We’ve got these things
Gear. Yeah, we have some gear. New, rare and vintage gear. Weird, experimental gear. Hell, even gear that carries the God City name. The collection is ever-changing, but here’s a few gems:
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Amps
Guild - Thunderbass
Cranky old 40 watt tube amp similar to Silvertone.
Gallien Krueger - 800RB
Nate from Converge threw this off the stage at a show once and I salvaged it. It works, but it’s been known to electrocute people.
Traynor - YBA-3
Over-sized Traynor bass head, with extended frequency response.
Traynor - YBA-1
The most sought-after Traynor, but the YRM speaks to me more. 50 Watt.
Traynor - Reverb Master YRM
I’ve owned this amp for about 25 years and it’s never done me wrong. Great mid-range and a sweet reverb. 50 Watt.
Sparrow's Son - Custom Head
Hand-built custom amp from Belarus. I use it for glassy gain or deep, cold cleans. Like it so much I bought another. 60 Watt.
Orange - Thunderverb 200
Big and honky sounding. A very common choice for bass around here. 200 Watt.
Orange - AD200
Big and deep with a smooth overdrive. 200 Watt.
Mesa Boogie - MKIII
The bay-area thrash machine. 1x12 Combo, 100w.
Marshall - JMP
6550 equipped classic master volume Marshall tone. Sounds as it should. 50 Watt.
Gibson - GA-77 Vanguard
Late 60’s American guitar amp that rivaled the more popular Fender amps of the day. 40 watt combo.
Gibson - Titan
This is one of my favorite heads. Super versatile EQ and an excellent vehicle for obnoxious disortion pedals. 100 watt.
Fender - Vibro Champ
Ubiquitous low-wattage Fender tone machine. 5 Watt.
Fender - ProReverb
Same as a Fender Twin but with half the power. 40 watt.
Carvin - Pro Bass
Loud and gross. Makes a good bass power amp or HM-2 style guitar amp.
Blackstar - Series One
Modern amp for modern tones. Doesn’t see a lot of use around here, but when it wins the shootout, it wins by a mile. 50 Watt.
Blackstar - Artisan
Kind of like a bridge between AC-30 and JCM800. I really love the sound of this cabinet. 30 Watt.
BadCat - Panther
Somewhere between the Black Cat and the Lynx. The amount of knobs can be overwhelming, but when it’s dialed, it sounds “expensive.”
BadCat - Lynx
Mega-mid, high gain el34 amp. I prefer this one to the Hot Cat.
BadCat - Black Cat
Similar to the Matchless DC-30 which is similar to the Vox AC-30. I like how it goes “clank.”
Ampeg - V-4R
Currently in “right off the assembly line” condition. I swear this thing could be a hi-fi amp now.
Compression
Drawmer - 1969 Tube Stereo mic pre / compressor
FET-based buss compressor and work-horse mic pre-amp. It’s really hard to make this thing sound bad.
Tube-Tech - SMC-2b multi-band compressor
The secret weapon for polishing mixes. Also fantastic for bass, overhead, and room mic tracking.
Tonelux - TXC compressor
These are probably my favorite drum compressor. Sounds like an API 2500 but with a greater depth of control.
Schmidlin - Fed+ Vari-Mu compressor
I like it as a parallel drum bus compressor/distorter.
Retro Instruments - 176 Tube Compressor
A classy-sounding vari-mu tube compressor. Built like a tank and looks so cool, you’ll swear stuff going through it sounds better.
Purple Audio - MC77 compressor
A slightly more aggressive, lower noise version of the classic 1176.
Kenetek - LA-2x limiter
A super tweaked, top-notch, LA-2a clone.
Daking - 91579 compressor
Daking’s take on Neve compression.
Chandler - Zener Limiter
Chandler’s take on the EMI limiters, but with more control. Capable of adding tons of smack to drums.
Aphex - Dominator
Classic Aphex limiting. Good for making stuff loud.
Aphex - Compellor
Classic Aphex compression.
Aphex - Expressor
I like these for restoring sparkle to a compressed signal.
Universal Audio - 6176 channel strip
A vintage-styled mic pre/eq/compressor. Often used on sub-kick, bass di, room mic, and vocals.
Requisite - PAL mic pre / compressor
These things look and sound almost as expensive as they were. Super-classy on vocals and overheads.
Thermionic Culture - The Phoenix
Classy compressor for class-less people. Vari-Mu Tube Compressor.
Empirical Labs - Distressor
The most ubiquitous compressor of modern times – very hard to make sound bad. Two Available.
Elysia - Xpressor
A wonderfully versitile tone-shaper.
Dramastic Audio - Obsidian
A modified SSL style 2-buss compressor, fantastic for adding glue, tucking in the transients, and making stuff loud.
DI
Whirlwind - DI
A basic Direct Inject box.
Radial - JDI
High quality DI.
MXR - Bass DI+
MXR’s take on the Sans Amp Bass Driver.
Tech 21 - Sans Amp
The ubiquitous DI bass tone.
Digital Audio Workstations
Burl - Mothership Convertors
Super amazing-sounding AD/DA converters that make me not miss working on tape.
Apple - Mac Pro
2x 3.46Ghz 6 core, 32 GB Ram. Protools HDX PCIe, UAD QUad PCIe, Burl Mothership converters. 24 Channel in, 32 out, up to 192khz sample rates.
Drums
Yamaha - 80’s Rock Tour Custom
Known around here as “big red." Like the snare sound on Danzig 1? This drum will do that. 8x14"
Keller - 4.5×14″ mahogany snare
Classic Slingerland-type snare sound.
Yamaha - 24″ Kick
This one goes “THUD.”
Ludwig - 4.5×14″ Snare
I’ve heard these are the most recorded snares in history. I dunno if that's true, but it sounds good.
C&C - 16×22″ Kick
Rogers-style classic kick drum sound.
Pearl - 14×6.5″ Brass snare
Steve Ferrone signature brass (Black Beauty). Every drum company makes a black beauty style snare for a reason.
GCI - 11×13″ Titanium Tom
If my Tempus toms sound “more birch than birch” then this drum sounds “more maple than maple.”
GCI - 5×15″ Titanium snare
Weird size. Why did I make this?
GCI - 7×13″ Titanium snare
Poppy, responsive, yet warm. Great for players who prefer a 13, but don't want to sound like Spin Doctors.
Tempus - Toms
Fiberglass toms that sound more birch than birch. 8", 10", 12", 14", 16" and 18"
Slingerland - 24″ Kick
This one goes “BOOOOOMMM.” 70's kick drum.
GCI - 7×14″ Titanium Snare
I fucking love this drum and not just because I made it. It’s been used on most of my recent recordings. 7x14" Titanium with single flanged hoops.
Effects
Yamaha - SPX-90
My favorite 80’s, grainy, gated reverb sound.
Roland - RE-501
The full-featured premium version of the classic RE-201. It rules.
Peavey - Valverb
It has springs and tubes!
Lexicon - MPX-500
90’s reverb that still sounds pretty good.
Furman - Spring Reverb
It’s analog… and springy!
Deltalab - Effectron
Nice delay. Sounds cool for vocal slap and sometimes percussion.
Electrix - Filter Factory
Some fantastic synth-like resonance tools from an unfortunately ill-fated company.
Effects Pedals
Providence - Stampede
An extremely high powered distortion pedal, seldom seen in the US. I had two until Handsome Jim plugged one in to UK power. Oops.
Earthquaker - Afterneath
Instant post-rock guitar tone.
Dunwich - HM-2 clone kit
A highly modified version of the Boss HM-2 circuit with much more range of adjustment.
Boss - Noise Suppresor
Nice noise gate.
Z-Vex - Fuzz Factory
Hand painted original FF. Great for zipper fuzz and other zaniness. RIP Andy Richardson.
Way Huge - Aqua Puss delay
A killer analog delay. Turn knobs. Have fun.
Tronographic - Rusty Box
A Traynor solid-state bass preamp in a box. Jesus Lizard tone.
Sanford and Sonny - Blue Beard fuzz
A honkier, more aggressive take on a Big Muff.
Red Snapper clone - Red Crapper overdrive
Boss OD-1 clone. Excellent when a chimey tone is needed. Think Wipers/Hot Snakes.
One Knob - Boost
Makes guitars louder.
MXR - EVH Phase 90
Swirly twirly gumdrops.
MXR - KFK EQ
A versitile graphic equalizer, nice for driving amps harder.
Mountain King - Megolith
An absolutely enormous sounding fuzz pedal. Don’t even consider using it at tempos above 80 bpm.
Marshall - Guv-nor MK1 clone
The classic 5 knob Guv’nor circuit, but with better parts.
Malekko - Plus Ultra
A mellow fuzz with an intense filter section.
Ernie Ball - Volume Pedal
Makes volume go up and down.
Electro Harmonix - Big Muff pi
The SM-57 of fuzz pedals.
Earth Quaker Devices - Pitch Bay
Warbly, thick, dual digital pitch shift effect.
Earth Quaker Devices - Arpanoid
I’ve yet to use this for anything other than making myself laugh, but it's great at that!
Dunwich Amplification - HM-2 Clone
A new take on the classic Swedish death metal tone. I reach for this when I want a warmer version of the Boss HM-2 sound.
Danelectro - Grilled Cheese Distortion
The most horrible, thin sounding distortion at GodCity. Rarely used, but sometimes the perfect tool.
Digitech - Bass Synth Wah
Makes guitars and basses sound like synths.
Boss - Graphic EQ
I like it for boosting mids and levels to add push and focus to a tube amp.
Boss - TU-2 Tuner
It's not a tunah!
Boss - DF-2 Super Feedbacker Distortion
Hold it down and let it sing! So much fun. (Dort Mod)
Boss - DS-1 Distortion
Everyone has one of these. This one sounds better than most. (Occtone mod)
Boss - PS-5 Super Shifter
A useful harmony and whammy tool.
Boss - PS-3 Pitch Shifter/Delay
The Cave-In-ator.
Boss - OS-2 Overdrive
A very frequently used overdrive for guitar or bass that adds midrange focus. I lost this. Has anyone seen it?
Boss - ODB-3 Bass Overdrive
If Ol’ Dirty Bastard played distorted bass, he’d use this.
Boss - HM-2 Heavy Metal
Swedish tone.
Boss - MT-2 Metal Zone
Norwegian tone. (Analog Man mod)
Boss - BF-3 Flanger
It flanges like a boss.
Arion - Stereo Chorus
Boss CE-1 clone. Sounds fantastic.
Arion - Compressor
Boss CS-3 clone.
Arion - Distortion
Arion’s take on the Boss DS-1.
FoxRox - Octron
Definitely my favorite lead guitar pedal. The octave up settings are totally caustic in the best way possible.
Dunlop - Cry Baby
Ubiquitous wah-wah pedal.
Dunwich - Volt Thrower
Like a Rat, but with extended frequency response and articulation.
Digitech - Bass Whammy
Like a guitar whammy, but for bass.
Blackstar - Metal
A full-blown tube preamp in a pedal, tailored towards metal.
Akai - Headrush
A simple phrase sampler for guitar.
EQ
Little Labs - i-VOG
A neat little box for shaping low frequencies. Boost the fundamental frequency of something while simultaneously removing unwanted rumble.
LaChappel - 583v mic pre / eq
Very detailed sounding tube mic pre’s. Can be clean or super dirty. I like them a lot for room mics and vocals.
Krohn-Hite - HP/LP Filter
Gnarly old tube test equipment converted to audio equipment by Nick Z of New Alliance East mastering.
Universal Audio - 6176 channel strip
A vintage-styled mic pre/eq/compressor. Often used on sub-kick, bass di, room mic, and vocals.
Daking - Mic Pre / EQ
Daking’s take on the Trident A-range mic pre/eq. Edgier than the more freqently cloned Neve and API pre’s.
Chandler - TG channel mic pre / eq
Chandler’s take on the Abbey Road EMI console mic pre/eq.
Chandler - LTD-1 mic pre / eq
Chandler’s take on the Neve 1073 circuit. Often used on kick, bass, and guitar amps.
Thermionic Culture - Early Bird mic pre / eq
An ultra-classy stereo tube thingy.
Manley - Massive Passive Stereo Tube EQ
My favorite EQ. Steep learning curve, but super powerful and super musical.
Emperical Labs - Lil’ Freq
Super-precise analog EQ’s, excellent for precision work with cymbals and guitars.
Gates
Symmetrix - 562
It's a noise gate.
Guitars
Peavey - T-40
The active EQ makes it good for finger-style players who want to sound like they use a pick or vice versa.
Fender - Super Jumbo
Big and bright for an acoustic. It’s not the ideal solo acoustic guitar, but it’s great for cutting through dense mixes.
Warwick - Star Bass II
Tons of twang and resonance from this amazing feeling bass. Much more solid and less plunky than what you’d expect from a hollow-body.
Warmoth - P Bass
If you’re playing aggressive music, this is probably the bass you want. EMG pickup.
Warmoth - Pine Tele
Just about everything you’d want from a Telecaster, including a 4th switch position for series operation. Short scale w/ Lindy Fralin p-up.
Warmoth - Jazzmaster
Fun guitar with tons of phase and series/parallel switching settings for wide tonal variation. EGC P-90s.
Squire - Strat
Custom 50's clone hand wound pickups. Classic Strat tone. Rarely required at GodCity, but it’s here!
Rickenbacker - 650A Atlantis
This was my primary Converge guitar from ’96 until about 2003.
Guild - Starfire
I’ve owned this for about 20 years and it’s still one of my favorite guitars to play.
Gibson - Melody Maker
Set up in Nashville high-strung for Jimmy Page-type sounds.
Gibson - Les Paul
1970 Les Paul Custom with 59 Classic Pickups.
GCI - Deconstructivist
The first prototype from the second stage of GCI production. I love the mid-range bark of these pickups. Two TV Jones & Mustage Style Trem.
GCI - 3
This one has seen a lot of studio action lately. Say what you want about EMG, but the Hetfield model fucking rips.
GCI - 2b
27.5 Baritone. I want to start a 2 piece band just to use this guitar in.
GCI - 2
This has been my primary Converge guitar for the past few years.
First Act - Delia 12 String
Dreamy shoegaze tones-a-plenty. Hollow body with Kentron Pickups. DIY 12-string conversion means I'm the only one who knows how to tune it.
First Act - Delia 9-string
9 strings are fun and totally weird, especially for solos.
First Act - Custom Sheena
This was my primary Converge guitar during the mid-2000’s. Plays like buttah. w/ EMG-85.
Instruments
Yamaha - Poly-Six
If you get a sound you like out of this thing, record it that instant because you will never find that sound again.
Yamaha - 80’s Rock Tour Custom
Known around here as “big red." Like the snare sound on Danzig 1? This drum will do that. 8x14"
Keller - 4.5×14″ mahogany snare
Classic Slingerland-type snare sound.
Yamaha - 24″ Kick
This one goes “THUD.”
Ludwig - 4.5×14″ Snare
I’ve heard these are the most recorded snares in history. I dunno if that's true, but it sounds good.
C&C - 16×22″ Kick
Rogers-style classic kick drum sound.
Providence - Stampede
An extremely high powered distortion pedal, seldom seen in the US. I had two until Handsome Jim plugged one in to UK power. Oops.
Earthquaker - Afterneath
Instant post-rock guitar tone.
Dunwich - HM-2 clone kit
A highly modified version of the Boss HM-2 circuit with much more range of adjustment.
Boss - Noise Suppresor
Nice noise gate.
Peavey - T-40
The active EQ makes it good for finger-style players who want to sound like they use a pick or vice versa.
Fender - Super Jumbo
Big and bright for an acoustic. It’s not the ideal solo acoustic guitar, but it’s great for cutting through dense mixes.
Marshall - 8×10
Sizzley and throaty. Doesn’t see much use, but looks fucking cool. Bring it out for photo-shoots. '73
Guild - Thunderbass
Cranky old 40 watt tube amp similar to Silvertone.
Gallien Krueger - 800RB
Nate from Converge threw this off the stage at a show once and I salvaged it. It works, but it’s been known to electrocute people.
Pearl - 14×6.5″ Brass snare
Steve Ferrone signature brass (Black Beauty). Every drum company makes a black beauty style snare for a reason.
GCI - 11×13″ Titanium Tom
If my Tempus toms sound “more birch than birch” then this drum sounds “more maple than maple.”
GCI - 5×15″ Titanium snare
Weird size. Why did I make this?
GCI - 7×13″ Titanium snare
Poppy, responsive, yet warm. Great for players who prefer a 13, but don't want to sound like Spin Doctors.
Z-Vex - Fuzz Factory
Hand painted original FF. Great for zipper fuzz and other zaniness. RIP Andy Richardson.
Way Huge - Aqua Puss delay
A killer analog delay. Turn knobs. Have fun.
Tronographic - Rusty Box
A Traynor solid-state bass preamp in a box. Jesus Lizard tone.
Sanford and Sonny - Blue Beard fuzz
A honkier, more aggressive take on a Big Muff.
Red Snapper clone - Red Crapper overdrive
Boss OD-1 clone. Excellent when a chimey tone is needed. Think Wipers/Hot Snakes.
One Knob - Boost
Makes guitars louder.
MXR - EVH Phase 90
Swirly twirly gumdrops.
MXR - KFK EQ
A versitile graphic equalizer, nice for driving amps harder.
Mountain King - Megolith
An absolutely enormous sounding fuzz pedal. Don’t even consider using it at tempos above 80 bpm.
Marshall - Guv-nor MK1 clone
The classic 5 knob Guv’nor circuit, but with better parts.
Malekko - Plus Ultra
A mellow fuzz with an intense filter section.
Ernie Ball - Volume Pedal
Makes volume go up and down.
Electro Harmonix - Big Muff pi
The SM-57 of fuzz pedals.
Earth Quaker Devices - Pitch Bay
Warbly, thick, dual digital pitch shift effect.
Earth Quaker Devices - Arpanoid
I’ve yet to use this for anything other than making myself laugh, but it's great at that!
Dunwich Amplification - HM-2 Clone
A new take on the classic Swedish death metal tone. I reach for this when I want a warmer version of the Boss HM-2 sound.
Danelectro - Grilled Cheese Distortion
The most horrible, thin sounding distortion at GodCity. Rarely used, but sometimes the perfect tool.
Digitech - Bass Synth Wah
Makes guitars and basses sound like synths.
Boss - Graphic EQ
I like it for boosting mids and levels to add push and focus to a tube amp.
Boss - TU-2 Tuner
It's not a tunah!
Boss - DF-2 Super Feedbacker Distortion
Hold it down and let it sing! So much fun. (Dort Mod)
Boss - DS-1 Distortion
Everyone has one of these. This one sounds better than most. (Occtone mod)
Boss - PS-5 Super Shifter
A useful harmony and whammy tool.
Boss - PS-3 Pitch Shifter/Delay
The Cave-In-ator.
Boss - OS-2 Overdrive
A very frequently used overdrive for guitar or bass that adds midrange focus. I lost this. Has anyone seen it?
Boss - ODB-3 Bass Overdrive
If Ol’ Dirty Bastard played distorted bass, he’d use this.
Boss - HM-2 Heavy Metal
Swedish tone.
Boss - MT-2 Metal Zone
Norwegian tone. (Analog Man mod)
Boss - BF-3 Flanger
It flanges like a boss.
Arion - Stereo Chorus
Boss CE-1 clone. Sounds fantastic.
Arion - Compressor
Boss CS-3 clone.
Arion - Distortion
Arion’s take on the Boss DS-1.
Knabe - Upright Grand Piano
It’s clunky and old and the strings have never been changed, but it has character!
Hammond - H114 Organ
Classic B3 sound but with built in speakers and “percussion.” w/ Leslie 247 Tone Cabinet.
FoxRox - Octron
Definitely my favorite lead guitar pedal. The octave up settings are totally caustic in the best way possible.
Dunlop - Cry Baby
Ubiquitous wah-wah pedal.
Dunwich - Volt Thrower
Like a Rat, but with extended frequency response and articulation.
Digitech - Bass Whammy
Like a guitar whammy, but for bass.
Blackstar - Metal
A full-blown tube preamp in a pedal, tailored towards metal.
Akai - Headrush
A simple phrase sampler for guitar.
Warwick - Star Bass II
Tons of twang and resonance from this amazing feeling bass. Much more solid and less plunky than what you’d expect from a hollow-body.
Warmoth - P Bass
If you’re playing aggressive music, this is probably the bass you want. EMG pickup.
Warmoth - Pine Tele
Just about everything you’d want from a Telecaster, including a 4th switch position for series operation. Short scale w/ Lindy Fralin p-up.
Warmoth - Jazzmaster
Fun guitar with tons of phase and series/parallel switching settings for wide tonal variation. EGC P-90s.
Squire - Strat
Custom 50's clone hand wound pickups. Classic Strat tone. Rarely required at GodCity, but it’s here!
Rickenbacker - 650A Atlantis
This was my primary Converge guitar from ’96 until about 2003.
Guild - Starfire
I’ve owned this for about 20 years and it’s still one of my favorite guitars to play.
Gibson - Melody Maker
Set up in Nashville high-strung for Jimmy Page-type sounds.
Gibson - Les Paul
1970 Les Paul Custom with 59 Classic Pickups.
GCI - Deconstructivist
The first prototype from the second stage of GCI production. I love the mid-range bark of these pickups. Two TV Jones & Mustage Style Trem.
GCI - 3
This one has seen a lot of studio action lately. Say what you want about EMG, but the Hetfield model fucking rips.
GCI - 2b
27.5 Baritone. I want to start a 2 piece band just to use this guitar in.
GCI - 2
This has been my primary Converge guitar for the past few years.
First Act - Delia 12 String
Dreamy shoegaze tones-a-plenty. Hollow body with Kentron Pickups. DIY 12-string conversion means I'm the only one who knows how to tune it.
First Act - Delia 9-string
9 strings are fun and totally weird, especially for solos.
First Act - Custom Sheena
This was my primary Converge guitar during the mid-2000’s. Plays like buttah. w/ EMG-85.
Marshall - 8×10 converted to 4×12
Sounds pretty much like a regular Marshall 4x12, but looks cooler. 1973 with four 12s and no 10s.
Marshall - 4×12
This is pretty much what you want a Marshall 4x12 to sound like. 70's Checkerboard 1982 with Rola Celestion Vintage 30's.
Marshall - 4×10
Crunchy and throaty and fucking cool looking. 60's Marshall 4x10 Basketweave column with 10 watt Celestion's . (2 Available)
Gibson - Titan III
It’s a trapazoid and it sounds kind of square. 1x15 / 2x10 Cabinet.
Emperor - 6×12
Sounds huge and has a frowny faced EQ. 1/3 Open Back with 2 WGS alnicos, 2 Eminence Texas Heats, and 2 Celestion Sidewinders.
Emperor - 6×12
Sounds huge and has a smiley faced EQ. 1/3 Open Back with 2 Eminence Red Fangs, 2 Eminence Swamp Thangs, and 2 Celestial Sidewinders.
Emperor - Half Open 2×12
It’s a 2x12 that sounds as big as a 4x12. 1 Weber Hemp Alnico Blue Dog and 1 Weber 65w British.
Emperor - Open Back 1×12
I use this when I want a Fender combo-type of tone from a guitar head. w/ Weber Speaker.
Ampeg - SVT 8×10
THE bass cabinet for rock music.
Traynor - YBA-3
Over-sized Traynor bass head, with extended frequency response.
Traynor - YBA-1
The most sought-after Traynor, but the YRM speaks to me more. 50 Watt.
Traynor - Reverb Master YRM
I’ve owned this amp for about 25 years and it’s never done me wrong. Great mid-range and a sweet reverb. 50 Watt.
Sparrow's Son - Custom Head
Hand-built custom amp from Belarus. I use it for glassy gain or deep, cold cleans. Like it so much I bought another. 60 Watt.
Orange - Thunderverb 200
Big and honky sounding. A very common choice for bass around here. 200 Watt.
Orange - AD200
Big and deep with a smooth overdrive. 200 Watt.
Mesa Boogie - MKIII
The bay-area thrash machine. 1x12 Combo, 100w.
Marshall - JMP
6550 equipped classic master volume Marshall tone. Sounds as it should. 50 Watt.
Gibson - GA-77 Vanguard
Late 60’s American guitar amp that rivaled the more popular Fender amps of the day. 40 watt combo.
Gibson - Titan
This is one of my favorite heads. Super versatile EQ and an excellent vehicle for obnoxious disortion pedals. 100 watt.
Fender - Vibro Champ
Ubiquitous low-wattage Fender tone machine. 5 Watt.
Fender - ProReverb
Same as a Fender Twin but with half the power. 40 watt.
Carvin - Pro Bass
Loud and gross. Makes a good bass power amp or HM-2 style guitar amp.
Blackstar - Series One
Modern amp for modern tones. Doesn’t see a lot of use around here, but when it wins the shootout, it wins by a mile. 50 Watt.
Blackstar - Artisan
Kind of like a bridge between AC-30 and JCM800. I really love the sound of this cabinet. 30 Watt.
BadCat - Panther
Somewhere between the Black Cat and the Lynx. The amount of knobs can be overwhelming, but when it’s dialed, it sounds “expensive.”
BadCat - Lynx
Mega-mid, high gain el34 amp. I prefer this one to the Hot Cat.
BadCat - Black Cat
Similar to the Matchless DC-30 which is similar to the Vox AC-30. I like how it goes “clank.”
Ampeg - V-4R
Currently in “right off the assembly line” condition. I swear this thing could be a hi-fi amp now.
Tempus - Toms
Fiberglass toms that sound more birch than birch. 8", 10", 12", 14", 16" and 18"
Slingerland - 24″ Kick
This one goes “BOOOOOMMM.” 70's kick drum.
GCI - 7×14″ Titanium Snare
I fucking love this drum and not just because I made it. It’s been used on most of my recent recordings. 7x14" Titanium with single flanged hoops.
Keyboards
Yamaha - Poly-Six
If you get a sound you like out of this thing, record it that instant because you will never find that sound again.
Knabe - Upright Grand Piano
It’s clunky and old and the strings have never been changed, but it has character!
Hammond - H114 Organ
Classic B3 sound but with built in speakers and “percussion.” w/ Leslie 247 Tone Cabinet.
Microphones
Shure - SM-57 Unidyne era
Sounds way better than a modern 57.
Shure - SM-57 w/ TapeOp Mod
Quieter and bassier than a stock 57.
Shure - Beta 91a PZM
An improved version of the Beta 91.
Shure - Beta 91 PZM
Designed to be used inside a bass drum.
Heil Sound - Handi Mic
A great hand-held harmonic mic.
AKG - C451
Ubiquitous SDC’s often used on cymbals and acoustic guitars - CK1, CK2, CK3, and CK5 capsules.
Heil Sound - PR-48
Dynamic mic with big bottom.
AEA - R88
One of my most accurate sounding mics, often used as drum kit “glue.”
Shure - SM-58
You know what these are.
Shure - KSM-141
Omni/cardioid small diaphragm condenser mics. Great for room mics, cymbal spot mics, toms, and other work-horse duties.
Sennheiser - E-906
Excellent guitar amp mic.
Sennheiser - 441
Hyper-cardioid dynamic mic, great for bottom snare.
Sennheiser - 421
Classic dynamic mic, often used on amps and toms.
Mojave - MA-101
A ballsy small diaphragm condenser mic.
Microtech-Gefell - UM-57
My most vintage-y and collectable tube mic. That means it sounds good.
Heil Sound - PR-35
A hi-fi hand-held vocal mic.
Heil Sound - PR-31
Same as PR-30.
Heil Sound - PR-20
A hi-fi hand-held vocal mic.
Earthworks - TC30K
Extremely flat, omni SDC – great on piano and as a room mic.
Beyerdynamic - M-201
A dynamic that kind of sounds like a condenser – used on snares that need extra crack.
Microtech-Gefell - MV692
Classic FET condensor mics – like a U87 if a U87 sounded good. I used to have 2 more, but Tony Merrill at SPA stole 2 of them.
Wunder - CM-7 fet
A top-notch clone of the Neumann U47fet. Often used on kick, floor tom, guitar, and vocals.
Soundelux - E-49
Really nice hi-fi tube LDC’s. I like them for overheads, room mics, and vocals.
Shure - SM-7b
The trendiest vocal mic of the 2000’s. I like it on bass.
sE - Voodoo VR-1
Neat little ribbon mics with big bottom and an extended top.
sE - RN17
A fast, detailed, funny looking pair of SDC’s.
Royer - R-121
A big-sounding, durable, modern ribbon mic.
RCA - 44 BX
An ancient, huge, heavy, fantastic-sounding vintage ribbon mic. Excellent on guitar amps, drums, and some vocals.
Placid Audio - Copperphone
Do you love that “telephone” effect? Well then, here you go.
Neumann - KM 184
Ubiquitous small diaphragm condensor mics.
Josephson - E22s
The tom mic to end all tom mics. I switched to these a few years ago and haven’t looked back.
Heil Sound - PR-30
Awesome work-horse dyanmic mic. Use anywhere you’d use a 57 or 421.
Beyerdynamic - M-160
Bright for a ribbon mic – works well on cymbals and classic guitar amp tones. Supposedly Hendrix’s favorite guitar mic.
Beyerdynamic - M-88
A nice mid-forward dynamic mic, often used on bass guitar.
AKG - D112
A purpose built kick mic used a lot in the 80’s and 90’s.
AEA - N22
Awesome new-fangled ribbon mic often used to close mic loud guitar amps.
Mixing Consoles
Thermionic Culture - Mixing Console
Modern tube mixer with a rich and wide sound.
Tonelux - Mixing Console
Super high-fi, punchy modern analog console from the designer of the later-era API gear.
Monitors
Yamaha - NS-10
The ubiquitous “bad speaker test” speaker.
Adam - S3A
My all-time favorite monitor rig. I don’t even use other speakers anymore.
Urei - 809
“Old guy” speakers that never get used unless it needs to be LOUD.
Other
REAMP - Re-amp
Impedence/level matching device for reamping. I hate reamping.
Avenson Audio - Blend
Adds wet/dry control to any outboard device. I like to run my entire 2-buss chain through it.
Little Labs - i-VOG
A neat little box for shaping low frequencies. Boost the fundamental frequency of something while simultaneously removing unwanted rumble.
Radial - SGI
Boring shit you don’t care about.
Jensen - MS Encoder/Decoder
Allows any stereo device to process the center channel and sides independently. Very powerful, but also very easy to mess up.
Dolby - Type C NR
Used for the breathy pop vocal trick. Also sometimes used to add air to a snare drum.
Little Labs - IBP
All pass filters that help align things less than 180 degress out of phase.
Boss - Dr. Sample
Boss sampler, most often used for it’s crappy camcorder-sounding built-in mic.
Outboard Gear
REAMP - Re-amp
Impedence/level matching device for reamping. I hate reamping.
Avenson Audio - Blend
Adds wet/dry control to any outboard device. I like to run my entire 2-buss chain through it.
Little Labs - i-VOG
A neat little box for shaping low frequencies. Boost the fundamental frequency of something while simultaneously removing unwanted rumble.
No Toasters - Nice Pair Stereo Pre-amp
Local tech, Bo Dixon made these. They pair really well with my AEA R88 mic.
Drawmer - 1969 Tube Stereo mic pre / compressor
FET-based buss compressor and work-horse mic pre-amp. It’s really hard to make this thing sound bad.
Radial - SGI
Boring shit you don’t care about.
Jensen - MS Encoder/Decoder
Allows any stereo device to process the center channel and sides independently. Very powerful, but also very easy to mess up.
Dolby - Type C NR
Used for the breathy pop vocal trick. Also sometimes used to add air to a snare drum.
Whirlwind - DI
A basic Direct Inject box.
Radial - JDI
High quality DI.
MXR - Bass DI+
MXR’s take on the Sans Amp Bass Driver.
Yamaha - SPX-90
My favorite 80’s, grainy, gated reverb sound.
Roland - RE-501
The full-featured premium version of the classic RE-201. It rules.
Peavey - Valverb
It has springs and tubes!
Lexicon - MPX-500
90’s reverb that still sounds pretty good.
Furman - Spring Reverb
It’s analog… and springy!
Deltalab - Effectron
Nice delay. Sounds cool for vocal slap and sometimes percussion.
Symmetrix - 562
It's a noise gate.
Tube-Tech - SMC-2b multi-band compressor
The secret weapon for polishing mixes. Also fantastic for bass, overhead, and room mic tracking.
Tonelux - TXC compressor
These are probably my favorite drum compressor. Sounds like an API 2500 but with a greater depth of control.
Schmidlin - Fed+ Vari-Mu compressor
I like it as a parallel drum bus compressor/distorter.
Retro Instruments - 176 Tube Compressor
A classy-sounding vari-mu tube compressor. Built like a tank and looks so cool, you’ll swear stuff going through it sounds better.
Purple Audio - MC77 compressor
A slightly more aggressive, lower noise version of the classic 1176.
Kenetek - LA-2x limiter
A super tweaked, top-notch, LA-2a clone.
Daking - 91579 compressor
Daking’s take on Neve compression.
Chandler - Zener Limiter
Chandler’s take on the EMI limiters, but with more control. Capable of adding tons of smack to drums.
Aphex - Dominator
Classic Aphex limiting. Good for making stuff loud.
Aphex - Compellor
Classic Aphex compression.
Aphex - Expressor
I like these for restoring sparkle to a compressed signal.
LaChappel - 583v mic pre / eq
Very detailed sounding tube mic pre’s. Can be clean or super dirty. I like them a lot for room mics and vocals.
Krohn-Hite - HP/LP Filter
Gnarly old tube test equipment converted to audio equipment by Nick Z of New Alliance East mastering.
Universal Audio - 6176 channel strip
A vintage-styled mic pre/eq/compressor. Often used on sub-kick, bass di, room mic, and vocals.
Requisite - PAL mic pre / compressor
These things look and sound almost as expensive as they were. Super-classy on vocals and overheads.
John Hardy - MPC-3000 mic pre-amp
Unique, capacitor-free mic preamps. Often used on bass guitar.
Daking - Mic Pre / EQ
Daking’s take on the Trident A-range mic pre/eq. Edgier than the more freqently cloned Neve and API pre’s.
Chandler - Germanium mic pre-amp
A thick, vibey mic preamp often used on bottom snare and bass guitar.
Chandler - TG channel mic pre / eq
Chandler’s take on the Abbey Road EMI console mic pre/eq.
Chandler - LTD-1 mic pre / eq
Chandler’s take on the Neve 1073 circuit. Often used on kick, bass, and guitar amps.
CAPI - VP-26 mic pre-amp
Punchy API 312 derived mic-pre’s.
Altec - 1567a 5×1 mic mixer
Like the Soundtoys Radiator plug-in but real!
Little Labs - IBP
All pass filters that help align things less than 180 degress out of phase.
Thermionic Culture - Early Bird mic pre / eq
An ultra-classy stereo tube thingy.
Manley - Massive Passive Stereo Tube EQ
My favorite EQ. Steep learning curve, but super powerful and super musical.
Boss - Dr. Sample
Boss sampler, most often used for it’s crappy camcorder-sounding built-in mic.
Electrix - Filter Factory
Some fantastic synth-like resonance tools from an unfortunately ill-fated company.
Thermionic Culture - The Phoenix
Classy compressor for class-less people. Vari-Mu Tube Compressor.
Empirical Labs - Distressor
The most ubiquitous compressor of modern times – very hard to make sound bad. Two Available.
Elysia - Xpressor
A wonderfully versitile tone-shaper.
Dramastic Audio - Obsidian
A modified SSL style 2-buss compressor, fantastic for adding glue, tucking in the transients, and making stuff loud.
Emperical Labs - Lil’ Freq
Super-precise analog EQ’s, excellent for precision work with cymbals and guitars.
Tech 21 - Sans Amp
The ubiquitous DI bass tone.
Tonelux - MP1a
Modern, fast, transparent mic preamp. Used when I’m not sure what to use or I ran out of other stuff.
OSA - Mutant
A big, dark variant of the API 312 circuit.
Pre-Amps
No Toasters - Nice Pair Stereo Pre-amp
Local tech, Bo Dixon made these. They pair really well with my AEA R88 mic.
Drawmer - 1969 Tube Stereo mic pre / compressor
FET-based buss compressor and work-horse mic pre-amp. It’s really hard to make this thing sound bad.
LaChappel - 583v mic pre / eq
Very detailed sounding tube mic pre’s. Can be clean or super dirty. I like them a lot for room mics and vocals.
Universal Audio - 6176 channel strip
A vintage-styled mic pre/eq/compressor. Often used on sub-kick, bass di, room mic, and vocals.
Requisite - PAL mic pre / compressor
These things look and sound almost as expensive as they were. Super-classy on vocals and overheads.
John Hardy - MPC-3000 mic pre-amp
Unique, capacitor-free mic preamps. Often used on bass guitar.
Daking - Mic Pre / EQ
Daking’s take on the Trident A-range mic pre/eq. Edgier than the more freqently cloned Neve and API pre’s.
Chandler - Germanium mic pre-amp
A thick, vibey mic preamp often used on bottom snare and bass guitar.
Chandler - TG channel mic pre / eq
Chandler’s take on the Abbey Road EMI console mic pre/eq.
Chandler - LTD-1 mic pre / eq
Chandler’s take on the Neve 1073 circuit. Often used on kick, bass, and guitar amps.
CAPI - VP-26 mic pre-amp
Punchy API 312 derived mic-pre’s.
Altec - 1567a 5×1 mic mixer
Like the Soundtoys Radiator plug-in but real!
Thermionic Culture - Early Bird mic pre / eq
An ultra-classy stereo tube thingy.
Tonelux - MP1a
Modern, fast, transparent mic preamp. Used when I’m not sure what to use or I ran out of other stuff.
OSA - Mutant
A big, dark variant of the API 312 circuit.
Speaker Cabinets
Marshall - 8×10
Sizzley and throaty. Doesn’t see much use, but looks fucking cool. Bring it out for photo-shoots. '73
Marshall - 8×10 converted to 4×12
Sounds pretty much like a regular Marshall 4x12, but looks cooler. 1973 with four 12s and no 10s.
Marshall - 4×12
This is pretty much what you want a Marshall 4x12 to sound like. 70's Checkerboard 1982 with Rola Celestion Vintage 30's.
Marshall - 4×10
Crunchy and throaty and fucking cool looking. 60's Marshall 4x10 Basketweave column with 10 watt Celestion's . (2 Available)
Gibson - Titan III
It’s a trapazoid and it sounds kind of square. 1x15 / 2x10 Cabinet.
Emperor - 6×12
Sounds huge and has a frowny faced EQ. 1/3 Open Back with 2 WGS alnicos, 2 Eminence Texas Heats, and 2 Celestion Sidewinders.
Emperor - 6×12
Sounds huge and has a smiley faced EQ. 1/3 Open Back with 2 Eminence Red Fangs, 2 Eminence Swamp Thangs, and 2 Celestial Sidewinders.
Emperor - Half Open 2×12
It’s a 2x12 that sounds as big as a 4x12. 1 Weber Hemp Alnico Blue Dog and 1 Weber 65w British.
Emperor - Open Back 1×12
I use this when I want a Fender combo-type of tone from a guitar head. w/ Weber Speaker.
Ampeg - SVT 8×10
THE bass cabinet for rock music.
Tape Machines
Ampex - ATR-102
The much-loved, magic glue machine. 2 Track w/ 1/2" & 1/4" heads.
The Big Stuff
Yamaha - NS-10
The ubiquitous “bad speaker test” speaker.
Burl - Mothership Convertors
Super amazing-sounding AD/DA converters that make me not miss working on tape.
Adam - S3A
My all-time favorite monitor rig. I don’t even use other speakers anymore.
Apple - Mac Pro
2x 3.46Ghz 6 core, 32 GB Ram. Protools HDX PCIe, UAD QUad PCIe, Burl Mothership converters. 24 Channel in, 32 out, up to 192khz sample rates.
Urei - 809
“Old guy” speakers that never get used unless it needs to be LOUD.
Ampex - ATR-102
The much-loved, magic glue machine. 2 Track w/ 1/2" & 1/4" heads.
Thermionic Culture - Mixing Console
Modern tube mixer with a rich and wide sound.
Tonelux - Mixing Console
Super high-fi, punchy modern analog console from the designer of the later-era API gear.