Premier Guitar features affiliate links to help support our content. We may earn a commission on any affiliated purchases.

Rig Rundown: Division of Laura Lee

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.

[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 23rd video in that format, and we stand behind the final product.]

Hailing from Gothenburg, Sweden, Division of Laura Lee began in the late ’90s as a San Diego-style hardcore outfit before morphing into a more melodically nuanced and instrumentally adventurous band with 2002’s Black City. Alternatingly atmospheric and sneering, Black City was released by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz’s Epitaph records, as was its 2004 follow-up. In April of this year, DOLL debuted tracks from their 2020 album, Apartment, at a drive-in-theater performance sponsored by founding guitarist/vocalist Per Stålberg’s Welfare Sounds studio. To talk about their current go-to gear, Stålberg (left) and co-guitarist Victor Lager joined PG for a Quarantine Edition Rig Rundown from Welfare Sounds.

Division of Laura Lee RR2

Telecasters and offsets dominate Division of Laura Lee’s guitar landscape, with an early-2000s Fender Tele Custom (middle, with Black Flag sticker) being Stålberg’s main guitar (he uses its Rio Grande bridge pickup exclusively). His other current go-to is a stock Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster, while the 1978 Greco Les Paul Standard copy (behind the Tele) was a staple of early DOLL tunes. Stålberg’s main amp is a Fender Super-Sonic head. Meanwhile, Victor Lager’s main guitars are a couple of Fender Jazzmasters (right), and his favorite amp is a ’90s Fender Tone Master head.

Division of Laura Lee RR3

As a studio owner, Stålberg has all sorts of gear on hand for recording, but for DOLL he relies on a handful of time-proven pedals: a TC Electronic PolyTune, a Fulltone OCD, a Way Huge Swollen Pickle fuzz, a Boss RE-20 Space Echo, an ’80s Ibanez DL10 Delay, an MXR Micro Amp, and a Gollmer ’60s Trem from Sweden.

Division of Laura Lee RR4

Lager’s main axe for the last two decades has been a black early-2000s Fender Jazzmaster with Seymour Duncan Antiquity II pickups and a Staytrem bridge (left). To avoid accidental switching, he has deactivated both the upper-bout rhythm circuit and the main circuit’s tone control. His most recent acquisition is a blue Fender American Original ’60s Jazzmaster (right) that he upgraded with a Mastery bridge.

Division of Laura Lee RR5

Functioning more as the band’s soundscapist, Lager has more stomps than Stålberg—and more adventuresome ones, too. He tunes with a D’Addario Chromatic Pedal Tuner, then runs into a Jim Dunlop Cry Baby wah, an MXR Booster Mini (out of sight behind the wah), a Hamstead Soundworks Odyssey, an MXR Phase 95, an Electro-Harmonix POG, an MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe, a Red Panda Particle, a Tru-Fi Colordriver, an Electro-Harmonix Oceans 11 Reverb, a modified ’90s Pro Co RAT, and a Walrus Audio Monument.

Division of Laura Lee RR6

Lager’s main guitar for his previous band, this 1973 Fender Tele Custom, is unusual in that it features a rosewood (rather than maple) fretboard.


Click below to listen wherever you get your podcasts:

Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on Google Podcasts
Listen on StitcherListen on Spotify

D'Addario XT Strings:https://www.daddario.com/XTRR

The author, middle, with bassist Ross Valory (left) and Steve Smith (right) of Journey.

Do you know who’s hanging around your gigs? Our columnist shares a story about the time Journey’s bassist was in the audience during soundcheck.

I’ve always loved what I do for a living. Even long before it became a career, doing the work every day to get better was something I fell in love with right away. As a result, I’ve never had any issues with stage fright or nerves when it comes to performing—even if there are some mega-influential or important musical people in the room.

Read MoreShow less

The veteran Florida-born metalcore outfit proves that you don’t need humbuckers to pull off high gain.

Read MoreShow less

Kiesel Guitars has introduced their newest solid body electric guitar: the Kyber.

With its modern performance specs and competitive pricing, the Kyber is Kiesel's most forward-thinking design yet, engineered for comfort, quick playing, and precision with every note.

Read MoreShow less

The Sunset is a fully analog, zero latency bass amplifier simulator. It features a ¼” input, XLR and ¼” outputs, gain and volume controls and extensive equalization. It’s intended to replace your bass amp both live and in the studio.

Read MoreShow less