Rig Rundown: Comeback Kid

Premier Guitarmet with Jeremy Hiebert, Stuart Ross, and Ron Friesen of Comeback Kid before their mosh-inspiring set at Nashville’s Exit/In. Having recently had their gear stolen, the band is currently breaking in a few replacements to get their hardcore sound

Jeremy Hiebert’s Gear

Guitars
Hiebert tours with a single Gibson SG from the early 2000s that’s completely stock. This Vegan-stickered tone machine stays tuned down to a rumbly C# with a set of .011–.054 Ernie Ball Beefy Slinky strings. Amps
A longtime Boogie fan, Hiebert plugs into a Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier Solo Head. This is the third one he’s owned after his two previous amps were stolen. He combines the Triple Rec with a Mesa/Boogie 4x12 cabinet loaded with Celestion Vintage 30 speakers. Effects
Comeback Kid shows tend to invite stage diving with plenty of testosterone-fueled dudes storming the deck, making gear vulnerable. Luckily, Hiebert isn’t a “pedal guy” and the few pedals he uses remain hidden out of harm’s way. The signal starts with a Sennheiser EW 100 G3 wireless system so that stage intruders can’t unplug his guitar. Next in line is a Boss TU-3 tuner, an Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer, and a Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor.

Stuart Ross' Gear

Guitars
Ross’ No. 1 is an ESP LTD EC-1000 Deluxe, which came from the factory loaded with an EMG 60 pickup in the neck and an EMG 81 in the bridge. Ross also tunes this ESP down to C# with a set of .011–.054 Ernie Ball Beefy Slinky strings. Amps
Ross plays a Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier Solo Head that he purchased new in 1999. He sold this amp at one point, but bought it back when he joined Comeback Kid. He runs the amp into a Mesa/Boogie 4x12 cabinet loaded with Celestion Vintage 30 speakers, which is on loan from Hiebert. Effects
Like Hiebert, Ross keeps it simple. He starts with a Sennheiser EW 100 G3 wireless system that lives on the board. This runs into his Boss TU-3 Tuner. From there the signal hits a Maxon OD808 Overdrive and finishes with a Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor. A T-Rex Fuel Tank powers everything.

Ron Friesen’s Gear

Basses
Friesen goes with an ESP Vintage 214 bass that’s stock with an EMG-designed LDJ in the bridge and a LDP pickup in the neck. He strings this bass up with a set of Ernie Ball Power Slinkys (.056–.110) and tunes down to C#. For the most part, Friesen uses a pick to keep those eighth notes chugging. Amps
Friesen keeps it classic with an Ampeg SVT Classic running into a refrigerator-sized Ampeg 8x10 cabinet. Effects
Before the amp, Friesen runs the bass into a Boss TU-2 Chromatic Tuner and a Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI to beef up the tone. The SansAmp splits the signal between the Ampeg SVT and front of house.