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Tonal Tinker Toys: Reader Pedalboards 2018

When it comes to pedal puzzles and putting together your dream sound rig, there’s no right way—just your way. Check out these boards from your fellow readers, and be inspired!

Alex Rivera: Keep It Classy, Sandy Eggo!

This reader from San Diego, California, didn’t describe his choices much, instead letting the vibrant colors of his artsy boxes speak for themselves. But after scoping his Instagram, we saw (in addition to a pic of Adele’s last album) that he plays a beautiful natural finish Les Paul through a Vox. This Pedaltrain Metro 24 board features a Boss TU-3, Xotic SP Compressor, ZVEX Mastotron, JHS Angry Charlie V3, Wampler Tumnus, Xotic EP Booster, Walrus Julia, MXR Phase 90, Empress Tremolo 2, TC Electronic Flashback Delay, Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail Nano, and Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus.

It’s that time of year, when Premier Guitar readers from such disparate places as Florianópolis, Brazil, to Katy, Texas, share with us their prized collection of sonic goodies. All kinds of players write in: Sunflower Bean’s frontman/guitarist Nick Kivlen goes down memory lane, describing how he acquired, through many years and sources, all the pedals he loves. Simon Gotthelf, who has his own YouTube channel dedicated solely to the world of guitar and demoing gear, shows us his fave pedal configuration. A few session guitarists give advice on grab-and-go stomp setups. And then there are dozens of players who call themselves “bedroom” guitarists, many of whom know more about how to wire up a board than some stars featured on Rig Rundowns. Now, let’s dig in!

X's Billy Zoom & John Doe Rig Rundown
- YouTube

John Doe and Billy Zoom keeps things spare and powerful, with two basses and a single guitar–and 47 years of shared musical history–between them, as founding members of this historic American band.

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Reader: T. Moody

Hometown: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Guitar: The Green Snake


Reader T. Moody turned this Yamaha Pacifica body into a reptilian rocker.

With a few clicks on Reverb, a reptile-inspired shred machine was born.

With this guitar, I wanted to create a shadowbox-type vibe by adding something you could see inside. I have always loved the Yamaha Pacifica guitars because of the open pickup cavity and the light weight, so I purchased this body off Reverb (I think I am addicted to that website). I also wanted a color that was vivid and bold. The seller had already painted it neon yellow, so when I read in the description, “You can see this body from space,” I immediately clicked the Buy It Now button. I also purchased the neck and pickups off of Reverb.

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Jack White's 1950s Kay Hollowbody Guitar
- YouTube

This hollowbody has been with Jack since the '90s purring and howling onstage for hundreds of shows.

Our columnist’s Greco 912, now out of his hands, but fondly remembered.

A flea-market find gave our Wizard of Odd years of squealing, garage-rock bliss in his university days.

Recently, I was touring college campuses with my daughter because she’s about to take the next step in her journey. Looking back, I’ve been writing this column for close to 10 years! When I started, my kids were both small, and now they’re all in high school, with my oldest about to move out. I’m pretty sure she’s going to choose the same university that I attended, which is really funny because she’s so much like me that the decision would be totally on point.

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