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Back in March, Chicago’s Fall Out Boy blasted through Birmingham, Alabama, in the middle of a year-long tour supporting their 2023 release, So Much (for) Stardust. It was their first solo headline tour since 2018, and they brought along loads of new noisemakers for the occasion.
Frontman Patrick Stump has moved on from his trademark Gretsch electrics, guitarist Joe Trohman scored an Explorer that may or may not remind us of a certain purple McDonald’s character, and Pete Wentz packs some basses that bring both ice and fire to the gig. And while tube amps still reign supreme in the studio, including the recording of So Much (for) Stardust, the band goes digital and speaker-free on the road.
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After his love affair with Gretsch came to a close, the Guild S-60D has become Patrick Stump’s new muse. Given his intense vocal responsibilities during performances, he’s aiming for function over form these days, and the S-60D and S-300 models are fitting the bill for playability and position in the mix. “I want something that stays in tune,” he says. “I try to be as minimal as possible.”
Stump bought this S-60D with its all-over bright-red paint job, then set about sourcing red components to make it almost entirely monochrome. He also dropped a DiMarzio Super Distortion humbucker in the bridge and a Seymour Duncan Little ’59 in the neck.
Multicolor Halo
Stump commissioned this Halo guitar, which turned out radically different from what he initially pitched. It was first envisioned to help Stump out with some metal playing he was recording for a TV project, so he called for some classic touches like scalloped frets, a Floyd Rose, and a Seymour Duncan Dimebucker in the bridge. But the color ended up anything but metal. It’s not totally applicable to most Fall Out Boy material, but Stump is giving it a shot at some live play time.
Horse With Name
For slower moments, Stump goes with this Martin X Series acoustic he picked up at Guitar Center around 15 years ago. Since he had a deal with Fender, he covered the headstock Martin logo with some black tape that’s remained there ever since.
Mighty Zemaitis
First up, Trohman shows off this Japanese-made Zemaitis The Portrait Hisashi Signature Model, a model built in honor of Glay guitarist Hisashi Tonomura. While not a genuine Tony Zemaitis build, Trohman likes this one for its stability and build quality.
The Grimace
Trohman was lusting after this ’80s Gibson Custom Shop plumburst Explorer when he saw it pop up on Reverb, and when it sold, he was heartbroken. A few days later, his wife surprised him with it. It’s named Sanders, in honor of her maiden name.
Smokin' a Sig
Trohman also brings out his signature Squier Joe Trohman Telecaster, a take on the Tele Deluxe that includes a 5-position rotary selector switch to navigate the triple-pickup configuration.
Catching Rays
Tech Christian Zayas shows off this stunning custom paint job Sterling by Music Man Pete Wentz StingRay, which is outfitted with passive (rather than the typical active) pickups and a Hipshot drop tuning system. Note the signature red-eyed-loon inlay art on the 12th fret.
Winter Wonderland
This brand new, heavy-as-hell signature StingRay is full of some type of liquid (Zayas believes its anti-freeze) plus white material that turns it into a bass-shaped snowglobe. Wentz pulls it out for a fantasy sequence in the show, and it doesn’t stick around long because of its weight and more mellow tone.
Don't Sink the 8 Ball
This Pete Wentz StingRay is also a new addition, and comes out for an 8-ball-related encore.
Pete Might've Started the Fire
The last Sterling in the stable is also Wentz’s most deadly, doubling as a flamethrower during some of the show’s pyrotechnic flourishes. A primer on the upper bout preps the rear-mounted flame system, and the red-covered switch controls ignition. The pyro team tests it before each show with local fire departments to ensure its safety. “Sometimes we wanna be KISS, and we are,” says Zayas.
Farewell To Tubes
Joe Tone
Joe Trohman's tech Ben Young helped the FOB lead guitarist creep in digital modelers and here he provides additional details for what's happening inside the Axe-Fx III:
"The Fractal is set up where we have a different patch for each song, and then use scenes for each section of the songs. I have a template with all our dialed in amps and effects for everything. All the amp sounds are based off a JCM800 for our mid gain “crunch” sound, and a Dual Rectifier for our classic Fall Out Boy heavy sound. We also have a Friedman amp and a “brown sound” amp for other higher gain options that we’ve been using on newer songs and a Matchless for clean stuff."
Loathe is a challenging listen. In 10 years, they’ve released three dissimilar albums, a pair of pulverizing EPs, and a couple reinventive, collaborative covers (with Sleep Token and Teenage Wrist) of their own material, proving they thrive on juxtaposition and keeping your ears off guard. The Liverpool foursome morph from blissful dream state to Nightmare on Elm Street and everything in between. Their sound can be familiar like an old friend but thrilling like a first date.
From the ashes of Our Imbalance’s pure metalcore madness—featuring guitarist/vocalist Erik Bickerstaffe, vocalist Kadeem France, and drummer Sean Radcliffe before recruiting guitarist Connor Sweeney and bassist Shayne Smith—rose the reformation that became the experimental Loathe in 2014. (Current bassist Feisal El-Khazragi replaced Smith in 2018 and Sweeney left the band in 2021.)
Nu-metal bounce, djent precision, shoegaze shimmer, post-hardcore chaos, synth segues, barbwire breakdowns, moody melodies, and singalong choruses aren’t groundbreaking elements. But how they make them gel and grate against each other is what makes Loathe special. In a matter of minutes, they can make you scream, cry, and then dance before inciting you to do all three at once. The difference is in the disparate.
Their creative applications of the past, present, and future keep them ahead of the audience providing a deep musical menu. If you don’t like the first Loathe song you hear, there’s a chance the next one will be your favorite.
“The four of us have very differing influences, but when we work together, we create something very unique,” contends Bickerstaffe.
Even Bickerstaffe’s guitar choices are at odds. He wants the heaviest sound possible but avoids using 7- or 8-string guitars because of their brash tones and jagged aesthetics. He prefers to swing the sledgehammer in a classic costume of a Gretsch Jet (and formerly a Jazzmaster).
“We wanted a British-rock sound that pushes further into modern extreme-metal influence when we were writing. I don’t like anything too metallic or sharp sounding. For the band we are and what we’re trying to do musically, it’s not the right thing,” states Bickerstaffe.
It’s been over four years since their heralded I Let It In and It Took Everything,and the fans are growing impatient. The band is aware of the wait and are concerned with impressing themselves rather than capitalizing on the attention.
“There’s music in the world the four of us as individuals miss hearing, and we want to be the people that create that in our own style. Hopefully, people who agree with us are along for the ride, and if not, that’s absolutely cool. We’ve been through a lot, and we’re working really hard together to make sure the music that we put out is exactly what we want to put out. We’ll let it speak for itself when we release it,” explains Bickerstaffe.
Before Loathe’s opening slot supporting Knocked Loose on May 1 at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works, Bickerstaffe carved out some time to talk with PG’s Chris Kies. Bickerstaffe details the obtainable instruments that help him deliver both deathly and dreamy moments, why he shies away from the metallic edges of metal, and what fans should expect from the ever-evolving outfit’s new music.
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Baritone Is the New 7
Bickerstaffe started playing an ESP 7-string Stephen Carpenter model until his drummer Sean Radcliffe suggested he use a Bass VI like the Beatles to better fit the band’s sound and vision.
He played a Squier Vintage Modified Jazzmaster for years before landing on this current Gretsch G5260 Electromatic Jet Baritone that’s been getting it done since releasing 2020’s I Let It In and It Took Everything. It’s all stock aside from the nut filed open to hold Bickerstaffe’s monstrous .105 nickel bass string in the low-E position. The other five strings are from a pack of D’Addario EXL157 Medium Nickel Wound Electric Baritone set (.014–.018–.026w–.044–.056). He moves between a custom E (E–A–E–A–D–F#) and standard B tunings, and the .105 bass string helps keep the tension in a similar range.
Twisted Tele
For gentler songs like “Is It Really You?” and “Screaming,” Bickerstaffe turns to this Fender Player Telecaster that rides in a tuning utilizing the five highest strings of drop D with a low-A (A–D–A–D–G–B).
Come Fly with Me
Touring in the U.K. and on headlining runs, Bickerstaffe always opts for tube heads. He originally went with Hiwatt DR504s before moving onto Marshall JCM800s. Ideally, he’d bring a multiple-amp setup onstage to use the strength of each head (independently and combined) throughout a set depending on the song’s mood. Opening for Knocked Loose on this run, he simplified matters, relying on a Fractal Audio Axe-Fx III that leans heavily on a modded JCM800 amp model. Most of the utilitarian effects needed each night are provided by the Axe-Fx III, however, Bickerstaffe does have an inspiration station below. The Two Notes Torpedo Captor X is not being used right now since he’s not using amps or cabs and the Sennheiser EW 100 G4-Ci1 Wireless Guitar System relieves his need for cables.
Eric Bickerstaffe's Pedalboard
To keep things interesting and fun, Bickerstaffe does still tour with a proper pedalboard, but you’ll notice it’s more a place for experimentation than execution because several pedals are on their way in or out as they’re not being powered or in the chain. As of May 1 in Nashville, these are the tone twisters Erik had on deck: EarthQuaker Devices Zoar, Behringer SF300 Super Fuzz, 141FX Pillager, Third Man Mantic Flex, Electro-Harmonix Mel9, Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal, DigiTech Whammy Ricochet, Behringer FX600 Digital Multi-FX (his first pedal), EarthQuaker Devices Rainbow Machine, Electro-Harmonix Freeze, and a Boss TU-3 Chromatic Tuner. And there is one crucial pedal that he prefers over the Axe-Fx III option and that’s the DigiTech Whammy and its octave blend.
Shop Erik Bickerstaffe's Rig
Gretsch G5260 Electromatic Jet Baritone
Fender Player Telecaster
EarthQuaker Devices Zoar
Behringer SF300 Super Fuzz
Electro-Harmonix Mel9
Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal
DigiTech Whammy Ricochet
Behringer FX600 Digital Multi-FX
EarthQuaker Devices Rainbow Machine
DigiTech Whammy
Electro-Harmonix Freeze
Boss TU-3 Chromatic Tuner
Two Notes Torpedo Captor X
Sennheiser EW 100 G4-Ci1 Wireless Guitar System
D’Addario EXL157 Medium Nickel Wound Electric Baritone Set
What if Deftones’ lead singer Chino Moreno fully leaned into his love for the Cure and Depeche Mode (think “Digital Bath,” “Teenager,” “Anniversary of an Uninteresting Event,” and “Cherry Waves”)? The short answer is Crosses (often stylized as †††). And the sole sonic sniper pillowing and piercing through Moreno’s moodily melodic vocals is multi-instrumentalist Shaun Lopez.
Prior to working with Moreno in Crosses, Lopez cofounded Far—an influential post-hardcore 1990s contemporary of the Deftones in Sacramento—and has tallied a variety of producer credits, collaborating with Chon, Rob Zombie, Lupe Fiasco, Dead Sara, Whitechapel, and others. That versatile background is evident when experiencing Crosses with a pair of headphones or seeing them live onstage.
Lopez and bassist Chuck Doom had been jamming together in the late 2000s, and later recruited Moreno to front the dark dance party. As Crosses, the trio released three EPs and a self-titled debut full-length between 2011 and 2014, before going on hiatus in 2015.
Crosses was revitalized in 2022 with fresh material. Then, following the departure of bassist Chuck Doom, the remaining duo doubled down on their digital-based dynamism to feature even more synths, keys, and electronic experimentation. Now, for almost 15 years, the band has been weaving together sounds of new wave, electronica, goth rock, industrial, and ambient pop, as if they’re producing a soundtrack to a neo-noir readaptation of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
Part of Lopez’s post-hiatus experimentation included sampling his guitar through his keys. “When we started Crosses, I was just learning to play piano,” he shares. “I think, back then, I wanted to make synthy-sounding songs, but I didn’t know how to play synths. I was like, ‘How can I get my guitar to sound like a synth?’ So I just incorporated pedals, lap steel, and anything else to make my guitar unrecognizable.
“Since those first songs, I’ve really learned how to play keyboards, and by better understanding that new instrument, at times, I’ve become more inspired by synths over guitar,” recalls Lopez.
But no matter how many synths or keyboards get put to tape, you’ll still see Lopez onstage with a guitar draped over his shoulder.
“I do prefer to play guitar live because it’s more fun and I can run around,” he shares. “I am always chasing sounds no matter the instrument it takes to get there. My sound is growing because I’m always learning. I think if you stop learning, you stop progressing … but guitar will always be home.”
Before Crosses’ sold-out show at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works, Lopez welcomed PG’s Perry Bean onstage to dissect his setup. The lone instrumentalist showed off six stellar guitars, broke down the heavy lifting his FM9 endures for Crosses’ sets, introduced a peculiar pedal he can’t live without, and demoed a Gretsch that sounds like an angry orca.
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C Beast
“It’s the best-looking guitar I’ve ever seen in my life,” contends Lopez. The Gibson Les Paul Custom 20th Anniversary 1974 model is set for drop-C duties, and takes a custom set of Dunlops (.011–.070). He upgraded its original pickups with a set of Bare Knuckle Warpig alnico-5 humbuckers.
Special for Standard
Chino left this over at Shaun’s place long enough that Lopez fell for the devilish doublecut. Before he bonded with Chino’s SG Special, Lopez stayed away from SGs because of the uncomfortable neck dive, but he says this rocker balances really well (especially with a wireless pack), and the P-90s make a perfect contrast to his other guitar tones. This one rides in standard or drop D, and like the rest of Lopez’s electrics we’ll see, it takes a more standard fare of Dunlop strings (.010–.046).
Little Red Corvette
While he was picking up a 1978 P bass at Guitar Center in L.A., Shaun spotted this 1960s Gretsch Corvette. It had been at the GC for months collecting dust, so they made Lopez a sweet deal and he left the store with both instruments. While the Les Paul might be his favorite guitar, he did admit that this cherry Corvette is his favorite to play, and that’s clear with all the finish that’s been thrashed during this Crosses tour.
Shaun tunes it to standard or drop D, but when the crowd hears it, they won’t believe their ears—as he uses the pitch-block parameters within the Fractal Audio FM9 to drop down the Corvette 17 levels. It sounds like an angry orca!
Midnight Cruiser
The above Gretsch G2420T Streamliner Hollow Body Single-Cut with Bigsby was resting in backup duties compared to its Schecter counterpart, but its hotter BT-3S humbuckers have proved it mightier for the stage.
Easy Rider
The previous Gretsch took over first-chair hollowbody touring duties for this Schecter Coupe’s sibling that’s safe at home, but Lopez notes that the Coupes were the most-used guitars while recording Crosses’ 2023 release, Goodnight, God Bless, I Love U, Delete.
T Time
Lopez caters many of Crosses’ sounds around the Tesla TV-ML1 humbuckers found in his Schecter Coupe. He tried to acquire another hollowbody, but Schecter no longer makes that model—however, they pointed him towards their PT Fastback that uses the company’s UltraTron humbuckers, which are very similar to FilterTron-style pickups.
To Infinity and Beyond!
Shaun slides around on this Fender FS-52 Deluxe Lap Steel. All the strings are tuned to D, creating a powerful droning effect.
Also, notice below that the FS-52 sits a Sequential Prophet-6—a 6-voice analog synthesizer that gets used throughout Crosses’ albums and live sets. And the Novation Launchkey 49 MK3 controller triggers samples, loops, and works with Ableton Live for show production.
Shaun Lopez's Pedalboard
Creating Crosses’ serpentine soundscapes involves an abundance of gear. Lopez doesn’t really document his methods on their recordings, so when playing live, he’s left to recreate his tones from scratch. To help accomplish that feat in a compact and efficient fashion, he centers his live rig around a pair of Fractal Audio FM9 units powered by a Fryette LX II Stereo power amp. One transforms guitars into everything but, and the other partners with his FS-52, unleashing a tidal wave of Daniel Lanois-inspired washes and sustain. Two effects that the FM9 couldn’t replicate were the Chase Bliss Mood and a modded vintage Electro-Harmonix Micro Synthesizer. Utility boxes include two tuners—Peterson StroboStomp HD and TC Electronic PolyTune 3—MIDI Solutions Thru 2-output box, a pair of BeardBuilds AB boxes, a Dunlop Volume (X) Mini, a Mission Engineering SP-1 pedal, and offstage, a Radial ProD8 8-Channel Rackmount Direct Box. A Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus and Truetone 1 Spot juices everything up.
Shop Shaun Lopez' Crosses (†††) Rig
Gibson Custom 1968 Les Paul Custom Reissue
Gibson SG Special
Gretsch G2420T Streamliner Hollowbody Electric Guitar
Schecter PT Fastback Electric Guitar
Sequential Prophet-6 - 6-voice Analog Synthesizer
Novation Launchkey 49 MK3 49-key Keyboard Controller
Electro-Harmonix Micro Synthesizer Analog Guitar Microsynth Pedal
Peterson StroboStomp HD Pedal Tuner
TC Electronic PolyTune 3 Polyphonic LED Guitar Tuner Pedal with Buffer
Dunlop DVP4 Volume (X) Mini Pedal
Mission Engineering SP-1 Expression Pedal
Radial ProD8 8-channel Passive Instrument Direct Box
Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 PLUS 8-output Isolated Guitar Pedal Power Supply
Truetone 1 SPOT Slim 9V DC Adapter