This odd-couple guitar duo complement each other with a melodic mix of breakneck notes and juggernaut riffs, all effortlessly executed on 7-string shred sticks from Ibanez and Jackson.
Before ERRA’s headlining show at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl in support of their latest album, Cure, cofounding member Jesse Cash and newcomer Clint Tustin—a pair of proficient guitar-playing pyrotechnicians—invited PG’s Chris Kies onstage for a conversation that was both lighthearted and enlightening. They cover their speedy 7-strings from Jackson and Ibanez, explain why they landed on their preferred DiMarzio and Fishman pickups, and reveal all the ways the Neural DSP Quad Cortex has condensed, streamlined, and optimized the duo’s stage attack.
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Cassius Play
Jesse Cash is a creative force. He plays, he writes, and that’s pretty much where his love for guitar starts and ends. He’s not into gear specs nor does he overthink his setup: If it works, it works. For a decade-plus, Ibanez RG-profile guitars have been getting the job done. His current ride-or-die is the above Ibanez Prestige RG2027XL that is pretty stock aside from a few key upgrades, including a set of and DiMarzio D Activator 7 humbuckers, an EverTune bridge for tuning stability, gold hardware for eye candy, and a pearloid pickguard that Jesse likes to make his muscle car look a bit classier. It features a basswood body, Wizard-7 neck with maple and wenge tonewoods, a bound Macassar ebony fretboard, and a 27" scale length. The band tunes to drop G# and lets the Quad Cortex technology transpose any other lowered tunings so they can tour with minimal guitars and maintain a familiar feel.
Sandblasted
Clint Tustin is all Jackson, all day. The above model is the Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7. It’s built with an exposed ash body decorated in a dazzling “baked blue” textured finish, a 26.5" scale length, a sturdy, graphite-reinforced, bolt-on 3-piece maple-wenge-maple neck with a compound radius (12" –16") and a Jackson Speed Neck profile, bound ebony fretboard, a Graph Tech TUSQ XL nut, and active multi-voiced Fishman Fluence Open Core PRF-CO7 humbuckers. This is his only touring guitar without an EverTune bridge.S
Prestige Production
Before acquiring the RG2027XL, Cash’s main seven was this production-line 2017 Prestige 752LWFX that was featured heavily on ERRA’s albums Neon and Erra. Like the 2027XL, it has a basswood body, but this one is decked out with an African black limba top, a rosewood fretboard, a 25.5" scale length, a Gibraltar Standard II bridge, and of course, the pickguard and gold hardware. They do share the same heartbeat—a set of DiMarzio D Activator 7 humbuckers. The standard scale length helps Jesse move around the fretboard quicker, so this RG sees stage time for the band’s older material.
Gold Tone
This stunner is Clint Tustin’s Jackson Pro Plus Series DK Modern EverTune 7. It’s completely stock and features nearly the same DNA as his previous Dinky DK, but it has a basswood body and an EverTune bridge.
Silver Surfer
Another DK Modern EverTune 7 for Tustin that was modified by a friend to have this big-flake, bass-boat sparkle finish—including the pickups—that can be seen from the last row of the venue, or probably even space. This one has a set of Fishman Fluence Modern humbuckers.
Problem Solved
These dudes are pragmatists. As digital modeling technology has improved, ERRA has evolved their live setups to achieve quicker setups, less headaches, and decreased traveling costs. Jesse and Clint are currently both using the Neural DSP Quad Cortex direct to front of house. They have no cabs or monitors onstage, and hear themselves via in-ear monitors and the PA.
As noted before, their guitars stay in G♯ tunings, and they let the Quad Cortex transpose any lower tunings. (They did say that pitch-shifting up via the Neural setting is less accurate and so they manually tune their instruments.) They depend on the QC to make tone changes, so they are free to roam the stage and entertain the crowd.To that end, they both utilize the Sennheiser EW G4 units for wireless and in-ears. A lot of their core tones and sounds are based around a STL Tones DZL Herbert import for rhythms, Neural’s Misha Mansoor Archetype for leads, and their Plini Archetype for cleans.
Shop ERRA's Rig
Ibanez Prestige RG2027XL
DiMarzio D Activator 7 Humbuckers
Ibanez Prestige 752
Jackson Pro Plus Series DK Modern EverTune 7
Fishman Fluence 7-String Modern Humbuckers
Neural DSP Quad Cortex
Sennheiser EW G4 IEM Wireless
- Hot-Rodding at Home! ›
- Jackson Guitars & Charvel Guitars Factory Tour ›
- ERRA's Jesse Cash on As I Lay Dying's "Elegy" ›
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.
The veteran Florida-born metalcore outfit proves that you don’t need humbuckers to pull off high gain.
Last August, metalcore giants Poison the Well gave the world a gift: They announced they were working on their first studio album in 15 years. They unleashed the first taste, single “Trembling Level,” back in January, and set off on a spring North American tour during which they played their debut record, The Opposite of December… A Season of Separation, in full every night.
PG’s Perry Bean caught up with guitarists Ryan Primack and Vadim Taver, and bassist Noah Harmon, ahead of the band’s show at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl for this new Rig Rundown.
Brought to you by D’Addario.Not-So-Quiet As a Mouse
Primack started his playing career on Telecasters, then switched to Les Pauls, but when his prized LPs were stolen, he jumped back to Teles, and now owns nine of them.
His No. 1 is this white one (left). Seymour Duncan made him a JB Model pickup in a single-coil size for the bridge position, while the neck is a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound Staggered. He ripped out all the electronics, added a Gibson-style toggle switch, flipped the control plate orientation thanks to an obsession with Danny Gatton, and included just one steel knob to control tone. Primack also installed string trees with foam to control extra noise.
This one has Ernie Ball Papa Het’s Hardwired strings, .011–.050.
Here, Kitty, Kitty
Primack runs both a PRS Archon and a Bad Cat Lynx at the same time, covering both 6L6 and EL34 territories. The Lynx goes into a Friedman 4x12 cab that’s been rebadged in honor of its nickname, “Donkey,” while the Archon, which is like a “refined 5150,” runs through an Orange 4x12.
Ryan Primack’s Pedalboard
Primack’s board sports a Saturnworks True Bypass Multi Looper, plus two Saturnworks boost pedals. The rest includes a Boss TU-3w, DOD Bifet Boost 410, Caroline Electronics Hawaiian Pizza, Fortin ZUUL +, MXR Phase 100, JHS Series 3 Tremolo, Boss DM-2w, DOD Rubberneck, MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe, Walrus Slo, and SolidGoldFX Surf Rider III.
Taver’s Teles
Vadim Taver’s go-to is this cherryburst Fender Telecaster, which he scored in the early 2000s and has been upgraded to Seymour Duncan pickups on Primack’s recommendation. His white Balaguer T-style has been treated to the same upgrade. The Balaguer is tuned to drop C, and the Fender stays in D standard. Both have D’Addario strings, with a slightly heavier gauge on the Balaguer.
Dual-Channel Chugger
Taver loves his 2-channel Orange Rockerverb 100s, one of which lives in a case made right in Nashville.
Vadim Taver’s Pedalboard
Taver’s board includes an MXR Joshua, MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe, Empress Tremolo, Walrus ARP-87, Old Blood Noise Endeavors Reflector, MXR Phase 90, Boss CE-2w, and Sonic Research Turbo Tuner ST-200, all powered by a Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus.
Big Duff
Harmon’s favorite these days is this Fender Duff McKagan Deluxe Precision Bass, which he’s outfitted with a Leo Quan Badass bridge. His backup is a Mexico-made Fender Classic Series ’70s Jazz Bass. This one also sports Primack-picked pickups.
Rental Rockers
Harmon rented this Orange AD200B MK III head, which runs through a 1x15 cab on top and a 4x10 on the bottom.
Noah Harmon’s Pedalboard
Harmon’s board carries a Boss TU-2, Boss ODB-3, MXR Dyna Comp, Darkglass Electronics Vintage Ultra, and a Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus. His signal from the Vintage Ultra runs right to the front-of-house, and Harmon estimates that that signal accounts for about half of what people hear on any given night.
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).