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.
On April 22 in Nashville, Premier Guitar met with guitarist Pete Loeffler and bassist Dean Bernardini of the band Chevelle before their sold-out show at the Cannery Ballroom. Loeffler gave us the lowdown on tuning to C and answered a questions posted by our Facebook followers. Bernardini showed us some cool mods on his Ibanez basses and explained how to make a stage look appropriately creepy.
Pete Loeffler's Gear
Guitars
Amps
Loeffler remains a life-long Boogie man, having played the same rig for his entire professional career. The Chevelle sound ends with a Mesa/Boogie Mark IV plugged into two Mesa/Boogie 4x12 cabs. A second Mark IV functions as a backup.
Effects
Dean Bernardini's Gear
BassesAmps
Much like his bandmate, Bernardini plays through Boogie amps. Two Mesa/Boogie Big Block 750 heads drive a pair of Mesa/Boogie PowerHouse 4x12 cabinets. He has painted the latter to give them an ashy, white washed patina.
Effects
While Loeffler’s pedalboard is clean and orderly, Bernardini’s looks a bit more chaotic—like an unfinished art project. The path starts with a Peterson VSS-C Stomp Classic tuner, and from there a XLR cable runs a clean signal out to the front-of-house mixer. But at this point, the signal leaving the 1/4" output gets a bit weird. Unlike most traditional bassists going for a pure signal, Bernardini uses a Boss RV-5 Digital Reverb and a Boss DD-7 Digital Delay to the imbue the Chevelle sound with a spacey, scary ambiance. He then turns up the crunch with a DigiTech Bass Driver and a Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI. He also uses a Boss GE-7 Equalizer for a boost. Bernardini works the amp with his Mesa/Boogie Big Block 750 footswitch. Reportedly, he has crushed many of these Big Block pedals over the years with his heavy stomp.