Rancid's Matt Freeman Rig Rundown

This summer, a Bay Area punk-rock extravaganza rolled across the world. In support of the 30th and 20th anniversaries of their records Dookie and American Idiot, Green Day arranged the summer’s best stadium-rock tour, with support from Smashing Pumpkins and fellow Bay bashers Rancid.

PG’s Chris Kies met up with Rancid bassist Matt Freeman just before the tour’s stop at Nashville’s Geodis Park. In this Rundown, in addition to trotting out his breadwinner bass rig, Freeman tells Kies his bass origin story, including his early and enduring influences, and shares how he developed a unique playing style suited to his smaller hands. Later, tech Warren Lee takes over to give us the scoop on Freeman’s backstage rack. Tune in to get the details.

Brought to you by D’Addario.

Chamber Music

Freeman’s principal 4-strings are two Fender Precision basses, but after he experienced back issues last year, Fender set to work on this one, making it less taxing on Freeman’s body. The result is this sneakily chambered P bass, which is lighter to facilitate long-term rocking. Freeman strings it with Fender Nickel Plated Steel bass strings, with a gauge range of .105–.085–.065–.045.

High Mass

Fender R&D created this dense bridge with barrel saddles to offset the reduced weight of the body so it properly balanced on Matt's shoulder.

Bassman's Bassman

For the stadium shows, Freeman runs these two Fender Bassman 800 heads with matching 8x10 cabinets.

Tenderloin

Freeman’s signal goes wireless from his bass into one of the Avalon U5 Class A Active Instrument DI and Preamps—the other is a backup—then through the Way Huge Pork Loin Overdrive, set to give his Bassman a good push, and finally to the onstage amps.

Shop Rancid's Rig

Fender Bassman 800 Head
Fender Bassman 810 Neo 8x10" Bass Cabinet
Avalon U5 Class A Active Instrument DI and Preamp
Fender Precision Bass
Fender Nickel Plated Steel Bass Strings