in the footsteps of one of the greatest guitarists to ever live. Succeeding on any level seems impossible. So where do you start when trying to find your own voice on an instrument your dad basically reconstructed? “The main thing, when I started doing this, was that I wanted to find my own sort of sound and not do everything dad did,” says Wolfgang Van Halen. “When it came to guitar, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I just wanted to sound like myself.” After 15 years in the family band (and working alongside Mark Tremonti for his solo project), that’s what Wolf did when he wrote and tracked all the instruments on the 15 songs for his debut album, Mammoth WVH, released last year. (The title is a nod to the original name of his father’s and uncle’s iconic band during 1972-’74.) Things have changed since we last checked out Wolf’s setup. Back in 2012, when https://www.premierguitar.com/gear/gallery-van-halen-live-gear-2012 (PG got the special treat) of swooping into Bridgestone Arena to check out the rigs of Eddie and Wolf. We got to see the various Wolfgang models dad brought out, and Wolf’s custom-made one-off basses constructed by master builder Chip Ellis. Now Wolf is playing guitar and singing lead. He’s flanked by two additional guitarists (Frank Sidoris and Jon Jourdan), while bass and drums are handled by Ronnie Ficarro and Garrett Whitlock (respectively). There’s still a lot of his dad’s thumbprint on the band’s setup, but there’s two new things afoot. This tour saw two new prototypes unveiled: a signature semi-hollow for Wolf and beefy, humbucker-loaded basses were being road-tested (or, as the Van Halens say, in the “crash-testing phase”). “Through writing and recording that first album, and having fun, I ended up tracking most with a 335 and that semi-hollowbody sound became the baseline for all of Mammoth WVH,” says Wolf. So, he and Ellis sought to combine reverence for the EVH legacy with something fresh for not only Wolf’s sound but to expand the company’s appeal. “I want to make something that has the DNA of the EVH brand, but something that they don’t offer.” Before a headlining show at the Signal in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on May 17th, PG traveled south down I-24 to see what was percolating in the EVH and WVH camps. We were fortunate enough to be joined by Ellis and Van Halen, who talked about the development of the new SA-126 semi-hollow guitar and then focused on the new thunder-stick 4-string prototype that’s being “crash tested” by bandmate Ronnie Ficarro. Additionally, we cover the setups of riff warriors Sidoris (also of https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/guitarists/slash-featuring-myles-kennedy-and-the-conspirators (Slash feat. Myles Kennedy) and the Conspirators) and Jourdan (To Whom It May), who fly the EVH flag but bring their own shine. [Brought to you by D’Addario https://ddar.io/XSE.RR (XS Electric Strings).]
A lot of bands are lucky enough to carve a career with one big hit. If they’re even luckier, they’ll ride the wave of an impactful album for decades. But for melodic metalcore heavyweights https://www.premierguitar.com/gear/rig-rundown-all-that-remains-oli-herbert-and-mike-martin (All That Remains), who are honoring their game-changing The Fall of Ideals with a full album play, it’s not even their most-popular record. Following on the energy and success of that influential 2006 album, they released five straight albums that landed in the top 10 of Billboard’s U.S. Rock chart. The coal fueling All That Remains’ locomotive is their propulsive guitar work. The original firepower was supplied by cofounding shredmeister Oli Herbert who was originally flanked by Chris Bartlett. Current rhythm rifleman Mike Martin replaced Bartlett in 2004 and provided the classically trained Herbert a solid substratum to dance all over. That duo defined ATR’s harmonious heaviness, https://www.premierguitar.com/mort-deaths-apprentice-gothenburg-metal-riffs (Gothenburg) groove, and aggressive attitude for almost 15 years before Herbert’s untimely passing in October 2018 just weeks before releasing their ninth trouncing album, Victim of the New Disease. Since then, the band has continued with blazing flamethrower https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/hooked/jason-richardson (Jason Richardson) (Born of Osiris and Chelsea Grin). Before All That Remains’ May 10th headlining show at Nashville’s Basement East, PG’s Perry Bean had to pick his jaw off the floor and re-screw his skullcap on after seeing the amazing instruments both guitarists Mike Martin and Jason Richardson brought on tour. Martin detailed his beautiful https://www.premierguitar.com/gear/prs-s2-custom-24-review (PRS Custom 24)s while Richardson offered a sneak peek at his second batch of signature https://www.premierguitar.com/news/ernie-ball-music-man-darkray-jason-richardson (Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass models). Brought to you by https://ddar.io/XSE.RR (D’Addario XS Electric Strings).
Musical acts currently filling arenas fall into a few categories: pop, electronic, country, and legacy. The notion of modern or contemporary rock bands packing enormo-domes feels like a fossil, but don’t tell that to platinum-selling Shinedown, who’s been packing thousands-of-seats houses for years. The group was founded by vocalist Brent Smith in 2001, after his previous band, Dreve, disbanded). He enlisted Jasin Todd (guitarist), Brad Stewart (bass), and Barry Kerch (drums). Zach Myers joined the fold in 2005 (as a touring member). He and current bassist Eric Bass (no joke) first earned album credits with 2008’s smash The Sound of Madness. (Rig Rundown alumnus https://www.premierguitar.com/gear/rig-rundown-nick-perri (Nick Perri) was a short-time member of Shinedown and earned lead guitar credits on TSOM before fully handing over the 6-string reins to Myers.) The quartet’s ability to fuse post-grunge pyrotechnics, four-on-the-floor rockers, and glossy, arms-in-the-air anthems, and their dynamic acoustic performances, have earned them 17 No. 1 hits on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart. (If you include the other Billboard charts, they’ve got three more.) They also have three platinum albums (three more are certified gold in the U.S.), and six additional platinum singles. If guitar truly is in a slump in pop culture and the mainstream, somebody forgot to tell Shinedown. When PG’s Chris Kies first talked tone tools with Myers and Bass in https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundowns/shinedown (2013), they had some gear, and even some cool signature stuff. But this time, the war chest was on another level. Before their May 4 headline show at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, supporting their new, seventh album, Planet Zero, the duo flexed their rockstar credentials and carted out 40-plus instruments. Myers contends he uses every one of his guitars on a nightly basis. And Bass details his signature line of Prestige basses, which incorporate an ingenious thumb rest. Myers also shows off an irreplaceable PRS created by the late American fashion designer and entrepreneur Virgil Abloh (Off-White), and he explains how a custom-painted https://www.premierguitar.com/gear/prs-silver-sky-john-mayer-review (Silver Sky) earned him some serious eye rolls and scoffs. Plus, their techs break down the power and might that help them rock the rafters. Brought to you by https://ddar.io/XSE.RR (D’Addario XS Electric Strings).
https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/guitarists/matt-sweeney (Matt Sweeney) doesn’t want to dazzle you with rock guitar. That’s boring. That’s lazy. At least to him. He wants to mesmerize you. “Really, that’s the point of music: to get people’s minds off of whatever and to hypnotize them a little bit,” https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/guitarists/matt-sweeney (Sweeney told PG in 2021). After beginning his Superwolves collaboration with Will Oldham, “that’s when I thought, ‘Cool, I did the thing that I wanted to do. I can fingerpick now and I can play with a really great singer who is working in an idiom that I hadn’t worked in before.’ “I started playing with Will and that gave me the opportunity to keep developing the way that I was playing, because it went well with his singing. After a couple of years, that led to Will suggesting that we write songs together.” The audible opiate that Sweeney provides has also cast his spell over the works of Rick Rubin, Johnny Cash, Neil Diamond, Adele, https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/cat-powers-journey (Cat Power), Run the Jewels, Chavez, John Legend, Zwan (collaboration with Billy Corgan), Tinariwen, “Cowboy” Jack Clement, https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/the-big-5/billy-gibbons (Billy Gibbons), and Margo Price. And with every episode of hypnosis comes a trance-breaking snapback. Providing that rhythmic recoil is Sweeney’s current foil, https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/ty-segall-and-emmett-kelly-no-filter-frenzy (Emmett Kelly). Both have worked with Oldham, but until now—in the current Superwolves line-up—never together. Kelly steps into the fold with an indie and outsiders Rolodex filled with names like https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/guitarists/ty-segall (Ty Segall), Angel Olson, Azita, Cairo Gang, Mikal Cronin, The C.I.A., Earth Girl Helen Brown, Magic Trick, Doug Paisley, and Joan of Arc. Sweeney sums up their guitar-nership with his typical, sly-and-dry snark: “What’s important about the way me and Emmett play together is that we never talk about it [laughs]. It’s true! He’s like the best guitar player. He’s a master at making everything sound better. We’ve both worked together—but mostly separately—with our singer Will Oldham, and it was his suggestion that we should all go out together [without bass and drums] because it should be good. But really, we’ve never had to talk about it, and we just play. It’s been a lot of fun.” So, when PG’s Chris Kies recently connected with Sweeney and Kelly, they were providing a guitar backdrop for a headlining set fronted by Bonnie “Prince” Billy Oldham at Nashville’s Mercy Lounge, supporting Sweeney and Billy’s 2021 release, Superwolves. While the conversation with both does cover their spartan setups, the meat of the message is how gear is a tool for storytelling, humility, and liberation. Oh … but Kelly does reveal a Japanese gem that takes a guitar signal and reanimates it into anime speech-like phrases! [Brought to you by https://ddar.io/XSE.RR (D’Addario XS Electric Strings).]
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is an American music legend—a https://www.premierguitar.com/gear/gallery-backstage-at-the-2010-grammys (Grammy)-winning outfit that’s also been inducted into the https://www.premierguitar.com/gear/gallery-guitars-of-the-country-music-hall-of-fame-and-museum (Country Music Hall of Fame). In this group’s case, what becomes a legend most is still working as hard as when Jeff Hanna co-founded the NGBD in 1966. So, when PG’s https://www.premierguitar.com/pro-advice/last-call/nashville-broadway-bars (John Bohlinger) recently checked in with Hanna and his guitar-playing son, Jaime Hanna, they were rehearsing at Nashville’s SIR for an ambitious spring and summer Nitty Gritty Dirt Band tour supporting a new album, https://orcd.co/dirtdoesdylan (Dirt Does Dylan), to be released May 20. The Hannas took us through their touring gear and gave us a close-up look at some guitars that Jeff has played since the beginning. [Brought to you by https://ddar.io/XSE.RR (D’Addario XS Electric Strings).]
Nir Felder has been called “the next big jazz guitarist” by NPR and hailed by The New York Times as a “whiz kid.” Will Lee is the Grammy-winning Musician’s Hall of Fame member you’ve likely seen and heard playing bass as part of Paul Shaffer’s World’s Most Dangerous Band on David Letterman’s late-night talk shows. Currently, Felder and Lee are touring together with drummer Keith Carlock (Steely Dan, Sting), Jeff Coffin on saxophones and woodwinds (Dave Matthews Band, Bela Fleck & the Flecktones), and keyboardist Jeff Babko (James Taylor, Toto) as Band of Other Brothers. On April 20, the Other Brothers made a stop at Nashville’s City Winery, supporting their second album, Look Up. Lee and Felder took a break pre-soundcheck to usher PG’s John Bohlinger through their rigs. [Brought to you by https://ddar.io/XSE.RR (D’Addario XS Electric Strings)]
Rock ’n’ roll has a long tradition of building on the work of previous stars and reinterpreting their influences. The Beatles honored the Isley Brothers, Elvis covered Little Richard … up to contemporaries like the https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/the-black-keys (Black Keys) celebrating hill country blues beacons https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/forgotten-heroes-r-l-burnside (R. L. Burnside) and Junior Kimbrough, and Greta Van Fleet echoing Led Zeppelin and Motown. Dirty Honey is reenergizing the hard-rock sound of the 1970s and sleazy Sunset swagger of the 1980s with their amalgamation of heroes that range from Prince and Queen to AC/DC and Guns N’ Roses. Before Dirty Honey’s headlining show at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works, PG’s Chris Kies popped onstage to witness the power and might of guitarist John Notto’s Appetite-ish assault. Notto shows off a pair of old-soul Les Pauls, explains his intermittent two-amp approach (and where he stole it from), and we enjoy a treat encounter with a very special ’burst. [Brought to you by D’Addario https://ddar.io/XSE.RR (XS Electric Strings)]
To most people, WWJD spells out “What Would Jesus Do?” But in the case of sworn shred disciple Diamond Rowe of Tetrarch, it stands for “What Would James (Hetfield) Do?” “The longer you talk to me, you’re going to find out that I’m super old school with my rig,” admits Rowe. “We’ll go on tours and play festivals and people will approach us and ask, ‘why aren’t you doing this’ or ‘why aren’t you doing that’ and I’m just like, I don’t know … because Metallica did it this way [laughs].” Tetrarch was founded in Atlanta during 2007 by friends (and guitarists) Diamond Rowe and Josh Fore. (Fore is also the band’s lead singer and handled drums for their 2013 EP Relentless). Ryan Lerner has been locked in at bass since 2009 and drummer Ruben Limas has been onboard since 2015. The band hustled and self-released three EPs and their debut album Freak over the course of 10 grinding years. During that time, their thrashy roots broadened to incorporate nu-metal sounds delivered in a polished, more melodic, hook-laden package. That growth resulted in a deal with Napalm Records, where they released a LP (Unstable) and EP (Addicted) last year. The evolution of their sound and songcraft also saw a progression in gear. “On the [early] EPs, I never did anything with delay pedals, phasers, or whammys—nothing—and I really wanted to try it,” https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/tetrarchs-diamond-rowe-flamethrower (Rowe told PG in 2017), around the recording of Freak. “Some of my all-time favorite bands have textural stuff like that. A lot of it came out sounding cool and we kept it. I was pretty happy about that. It’s fun to do live, too.” Ironically, as the size of stages they played grew, Rowe’s gear footprint decreased. “I am one of those types of people,” she told PG. “I get emotional connections to my gear. The idea of switching my rig around gives me so much anxiety.” The simplification of their rigs has only helped sharpened Tetrarch’s collective blade. And, specifically, Rowe’s reduction in pedals onstage has allowed the young flamethrower to torch crowds with a more immediate, powerful, direct punch to the gut. Before Tetrarch’s opening slot for Sevendust at Nashville’s Wildhorse Saloon, PG’s Perry Bean stopped by to inspect the condensed-but-crushing setups of guitarists Rowe and Fore. Rowe shows off a sneaky upgrade—you’ll get plenty of clues in these captions—to her ESPs, allowing them to handle severely dropped tunings. Fore reveals how straight-forward his setup is so he can pull off riffing and singing. And both pile on the praise for their EVH bedrocks of gain. [Brought to you by https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr (D’Addario XPND Pedalboard).]
There’s heavy music … and then there’s End. Formed in 2017, the band is vocalist Brendan Murphy (Counterparts), guitarist Will Putney (Fit for an Autopsy), guitarist Gregory Thomas (formerly of Shai Hulud and Misery Signals), bassist Jay Pepito (Reign Supreme), and drummer Billy Rymer (the Dillinger Escape Plan). The supergroup was created to push the extremes of hardcore music. And, as you’ll soon find out in this Rig Rundown, mission accomplished. From day one, guitarists (and producers) Putney and Thomas strived to achieve a signature calling card. They wanted a monstrous, monolithic tone that bulldozed listeners. “It’s pretty aggressive [laughs],” concedes Putney. “When we started the band, Greg and I talked about finding an identifiable tone that was us and sticking with it.” And the roots of their sledgehammering sound? “We’re very influenced by the Nordic metal of Entombed, and then, later, Rotten Sound, and American delineations Trap Them,” says Thomas. “A lot of those bands rely on the Boss HM-2 or clones to get their grinding distortion. We actually landed on the Way Huge Swollen Pickle fuzz because it’s more articulate for our galloping picking and offers more control.” While the band does continue to challenge their consistently crushing sound, the Pickle always satisfies. “Every time we record something, we’ll try other pedals in place of the Swollen Pickle, but we always go back to it,” admits Putney. “It’s become the one. It’s us.” Hours before End’s sold-out show at Nashville’s the End (appropriate coincidence), PG’s Perry Bean popped onstage to explore the (nearly) mirrored, merciless setups of guitarists-turned-producers Putney and Thomas. Thomas details how three octave pedals and two noise gates coexist in his setup. Putney pulls back the curtain on the development of his signature https://www.stltones.com/products/stl-tonality-will-putney-guitar-plug-in (STL Tones Tonality package). And both prove that a bottom-heavy fuzz paired with prominent pitch-shifting into a 5150 is the way to part seas and elicit moshing madness. [Brought to you by D’Addario XPND Pedalboard: https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr (https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr)]
We thought a grizzly bear had entered Nashville’s 3rd & Lindsley when Hannah Wicklund fired up her rig at soundcheck on March 20, when she headlined the club with her band the Steppin' Stones. Luckily, it was just the rude tone of her Tom Anderson Guitarworks Guardian Angel model pumping through the sneer of her Orange head and cab, so … no carnage, but some echoes of classic Peter Green. Although Wicklund—who was the subject of a https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/hannah-wicklunds-coming-of-age (PG profile) in 2018—has U.S. and Canadian tour dates scheduled through early September, this was a rare stop in the South Carolina native’s adopted home town. She’s also been at work on a sequel to her 2018 album, Hannah Wicklund & the Steppin’ Stones, which she says is a coming-of-age story that will accent both her songwriting and her feminine side, although still showcase her 6-string chemistry. And speaking of chemistry, there’s an almost mystical conversation about tuning in 432 Hz in the Rundown that you won't want to miss. Wicklund’s alchemical adventure began when she was 9 and her father gifted her an Anderson model. Thirteen years later, she’s still loyal to the brand, so that’s a good place for our Rundown to start. [Brought to you by D’Addario Nexxus 360 Rechargeable Tuner: http://ddar.io/Nexxus.RigRundown (http://ddar.io/Nexxus.RigRundown)]
Shiner sprouted from the fertile, black-dirt underground rock scene of the Midwest. Cofounded by guitarist/vocalist Allen Epley in 1992, the band toured with contemporaries Sunny Day Real Estate, Chore, Jawbox, Season to Risk, the Jesus Lizard, and Girls Against Boys, recorded with Shellac’s Steve Albini, and released four albums between 1996 and 2001. Injections of new blood for 1997’s Lula Divina (bassist Paul Malinowski) and 2000’s Starless (Josh Newton on keyboards/guitars and Jason Gerken on drums) helped carve fresh ground and broaden their sound. Shiner’s sweet spot lives among the smoldering soundscapes that brood, blossom, and bolster their cannonball core. The Egg, from 2001, was a crowning achievement—the early career apex of the band’s evolution from noisy dissonance and powder-keg rock to mosaic, prog-like orchestrations that were equally brutal and beautiful. And after nearly two years of touring behind The Egg, the quartet split up in 2003. Over the next 15 years, Shiner reunited for special one-off appearances and very short tours. And with the help of the internet and streaming services, their low-key, dormant profile was elevated. Finally, in 2020, Shiner came back to the table with Schadenfreude–a shockingly logical evolution from and continuation of The Egg’s sonic flavor. The album has the lyrical earworms, head-nodding rhythms, gut-punch oomph, and palette-cleansing space travel you’d expect from a band that said goodbye with the jewel “https://youtu.be/ylmv_aG_VhM (The Simple Truth).” Ahead of Shiner’s show at Nashville’s DIY arts collective, Drkmttr, PG hopped onstage to dissect the current setups of Epley and Malinowski. Epley details how a lunch-break pawnshop visit landed a remarkable Hohner T for under $100. Malinowski reveals the unique tuning (and demonstrates the monkey-grip it requires to play) that allows his setup to charge like a rhino. And both walk us through their practical-but-powerful pedalboards. (Unfortunately, renowned gearhead, resident of Pudgemont County, and a regular at the Chug Suckle, Josh Newton, was not on this run as he was tech’ing for Kings of Leon. Spotlights’ Mario Quintero played the role of Newton for this batch of shows, and we featured his setup—along with wife/Spotlights bassist Sarah Quintero’s rig—back in 2021.) [Brought to you by D’Addario Nexxus 360 Rechargeable Tuner: http://ddar.io/Nexxus.RigRundown (http://ddar.io/Nexxus.RigRundown)]
“Are you guys with the band?” A pleasant passerby asked while we were loading out camera gear near the Goose tour bus parked outside Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl. “No, we’re just here to do an interview.” I responded. “Oh man, tell the band that last night’s concert was uh-mazing,” exclaimed the joyous fan. “We’ll be talking about it for years to come.” And with that sort of impassioned, infectious positivity, Goose is following the freeform footsteps of the Grateful Dead, Phish, Dave Matthews Band, and Umphrey’s McGee—where polished, recorded albums are secondary to improvisation-rich, snowflake-unique performances that illicit exchanges like that above. (Adding to their jam-band credit, they livestream most shows, and guitarist Peter Anspach mixes the band’s gigs for release shortly afterwards.) Formed in 2014, the quintet still retains its original members: Peter Anspach (guitar, keys, vocals), Jeff Arevalo (percussion, vocals), Ben Atkind (drums), Rick Mitarotonda (guitar, lead vocals), and Trevor Weekz (bass). The Northeast-based crew has released two albums (2016’s Moon Cabin and 2021’s Shenanigans Nite Club), an EP (2020’s Night Lights), and https://goosetheband.themerchcollective.com/ (Dripfield) is on the horizon, for release on June 24. However, the recorded songs are just guideposts and mile markers. It is all about the live experience. The band often performs two sets, without an opener, and keeps fans on their toes with natural, symbiotic excursions and unlikely, progressive covers. The first evening of their sold-out, two-night run in Nashville saw them flex their musical adeptness and vocabulary with covers of Wes Montgomery (“Switchin’”) and Steppenwolf (“Magic Carpet Ride”). Their word-of-mouth growth has elevated them to cross several milestones in 2022. They sold out their first arena (Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut) and followed that with sell-outs at the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre and historic Radio City Music Hall. So you can plan on seeing these birds fly high for years to come. Before Goose’s second sold-out show in Nashville, PG was invited onstage to catalog their current setups. In this Rundown, guitarists Peter Anspach and Rick Mitarotonda show off their all-night 6-string costars, detail the pedals that help them warp space and time for organic odysseys, and Mitarotonda explains how a looper helps him from hitting mental walls and getting cornered in redundant guitar-playing boxes. [Brought to you by D’Addario XPND Pedalboard: https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr (https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr)]
Tinsley Ellis broke onto the national blues scene with his early ’80s band, the Heartfixers. By late in the decade, when the Atlanta-based guitarist and singer began releasing albums under his own name, he also became a fixture in the genre’s international club and festival circuit. Over the years he's earned a reputation for full-throttle live shows and well-crafted albums that hinge on his powerful singing and on his playing, which is based in tradition but packed with signature moves like deft finger slides, the use of open, ringing strings in single-note solos, and bends borrowed from B.B. King but laden with his own emotionalism and rock 'n' roll energy. Ellis has been a seemingly tireless road warrior—at least until Covid. But even the pandemic couldn't slow his songwriting, and he penned more than 200 new titles while in lockdown. You can hear 10 of those tunes, including 6-string bonfires like “Slow Train To Hell,” on his new album Devil May Care—the 20th in his catalog. Back on the road this year, Ellis stopped at Nashville’s 3rd & Lindsley on March 3, where he showed Premier Guitar his rig and told stories of close encounters with B.B. King and other greats after soundcheck and, that night, delivered a sermon on the power and glory of blues. His current run continues until the end of May, and Ellis has just been nominated in the 2022 Blues Music Awards for Blue-Rock Entertainer of the Year. [Brought to you by D’Addario XPND Pedalboard: https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr (https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr)]
The Grammy-nominated high minister of funk guitar and host of PG’s Wong Notes podcast take us through his spare but carefully tailored setup. Hey, what’s happenin’ people?!!! For Cory Wong, who kicks off episodes of his http://premierguitar.com/wongnotes (Wong Notes podcast) with that question, the answer is he’s currently deep into an international tour—while still recording new episodes, writing music, and producing. But that didn’t stop the prodigious, prolific picker from taking the time during a recent stop at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl to guide us through his rig. By the way, the new season of Wong Notes begins March 9 with a big-deal guest, so stay tuned.
The Nashville-based power player uses classic-style guitars and amps to create big tones that echo from the past to the future. Our last Rundown with https://www.premierguitar.com/gear/rig-rundown-j-d-simo (J.D. Simo was eight years ago). Since then, the songwriter, guitarist, and producer has worked with Jack White, Tommy Emmanuel, Luther Dickinson, Dave Cobb, Blackberry Smoke, and even been a friend in Grateful Dead founder Phil Lesh’s band Phil and Friends. Currently, Simo is promoting his most unique, original, and raw album yet, called Mind Control, where he explores Afrobeat grooves and Mississippi trance blues. Simo invited John Bohlinger and the PG team to his studio to look at some new and old friends with strings, cones, and attitude. [Brought to you by D’Addario XS Strings: http://ddar.io/xs.rr (http://ddar.io/xs.rr)]
Behind the moody makeup, angsty energy, arena-level production, rebellious revelry, and 20 empty Marshall cabs blasting flood lights is a legit modern rock band. And behind the band’s charismatic leader Yungblud (aka Dominic Richard Harrison) is its producer, songwriter, and bona fide riff assassin Adam Warrington. Armed with a handful of Gibsons, a Gretsch, and an MIM Jazzmaster, he is a mortar of might. Before Yungblud’s redlining, headlining show at Nashville’s legendary Ryman Auditorium on January 29, Warrington gave PG’s Chris Kies some quality time to detail his artillery. During the interview, he explains why he lives by this advice: “If you love a guitar, don’t change it.” Plus, he reveals how his Box of Doom iso cab has become an integral ingredient, and walks us through a recent pedalboard rebuild that occurred after his previous stomp station was stolen from his London flat. [Brought to you by D’Addario Nexxus 360 Rechargeable Tuner: http://ddar.io/Nexxus.RigRundown (http://ddar.io/Nexxus.RigRundown)]
Pedals can be a source of inspiration. But can they be the catalyst to start a band? The argument could be made that without a looper bassist Kristian Dunn and drummer Tim Fogarty would’ve never taken flight as El Ten Eleven. (The band is named after the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar airplane.) “I knew I wanted to start a band—in my mind it was probably going to sound like El Ten Eleven—but I didn’t know exactly how I’d do it. I got Tim [Fogarty] to play drums and I thought I’d get a third person for keyboards,” recalls Dunn. Fogarty wondered if Dunn had ever heard of a looper pedal. He hadn’t, so Dunn borrowed one from a friend and brought it to band practice. “We tried it, and right out of the gate our eyes lit up and we thought out loud, ‘Oh my god! Could we just do this with the two of us?!’” Since 2002, the live-looping masterminds have taking to the skies performing their organic, net-free, high-wire act. (Even Fogarty loops electronic drum parts through Dunn’s Boomerang that runs into a Gallien-Krueger MB Fusion 800 and a GK 115 RBH cabinet that sits near Fogarty.) And to celebrate two decades of their clever, playfully poetic, post-rock instrumentals, they’ll release their ninth album, https://www.joyfulnoiserecordings.com/products/new-years-eve (New Year’s Eve), on March 4, 2022 via Joyful Noise. Before El Ten Eleven’s headlining show at Nashville’s Exit/In on January 29, juggling, tap-dancing, bass-playing Dunn gave PG’s Chris Kies 30-plus minutes to detail his cockpit. He explains how a late-night Genesis video influenced his doubleneck duality, illuminates why he always carries a marker, and then unlocks some expressive cheat codes with his pedalboard and signal chain. [Brought to you by D’Addario XPND Pedalboard: https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr (https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr)]
Aaron Marshall loves guitar. “I make a living every day playing the electric guitar. My identity is built around this thing. I’ve been my own boss since 2015,” he declared https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/guitarists/intervals (in a 2021 PG interview). Aaron Marshall believes in guitar: “Anyone who thinks the death of the electric guitar is upon us is very out of touch. You can’t hold its head underwater. The electric guitar is iconic. It’s not going anywhere.” And Aaron Marshall is never satisfied with guitar: “Everything’s perfect. Let’s change it all,” the Intervals visionary joked during this new Rig Rundown. “Everything is different, which is probably the most on-brand thing I can provide. But hopefully this is the beginning of that not being the case.” The guitar disciple started Intervals back in 2011. He’s been the solo constant member and the band’s musical pilot. He’s put out four riveting, guitar-centric albums to date. And sure, the obvious 6-string influences are found within Intervals’ music, with complementing flavors of prog, metal, djent, and jazz all percolating together. But the ’90s kid has an unabashed love for Top 40 pop and has drawn from acts like NYSYNC, TLC, and Destiny’s Child, too, giving Intervals’ music more bounce, groove, and life. “I’ll challenge myself to put my spin on a chord progression that feels like [TLC’s] ‘No Scrubs,’ but still be Intervals about it. It’s always an experiment between me and the guitar. These sorts of experiments yield new songs.” Before Intervals’ December ’21 headlining show at Nashville’s Mercy Lounge, prog-rock maestro Marshall reconnected with PG’s Perry Bean to catalog his rig revamp. The ensuing conversation covered the decision to pass on a high-end (but limited) partnership with Mayones for a collaboration with Schecter that aims to bring guitars to everyone across the globe. (“You still have young people that are really interested in music for music’s sake. And there is this wave of online instrumental guitar music that is the best it’s ever been.”) Plus, he meticulously details how he’s testing Neural DSP’s pedalboard powerhouse with a space-encompassing stereo setup that will resonate with fans in every corner of the room. [Brought to you by D’Addario XPND Pedalboard: https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr (https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr)]
Adam Shoenfeld has helped shape the tone of modern country guitar. How? Well, the Nashville-based session star, producer, and frontman has played on hundreds of albums and 45 No. 1 country hits, starting with Jason Aldean’s “Hicktown,” since 2005. Plus, he’s found time for several bands of his own as well as the first studio album under his own name, https://adamshoenfeld.com/ (All the Birds Sing, which drops January 28). Shoenfeld recently let PG’s John Bohlinger in on some of his sonic secrets, running through his session rig at East Nashville’s https://www.3sirens.com/ (3Sirens studio). [Brought to you by D’Addario Nexxus 360 Rechargeable Tuner: http://ddar.io/Nexxus.RigRundown (http://ddar.io/Nexxus.RigRundown)]
Listening to the tidal wave in “Giant Peach,” the riotous “Moaning Lisa Smile,” or the punked-up “Play the Greatest Hits,” it’s hard to imagine Wolf Alice as an acoustic duo. Then talk to Joff Oddie about his integral use of effects—“These pedals can do such crazy things; to not do crazy things with things that can do crazy things seems odd”—and the band’s origin story becomes even more improbable. But it’s true: Wolf Alice started with guitarist/singer Ellie Rowsell and guitarist Oddie playing acoustic-folk music during open-mic nights in North London pubs. After self-releasing an EP, they expanded and electrified their sound with the help of Theo Ellis (bass/synths) and Joel Amey (drums/synths). Now sure, plenty of the band’s repertoire from their four official releases stays in the quieter, softer settings—creating maximum drama—but Joff and the gang give some animation to nearly every note played. (To give further cred to the group’s juxtaposition of floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee, in a https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/wolf-alices-joff-oddie-pop-goes-boom (2015 PG interview) Oddie cited John Fahey and Sonic Youth as two of his biggest influences.) “On Blue Weekend, we leaned into our past quite a bit, where we layered up sounds with acoustic instruments. We used loads of 12-strings, banjos, resonators, and tenor guitars,” Oddie says about the band’s recent release. “We’re even performing an acoustic fingerstyle number—‘Safe From Heartbreak (if you never fall in love)’—each night, so it’s nice to get back there.” Before Wolf Alice’s sold-out show at Nashville’s Cannery Ballroom, guitarist Oddie shared an hour with PG’s Chris Kies. The resulting conversation covered the cathartic process of building his first guitar during lockdown (a Jaguar-Jazzmaster hybrid) and why he switched to a pair of Fenders that are “a big sheet of paper that you can paint on.” Plus, he illustrates how every moment in a Wolf Alice set has a pedal, and those moments are unique and not repeated. [Brought to you by D’Addario 360 Rechargeable Tuner: http://ddar.io/Nexxus.RigRundown (http://ddar.io/Nexxus.RigRundown)]
Deer Tick was started by self-taught multi-instrumentalist John McCauley as a solo songwriting endeavor in 2004. The band’s instant, ear-perk appeal is McCauley’s wiry, craggy voice narrating personal hardship and loss. When you hear Deer Tick albums, the honesty that pours out of the speakers punches your gut and tears your heart. Originally touring with a revolving cast of supporting musicians, McCauley solidified his rhythm section with half-brothers Dennis Michael Ryan (drums) and Christopher Dale Ryan (bass) before finalizing things with Ian Patrick O’Neil on guitar in 2009. The band’s staying power and relevance is rooted in their ability to cross-stitch ringing hi-fi Americana harmonies and lo-fi alt-country vibes with melancholic Nick Drake moods and trouncing honky-tonk rumblers with tattered rockers perfect for Iggy or Kurt. That amalgamation is both timeless and contemporary. (It’s worth noting that McCauley—a self-proclaimed Nirvana nut—sang and played guitar alongside surviving members Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, and Pat Smear during Cal Jam 2018.) Before Deer Tick’s co-headlining show with Delta Spirit at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl, McCauley (vocals/guitar) and Ian Patrick O’Neil (guitar/vocals) chatted with PG’s Chris Kies. The conversation covered Teles (and why they're the duo’s current favorites) and how Fender combos have always factored into the band’s sonic scripts for stage and studio. Plus, both pickers provided a quick-and-dirty sampling of their stomp situations. [Brought to you by D’Addario XPND Pedalboard: https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr (https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr)]
Dinosaur Jr.’s J Mascis is rock ’n’ roll’s loudest low talker. Onstage, the reserved frontman is overshadowed by his three full stacks, summoning up President Teddy Roosevelt’s quote: “speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.” Fellow volume-dealing stalwarts Emmett Jefferson Murphy III (drums)—better known as “Murph”—and Lou Barlow (bass/vocals) helped J form the band in 1984 after their first group, Deep Wound, dissolved. Both left Dinosaur Jr., and then rejoined in 2005. This core group has released eight studio albums of dynamically rich rock that teeters between a runaway locomotive fueled on feedback and buzzing riffs, and hooky, melodic, pop-soaked nimble rhythms that carry more than they crush. While never reaching the mainstream stratosphere like some of their contemporaries (including Nirvana, who opened for Dino Jr. in 1991), this consummate power trio have remained popular in the American underground by continually selling out theaters, splashing into the Billboard 200 (climbing even higher in the Independent and Rock charts), and headlining alternative-music festivals. All along the way, their soft-spoken shredder has ascended as a guitar-hero among musical outcasts. Before Dinosaur Jr.’s sold-out show at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl, Mascis reconnected with PG’s Chris Kies to talk Teles (yes, you read that right; he’s touring with more Telecasters than ever), including the development of his new signature T that’s based on his studio-perfect ’58 model. We also witness two firsts for J: a Phantom-Tele-Jazzmaster Frankenstein and a Floyd Rose-equipped guitar. [Brought to you by D’Addario XPND Pedalboard: https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr (https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr)]
Founded by the late Neal Casal, this instrumental band of sonic explorers was born out of a request for set-break music during the Grateful Dead’s final run of shows in San Francisco and Chicago during 2015. Originally, CATS was going to be a one-off project, but fan feedback pushed Casal and company to release it as Interludes for the Dead. This wasn’t simply wordless Dead covers, but new creations formed in essence and spirt of the Dead. In 2018, the group released their second double album, Let it Wander, and followed it up with a completely improvised EP featuring drummer Joe Russo. Sadly, a week after tracking their self-titled album https://www.premierguitar.com/pro-advice/last-call/mental-illness (Casal took his own life). Casal urged the group to carry on without him. The group recruited https://www.premierguitar.com/gear/rig-rundown-eric-krasno (Eric Krasno) and Scott Metzger for various tours before settling in with John Lee Shannon in July of 2021. Shortly before a gig at Brooklyn Bowl in Nashville, John Bohlinger caught up with Shannon and bassist Dan Horne to talk gear. [Brought to you by D’Addario XS Strings: http://ddar.io/xs.rr (http://ddar.io/xs.rr)]
Expanding, evolving, exploring, and enchanting are all applicable when describing the orbit of All Them Witches. Since their https://www.premierguitar.com/gear/rig-rundown-all-them-witches (2016 Rig Rundown), the quartet have continued pursuing their sonic mission, unbound by anything but regeneration. Their never-ending musical mutation has yielded three more individualistic, intrepid releases since our last check-in. Sleeping Through the War, in 2017, explored more purposeful, mystical songcraft cloaked in hypnotic, rambunctious rock. For 2018’s ATW, the band’s IV-like retreat (substitute Headley Grange for a Tennessee cabin) extracted a doomier, more chaotic side A equally matched by a side B that’s a psychedelic painkiller. And 2020’s Nothing as the Ideal shows the temporary power trio (drummer Robby Staebler completes the line-up) striking a levitating balance within a menacing, mortar of metal that binds and anchors their emotive, effervescent excursions. (Drop the needle on closer “Rats in Ruin” and let it wash over you.) Just before their sold-out show at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium (on Halloween, no less), Witches guitarist Ben McLeod and bassist/vocalist Charles Michael Parks Jr. welcomed PG’s Chris Kies onstage to re-chronicle their setups. The resulting conversation covers their modified war horses, deciphers their esoteric stacks, and reveals the secrets of the “doom broom.” Plus, we get hip to new builder https://www.daleamps.com/ (Elad Shapiro of Dale Amps). [Brought to you by D’Addario 360 Rechargeable Tuner: http://ddar.io/Nexxus.RigRundown (http://ddar.io/Nexxus.RigRundown)]
The Hives are a ripping quintet that formed in Fagersta, Sweden, during the early ’90s. They exploded into American pop-culture consciousness during the garage-rock revival with a pair of chart-splashing, straight-forward stingers (2000’s Veni Vidi Vicious and 2004’s Tyrannosaurus Hives). And while they did take a hiatus in the mid-2010s, they’ve continued rocking the thin line between ragged and refined for nearly 30 years with a total of five albums, four EPs, and a 2020 live set recorded at Nashville’s Third Man Records. Just after soundcheck wrapped at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl, the Hives’ redlining guitar duo of Nicholaus Arson and Vigilante Carlstroem welcomed PG’s Chris Kies onstage to talk gear. The resulting chat covered just how and why Carlstroem’s Flying V has split so many times (supposedly sounding better after each repair), and the reasons why Arson explains his vintage, bridge-pickup-only Fender Telecaster Custom is still the one. Both also quickly detail the torrid fuzzes that will never leave their respective boards. [Brought to you by D’Addario XPND Pedalboard: https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr (https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr)]
Ray Benson founded Asleep at the Wheel over a half a century ago in 1970. Over the course of his career, he’s won 9 Grammys while turning several generations onto Western Swing. PG’s John Bohlinger hung with Benson and his longtime lap-steel player Cindy Cashdollar before a recent Grand Ole Opry performance in Nashville. [Brought to you by D’Addario XS Strings: http://ddar.io/xs.rr (http://ddar.io/xs.rr)]
Do you hear that thunder? That’s the sound of strength in four 100-watt stacks. (Actually, one is a 200-watt bass tube head.) IDLES’ guitarists Mark Bowen and Lee Kiernan finally have the firepower to match their fury. (Original members singer/lyricist Joe Talbot, drummer Jon Beavis, and bassist Adam Devonshire fill out the band. Kiernan took over for guitarist Andy Stewart after 2015 EP Meat was released.) For much of the 2010s, the bashers from Bristol played on anything and plugged into everything. Low-budget imports and solid-state combos were what they had and they made that work. They toiled around the U.K. sharpening their sneering tongue, quickening their sting, and focusing their vision. Doing so meant playing small rooms as much as possible. So the need and access for big, potent, top-shelf gear was unnecessary. That volatile energy, sensible setups, and Sten-gun attack anchored both 2017’s Brutalism and 2018’s Joy as an Act of Resistance. The popularity in those releases opened doors to new tools and the time to explore fresh tones and approaches. When writing Ultra Mono, Bowen and Kiernan looked for sounds rather than riffs. “The noise-making had to be thought of from the start,” Bowen told PG in 2020. “We basically created a sound palette first, and once we created a sound, that sound informed the riffs.” And the most obnoxious sounds on Ultra Mono were intentional. “When we were writing this album, we’d go to random guitar shops and ask them for the weirdest pedals they had,” adds Kiernan. “It may sound useless, but it still might touch you somehow. Every now and then, a pedal that does something really weird will kick you into gear.” Using hip-hop beats as a North Star and often performing on their instruments as drummers, the duo unlocked a combination of heartless sounds for Ultra Mono that elevated Talbot’s heartfelt (and challenging) lyrics. For the just-released Crawler, they continued exploring obtuse sounds. Some continued to be unusual to the masses and others were atypical for IDLES. “Car Crash” is a disjointed, cold-war-siren-sounding, brooding banger. Considering its brash, bizarrely brilliant predecessor, it’s right in line. However, one track no one saw coming was “The Beachland Ballroom”—a bring-you-to-your knees soul song. The incessant brave exploration advances their brutal power, supports their menacing energy, and paints with broad colors to complement Talbot’s biting commentary and tales of personal troubles. Touring ahead of 2021’s Crawler (now available), IDLES’ Mark Bowen and Lee Kiernan invited PG to Nashville’s Cannery Ballroom for an extended gear chat before their sold-out show. Just ahead of soundcheck, Kiernan clarified his seemingly callous treatment of his Fenders, while Bowen establishes that his acrylic Electrical Guitar Company EG 500 is heavy to dance about onstage, but its “angry piano” sound makes it worth it. They explain why they need a collective of five pedalboards and 50+ stomps to cover guitar, bass, baritone, synth, inhuman sounds, and whatever they mean when they say “genk.” (In a 2020 interview with PG, Bowen described the term like this: “’Mr. Motivator’ is a good example: Lee makes this ‘genk’ noise that sounds like a hammer in a metal factory, and he plays that along with the drums, and that part really only occupies a frequency range around 1.2k to 2.3k—which is a large bandwidth, but it’s where the transients of the drums and the cymbals sit. That part really pops in that space.” Also, Bowen and Kiernan created a YouTube show called Genks during the pandemic, which focuses on effects. (Even if you’re a minimalist, it’s worth a watch for the laughs.) Big thanks to IDLES tech Gavin Maxwell. Full Rig Details: https://bit.ly/IdlesRR Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL Merch & Magazines: https://shop.premierguitar.com
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About 10 years ago Mannequin Pussy bubbled up from the percolating Philly rock scene. Formed by guitarist/singer Marisa “Missy” Dabice and drummer Athanasios Paul, their primary calling card was a stinging combination of snippy and sizzling ragers. The lineup was eventually filled out with Drew Adler (drums) and Colins “Bear” Regisford (bass). (Paul moved to lead guitar in 2013 and Kaleen Reading took over for drums in 2015. Ultimately, Paul left earlier this year after recording Perfect.)
Over the course of three albums and a remarkable brand-new EP, the band’s sound has expanded, evolved, and deepened with more engaging melodies, gallant songwriting, and stouter song structures. Through time, gigs, and reps, Mannequin Pussy progressed beyond the linear rage often dished by young punks. The brazen, brash, locomotive charm in Marisa’s lyrics and the band’s expansive sound has become fully complemented by a refined approach with smoother, swelling dynamics and sharper care of their craft.
Touring in support of late 2019’s Patience and the pandemic-produced 2021 EP Perfect (both released on Epitpah Records), Mannequin Pussy’s Dabice and Regisford invited PG to Nashville’s High Watt for a gear chat before their sold-out show during their first-ever headlining run. Just ahead of soundcheck, Missy gushed about her first P-90 guitar, while “Bear” admits that his Player Precision proves he should’ve always been a P dude. And they each detonate the boom with their own strategic stomp of stank.
(Sadly, shortly after this Rundown was filmed, on October 23, Mannequin Pussy had their van, gear, and band merch stolen from outside their Akron, Ohio hotel room. Brooklyn Vegan (https://www.brooklynvegan.com/mannequin-pussy-launch-gofundme-after-gear-van-stolen-in-akron-oh/) chronicled the disaster with some MP Instagram posts and a link to their GoFundMe page (https://www.gofundme.com/f/4qg96). Thankfully, the van and some merch have been recovered, however, all their equipment is still missing.)
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Music—and guitar—are therapeutic. The songs we write and riffs we play help reduce the pain, alleviate the stress, and produce some positivity in our lives. Microwave's singer/guitarist/lyricist Nathan Hardy has been using the studio and stage as his leather couch for nearly 10 years. Stovall, in 2014, saw him question his Mormon missionary upbringing. Two years later, Much Love focused on realities versus the romance of the rock 'n' roll lifestyle. And 2019's Death Is a Warm Blanket is a dark, heavier, raging deep dive into his nihilistic thoughts. All three albums are honest, coarse evaluations of the pushing and pulling in Hardy's head and heart. Musically, the band has matured alongside Hardy's contemplative subject matter. Stovall and Much Love harness the teeter-totter dynamics mastered by Nirvana and also felt in Microwave's post-hardcore contemporaries like early Citizen and Turnover. While their loudest, most aggressive tendencies were unleashed in Death Is a Warm Blanket, Microwave's melodies and hooks can still be sticky and sweet as honey. Finally able to tour in support of that album, Microwave packed Nashville's Mercy Lounge on October 15. Just after soundcheck, Hardy and guitarist Travis Hill introduced PG to their favorite battle axes, walked us through their Odd Couple pedalboards, and Hill explained how an outdated laptop and trial version of Logic Pro provides a universal "poor man's Kemper" for guitars and bass. [Brought to you by D'Addario XPND Pedalboard: https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr (https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr)]
Mackenzie Scott (aka Torres) likes a good juxtaposition. Her music is a tightrope act between vulnerability and violence. Scott's lyrics often reflect introspection over a backdrop of angular, explosive guitar sounds, and those lyrics and her imagery combat the standard gender tropes by deconstructing their longstanding definitions and re-empowering them for all people. (Look no further than the cover of Torres' latest album, Thirstier, to see her take on the "classic" guitar pose.) Even her playing style is at odds with itself. "I prefer fingerpicking. I like playing really crunchy, loud, aggressive stuff in the styling of a classical player. And when it comes time to play big power chords, honestly, I just make my fingers bleed," she says. Those divergent personalities and approaches result in singular musical snapshots rather than a predictable path through each performance, song, and album. Sprinter, from 2015, was angsty, urgent, and erratic. And 2017's Three Futures stripped back the guitar barrage for an electronic bent, centered around stark beats and cold synths. Last year's self-produced Silver Tongue twisted the previous albums' makeup into an unusual two-step that often made the guitars pretty and the synths wicked. (Don't worry, guitar loyalists. There's still some 6-string fire.) And now Thirstier is a concise blast of catchy, power pop numbers that are heavier and shinier. Out in support of her new album, Torres' October 14 Nashville show had her headlining the Exit/In. Before soundcheck Scott introduced PG to her Tele companions, explained why she'd rather play with bloody fingers than use a pick, and showed how seven stomps cover all the shades of traditional rock guitar and much more. [Brought to you by D'Addario XPND Pedalboard: https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr (https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr)]
Will Swan has celebrated and elevated radical guitar music through the course of nine frenetic, volatile Dance Gavin Dance albums, a pair of releases with his psychedelic post-hardcore side project https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/sianvars-will-swan-beautiful-intensity (Sianvar), and the creation of his https://www.blueswanrecords.com/ (Blue Swan Records) label. The common thread is his hue of beautiful dysfunction and his ethos of pushing the instrument (and its sounds) forward. Make no mistake, Swan can play the guitar. His style is equal parts violence and grace, with pit stops at all points between. He terrorizes the frets as well as he tenderly dances on them—and the results can be chaotic or calming. But what most excites him about guitar is making it not sound like a guitar. "I really like those tones that take the guitar far away from its normal sounds," Swan explains. "I like to layer those with typical guitar tones, and to mix cool sounds with interesting-playing parts. I need both of those elements to enjoy the experience." "I'm self-taught, so I don't know music theory, so when I'm writing I don't know what things are going to sound like. I'm just messing around and seeing what catches my ear. It's similar to the way I explore pedals. I don't quite know what's going to happen, but if I come across something that I enjoy, I'll use it and don't question it." The afternoon of Dance Gavin Dance's headlining show at Nashville's Marathon Music Works, Swan detailed his signature Kiesels (and the other Kiesel he's been preferring), explains how the Friedman Small Box is (phenomenally) filling the void of his favored vintage Rockerverb, and breaks down why his pedals help him embrace the textures and tones of other instruments. [Brought to you by D'Addario XPND Pedalboard: https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr (https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr)]
Recently Thrice's Dustin Kensrue (vocals/guitar) and Teppei Teranishi (guitar) participated in https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/hooked/thrice (PG's Hooked). (The video https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/hooked/ (series) features musicians talking about a moment, riff, or song that turned their world upside down and sideswiped them into playing.) Kensrue raved about the Pixies' dissonant melodies, while Teranishi highlighted Metallica's heavy impact. And at the conclusion of the video, they both admit the band has a lot of "Pixies" parts and "Metallica" moments throughout its catalog. Over the course of 11 studio albums—with the help of brothers Eddie (bass) and Riley (drums) Breckenridge—Thrice has explored odd-timing metal (Identity Crisis and The Illusion of Safety), thrashy screamo (The Artist in the Ambulance), maturing post-hardcore (Vheissu and Palms), all-encompassing prog-rock with ethereal escapes and mammoth, surly riffs (The Alchemy Index: Vols. I-IV), and an amalgamation of it all (To Be Everywhere Is to Be Nowhere and Horizons/East). And even after all those years, all those albums, and all their discovered sounds, the Pixies and Metallica continue to be musical planets they orbit while exploring the outer realms of the sonic solar system. Prior to headlining Nashville's Mercy Lounge in support of the just-released Horizons/East, Kensrue and Teranishi spoke with PG's Perry Bean about the changes (and reductions) in their symbiotic setups. Kensrue explains why he's shifted his live tone (and Horizons/East recordings) to be fully dependent on the Line 6 Helix, and how that impacted the design of his signature Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay. Teranishi chronicles how the pandemic-created time void sent him down the lutherie rabbit hole and resulted in a familiar-looking-but-original build. [Brought to you by D'Addario XPND Pedalboard: https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr (https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr)]
Tired of pretentious music? Are you looking to just have fun and rock out? The good-time, make-you-move-and-groove medicine you're after is what White Reaper dispenses. The band's core was formed in 2012 when Louisville high schoolers Tony Esposito (guitar/vocals) and Nick Wilkerson (drums) started jamming as a duo. Then Nick recruited his twin brother Sam (bass) and Esposito added friend Ryan Hater (keys). And the fearsome foursome released their rowdy, ripping 2015 debut, White Reaper Does It Again, on Polyvinyl Records. Carrying forward their blend of lo-fi garage rock and pop-punk hooks, the quartet added second guitarist Hunter Thompson in 2016, before recording 2017's (tongue-in-cheek) The World's Best American Band. The glee blossomed with shinier, poppier melodies that soared over harmonized guitars—think crossing Cheap Trick with Thin Lizzy. The World's Best American Band graduated them to major label Elektra, where they earned studio time with producer Jay Joyce (Cage the Elephant, Halestorm, Eric Church, Carrie Underwood, Emmylou Harris). With Joyce providing a slicker, tighter sound, the quintet unveiled an even catchier package that employs the sheen of peak Cars and early Maroon 5 in danceable tracks like "Might Be Right" and "Eggplant." (The former earned them a No. 1 slot on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart.) But rock purists still got to stomp and howl with the hard drivin' "Headwind" and redlining "Raw." Hours before their headlining gig at Nashville's Exit/In, White Reaper's Esposito and Thompson checked in with PG to talk tone. The guitar duo showed us how the rigors of the road have impacted their touring gear decisions and why COVID-19 handcuffed one of them to the digital life. [Brought to you by D'Addario XPND Pedalboard: https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr (https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr)]
At age 76, Eric Clapton remains a major presence in guitar. He's touring again rather than simply resting on nearly six decades of laurels, and with Slowhand's blessing, Dan Dearnley—the legend's tech for a dozen years—showed us his boss' setup before a September 21 concert at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena. Three Signature Strats, Martins, and not much else. Dig in! [Brought to you by D'Addario XS Strings: https://ddar.io/xs.rr (https://ddar.io/xs.rr)]
There's no doubt ZZ Top trademarked Texas boogie. And over 30 years later, the Sword furthered the Lonestar shuffle's legacy by darkening it. The Austin outfit's 2006 debut Age of Winters combined the rhythmic bounce of Tres Hombres with the power and might of Master of Reality. The cross-pollination of Gibbons and Iommi continued in 2008's Gods of the Earth, with heavier right-hand picking and tempos shading towards thrash-y Priest and Thin Lizzy's "Emerald." Traces of proggy psychedelia, like 2112 Rush and late-'70s Genesis, turned 2010's concept album Warped Riders into a swirling voyage of sci-fi conquest and space exploration, with the music matching the otherworldly narrative. And 2012's Apocryphon saw the band settle into themselves, collectively cherry-picking all the things that worked on the previous three albums. Songs like "Cloak of Feathers" and the title track show their musical certainty. High Country, from three years later, showcases a once-singular-sounding band finding a home between Houston and Birmingham that could be best classified as classic mid-'70s hard rock. And 2018's Used Future—as its cover depicts—shows the band comfortably, calmly, confidently pressing the accelerator of their Bombshell Betty 1952 Buick Super Riviera and racing towards their own horizon. This fall 2021 run had the Sword members—J.D. Cronise (guitar/vocals), Kyle Shutt (guitars), Bryan Richie (bass/keyboards), and Santiago "Jimmy" Vela III (drums)—handling double duty, with a headline tour woven around opening shows for Primus. Before their top-of-the-bill show at Nashville's Mercy Lounge, Shutt, Cronise, and Richie showed PG how consolidating gear (and volume) has helped them sharpen their blade. [Brought to you by D'Addario XPND Pedalboard: http://ddar.io/xpnd.rr (http://ddar.io/xpnd.rr)]
One guitar (with no knobs), one amp, and one pedal is all this punk-rock papa needs to command the stage. It's pretty astonishing that a sophomoric band of misfits and outcasts have chiseled a 40-plus-year legacy of punk rock, but that's what the improbable Descendents have been doing since 1977. Their brand of snotty, snarling, snarky, succinct songs have endeared them to rock titans like Dave Grohl. "[They have] this shameless, love-song aesthetic—none of the other bands had the balls to do that," proclaimed Grohl in 2013's documentary Filmage: The Story of Descendents/All. "Everyone was screaming about Reagan or whatever." Additionally, through their blending of hardcore, drag-strip tempos, and melodious harmonies, they designed a vehicle for the '90s pop-punk explosion—paving the expressway for bands like Green Day and Blink-182 to crash into the mainstream. "They're like the punk-rock Beach Boys," said Blink-182's Mark Hoppus in Filmage. And don't forget their iconic, line-drawn mascot Milo, patterned after lead singer Milo Aukerman. That nerdy caricature's singular outline comically defines the Descendents' simplicity, humor, subtle brilliance, and everyman appeal. It also reflects the persona of Aukerman, who stated in Filmage, "I have this dichotomy of desires. I wanna rock out. I wanna be a punk-rock guy, but I also have this really strong ambition to be a scientist." The band's redlining riffer Stephen Egerton welcomed PG down to Birmingham, Alabama's Avondale Brewing Company, where he blasted through his punk-rock-approved, simplistic-yet-seething setup. [Brought to you by D'Addario Auto Lock Straps: https://ddar.io/AutoLockRR (https://ddar.io/AutoLockRR)]
Guitarists Tim McIlrath and Zach Blair enjoy tenacious tones with rock's mightiest tag team—Gibsons into Marshalls—aided by a few everyman effects and one mythical stomp. Rise Against rose out of Chicago around Y2k on the back of roaring Gatling-gun guitars, blast-beat rhythms, and defiant, sharp-tongued social commentary. The band's first pair of albums—2001's The Unraveling and 2003's Revolutions Per Minute—are blistering bangers rooted in traditional hardcore chaos, spiced up with fist-pumping, boot-stomping choruses. Siren Song of the Counter Culture in 2004 was their major-label debut, on Geffen. That album highlighted a broadening hardcore sound buffed up with more melody. (Think '90s Bad Religion messaging cloaked in early 2000s AFI harmonies.) However catchy they became, their message still ripped like a dagger. Appealing to a bigger audience with bouncier hooks, acoustic numbers, and string overdubs earned them their first splash into the Billboard 200 albums chart (eventually certified gold in the U.S.). Elevated visibility scored them back-to-back platinum albums—2006's The Sufferer & the Witness and 2008's Appeal to Reason, and that momentum carried over to a continued residency in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 with 2011's Endgame, 2014's The Black Market, and 2017's Wolves. And 2021's Nowhere Generation represents a maturing, melodic hardcore outfit that continues to stand up for what they believe in and still provide the revolutionary attitude to back it up. The continual growth and evolution of their melodic-hardcore formula has allowed them to roll into mainstream airwaves like a Trojan horse. Newcomers who were enamored with anthemic choruses ("Savior," "The Prayer of the Refugee," "Nowhere Generation," "Give It All," "I Don't Want To Be Here Anymore") quickly became dancing disciples because of the band's knack for earworms. The twin-guitar team of singer Tim McIlrath and lead guitarist Zach Blair welcomed PG down to Birmingham, Alabama's Avondale Brewing Company to see how their simple-but-stinging https://www.premierguitar.com/gear/rig-rundown-rise-against (setups have morphed since 2015). [Brought to you by D'Addario XPND Pedalboard: https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr (http://ddar.io/xpnd.rr)]
Big tones for big rooms takes big gear. The Grammy-winning guitar-and-bass team of Jake and Sam Kiszka give us a tour of their on- and offstage rigs. [Brought to you by D'Addario XPND Pedalboard: http://ddar.io/xpnd.rr (http://ddar.io/xpnd.rr)]
A backwards Strat, a radical Jetsons-y guitar, Def Leppard's secret weapon, and more pedals than currently listed on Reverb fill this YouTuber's tone lounge. [Brought to you by D'Addario XPND Pedalboard: https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr (https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr)]
He's played on more than a thousand albums. Now, here's a close-up look at this Nashville session legend's live rig. [Brought to you by D'Addario XS Strings: https://ddar.io/xs.rr (https://ddar.io/xs.rr)]
Take a cruise through the Gibson- and Marshall-heavy world of this Grammy-winning, hard-rocking duo. [Brought to you by D'Addario XPND Pedalboard: https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr (https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr)]
Grinding guitars + soaring vocals = stripped-down rock bliss. The spark for Striking Matches flared in 2007, on the first day Sarah Zimmermann and Justin Davis met in a guitar class at Belmont University. They've been playing as a duo and leading other musicians under the band's banner, with an album and a handful of EPs to their credit, ever since. Recently, Premier Guitar's John Bohlinger met with Zimmermann and Davis in their East Nashville studio while they took a break from recording their new album. Zimmermann and Davis did some show-and-tell, pulling a lot of Gibson, Fender, and Takamine out of their collective hats, and playing some killer music, too. [Brought to you by D'Addario XS Strings: https://ddar.io/xs.rr (https://ddar.io/xs.rr)]
Snap! Crackle! Pop! You've never heard T-styles deliciously deformed like this pair of steamrollers piloted by noise rocker Christian Lembach. [Brought to you by D'Addario Auto-Lock Straps: https://ddar.io/AutoLockRR (https://ddar.io/AutoLockRR)]
Classic-rock warriors Doug Aldrich and Glenn Hughes show us their latest touring set ups.
These Fat Wreck-label punkers keep it stupid simple with single-humbucker, classic-custom recreations for their ripping Ramones downstrokes and pogo-ready choruses. [Brought to you by D'Addario's XPND Pedalboards: https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr (https://ddar.io/xpnd.rr)]
An Austin guitar legend in the making shares her rare Gibson, a custom-built amp, ferocious fingerpicking style, and passion for bringing fire to the blues. [Brought to you by D'Addario Auto-Lock Straps: https://ddar.io/GigBackpack-RR (https://ddar.io/AutoLockRR)]
Bludgeoning, beautiful, jarring, and serene are just a few of the cinematic moods conjured by this doomy, fuzz-loving husband-and-wife duo of Mario and Sarah Quintero. [Brought to you by D'Addario Backline Gear Transport Pack: https://ddar.io/GigBackpack-RR (https://ddar.io/GigBackpack-RR)]
Smooth blues slide? Check. Mellow, soulful tones with an edge? Check. Epic gear? Check and double-check. Brought to you by D'Addario XL Strings: http://ddar.io/XL.RR (http://ddar.io/XL.RR)
The post-hardcore heavyweight lays out the tonal road map for the new Distant Populations—including a shocking secret-weapon practice combo. Plus, he explains his pedal evolution from abstinence to indulgence. [Brought to you by D'Addario XL Strings: http://ddar.io/XL.RR (http://ddar.io/XL.RR)]
The "aggressive progressive" guitarist chases "peanut-butter tone" with a pair of Vigiers, some fine-tuned drives, drifting delays, and ping-ponging pitch shifters.
The jazz-trio chameleon uses handcrafted guitars and a self-restricted, condensed pedal playground to cover bass, keys, and a disintegrating computer.
A Guild hollowbody stuffed with undies? A wooden slide? Dinky, about-to-burst, plywood combos? All these "left" turns fuel this Wood Brothers' solo journey.
The Nashvillian's interstellar pop rock soars on the backs of a futuristic 12-string, a Gibson-Fender hybrid, and a "new" pedal that makes "old" sounds.
A sonic mashup of Iggy, Petty, and White (both Clarence and Jack) ring and rage thanks to a 3-string Parsons (and more) slathered in fuzz and octave.
After conquering Guitar Hero II, she's reimagining acoustic guitar with two-hand lap tapping, percussive flourishes, and washing it all through reverb and modulation.
See how the jazz-minded guitarist and ace sideman twisted his bastardized Tele with a flush board of analog gems and freaky filth for his latest album, Alter Ego.
Go inside Mat Kerekes' home studio to see the stock Fenders, magical JCM800, and key "junker" pedals that colored Life In Your Glass World.
Eerie, bubblegum garage rock and moody psych pop is easily achieved by Third Man Records’ songstress with a funky Fender caked in rich reverb and furry fuzz.
While the Chug Suckle is temporarily closed, Rigs of Dad proprietor Ross Hurt welcomes PG into the tone zone to gush about his Dunable and Fender riff rifles, solid-state stereo setups, and overflowing boards.
A gift from Gary Holt, a bastardized Jazzmaster, a Squier baritone, bountiful boards, and stacks of amps litter the rocker’s tone bunker.
The soulful slide-guitarist shows off the Teisco-inspired baritone Mule driving his new album, Headway, and introduces some pandemic-purchased, textural-tone tools.
Dig classic Gibsons, a heaping of Hiwatts, and plenty of Pete Cornish pedals? Then enter the remarkable gear sanctuary to see how it all gasses his greasy blues-rock, two-seat roadster.
Ensconced in chorus, Marshall Gallagher blends his Fenders with British bullies to create a cocktail that is equal parts jangly pop, shimmery shoegaze, and beefy grunge.
See the transformation from digital efficiency to a sprawling setup for Ghost Tapes #10 that now includes Gretsches, Jazzmasters, traditional tube heads, and more stomps than a store.
Whether backing up Jason Mraz or fronting her own trio, she just needs a 335, Princeton Reverb, and a plane-ready pedalboard to make the world a groovier place.
School’s in session! Heavy music’s brutalist producer and Converge’s 6-string steamroller welcomes PG inside GodCity Studio for a masterclass in mic differences, recording techniques, and designing ferocious pedals.
Morris Day and the Time’s lead axeman gets funky with Prince-influenced Schecters, JCM900 stacks, and some key Keeley creations.
Funky custom Js and punchy Ps help this low-end maven earn gigs and nail tones from Motown to Miley and all points in between.
The cofounding guitarist for Darkest Hour shows off his brand-new signature ESP V and offers up a few sound secrets and pedal tricks gleaned from producer/singer Brian McTernan.
Les Pauls, high-headroom British brawlers, and pulverizing pedals push Marcos Garcia into the Masters of Reality Iommi-sphere.
Punk-rock riffin’, patriarch-smashin’, struttin’ shredder LG introduces us to her custom axes—a "Fancy" SG & skateboard Tele—and fave signal agitators.
Hear how Clayton Stevens fuses stinging single-coils, subtle atmospherics, and a tour-tested signature drive to set off his harmonious slash-and-thrash, post-hardcore clang.
Four strings, a stack of Sunns, and plentiful pedals allow Jared Warren enough viciousness and volume for bass and guitar.
Born in Israel with a Stratocaster in his hand, this NYC transplant takes jazz to the Land of Oz.
Matt Smith’s setup might appear frail, but his disheveled ’82 SG and a half-powered JCM 800 ignites a powder keg of melodic hardcore.
Premier Guitar's Jason Shadrick is On Location at the House of Blues in Chicago, where he catches up with Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. Jason talks to Grace and bandmates Scott Tournet and Benny Yurco about their equipment on their 2011 Summer Tour.
Founder Nate Garrett looks to guitar gods EVH and James Hetfield for gear choices, while mixing in morose modulation to his mystical brand of metal.
Tap-dancing, noise-rocking Donna Diane conjures lightning and thunder by layering her Kurt Ballou-designed Craftsman guitar over a Moog Minitaur bass synth.
The multi-instrumentalist shows how to cover more sonic territory then any mere mortal should be expected to handle.
Capcom and Kramer both wanted a piece of this South-American shredder and mash-up master. Travel below the equator to see his studio setup.
David Byrne’s 6-string counterpart pulls back the curtain to explain the tones, cosmetics, and choreographed production factors influencing her choices for Byrne’s American Utopia Broadway show and HBO special.
“Strangled cat and glassy Jonny Greenwood” are just two attitudes the former Beck and Shins sidewoman engages in her band’s adventurous indie-rock with Costello- and Marr-approved offsets.
Swedish post-hardcore guitarists Per Stålberg and Viktor Lager show off gear inspired by heroes J Mascis, Sonic Youth, Radiohead, Drive Like Jehu, and … Ace Frehley.
Go inside his impressive tone bunker fortified with silver 7-string ESP sig models, 21st-century Fishman pickups, and stacks of 5150 and 800 disciples.
Rebecca Dirks is on location at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she catches up with Madonna guitarist Monte Pittman. In this segment, he discusses and demonstrates how he uses his Axe-FX II with his Orange rig, why you might not always hear guitar in Madonna's songs, and shows off his signature guitars. We also learn about the setup and guitars Madonna herself uses when she plays during the set.
PG's chief videographer recalls highlights from 7+ years on the job, including pinch-me hangs with Bad Religion, Jason Isbell, Propagandhi, Power Trip, and others.
The spunky spark plug details her “Sweet Baby” Eastman and a sultry 335 that accompany her smoky, impassioned voice—plus reveals how touring with Hozier "leveled-up" her fingerstyle chops.
The neo-twang king demonstrates his signature-model Reverend guitars—and his surprising amp rig.
The death-metal gypsy welcomes PG inside his converted-cargo-trailer home and studio to detail his extended-range rumblers and mobile recording setup. Watch the Episode: https://bit.ly/EnterpriseEarthRR (https://bit.ly/EnterpriseEarthRR) Merch & Magazines: https://shop.premierguitar.com (https://shop.premierguitar.com) Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL (http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL)
The self-proclaimed “midrange mattress” makes a post-rock bed with an “Excalibur” Jazzmaster and some up-the-sleeve Strymon settings.
Grimy Fenders, posh Gretsches, and handmade Gibson knockoffs meet streamlined pedalboards and vintage amps for this L.A. folk-rock outfit featuring Duane Betts on lead guitar.
Explore the duality of the guitarist that fronts two menacing bands with his signature “Ferrari” Jackson Warrior 7-string while still fostering his jazz background with a cherished vintage 335.
Chris Kies is On Location in Des Moines, IA, at People's Court where he catches up Every Time I Die's guitarist Jordan Buckley and Andy Williams who talk about their touring setup that includes ESP Guitars, Gibson, Marshall, Orange, Bison Amps, Boss, Line 6, EMG, and much more.
The retro rocker opens up about retrofitting reissues, returning to the JTM45s, and finding the piece of gear that changed his life.
Folk melodies, flamenco flourishes, Melvins metal, and kerranging Shellac-fueled rock all meld—and they’re at the ready with a stash of Strats and presto-chango loaded pickguards.
Graduating beyond his hardcore roots, guitarist/vocalist JB Brisendine marries the sting of Neil Young’s “Old Black” with searing and spacey Southern-rock grooves.
Tessa Jeffers is on location at the Bottom Lounge in Chicago, Illinois where she catches up with Jon Spencer Blues Explosion guitarist Judah Bauer. In this segment, Judah details his vintage parts-caster Teles, Fender amps, and array of effects.
What do Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein, Joe Bonamassa, Tommy Emmanuel, and Peter Frampton all have in common? They made the PG host's list of favorite episodes from his seven-plus years on the job.
The hit songwriter/guitarist talks about the pickups he stole from Jeff Beck, his Marshall reject amps, and the Bradshaw rig he hardly knows how to use.
Using some primo ’60s Jags and ace Ernie Ball axes, the funkateer channels Hendrix’s soaring psychedelia and Eddie Hazel’s potent grooves through a prism of irresistible Tropicália rhythms.
For nearly 30 years, these alt-rock pioneers have created gristly tones full of attitude and angst. Find out how guitarist Kelley Deal and bassist Josephine Wiggs craft their signature tones.
The big-hit producer (Taylor Swift, Green Day, Weezer) and guitarist opens his RubyRed Productions to catalog his custom creations from the West and Far East. Plus, he reveals how Keith Urban forever changed his guitar-playing world.
Article and photos: https://www.youtube.com/redirect?redir_token=QUFFLUhqbkVUWDBZYlVYR3Y3TDgzUTNUWjYxdVVWU1NQUXxBQ3Jtc0tuN25ZZUE4TVZWenZuQjQ4ZmthUXpKZDdrVXJBOUZPU1U1N0pLUEtqVllxR0JKLXhiNWoyeGU3MklTUm9oaUl5aHBjbUQ0cVdkVU1sdHZ2cnJ0UUV2Si1EUnB1R3E4a054MmN1aHBfUEl4OURJTGRtOA%3D%3D&q=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FVolbeatRR&v=mVQ7WOEKeFo&event=video_description (http://bit.ly/VolbeatRR) On April 28th, 2014 Danish metal band Volbeat met with Premier Guitar before their show at Marathon Music Works in Nashville TN. Guitarist Robert Caggiano, formerly of the band Anthrax, reveals the secrete of his signature ESP guitar that helps you see where you are on a dark stage. Bassist Anders Kjølholm shows how he gets his thunderous tone with minimal gear. Gear: Volbeat has three complete backline systems; one setup for U.S. tours and two more setups for Europe allowing them to leapfrog from show to show. Here's what they carry in The States.
Just before Sharptooth released their sophomore album, 'Transitional Forms', hardcore-punk guitarists Lance Donati and Keith Higgins virtually welcomed PG’s Perry Bean into their jam space. The three have a natural conversation about how being vegan has influenced their guitar choices, why they believe Bogners are the most-reliable amps, and how Fishman’s Fluence pickups brought their tone into HD. [Facing a mandatory shelter-in ordinance to limit the spread of COVID-19, PG enacted a hybrid approach to filming and producing Rig Rundowns. This is the 12th video in that format, and we stand behind the final product.] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnA4T44B6rc&t=0s (00:00) - Intro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnA4T44B6rc&t=81s (01:21) - Guitars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnA4T44B6rc&t=759s (12:39) - Amps https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnA4T44B6rc&t=1158s (19:18) - Pedals Article & Photos: https://www.youtube.com/redirect?v=QnA4T44B6rc&event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbFcyOXY0U0ppLWdlXzVuX1F5LXM2ZjdmZW9DUXxBQ3Jtc0tsV215RUlueG50RWk5OG13RTVIVkxPWldqQmxEYWZoMWxvQ25uVXhJNWZOSndGejhOaTdHSEVVV2dKWURxckE1SW1pSGpTcm9rQ2ZqeGY2UEx0dWdYZmp3R3RuT1V6T2ZYbFNaVmc5MngyM2pObmp4cw%3D%3D&q=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FSharptoothRR (https://bit.ly/SharptoothRR) Don't Miss a Rundown: https://www.youtube.com/redirect?v=QnA4T44B6rc&event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbEUyRk5HWnhJb3pQV1BKdDVFbnFVTTFKd0tTUXxBQ3Jtc0tsbm1UMmx2NFBPLWhKNW5BX0ozekhoVkZrTzY5amNwc0ZEQWxuS1o1ZkFtaEFacmtzaDNvR0VreVRmSjFjT3RZbm8yNVZsTVdfTTk3dVhMUFkwWm9qQ0Mzc0hiUm5MRzdyemRjeGg4WmtUWEVibWVCaw%3D%3D&q=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FRIgRundownENL (http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL) Subscribe to PG's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/redirect?v=QnA4T44B6rc&event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa0lUUjZsTVZUVVZMbzVjWmMybnM0cVZ3WmFPUXxBQ3Jtc0ttUjFKeFVmdmxwMUdkSVFQOVlwZVJnN3ZnYUJQdFc3emd0RnlRTTZQUlBUeHNxZTlxOW5VdHFpSEJnbGlDSnp4WTNZYTc4dG0yUzBWalFIMGlWYjFsdnNJNGxTc0dBSWdiNzQwZXVTbjJRMk1sVkd1Yw%3D%3D&q=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FSubscribePGYouTube (http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube) D'Addario Auto Lock Strap: https://www.youtube.com/redirect?v=QnA4T44B6rc&event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbDhMYThFd2dleW5JT2RDSF9ObU8wckIwVkZqZ3xBQ3Jtc0trdWxmUlo2d3JMQklISm1tY1dVeVg0VWZmeTVucXBUQm1QRlM5MDNod3pLa0VxOVg2eXN4RkZURjI0VV9KdmJKbC1uelFCRUpZaDRSdDI5ZkhnWnN3bEV3WjV0UFhVNjFnWmlpUGZzamt6SThYcFhZUQ%3D%3D&q=http%3A%2F%2Fddar.io%2FAutoLockStrap (http://ddar.io/AutoLockStrap)
Chris Kies is On Location in Des Moines, IA, at People's Court where he catches up with country/metal artist Hank Williams III. In this Rig Rundown segment, Hank Williams III walks us through the setups that he uses on a nightly basis--one for his traditional country set and another for his metal set.
The guitarist/producer reveals how an EHX Pitch Fork downsized his touring guitar boat and admits the difficulties of cherry-picking stomps for the band’s spiraling, atmospherically-moody, indie odysseys.
The former At the Drive-In renegade talks about using a Jazzmaster for his “humble workhorse” rhythm role, growing as singer/songwriter within Sparta, and “making” solos with three digital delays.
Experimenting with odd-time signatures and unusual tunings isn’t the only reason for the band’s unique mojo—a few eye-popping guitars, classic amps, and a pile of pedals are also required for their brand of melodic post-hardcore.
“Astrovan” took him from lawyer to soulful indie-pop headliner on the back of his rewired, ragged ’69 Jag and a bed of shimmering ’verbs and reversed delays.
Guitarists Kerry McCoy and Shiv Mehra might have similar tastes in gear, but their approach to combining modern metal riffs with soundscape samples sets them apart.
The hippie-cowboy pedal steeler for Orville Peck and Margo Price breaks out modulation mutators and synth stomps for a solo mission full of ethereal bends and sublime swells combining cosmic country and ambient new wave. Get His Gear: https://www.youtube.com/redirect?v=99060jdxZ7Q&event=video_description&redir_token=MQE84Eo84vT0tlPHOjQXYtomibR8MTU5MTkwNTA2NkAxNTkxODE4NjY2&q=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FLukeSchneiderRR (https://bit.ly/LukeSchneiderRR) Don't Miss a Rundown: https://www.youtube.com/redirect?v=99060jdxZ7Q&event=video_description&redir_token=MQE84Eo84vT0tlPHOjQXYtomibR8MTU5MTkwNTA2NkAxNTkxODE4NjY2&q=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FRIgRundownENL (http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL) Subscribe to PG's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/redirect?v=99060jdxZ7Q&event=video_description&redir_token=MQE84Eo84vT0tlPHOjQXYtomibR8MTU5MTkwNTA2NkAxNTkxODE4NjY2&q=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FSubscribePGYouTube (http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube)
This dynamic art-rock duo uses a classy combo of vintage Hofners, Gretsches, Selmers, and a few secret weapons to create a mesmerizing original sound.
The co-founding guitarist for Soulive and Lettuce, Grammy-winning bandmate in Tedeschi Trucks, and producer for Norah Jones and 50 Cent welcomes PG into his new California home studio for a tour of his tone treats.
Premier Guitar's Jason Shadrick is on location in Moline, IL, where he catches up with REO Speedwagon guitarist Dave Amato who details his rig during the recent Midwest Rock 'n Roll Express tour with Styx and Ted Nugent. Don't Miss a Rundown: https://www.youtube.com/redirect?redir_token=GMxGjBp449VtlWWpFI_e7V1XyZN8MTU5MDY5NDY2M0AxNTkwNjA4MjYz&event=comments&q=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FRIgRundownENL&stzid=UgxoXSr-EgMuvS_glut4AaABAg (http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL) Subscribe to PG's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/redirect?redir_token=GMxGjBp449VtlWWpFI_e7V1XyZN8MTU5MDY5NDY2M0AxNTkwNjA4MjYz&event=comments&q=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FSubscribePGYouTube&stzid=UgxoXSr-EgMuvS_glut4AaABAg (http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube)
The Austin-based rocker builds her own mics, mixes Queens of the Stone Age sizzle with the modern pop hooks of Demi Lovato, and rides the feedback on her new B.B.-inspired signature Epiphone. Don't Miss a Rundown: https://www.youtube.com/redirect?redir_token=GMxGjBp449VtlWWpFI_e7V1XyZN8MTU5MDY5NDY2M0AxNTkwNjA4MjYz&event=comments&q=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FRIgRundownENL&stzid=UgxoXSr-EgMuvS_glut4AaABAg (http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL) Subscribe to PG's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/redirect?redir_token=GMxGjBp449VtlWWpFI_e7V1XyZN8MTU5MDY5NDY2M0AxNTkwNjA4MjYz&event=comments&q=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FSubscribePGYouTube&stzid=UgxoXSr-EgMuvS_glut4AaABAg (http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube)
The retro roots-rocker shows how he gets yesteryear tones with new beauties from Fender, TK Smith, and Texotica. Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
In this episode, we catch up with New Jersey rocker Brian Fallon. The Gaslight Anthem founder just released his third solo album, Local Honey, that broadens his solo sound with polished storytelling cast over an Americana backdrop. The charismatic frontman virtually welcomes PG’s Perry Bean into his home studio for a 50+-minute hang that covers the various custom Fender Teles, explains the triumphs (and agony) of reconstructing amps, and details his holy-grail drive. [Facing a mandatory shelter-in ordinance to limit the spread of COVID-19, PG enacted a hybrid approach to filming and producing Rig Rundowns. This is the fifth video in that format, and we stand behind the final product.] Watch the Episode: https://bit.ly/BrianFallonRR Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Jim Adkins and Tom Linton tossed their traditional setup to the side and packed up some P-90-loaded axes for their latest tour. Article & photos: https://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FJimmyEatWorldRR&redir_token=bQpli94z_AZ3mJyZG87PGXPyTfd8MTU4OTY1NzI1M0AxNTg5NTcwODUz&event=video_description&v=5joX1ar0Ohk (http://bit.ly/JimmyEatWorldRR) Don't Miss a Rundown: https://www.youtube.com/redirect?redir_token=p_VaicKuXVv_DC70zUtViKKAftp8MTU4OTY1NzgxOUAxNTg5NTcxNDE5&q=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FRIgRundownENL&event=video_description&v=aNXkcUuDAEU (http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL) Subscribe to PG's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/redirect?redir_token=p_VaicKuXVv_DC70zUtViKKAftp8MTU4OTY1NzgxOUAxNTg5NTcxNDE5&q=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FSubscribePGYouTube&event=video_description&v=aNXkcUuDAEU (http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube)
This YouTuber gives the 411 on headless hellraisers, a flexible four-channel head, angry stacked drives, and the digital rack sorcery that fortifies his tone bunker. Don't Miss a Rundown: https://www.youtube.com/redirect?redir_token=-LkfpvE-58HVX-DZqmcQb2SLPAp8MTU4OTQ4NTIxNEAxNTg5Mzk4ODE0&v=d62l3AgIaPg&q=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FRIgRundownENL&event=video_description (http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL) Subscribe to PG's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/redirect?redir_token=-LkfpvE-58HVX-DZqmcQb2SLPAp8MTU4OTQ4NTIxNEAxNTg5Mzk4ODE0&v=d62l3AgIaPg&q=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FSubscribePGYouTube&event=video_description (http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube)
Psychedelia reigns with the band’s stash of boutique guitars, workhorse amps, and tone-shaping stomps.
The Memphis honky-tonkin’, Tele-twangin’ songster reveals his beefed-up guitarsenal with 6-string stalwarts, a custom 3rd Power combo, and a stockpile of stomps. Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Swooshing Pink Floyd vibes, kerranging Sleep chugs, and mutating mellow Motorpsycho tones symbiotically swirl in this guitar duo’s growing setups.
The alt-rockers chat about reducing their tonal footprint and working with Schecter and Lakland on their choice axes.
A Reverend V, two fiery British-voiced heads, and some tone-sizzling, time-bending stomps fire this warped comet rider into psychedelic spaces.
A trip into a bona fide Raconteurs’ inner lair of rare vintage acoustics, super vibey amps, and a few choice goldtops.
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Nick Zinner explains why his first-ever guitar is still his main one, and we get a detailed look at the four-amp, four-pedalboard rig he uses live.
A true lion of Mississippi hill-country blues continues paving his family’s legacy with his no-nonsense setup.
The East Coast shredders talk about their favorite Jackson and Charvel axes, how they fell in love with the EVH 5150III heads, and what are there go-to boxes.
Now that he’s ditched heavy amps for a digital rig, the melodic shredder shares his secrets for utilizing modern modeling tech.
Rebecca Dirks is on location at Studio 8H at 30 Rock in New York, NY, where she catches up with SNL house-band guitarist Jared Scharff. In this segment, Scharff talks using Fano Guitars, 65 Amps, and various pedals from boutique companies while working within the live show context every Saturday night.
One of guitar’s most promising young firebrands breaks down his signature D’Angelico, explains why he prefers Boogies, and then demos some vintage stompboxes.
The SoCal punk outfit rocks a mix of classic Fender and ESP instruments with cutting-edge Kemper gear.
The Swedish prog-metal sorcerers dish on their longstanding PRS ties and uncover why they traded traditional tube amps for swappable high-gain Synergy modules.
Take a look at the vintage electrics, delectable Martins, and essential effects that help power the band’s brand of emo rock.
A bona fide blues shredder breaks down his powerful pedalboard and rips some licks on his trusty Chapin T-style axe.
PG's Rebecca Dirks is On Location Iowa City, Iowa with Los Lonely Boys. In this video Henry Garza and guitar tech Ish Flores talk to Rebecca about the gear they use while out on the road.
No picks needed for this high-octane blues rocker who shows how he keeps it simple with a single-P-90 signature Epiphone and namesake Blackstar head that doubles as a carry on.
PG’s Chris Kies hung out with Ben McLeod, Charles Michael Parks, Jr, and Allan Van Cleave of the All Them Witches at Soundcheck Rehearsal Studios before they ventured on their biggest European tour to date.
One of YouTube’s leading music authorities opens up his well-stocked studio and shares the stories behind some of his most cherished gear.
The pop-fused, garage-pysch rockers show us a bevy of their beat-up guitars, road-tested amps, and boutique-loaded boards.
Enjoy a thoughtful conversation covering solid-state bizarros, custom-built instruments, and shape-shifting digital dynamos that are the main tools polishing their lo-fi, indie-rock adventures.
PG's Rebecca Dirks is On Location at Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL, where she catches up with Dave Matthews' guitar tech Craig Baker who gives a tour of Matthews' current US touring rig.
The angular riff rifleman of The Jesus Lizard and Tomahawk dissects his all-aluminum signature “Chessie” and explains why he prefers being the lone axeman in his bands.
A bona fide twang-guitar legend shares stories of his time with Clapton and gives an inside look at how he approaches his signature sound.
The consummate thumbpicker demos his two-sided flattop and keeps his father Merle Travis’ memory alive with a collection of instruments made in tribute.
When you’re one of the most recorded guitarists in Nashville, you make sure you can cover all the bases. Watch this in-depth look at the amazing vintage guitars, rare amps, and massive pedalboard that inspires one of Nashville’s first-call session players.
This modern-day Delta blues star goes deep on low-powered amps, vintage resos, and his open-tuned riffs.
Prog-metal architect Aaron Marshall shows off a pair of dazzling Mayones protoypes before he explains using a small digital footprint for tons of tones.
Huge arena-rock guitar tones meet heavy-metal Christmas jams on one of the year’s most successful tours. Go behind the scenes to see how the guitar tandem kick out the holiday jams.
The prog-metal juggernauts discuss how their signature axes cranked through Axe-Fx units create their brutal live tone.
A certified guitar legend invites us into his home studio to tell stories, talk shop, and pick on some amazing gear.
Premier Guitar is on location in Davenport, Iowa, where Jason Shadrick talks with blues wunderkind Joe Robinson. In this segment, Joe discusses his electric and acoustic rigs, and demonstrates his pedalboard.
Lzzy Hale and Joe Hottinger display weapons of mass rock from a signature Gibson plugged into a matching Marshall to a Tele running into a couple of tilt-back Fenders.
Enthusiastic, nimble-fingered Dylan Mattheisen dances between technical mathcore and catchy rock with Teles and a trusty DL4.
The bluesy psych-rock trio shows off its souped-up import axes, pricier amps, and carefully planned pedal playgrounds.
Jason Shadrick is On Location in Chicago, IL, at the House of Blues where he catches up with Guns N' Roses guitarist Richard Fortus. In this segment, we get to see what Fortus is currently using for guitars, amps, effects, and cabinets during the most recent GN'R US tour in early 2012.
From rocking garages to filling arenas, Dan Auerbach’s gear has always been odd and eccentric. Still keeping it weird, he spotlights axes from a teenage hero, a custom build influenced by an industry master, and a token of his success in the shape of a Holy Grail Gibson.
Guitarists Laura Jane Grace and James Bowman achieve savage-punk tones through old-school loud tube-amps and pedals.
This acoustic alchemist shares the secrets within his multi-dimensional setup that goes well beyond traditional tones.
Chris Kies is On Location in Council Bluffs, IA, where he catches up with Social Distortion's Mike Ness and Jonny Wickersham and they talk to us about their current live rigs and setups.
Bursts, Benders, and Js, oh my! A pioneer of the new Nashville sound and his tone-heavy band spend 90 minutes covering the gobs of new gear that have joined their ranks since 2015.
The original prog-rock guitar hero goes head-first into the 21st century with a tubeless setup that is heavy on digital effects, MIDI switching, and ultimate control.
Premier Guitar is on location in Chicago, Illinois, where Rebecca Dirks meets up with Nicholaus Arson and Vigilante Carlstroem of the Hives. In this segment, the guys discuss their heavily battered go-to axes (and why it doesn?t really matter for garage rock anyways), along with their mix of boutique and vintage amps and effects.
What’s more punk rock than dueling angry P-90s straight into classic Marshalls? Answer: Nothing!
The Texas-metal-boogie masters chat about their minimalistic gear approach—including an amp with one knob—and the benefits of touring with a bassist that builds custom stompboxes.
The rising blues guitar star demos her No. 1 SG with her expanded pedalboard, and goes deep with her workhorse Jaguars, Stogie Blues cigar box, Delaney 512, Taylor acoustic, and Category 5 amps.
Chris Kies is On Location in Chicago, IL, at the Vic Theatre where he catches up with Thin Lizzy guitar tech Coty Allinson who walks us through guitarists Vivian Campbell and Scott Gorham's current touring rigs.
When these pop-doom metalheads couldn’t lasso the tone in their heads Nuñez took the DIY route crafting his own company that now provides a formidable backline and fills their boards.
Rebecca Dirks is on location in Chicago where she catches up with Sigur Ros guitar and bass tech Silli Ragnarsson to discuss guitarist Jonsi Por Birgisson's one-off guitar, bow and accessories, and surprisingly sparse pedalboard, bassist Georg Holm's effects-heavy pedal rig, and the more traditional guitar-board-amp setup of touring guitarist Kjartan Dagur Holm (Georg's brother).
Purveyors of punishing ’90s-style hardcore chisel their heavy sound with down-tuned 7-strings and lighter hues of delay and modulation.
Rebecca Dirks is on location at NBC Studio 6B, GE Building, in New York, New York, where she catches up with Late Night with Jimmy Fallon's the Roots' guitarist "Captain" Kirk Douglas and bassist Mark Kelley.
The guitarist of Mike McCready’s favorite new band uses a straightforward setup that proves a swaggering, punk attitude and greasy rock ’n’ roll isn't just a man’s game.
PG's Jason Shadrick is On Location in Joliet, Illinois, where he catches up with blues guitarist Buddy Guy. His guitar tech Gilbert Garza talks about and shows off Buddy Guy's current equipment and signal chain that's being used on the Living Proof 2011 tour.
The founding guitarist presents how single-coils through a true stereo setup peppered with some extreme effects forge a wide-ranging, Jekyll-and-Hyde approach to tone.
We were lucky enough to spend an afternoon behind the bricks of Roger Waters'' The Wall Live, chatting with techs Tim Myer and Colin Lyon.
The 20-year-old blues phenom shares his straight-ahead approach to burly, blues-rock tones.
PG's Jason Shadrick is at Manifold Recording in North Carolina talking gear with Jimmy Herring.
Visionary John Baizley and former Cirque du Soleil shredder Gina Gleason explain why their evolving style of sprawling heaviness now uses “scalpel-like” Fender single-coils and low-wattage tube combos. Plus, they share how a Philly Fuzz Heretic brought them together.
We were lucky enough to spend an afternoon behind the bricks of Roger Waters'' The Wall Live, chatting with guitarist Dave Kilminster.
Observe Yvette Young apply her formal piano background to musically communicate on a fretboard while expressing how modulation pedals have made her a better bandmate and a more dynamic writer.
PG's Shawn Hammond catches up with slide master Sonny Landreth. In this Rig Rundown segment, Landreth shares his Strat mods and road amps, and demonstrates his favorite pedal combinations.
Dubliner Kryz Reid details additions to his Star Wars family of guitars and why he went from vintage to digital, while Stephan Perkins’ tech explains why a laughable price tag should never disqualify an axe from becoming a main squeeze.
The king of gristle shares the signature gear he uses to unleash waves of unabashed sonic mayhem.
Jordan Wagner is On Location in Davenport, IA, where he catches up with Megadeth's guitarists Dave Mustaine and Chris Broderick. In this segment, both Dave and Chris walk us through their thrash metal setups.
The bluegrass-blazin’, death-metal-rooted whiz uses a few pedals to twist the traditional music of Kentucky towards the psychedelic sounds of San Francisco.
Grunge songstress Clementine Creevy hits us with the barrage of drives she uses for her band's lo-fi garage sound.
With a new Ibanez signature model, a backup axe, and a plug-and-play "fly rig", the rock heroine travels light to create the heavy tones on her solo debut, Controlled Chaos. Article & photos: http://bit.ly/NitaStraussRR Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL Furious, focused, and expansive, the playing of Nita Strauss is the stuff emerging-rock-guitar legends are made of. During soundcheck at Nashville’s Basement East, PG’s John Bohlinger checked in with Strauss, who was on a break from her regular gig with Alice Cooper, touring in support of her debut solo album, Controlled Chaos. Strauss wrote, produced, engineered, and recorded all the guitar and bass parts on the album, which, in testament to her abilities and her fan base, was made via a Kickstarter campaign that exceeded its $20,000 goal by $145,755. As she rips for our cameras, Strauss, the first woman to have an Ibanez signature model—which debuted at Winter NAMM 2018—talks about her JIVA10 and her backup S6570Q, and puts her fly rig, a Boss GT-100, though her core settings. Check out how Strauss shows off the JIVA10’s radical tuning stability at the 15-minute mark! And yes, she is a descendent of the Austrian composer Johann Strauss.
The Philly-based group explains how they use vintage Fender gear, classic tube amps, and a few homemade pedals to produce their brand of psychedelic folk-rock.
The sultan of sludge illustrates that his first band is a shuttle for sonic exploration launching into orbit on the backs of triple-humbucker guitars, a sierra of Oranges, and two boards the size of Cape Canaveral.
A look inside the sanctum of one of contemporary Nashville’s most respected artists, packed with cool guitars and plenty of other epic gear.
Myers talks about his unwavering loyalty to PRS Guitars showing us his current touring collection while Bass discusses his various signature Dean basses and why he's using a solid-state guitar head for distorted bass tones.
One of Americana’s rising stars (and a son of an outlaw legend) goes deep on his vintage Gibson, using a dual-amp setup, and why he eschews most pedals.
Inspired by the lutherie skills of Brian May and the tonal essence of Eric Johnson, this self-proclaimed “classic folk rocker” shows off her acoustic and electric setups.
Jason Shadrick is On Location at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, where he catches up with Justin Derrico and Eva Gardner on tour with Pink's The Truth About Love tour. In this segment, Justin and Eva detail their go-to instruments and signal chains.
Observe how the U.K. metalcore warriors utilize digital stomps, profiling amps, and modern pickups to break necks and ignite pits with an old-school aggression.
This alt-metal power trio proves that one focused, low-tuned guitar, pounding drums, and inventively effected bass can sound as huge live as a band rocking multiple guitars and keyboards.
Watch the pioneering British heavy metal band share the stories and secrets behind the gear that’s banged heads for 50 years and sold over 50 million records.
We were lucky enough to spend an afternoon behind the bricks of Roger Waters' The Wall Live, chatting with guitarists Dave Kilminster, G.E. Smith, and Snowy White, along with techs Tim Myer and Colin Lyon.
Take a look at how one of Sweden’s most enigmatic songwriters crafts layers of sonic magic with a handful of open tunings and a pile of pedals.
The thrash-metal legend keeps things simple with signature ESP guitars, and a mix of analog and digital gear.