PG's Rebecca Dirks is on location at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she catches up with Madonna guitarist Monte Pittman. In this segment, he discusses and demonstrates how he uses his Axe-FX II with his Orange rig, why you might not always hear guitar in Madonna's songs, and shows off his signature guitars. We also learn about the setup and guitars Madonna herself uses when she plays during the set.
Guitars
Pittman primarily uses Jarrell Guitars MPS Monte Pittman Signature Guitars, either with a Floyd Rose or stop tailpiece. His personal guitars use custom-wound Dimebucker, S7, and P-Rail pickups made by Maricela Juarez (MJ) at the Seymour Duncan Custom Shop. He uses the many available pickup configurations for both a variety of tones and output levels when he needs to be further back in the mix. His signature guitar also comes in "classic" with Jarrell pickups instead of Seymour Duncans. In addition to his signature guitars, Pittman uses a stock recent-issue Fender Jazzmaster for "Vogue," "Candy Shop," and "Human Nature," a Jerry Jones Electric Sitar for "I'm a Sinner," and a Gibson Melody Maker with a Bill Lawrence pickup and Swarovski crystals for "Like a Prayer." He uses Dunlop .88 picks and D'Addario .010s for strings.
His main acoustic is a Bourgeois OMS with Peruvian rosewood and Fishman electronics that's tuned down to C#. He also travels with a Bourgeois Ray LaMontagne model and an Alhambra nylon string that aren't used in the Madonna set but are used for solo shows Pittman does during the tour.
Madonna uses a 2002 Gibson Les Paul Standard with custom Seymour Duncan Alnico 2s overwound for Madonna's hands for more presence.
Amps
Pittman uses two Orange Rockerverb 100s with KT88s into two Orange 4x12s with Celestion Vintage 30s, run in stereo. He runs the Oranges' clean channel when using his Fractal Audio Axe-Fx II for amp tones, and the boost channel when he needs more gain or for feedback. He recreated his personal Marshall JCM800 sound in the Fractal, which he uses for his amp tone sometimes as well.
Madonna uses a Fractal Axe-FX II for her amps, triggered by her tech. She plays three songs, with three patches per song. "I Don't Give A" has a patch inspired by Meshuggah's Koloss album, "Turn Up the Radio" has a patch inspired by Allan Holdsworth based off a Dumble amp with volume swell chorus and doubled Mr. Mister sound, and "I'm a Sinner" has a raw, Patti Smith clean sound.
Pedals
For effects, Pittman uses the Fractal Axe-Fx II with an MFC-101 controller for traditional effects as well as atmospheric tones and sound effects, and a variety of synth tones for doubling or complimenting keyboard parts. On the floor he uses an Ernie Ball Volume Pedal, Dunlop Jerry Cantrell Signature Wah, MXR Boost/Line Driver, MXR Dime Distortion, MXR Bass Octave Deluxe, MXR EQ (used for boost), MXR Carbon Copy, and a TC Electronic PolyTune. He explains that there's room for playing with different sounds during the set, so the pedals on the floor give him flexibility to do so. With his acoustic, he uses a Fishman Aura pedal that's stocked with models of his personal acoustics that he leaves at home.
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Released in 1983, the Roland SDE-3000 rackmount delay was a staple for pro players of the era and remains revered for its rich analog/digital hybrid sound and distinctive modulation. BOSS reimagined this retro classic in 2023 with the acclaimed SDE-3000D and SDE-3000EVH, two wide-format pedals with stereo sound, advanced features, and expanded connectivity. The SDE-3 brings the authentic SDE-3000 vibe to a streamlined BOSS compact, enhanced with innovative creative tools for every musical style. The SDE-3 delivers evocative delay sounds that drip with warmth and musicality. The efficient panel provides the primary controls of its vintage benchmark—including delay time, feedback, and independent rate and depth knobs for the modulation—plus additional knobs for expanded sonic potential.
A wide range of tones are available, from basic mono delays and ’80s-style mod/delay combos to moody textures for ambient, chill, and lo-fi music. Along with reproducing the SDE-3000's original mono sound, the SDE-3 includes a powerful Offset knob to create interesting tones with two simultaneous delays. With one simple control, the user can instantly add a second delay to the primary delay. This provides a wealth of mono and stereo colors not available with other delay pedals, including unique doubled sounds and timed dual delays with tap tempo control. The versatile SDE-3 provides output configurations to suit any stage or studio scenario.
Two stereo modes include discrete left/right delays and a panning option for ultra-wide sounds that move across the stereo field. Dry and effect-only signals can be sent to two amps for wet/dry setups, and the direct sound can be muted for studio mixing and parallel effect rigs. The SDE-3 offers numerous control options to enhance live and studio performances. Tap tempo mode is available with a press and hold of the pedal switch, while the TRS MIDI input can be used to sync the delay time with clock signals from DAWs, pedals, and drum machines. Optional external footswitches provide on-demand access to tap tempo and a hold function for on-the-fly looping. Alternately, an expression pedal can be used to control the Level, Feedback, and Time knobs for delay mix adjustment, wild pitch effects, and dramatic self-oscillation.
The new BOSS SDE-3 Dual Delay Pedal will be available for purchase at authorized U.S. BOSS retailers in October for $219.99. To learn more, visit www.boss.info.
"This bass is a reflection of everything I love about playing," said Blu DeTiger. "I wanted an instrument that could handle the diversity of sounds I create, from deep, funky grooves to melodic lines that cut through the mix. Fender and I worked closely together to make sure this bass not only looks amazing but sounds incredible in any setting."
Featured as the cover of the Forbes 30 Under 30 music list, Blu, who defines her musical style in the "groovy Indie” genre blending elements of Pop, Rock, and Funk, represents the next generation of pop music, earning accolades and a dedicated global fanbase with her work alongside top artists and successful solo releases. Bringing her signature sound and style, Blu marks a new milestone in her storied partnership with Fender and solidifying her influence on the future of music in creating the Limited Edition Blu DeTiger x Player Plus Jazz Bass.
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Her successful releases including "Figure It Out,” "Vintage," and recent album “All I Ever Want is Everything” have earned her accolades and sent her on the road to tour across the world to perform for her dedicated fanbase. Her distinct style of playing has also seen her play live with top tier artists such as Olivia Rodrigo, Bleachers, Dominic Fike, Caroline Polachek, Chromeo, and more.