Rig Rundown

Rig Rundown: Johnny A.

July 25, 2018

Get inside the fuzz-laden setup used by one of guitardom’s most respected instrumentalists during his recent stint with the Yardbirds.

Strats, Explorers, Les Pauls, AC30s, and a healthy amount of delay help form some of the most iconic tones ever recorded. Famed tech Dallas Schoo walks us through the ins and outs of The Edge’s expansive setup.

Rig Rundown: Zao

July 11, 2018

Perry Bean

Even on borrowed gear, the metalcore pioneers are able to bring the thunder with a handful of ESP guitars, some Mesa/Boogie firepower, and a stash of gnarly fuzz pedals.

Rig Rundown: Guided by Voices

June 20, 2018

John Bohlinger

Doug Gillard, Mark Shue, and Bobby Bare Jr. reveal how a few quirky vintage axes, some classic amps, and a few utilitarian pedals get the job done night after night.

Rig Rundown: Justin Timberlake and the Tennessee Kids

June 13, 2018

John Bohlinger

Go inside one of the hottest pop tours of 2018 and dig deep into the gear that Mike Scott, Elliott Ives, and JT himself take on the road.

Rig Rundown: Red Fang

June 6, 2018

Perry Bean

Witness how 5-string Krautsters, solid-state Sunn heads, and pitch shifters provide the stoner-metal band’s foundation for brute-force tones.

Rig Rundown: Stone Sour

May 30, 2018

Chris Kies

Guitarists Josh Rand and Christian Martucci, as well as bassist Johny Chow, provide the dirt on how a revamped lineup of axes (with passive pickups), no bass amps, and a fresh pile of pedals have reenergized the band’s hard-rock sound.

Rig Rundown: The Breeders

May 23, 2018

John Bohlinger

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.

Rig Rundown: The Black Angels

May 16, 2018

Chris Kies

Discover how these Austin psychers utilize Beatles-inspired guitars with several gnarly fuzzes and lush ’verbs to bridge the vibes of Roky Erickson and Dick Dale.

Rig Rundown: Mike Stern

May 9, 2018

John Bohlinger

Consistency is key when it comes to this jazz legend’s approach to gear. Check out how one of the most rocking jazzers gets his signature tone.

Rig Rundown: The Mattson 2

May 2, 2018

John Bohlinger

Go inside the psych-jazz stylings of Jared Mattson and check out his wacky Japanese doubleneck that provides the midrange buzz and low-end thump for the duo.

Rig Rundown: Khruangbin

April 25, 2018

John Bohlinger

Witness how the Texas trio spawns their brand of atmospheric Thai-funk rock with an expansive use of ’verb and a pair of road-trodden, vintage-styled instruments.

Rig Rundown: The Dear Hunter

April 18, 2018

Chris Kies

Explore the three keys that propel the band’s prog-rock orbit: custom axes, pedal-platform tube amps, and stompboxes strengthened with modeling tech from Line 6.

Rig Rundown: Earthless

April 11, 2018

John Bohlinger

Isaiah Mitchell and Mike Eginton demo their psych-rock toys, including a couple of new Tyrant amps and vintage gear from Dan Armstrong, Sunn, and Acoustic.

Rig Rundown: Eric Johnson [2018]

April 4, 2018

Ted Drozdowski

To reproduce Ah Via Musicom live, EJ pairs new signature semi-hollow Strats with much of his 1990 rig—and a clever new way to make his Echoplexes roadworthy.

Rig Rundown: Robin Trower

March 28, 2018

John Bohlinger

The English rocker’s recipe for psychedelic blues-rock is simple: Plug a Strat into a Marshall and crank it up.

Rig Rundown: Propagandhi

March 21, 2018

Perry Bean

Politically charged prog-punkers Chris Hannah, Todd Kowalski, and Sulynn Hago of Propagandhi take PG through their road rigs.

Rig Rundown: Screaming Females

March 14, 2018

Chris Kies

Guitarist/singer Marissa Paternoster and bassist “King” Mike Abbate worry little about instrument investments and instead focus on producing raw, energy-fueled, loud-as-hell jams.

Rig Rundown: Pallbearer

March 7, 2018

Chris Kies

Learn how these Arkansas rockers move beyond a wall of dark and heavy doom with various modulations, delays, and deep ’verbs to weave their own complex sonic architecture.