The death-metal nomad welcomes us into his converted-cargo-trailer home/studio to detail his extended-range rumblers and mobile recording setup.
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 20th video in that format, and we stand behind the final product.
On the heels of releasing Enterprise Earth’s Foundation of Bones EP, Mangold virtually welcomed PG’s Chris Kies into his converted cargo trailer where he lives and records. (During the filming he was parked at the foothills of Rio Grande Gorge near the Sangre de Cristo Foothills in Taos, NM.) The vagabond guitarist opens up about creating pulverizing rhythms on 7- and 8-string beasts and using 21st century tech to create anywhere and everywhere he and his dog Jiro may roam.
Almost a decade ago, Gabe was surfing eBay and his inner ’80s shredder came out when he stumbled across a loud neon purple 1991 Ibanez RG550. He bought the radical guitar and it soon became a staple of his arsenal. The band he was in was filming a music video and he wanted to celebrate the guitar’s awesomeness by spinning it around his head via the strap. Unbeknownst to him, the strap lock wasn’t on the same page and the guitar went sailing. The body split in half and the guitar was shelved until he bought a 1987 RG550 body off eBay. To make the mashup more his own, he attempted to give it a Steve Vai-inspired “Multi Swirl” paint job seen on the icon’s JEMs. The original pickups have been swapped out for Bare Knuckles—Nailbomb humbuckers and a Trilogy Suite single-coil in the middle position. Because Enterprise Earth tunes down so low this 6-string doesn’t see much action in that group (aside from some recorded solos), but it does come out to play in his other bands, Delusions of Grandeur and The Harvest of Colour. He’s been using a droney C minor tuning a lot (C–G–C–G–C–Eb).
His other main 6-string is this early 2010s Suhr Modern that also sees studio time for soloing with Enterprise Earth and his less-aggressive bands Delusions of Grandeur and The Harvest of Colour. A big reason he continues to bond with this instrument is because “its tone is clear, crisp, and slices right through a mix.”
Here is one of his extended-range monsters—a custom made Dalbello Undici Modern 8-string that features a swamp ash body, Lundgren M8 humbuckers, and a multi-scale neck that goes from 26.75" to 28.25". It takes D’Addario NYXL (.009–.046) guitar set with an additional .066 and .094 strings. He often tunes in double drop-D (D–A–D–G–C–F–A–D).
Above you see a custom Strictly 7 String Cobra that has a 7-piece maple-walnut neck, ash body capped with a flame maple top, and an ebony fretboard. This is his backup 7-string for the road and typically is tuned to drop B.
This is nearly identical recipe to the red-and-black Strictly 7 Cobra in the previous slide, but it was built earlier in 2012 and is an example of their killer work that Mangold refers to “that’s when they were making the best extended-range instruments.” He really appreciates the craftsmanship and overall comfortability thanks to its teardrop D-profile neck that’s ergonomic and fast. It has a set of Bare Knuckle ’buckers—Nailbomb in the bridge and Aftermath in the neck.
While his converted cargo trailer allows him to record anywhere, anytime, there are times where Mangold truly goes off the grid and jams in the wilderness. To perform those solo endeavors (and for acoustic moods while recording), he trusts nothing but this Martin DCPA4. (Check out his Instagram account to see what majestic backdrop he plays in front of next.)
Whether it’s writing, recording, or even onstage performing, Gabe relies on a Kemper Profiler for his tone.
For Enterprise Earth’s brand-new EP, Foundation of Bones, Mangold used this setup to track all of the guitar tones.
Here’s Mangold’s world … all fit into this 16'x9' renovated cargo trailer.
And we’d be remised if we didn’t share this wonderful shot of all Gabe’s guitars and his travel companion Jiro.
Click below to listen wherever you get your podcasts:
D'Addario XT Strings:https://www.daddario.com/XTRR
Lutefish, the real-time music collaboration device and platform, is excited to announce a suite of new features designed to simplify setup, streamline collaboration, and offer more flexible subscription options for Lutefish Stream users. These latest updates, Audio Presets, Automatic Session Recall, Improved Scheduling with Contact Visibility, and a new Yearly Subscription Plan, are all about making it easier than ever for musicians to jam together, no matter where they’re based.
Save Time and Stay in the Flow with Audio Presets & Session Recall
Musicians can now save and reuse their exact audio settings, reducing setup time and ensuring every session sounds exactly as they want.
- Automatic Session Recall: When users leave a session, their current audio levels are automatically saved and restored when they rejoin.
- User-Defined Audio Presets: Each user can create and name up to five custom presets, like “Band Practice,” “Studio Mic Setup,” or “Quick Jam,” making it effortless to jump back in with the perfect sound.
“These tools are all about saving time and hassle,” said Patrick Finn, Business Manager at Lutefish. “Musicians want to make music, not spend time rebalancing levels every session. With presets and recall, we’re giving them time back and helping them sound their best, every time.”
Smarter Scheduling and Contact Visibility
The latest update to Lutefish also made it easier to find collaborators and book sessions. Users can now:- View all their contacts at a glance when scheduling a session.
- Instantly identify which contacts own a Lutefish Stream device—so they will always know who’s ready to jam.
Go Yearly and Save 20%
Lutefish now offers a Yearly Subscription Plan, providing users with the same great access as the monthly plan at a 20% discount.
This option is now available within the Lutefish app and web platform, and current monthly users are eligible for a discount with an upgrade to a yearly subscription.
Lutefish’s mission has always been to empower musicians to connect and collaborate without boundaries. With these new updates, Lutefish Stream continues to break down barriers—whether you’re jamming with a friend across town or collaborating with a bandmate 500 miles away.
For more information and to start jamming today, visitlutefish.com.
Few musical acts did more to put their fame and fortune to good use than punk rock icon Wayne Kramer. Known for his enduring commitment to activism, especially in justice reform, his life story embodies the defiant, DIY ethos of punk, directly inspiring generations of bands and musicians who followed. Now, fans and fellow musicians alike can attempt to emulate Kramer’s incendiary sound with the new, limited-edition pedal.
Designed before his death in February 2024, Wayne Kramer—together with friend Jimi Dunlop (Dunlop CEO) and Daredevil Pedals owner Johnny Wator —the pedal features artwork from artist and activist Shepard Fairey (Obey Clothing founder). A majority of profits from the sale of the pedal goes directly to Kramer’s charity supporting the rehabilitation of incarcerated people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds.
In honor of his close friend, Tom Morello—the innovative guitarist behind Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, the Nightwatchman, and more—demoed the pedal, showcasing its sound and shining light on Wayne Kramer’s incredible legacy.
Tom Morello Introduces MC5 Wayne Kramer-Inspired Pedal For Charity: MXR Jail Guitar Doors Drive
"What they've tried to bake into the MXR® Jail Guitar Doors Drive distortion pedal is not just Wayne's sound but Wayne's attitude, and the grit and the rawness of Detroit and of the MC5," said Morello, one of Kramer’s best friends, during his demo of the pedal. "This is the guitar pedal that was used on the song 'Heavy Lifting' that I recorded with Wayne for the last MC5 record.
"Named after the late rocker's charity—which provides instruments and art workshops to incarcerated individuals as rehabilitation tools—the MXR® Jail Guitar Doors Drive pedal aims to capture all of the high-voltage energy of Wayne Kramer's sound. It features two uniquely voiced gain circuits cascaded together with a singular pot controlling both the output level of each circuit and the overall saturation level of the distortion.
Music makers looking to capture Kramer’s raw, fiery sound can pick up the new MXR® Jail Guitar Doors Drive pedal, exclusively on Reverb via The Official MXR Jail Guitar Doors Drive Reverb Shop for $199, here: https://reverb.com/shop/the-official-mxr-jail-guitar-doors-reverb-shop.
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.
Introducing the Kiesel Kyber Guitar
- Engineered with a lightweight body to reduce fatigue during long performances without sacrificing tone. Six-string Kybers, configured with the standard woods and a fixed bridge, weigh in at 6 pounds or under on average
- Unique shape made for ergonomic comfort in any playing position and enhanced classical position
- The Kyber features Kiesel's most extreme arm contour and a uniquely shaped body that enhances classical position support while still excelling in standard position.
- The new minimalist yet aggressive headstock pairs perfectly with the body's sleek lines, giving the Kyber a balanced, modern silhouette.
- Hidden strap buttons mounted on rear for excellent balance while giving a clean, ultra-modern look to the front
- Lower horn cutaway design for maximum access to the upper frets
- Sculpted neck heel for seamless playing
- Available in 6 or 7 strings, fixed or tremolo in both standard and multiscale configurations Choose between fixed bridges, tremolos, or multiscale configurations for your perfect setup.
Pricing for the Kyber starts at $1599 and will vary depending on options and features. Learn more about Kiesel’s new Kyber model at kieselguitars.com
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.
If you need a full sounding amp simulator with a lot of EQ, the Sunset is for you. It features a five band equalizer with Treble, Bass, Parametric Midrange (with frequency and level controls), Resonance (for ultra lows), and Presence (for ultra highs). All are carefully tuned for bass guitar. But don’t let that hold you back if you’re a keyboard player. Pianos and synthesizers sound great with the Sunset!
The Sunset includes Gain and master Volume controls which allow you to add compression and classic tube amp growl. It has both ¼” phone and balanced XLR outputs - which lets you use it as a high quality active direct box. Finally, the Sunset features zero latency all analog circuitry – important for the instrument most responsible for the band’s groove.
Introducing the Sunset Bass Amp Simulator
- Zero Latency bass amp simulator.
- Go direct into the PA or DAW.
- Five Band EQ:
- Treble and Bass controls.
- Parametric midrange with level and frequency controls.
- Presence control for extreme highs.
- Resonance control for extreme lows.
- Gain control to add compression and harmonics.
- Master Volume.
- XLR and 1/4" outputs.
- Full bypass.
- 9VDC, 200mA.
Artwork by Aaron Cheney
MAP price: $210 USD ($299 CAD).