Guitar legend Nuno Bettencourt crashes his own Rundown to showcase the “Bumblebee” guitar he cooked up to honor Eddie Van Halen, while bassist Pat Badger shares two killer stories about basses that once belonged to members of Van Halen and Aerosmith.
Nearly 40 years ago, Nuno Bettencourt walked into Mouradian Guitar Co. in Boston, where Pat Badger was working. They formed a bond that would change their worlds—and ours—with the multi-platinum band Extreme. In March of 2024, Badger, Bettencourt, and their tech John Thayer invited PG’s John Bohlinger to talk through their current rig.
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Washburn Wrecking Crew
This Washburn N4 was developed in collaboration with Nuno Bettencourt, Washburn, and Seattle-based luthier Stephen Davies. The guitar was introduced in the mid-to-late 1990s and became Bettencourt's primary guitar. The 4N features a balanced alder body with a Seymour Duncan ’59 in the neck and a Bill Lawrence L-500 in the bridge, plus an ebony fretboard and a Kahler whammy that was featured on the earliest iterations. Later production models included a Schaller tremolo before landing on the current Floyd Rose dive bomber for off-the-rack N4s. Nuno’s strings are a custom set of GHS Boomers (.009–.052) and his custom-made picks come from Grover Allman in Australia.
Sweet As Honey
This is “Bumble Bee,” a custom-painted N4 tribute to King Edward that was done by the luthier Craig Stofko behind CHS Custom Guitars, based out of Carmel, New York. It’s a standard Nuno Washburn signature, but with a maple fretboard (a first for Nuno and the N4 series).
Softer Sounds
This Washburn Festival EA20S-Nuno Bettencourt is in the video for Extreme’s song “More Than Words,” which was filmed over 30 years ago.
This custom-painted Washburn 12-string acoustic is heard on “Hole Hearted.”
Triple Duals
Nuno tours with three Marshall JCM 2000 Dual Super Leads. Usually, he only runs one through a Marshall 4x12 cab. (There are six total onstage but only one is hot and mic'd.) All the cabs are loaded with Celestion G12T-75s that combine a huge, tightly controlled low-end and aggressive mid-range with a softened top-end.
Nuno runs few effects. In front of the amp, there’s a battery powered Pro Co RAT (which stays on all the time), a Boss OC-5 Octave (plugged in and connected for just two solos), and a script logo MXR Phase 90 without a light. There’s also a Boss GT-8 that runs through the effects loop of the Marshall for delays.
Kingly Gifts
This Mouradian CS-74 bass is Pat Badger’s number-one. The alder-bodied bass, fitted with an EMG pickup, was built for Tom Hamilton from Aerosmith. About two years ago, Tom gave the bass to Pat. This and all of Badger’s basses are strung with Rotosound Ultramag Strings (.045–.105).
This Mouradian one-pickup bass was built for Michael Anthony from Van Halen. Michael passed it along to Pat a few years ago.
This classic ’80s Hamer Blitz bass is a recent Reverb purchase.
Badger's Den
Badger tours with two Ampeg amps: a SVT-4 Pro and a SVT Classic. There’s a wall of 4x10 cabs underneath them, but only one is used.
Pat runs his bass into a Boss TU-3 tuner, Boss GE-7 EQ, EHX Micro POG, Pro Co Rat, Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI, and EBS Billy Sheehan Signature Drive.
Shop Nuno Bettencourt & Pat Badger's Gear
Washburn N4-Nuno Vintage USA Electric Guitar
Washburn Nuno Bettencourt N4 Authentic Signature - Natural Matte
Seymour Duncan SH-1n '59 Model Neck 4-conductor Humbucker Pickup - Black
MXR CSP026 '74 Vintage Phase 90 Pedal
Pro Co RAT 2 Distortion / Fuzz / Overdrive Pedal
Boss OC-5
EMG 35DC Active Ceramic Modern Humbucker Bass Pickups
Rotosound UM45 UltraMag Type 52 Alloy Bass Guitar Strings - .045-.105 Standard 4-String
Ampeg SVT-CL 300
Ampeg SVT-810AV 8x10"
Ampeg SVT-4PRO 1200-watt Tube Preamp Bass Head
EBS Billy Sheehan Ultimate Signature Drive Pedal
Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI V2 Pedal
Electro-Harmonix Micro POG Polyphonic Octave Generator Pedal
Boss GE-7 7-band EQ Pedal
Boss TU-3 Chromatic Tuner Pedal with Bypass
- Hooked: Nili Brosh on Extreme's "Decadence Dance" ›
- Nuno Bettencourt Is Out for Blood ›
- Top 5 Heavy Rig Rundowns ›
- Tribute to Eddie Van Halen: Nuno Bettencourt's "Bumblebee"4N ›
The pedals keep coming! Enter Stompboxtober Day 28 for your chance to win today’s featured pedal from Line 6!
Line 6 Hx One Stereo Multi-Effects Pedal
The Line 6 HX One is a powerful stereo effect pedal with intuitive controls that fits onto any pedalboard. Select one of 250+ effects taken from the acclaimed HX family processors and easily adjust the parameters displayed on the OLED screen using the three corresponding knobs. You can also automate parameter changes via the unique Flux controller and trigger them with the Tap/Flux footswitch. Connect an optional expression pedal or two external footswitches for additional control (all sold separately). . HX One also provides adjustable input impedance with a choice of True Bypass or buffered DSP Bypass, MIDI In and Out/Thru connectors, 128 Presets or a USB-C port for firmware updates and use with the HX One Preset Librarian application. HX One may be powered using the included 9V power supply or most third-party power supplies, making it easy to add to your pedalboard.250+ effects taken from the HX family processors. Intuitive controls make selecting and editing effects easy. Flux Controller for automating parameter changes . Adjustable input impedance to match your instrument . Connect an optional expression pedal or two external footswitches (sold separately). MIDI In, Out/Thru connectors (receives PC and CC messages). Stereo I/O with choice of True Bypass or buffered DSP Bypass. 128 preset slots. USB-C port for firmware updates and use with HX One Preset Librarian . 9V power supply included.Blackberry Smoke will embark on their Rattle, Ramble and Roll Tour in 2025, featuring stops at Worcester’s Palladium, Burlington’s The Flynn, New Orleans’ The Fillmore, Austin’s ACL Live at the Moody Theater, among many others.
Tickets for the newly added dates will be available for pre-sale starting tomorrow, Tuesday, October 29 at 10am local time, with the general on-sale following this Friday, November 1 at 10:00am local time. Full details and ticket information can be found at blackberrysmoke.com.
Throughout their career, Blackberry Smoke has released eight studio albums including their latest, Be Right Here. Produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell), the record was released to widespread critical acclaim earlier this year and debuted at #1 on the Current Country Albums chart, Americana/Folk Albums chart and Current Rock Albums chart.
Since forming in 2001, Blackberry Smoke has continued to tour relentlessly, building a strong and loyal community of fans. In addition to their work as musicians, the band is deeply committed to charitable work and formed the Brit Turner Family Fund, a non-profit supporting several national foundations committed to curing children’s cancer. With these efforts, the band has raised over $1,000,000 to date benefitting children’s cancer research. Most recently, Blackberry Smoke raised over $26,000 with their hometown show at Atlanta’s Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park earlier this summer, which celebrated the life and legacy of the band’s late drummer, Brit Turner.
BLACKBERRY SMOKE CONFIRMED TOUR DATES
October 30—Bakersfield, CA—Fox Theater~
October 31—San Diego, CA—Humphreys Concerts by the Bay~
November 1—Las Vegas, NV—The Pearl Concert Theater~
November 2—Riverside, CA—Fox Performing Arts Center~
November 7—St. Augustine, FL—St. Augustine Amphitheatre^
November 8—Clearwater, FL—Ruth Eckerd Hall^
November 9—Fort Myers, FL—Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall^
November 10—Pompano Beach, FL—Pompano Beach Amphitheater^
November 14—Royal Oak, MI—Royal Oak Music Theatre%
November 15—Marietta, OH—Peoples Bank Theatre%
November 16—Shipshewana, IN—Blue Gate Performing Arts Center%
November 21—Carterville, IL—Event Center at Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort
November 22—Tulsa, OK—Cain’s Ballroom**
November 23—Shawnee, OK—FireLake Arena**
December 5—Mobile, AL—Saenger Theatre††
December 6—Augusta, GA—Bell Auditorium##
December 7— Fayetteville, NC—Crown Theatre##
December 8—Savannah, GA—Johnny Mercer Theatre##
December 31—Macon, GA—Macon City Auditorium^^
January 30—Morristown, NJ—Mayo Performing Arts Center
January 31—Bensalem, PA—XCite Center at Parx Casino
February 1—Worcester, MA—The Palladium
February 2—Patchogue, NY—Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts
February 5—Portland, ME—State Theatre
February 6—Burlington, VT—The Flynn
February 7—Providence, RI—The Strand Ballroom & Theatre
February 8—Williamsport, PA—Penn College Community Arts Center
February 13-17—Rock Legends Cruise XII
March 6—Rockford, IL—Coronado Theatre
March 7—Peoria, IL—Peoria Civic Center Theater
March 8—Evansville, IN—Aiken Theatre
March 27—New Orleans, LA—The Fillmore
March 28—Houston, TX—713 Music Hall
March 29—Helotes, TX—John T. Floore’s Country Store
April 25—Miramar Beach, FL—Moon Crush “Pink Moon”
May 8—Austin, TX—ACL Live at the Moody Theater
May 9—Dallas, TX—Majestic Theatre
May 15—Maryville, TN—The Shed
May 16—Maryville, TN—The Shed
May 17—Maryville, TN—The Shed
~with special guest Kelsey Waldon
^with special guest Southall
%with special guest Sam Morrow
**with special guest Taylor Hunnicutt
††with special guest Georgia Thunderbolts
##with special guest Tishamingo
^^with special guest Robert Jon and the Wreck
Nearly 50 years ago, Rob Turner developed his first guitar pickup in Long Beach, CA. He's still creating new designs with EMG's current catalog approaching 100 pickups. He invited PG's John Bohlinger to Santa Rosa, CA, to see how a company that can produce 3,000 products a day still has an eager ear for new gear. See how they wind, wax, mold, wrap, and electrify your favorite instrument.
Nap Eyes’ Brad Labelle joins reader Galen Brownson and PG staff in sharing about what makes them—and thereby, their tunes—so unique.
Question: What are some personal qualities of yours that set you apart from others in your writing or playing?
Brad Labelle - Nap Eyes
A: I love dance music and have an unrelenting thirst for new and fresh sounds. I don’t feel my guitar playing is particularly groundbreaking, but those influences must seep through somehow. I do believe I’m a fairly expressive player and my short attention span keeps me endlessly improvising.
Nap Eyes’ latest release, The Neon Gate.
Obsession: I can’t stop listening to the recent Jane Remover track “Magic I Want U.” The production is deeply detailed but doesn’t feel cluttered, and her melodic sensibilities are intoxicating. She gives you crunchy guitars paired with breakbeats, West Coast synth lines, a Janet Jackson-esque electro outro, scratching, a fun little guitar solo.... I could go on.
As of late, Two Star & the Dream Police by Mk.gee has been in Brad's regular listening rotation.
Galen Brownson - Reader of the Month
Metallica’s two-guitar format inspired Galen when he was learning guitar.
A: When I was learning how to play, I was listening to a lot of two-guitar bands, like Metallica and Megadeth and Iron Maiden. I tried to find ways to play both guitar parts at once, which is not always possible, but I write two parts for one guitar now.
Metallica’s second album is a fan favorite of their early, pioneering years.
Obsession: My latest obsession is finding ways to combine metal music with electronic music, particularly dubstep. My younger brother once chastised me for ignoring electronic music by saying “metal and dubstep have a lot in common,” and he was absolutely right. I’ve since made it a goal to weave them together.
Galen names Polis by Uppermost, a French electronic music producer, as one of his favorite records.
Ted Drozdowski - Editorial Director
Ted takes a slide solo on his well-traveled and beloved Dollycaster.
A: My interests toggle between history and mystery, so my technique is based in archaic/anarchic blues playing styles and an expansive sonic palette that relies on blending fingerpicking, slide, and an array of pedals to create tones and sheets of sound. I think of it as cosmic roots music, and don’t hear a lot of other people doing what I do the way I do it.
The marquee image for Ted and Coyote Motel’s new movie, The River: A Songwriter’s Stories of the South.
Obsession: For a few years now, much of my creative energy has been invested in a feature film I created with my band Coyote Motel—scripting, recording narration, performing as part of the band, editing, and learning many painfully new and hard lessons about movie-making. And then getting the film to festivals, where we’ve won laurels, and onto a few select screens. Now, I’m working on distribution, in a field where there ain’t no Bandcamp or DistroKid. It ain’t easy, but I’m obsessed with getting The River: A Songwriter’s Stories of the South into the world.
The current state of Ted’s pedalboard. (He’s aware he could do a better job with the wiring.)
Kate Koenig - Managing Editor
Kate’s newest album, which contains some of their rawest and most vulnerable lyrics to date.
A: I wear my heart on my sleeve—to the point where I’ve always struggled to have a verbal filter—so I tend to write very raw, vulnerable lyrics. A taste for cerebral art during my formative years has also informed my approach to coming up with challenging and intricate fingerpicking guitar parts.
When PG’s worldly gear editor Charles recommended Black Flag’s record Damaged, Kate got on that posthaste.
Obsession: I’ve been revisiting, digging into, and expanding my knowledge of classic ’80s and ’90s punk in preparation for my next artist interview for Premier Guitar(some foreshadowing, eh?). I have always been intrigued by punk culture’s outspoken rebelliousness and commitment to anarchic ideals, which strike me as free and authentic.
Kate has a distinct memory of a classmate playing “You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid” on loop in their senior-year studio-art class. (They still wonder why their teacher didn’t intervene.)