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Rig Rundown: Murder by Death

Down-tuned axes and a thirst for experimentation fuel the rootsy indie-rock band’s sound.

She runs the cello into her simple board that carries a Boss TU-2 Chromatic Tuner, an Electro-Harmonix LPB-1 Linear Power Booster, Boss Overdrive OD-1, an Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail Nano, and a Radial ProDI. A Pedaltrain board houses everything and a Visual Sound 1 Spot provides power.

Murder by Death’s bassist Matt Armstrong managed to squeeze in a quick interview and walk us through the band’s gear before their show in Nashville. The band’s spacey-meets-gothic vibe is powered by low-tuned axes, effect-laden cellos, and a unique approach to tone.

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Day 9 of Stompboxtober is live! Win today's featured pedal from EBS Sweden. Enter now and return tomorrow for more!

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With pioneering advancements in pickups and electronics, the AEG-1 is designed to offer exceptional acoustic sound and amplification.

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A familiar-feeling looper occupies a sweet spot between intuitive and capable.

Intuitive operation. Forgiving footswitch feel. Extra features on top of basic looping feel like creative assets instead of overkill.

Embedded rhythm tracks can sneak up on you if you’re not careful about the rhythm level.

$249

DigiTech JamMan Solo HD
digitech.com

4.5
4.5
4.5
4

Maybe every guitarist’s first pedal should be a looper. There are few more engaging ways to learn than playing along to your own ideas—or programmed rhythms, for that matter, which are a component of the new DigiTech JamMan Solo HD’s makeup. Beyond practicing, though, the Solo HD facilitates creation and fuels the rush that comes from instant composition and arrangement or jamming with a very like-minded partner in a two-man band.

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Three thrilling variations on the ’60s-fuzz theme.

Three very distinct and practical voices. Searing but clear maximum-gain tones. Beautiful but practically sized.

Less sensitive to volume attenuation than some germanium fuzz circuits.

$199

Warm Audio Warm Bender
warmaudio.com

4.5
4.5
5
4

In his excellent videoFuzz Detective, my former Premier Guitar colleague and pedal designer Joe Gore put forth the proposition that theSola Sound Tone Bender MkII marked the birth of metal. TakeWarm Audio’s Warm Bender for a spin and it’s easy to hear what he means. It’s nasty and it’s heavy—electrically awake with the high-mid buzz you associate with mid-’60s psych-punk, but supported with bottom-end ballast that can knock you flat (which may be where the metal bit comes in).

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