Facing a mandatory shelter-in-place ordinance to limit the spread of COVID-19, PG enacted a hybrid approach to filming and producing Rig Rundowns. This is the 26th video in that format.
Since starting his YouTube channel in 2008, Peruvian guitarist Charlie Parra Del Riego amassed over 800k subscribers and totaled up 160 million views. In 2010, he wowed millions with his “metal” rendition of his homeland’s national anthem. Sure, like most guitar-dominated channels, he has the typical gear demos and reviews, but Charlie’s magnetism as a player and content creator shined in his renditions of popular themes songs and mash-ups from video games, pop music, and iconic TV and movie themes. (His YouTube popularity and absolutely geekery of video games elevated his profile enough that Capcom hired Charlie to work on soundtracks for games and preview trailers.) The best part of his videos isn’t his lightning-fast fretboard sorcery, but Parra’s engaging charisma and positive energy. (It’s even evident and palpable to non-Spanish speakers.) And at the beginning of 2020, he was honored with a dream for many gearheads—his own signature guitar. Parra’s 6-string namesake is a modern take on the sharp Vanguard features an extended cutaway, EMG 57/66 alnico V pickups, a satin maple neck, and an ebony fretboard with owl inlays.
In between making more content for his own channel, Parra virtually welcomed PG’s Perry Bean into his studio in Lima, Peru. In this Rig Rundown, the outgoing and upbeat YouTuber opens up about creating his ultimate shred machine, making the jump to digital amps and effects, and being a Peruvian punk rocker pigeonholed as a power metal purveyor. (Spoiler: he’s okay with it.)
Above you’ll see the two iterations of Parra’s signature Kramer Vs. His first one (right) is the Kramer Charlie Parra Nite-V Plus finished in an eye-catching candy apple red. Notable specs for the slick ride include a mahogany body, maple set neck, ebony fretboard, recessed Tune-O-Matic bridge, Grover tuners, and a set of EMG 57/66 pickups. If you’re keeping score at home, you’ll notice the production models of the Nite-V come with a master tone and master volume, but Charlie’s seen here has just a master volume and pickup selector.
The second sig is based on the radical ’80s Vanguard shape that has a bit more of an offset silhouette to the standard V design. Most of the formula is the same as the Nite-V except for the move from 22 to 24 jumbo frets, a chrome pickguard (a suggestion from his bandmate), and a LockTone Tune-o-matic bridge and stop-bar tailpiece.
Charlie runs the gamut when it comes to tunings as he’ll use everything from standard, D standard, drop C, drop B, and everywhere in between. And because of this, he will use different strings on different guitars—for his standard guitar he goes with Ernie Ball Slinkys .009–.046, when he tunes lower than that his guitars take Slinkys Heavy Top Light Bottoms .010–.052s, and whenever drop B enters the equation, he puts on Mammoth Slinkys .012–.062. He goes to task with Rens Hendrix Plectrums from the Netherlands.
Parra has been a longtime lover of Marshall and British-rooted high-gain amps. For his tube-amp needs, he’s since pivoted to this Victory VX100 The Super Kraken. With his old Marshalls, he was always having to pair them with the MXR GT-OD, but the Super Kraken has enough gain on tap without the aid of the green box.
However, when it comes to overseas touring and rocking out creative YouTube mashups, Parra delivers the goods via digital powerhouses. His first ever digital-based tour had him running an early Line 6 floor-based Pod into a PA. In a typical year, he’d be using his iPad and Positive Grid BIAS FX straight to FOH.
When the gig calls for it, or he needs a little inspiration from pedals, he’ll kick on one of these devices. At first glance, you see a host of American classics—MXR GT-OD, MXR Carbon Copy, and MXR M234 Analog Chorus.
Supporting the boutique builders in Peru, the rest of his board features stomps from small brands in Lima—(top left) Yawar Electronics K’illa Delay, Full Mojo Electronics Abisal Chorus (fish/tentacle), FME Echo Trip Delay (dinosaur), and a FME Rocket Booster. (If you look close enough on the Booster, you’ll see a cartoon Charlie shredding off into oblivion!)
Up top he has a MXR Smart Gate to squelch any unwanted buzz or hiss, and the Ernie Ball VPJR Tuner Pedal harness his volume and keeps his sig Vs in check. (Not pictured: for any ’verb tones, he uses a Sonicake Digital Reverb.)
Click below to listen wherever you get your podcasts:
Perry Bean cut his teeth touring and playing in punk rock and hardcore bands, before he got his start in film. He worked his way up from lowly production assistant to become a producer, art director, and most recently, a music video director nominated for ACM, CMT, and CMA awards. Being Premier Guitar's Chief Videographer was a perfect fit for him, combining his two favorite things—guitars and cameras. Perry doesn't have free time, but his massive dog Beef pays his rent by being Perry's intern.
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