My eternal thanks to sonic techs Eric and Matt, who demonstrated remarkable patience and provided me with more information than my mind could handle (literally!). I tried to write down as much info as I could to supplement the photographs but I have to admit I was fighting pretty hard with my camera and a lot of the hardware-specific details they threw at me probably did not make it to paper. Perhaps a separate photo session/conversation would've yielded better results, but fortunately the photos turned out well. Those two deserve a huge amount of credit for their enthusiasm and knowledge, not to mention the hard work they do on the side of the stage each night! I should also thank crew dudes Aaron and Jeremy for accomodating me while they were doing real work, and of course the band for letting me get this stuff out for y'all to see.
So, in short: here's a shitload of pix and as much corresponding information as I managed to scrawl down. For now, I'll just stick them all together here, and add them into each guitar's page 'soon'... As always, the pictures are comically oversized and I'd recommend opening them in a new window if you want to resize them. Otherwise, enjoy the detail!
JAZZMASTER (RED) -- Okay, not so pink! Eric built this one for her, it has a Japanese reissue body, P-90 pickups, an Allparts neck, and a Mastery bridge (more on those later). It appears as 'New Jag' on set lists, though that's kind of misleading... She uses this one for DDAF#AD ("Calming the Snake" "No Way" "Walkin Blue" "Poison Arrow" "Anti-Orgasm"). PIX: body - neck - body - back of headstock
JAGUAR (RED) -- Kim is using this mostly for 'What We Know' (in CGDACD). Possibly for 'Thunderclap' as well, though that seems to be out of the sets. I'm guessing this still gets retuned to standard if they decide to do 'Shaking Hell', but not sure. PIX: back of headstock - back - front - body - body - body
IBANEZ TALMAN -- Been a few years since this was on the road, now it's being used in a weird tuning for 'Malibu Gas Station'. I wrote down 'CGDADG' but Eric's notes say 'CDGADG' - the gauges look like they'd make more sense for CGD, but apparently the high G is actually tuned higher than high E, so who knows! Of course, this is the one headstock I didn't get the back of... The Bigsby has been removed, otherwise it's basically the same as it was before. PIX: body - neck - body
GIBSON BASS (no page yet) -- Kim's newest bass was actually given to her by Mike Watt! Dig his name scratched into the back of the headstock. PIX: bass - body - neck - back of headstock - back of body
GIBSON THUNDERBIRD BASS -- Surely this needs no introduction... PIX: body - close-up of writing - close-up of writing - headstock - back of headstock
JAZZMASTER (GREEN) -- This was built by Eric (see the page for specs), and served as the inspiration for Thurston's signature Fender. While originally in GDD# for the 'Daydream' tour, this is now in DDAF#AD and is played on almost all of 'The Eternal' songs ('Sacred Trickster' 'Anti-Orgasm' 'Leaky Lifeboat' 'Antenna' 'Calming the Snake' 'Poison Arrow' 'No Way' and 'Walkin Blue'). Check out the cheat sheet lyric notes for 'Antenna' written all over the body! PIX: body - body - neck - body - back of headstock - back - side
JAZZMASTER (SIGNATURE) -- The signature Fender model is along for the ride too, but seems to be scarcely used compared to the original green one above. It's designated as a back-up for that one, but was in the EGDGED tuning when I snapped it. The adjust-o-matic bridge has been replaced with a Mastery bridge, like the other green jazz (and almost every other Jazzmaster in the band's arsenal). PIX: body -
body - back of headstock - back of gtr
G&L TELECASTER -- Possibly built by Thurston's brother? This is the 'GABDEG' Tele (Hey Joni, Teenage Riot). PIX: body - body - close up - headstock - back of headstock - back of gtr
I once again failed to get a picture of his acoustic, which is the same one Lee was using on 'Or' in 2006. It's a (recent) Martin 000-18, and is in DDAF#AD as well. He plays it on 'Massage the History'.
Those appear to be the only guitars of Thurston's I photographed, but he also had these in his rack:
In case they feel left out, here's two group pictures: bodies and necks.
JAZZBLASTER (RED) -- This may be a '68. He uses this one for 'Joni' now in EBEEAB, to replace the Telecaster. PIX: body - neck - body - back of headstock
TRAVIS BEAN ARTIST (KOA WOOD) -- Okay, I'm pretty damn excited to finally see this thing up close. Why, you ask? Click the link and see the only existing pictures I had of this guitar...then look at these: body - body - neck - side - back - resting with its replacement (by the way, it's in F#GA)
FENDER MUSTANG (SUNBURST) -- The original 'Cross the Breeze' beauty. Still in EEEEF#F#. Note the Mastery bridge! PIX: back of headstock - body - neck - attempted close-up of infinity
FERNANDES STRAT (PINK) -- Still in AEA, 20 years later. PIX: body - back of headstock
JAZZBLASTER (CORAL) -- Still in CGDCGD ("What We Know", "Malibu Gas Station", "Anti-Orgasm", "Thunderclap") but also has tons of peculiar tunings written all over it! Can anybody decipher what these might be for? A#A#A#FA#A#?? CGCDF#B (FMC tuning)?! BbBbF#BbF#C# - "PIPES"?!? DAFAAD "BOAC"?!? Okay, I'm guessing 'BOAC' might stand for 'Bang On A Can', so my assumption is that these are alternate tunings he uses for various non-Sonic noise gigs. I'm quite curious if anybody can identify what 'FMC' or 'PIPES' might be, though! PIX: back - body - close-up - close-up - close-up
JAZZBLASTER (MAGENTA) -- This is a back-up for the CGDCGD tuning, and even has all the same "BOAC" and "PIPES" tunings on it as the Coral jazz, which only furthers my curiousity... PIX: body - close-up - back of headstock
JAZZBLASTER (WHITE) -- Here's the cream Jazzblaster these days, once the primary DDA gtr, now just a back-up for the sapphire... PIX: body
FENDER XII -- The Fender 12-string is the primary EG#EG#EG# guitar for 'Expressway' and 'PCH' these days, the Deimel is nowhere to be seen... PIX: body - back - back of headstock
KOLL JAZZBLASTER (CHERRY) -- No longer in GGDGGA, this is now in GDD# for 'Stereo Sanctity'. In years past Lee has generally used the same guitar for GDG, GDF, and GDD#, but I guess the gauges are different enough that he uses two guitars now (plus the pick-up behind the bridge is key for that 'Stereo' sound...). PIX: body - back of headstock
JAZZBLASTER (GREEN) -- Still the primary GDG guitar, compare the gauges to the Koll, pretty big difference on top... PIX: back of headstock
TRAVIS BEAN (YELLOW) -- Still Lee's main F#F#F#F#EB/AF#EF#EB guitar. PIX: side of guitar
EPIPHONE DOT -- Still Lee's F#AE (Shadow of a Doubt) guitar. PIX: back of headstock
These are all the guitars that were in Lee's rack, aside from the "Tele 3" which he uses on 'World Looks Red' and 'Shaking Hell'. Now, several days earlier in Spokane I had taken a few quick snaps of his rack, and at that time it contained the 3 other Teles: "Tele 1", the Bigsby Tele (aka 'Sparky', for the South Park sticker), and the F-hole Tele. In addition, the Les Paul and sunburst Koll were also waiting around. I asked about these in Portland and Matt literally opened the box -- a roadcase full of extra guitars 'just in case'. Not only were all 5 of these guitars hiding in there, they had some very interesting companions...:
JAZZBLASTER (WOOD) -- Hey, it's that wood blaster I saw him use on 'Teenage Riot' once! Apparently it was being used for GGCGCD at some point, but 'Bull in the Heather' has seemingly been shelved for the time being, so in the box it stays... PIX: body - close up - headstock - back of headstock - tuning underneath
LES PAUL (MAROON) -- I haven't seen this thing since it was Thurston's main 'nyc ghosts' guitar, and I did not expect to see it come out of Lee's case! It also appears to have been used for GGCGCD at some point. PIX: body - headstock - back of body - back of headstock - tuning underneath
FENDER MUSTANG (RED) -- It's baaaack. It spends most of its time locked in a roadcase, but it's back! Lee did consider using this (the original 'Eric/Joni' gtr) again for the obvious tunes but I guess it didn't quite cut it (even with a Tele Deluxe humbucker in the middle!). PIX: body - headstock - close up - body
So let's see... they've gotten 4 guitars back. Well, Lee has. The Koa Wood Travis Bean still seems to be worthy of being the primary F#GA guitar, and that F-hole Telecaster was one of the main 'Rather Ripped' guitars last tour, even if it spends most of its time in a roadcase now. The Mustang isn't quite up for the competition, but what happened to the other Travis Bean? The infamous 'target' guitar relied on by Lee for the F# tuning throughout most of the 90s, recovered with the Tele in 2005 but in considerably worse condition (here's a side-by-side reminder, if you need one)? Surely this is leading somewhere?
TRAVIS BEAN ARTIST -- Take a look at her now! PIX: body - body - headstock // I think this was in F#F#F#F#EB, but it probably won't be used. (Had my camera behaved, I would've taken a lot more pictures of this one!)
As for the other five I mentioned above, the sunburst Koll is still ready for 'Incinerate' in D#D#A#D#GG, same tuning as the Les Paul Custom (for 'Pink Steam'). 'Tele 1' was being used for 'Joni' as late as Spokane, replaced by the red Jazzblaster the next night in Seattle. The 'Sparky' Tele has seen many different tunings and at the moment it's in EEBBEF# (I suppose to match with Thurston's custom Jazzmaster in EGDGED?). The F-hole Tele is still on hand for 'Jams Run Free' in D#A#D#BC#F#.
You'll note that almost all of their Fender style guitars have Mastery bridges on them now. These bridges are designed to solve all of the inherent design flaws of the common Jazzmaster/Jaguar bridge, and Lee & Thurston even offer their combined satisfaction in a blurb at the official site -- "After years of modifying Mustang® & Tune-o-Matic bridges to fit our JazzBlasters, the Mastery bridge is the exciting and cool solution we've been looking for. It slips in easily for replacement, sounds great, and the strings can't slip off. Rock on!"
Thurston runs the radio into the 'Normal' channel of the Deluxe Reverb, and the contact mic thru a Walco Signal Booster into the 'Vibrato' channel. The footswitch is presumably a Vibrato/Reverb?
PIX: Fender Deluxe w/ radio+mic / aerial view of Thurston's noise corner / more Fender Deluxe w/ radio+mic / more Fender Deluxe w/ radio+mic / Roadmaster w/ cab / Roadmaster head close-up (w/ tuner) / Roadmaster head close-up / close-up of skull slide / close-up of boring slide / 'Calming the Snake' file
Lee had an amp mishap in Spokane and as of Portland, his Super Reverb head was actually wired to the Vibro-King's speaker (teasingly decorated with a fan's request for 'Theresa's Sound World') and the Vibro-King was going through the 4x10 cab. His guitar goes into the Vibro-King's head and out of the 4x10 cab, and his walkman goes into the Super Reverb head. In addition to the walkman, Lee also has two drumsticks, a screwdriver, and some bells at his disposal.
PIX: Super Reverb head w/ tuner/power source / Super Reverb head / Fender 4x10" cab w/ infamous Jasper Johns 'Target with Four Faces' painting / Lee's bells / Vibro-King w/ infinity box, drumsticks, screwdriver, and walkman / another angle / and another / Vibro-King
She uses a Loop Master A/B box.
PIX: Bassman head w/ drumstick, slide, and files used for 'Calming the Snake' and 'Anti-Orgasm' / Fender Tweed cab / Ampeg stack w/ new bass
PIX: Ampeg stack / Ampeg head / Ampeg head
In addition, Lee also has the 'Antenna Box', a custom delay built for him by Matt Zivich. It sits on a platform connected to his mic stand, and he uses it for the intro of 'Antenna'.
PIX: Digitech Delay, Klon Centaur, Tube Factor, Ibanez AD-80, Honey Bee / Blue Box, Microsynth, Exp pedal, Ring Mod / Digitech Delay, Klon Centaur / Tube Factor (note the slide!), Ibanez AD-80, Honey Bee / Blue Box, Microsynth / Expression pedal, Ring Mod / Microsynth / Ring Modulator / Digitech notes / AD-80 notes / The ANTENNA BOX!
That last one would make pretty cool wallpaper...
PIX: Super Phaser, Memory Man, Hot Tubes, DI, Tuner / Hot Tubes, DI, Tuner / Super Phaser, Memory Man / Ibanez AD9, Octave Fuzz, Brownies & Cream / Wah-Vol, AD9
PIX: Phase 90, Harem Fuzz / Hot Cake, Octave Fuzz / Wah-Vol, Big Muff / Phase 90, Harem Fuzz
PIX: kit from the front / / kit from behind / kit from the back / kit from the side / Thumper device attached to stool / ZT Lunchbox amp (for the Thumper) / Lunchbox / Zildjian 12" Jing Gong, Earth Plate low, Earth Plate high / Zildjian plates & gong / Jing Gong / some extras / toms and ride / snare, hats, crash, tom / Shinya Yamamoto painting
So, that's about it. If you haven't visited the site in a while, you may have missed that I also updated last month, so be sure to check that out below. Please send any comments/corrections to Chris Lawrence. Thanks for visiting!
--
Okay, on to the updates... Well, there's a few major items that you're likely all aware of now.
FENDER ANNOUNCES SONIC YOUTH SIGNATURE JAZZMASTERS -- Lee and Thurston both have signature Jazzmasters available now. Check out their page on Fender.com, and view their entries on this site as well. The guitars come with a very cool zine that I'm hoping to incorporate into this site eventually, it has a plethora of cool sonic tech notes on tunings and guitars as well as revealing interviews with all of the band's techs that discuss the modifications SY make to their guitars and their usage over the years. COOL!
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ONE MORE STOLEN GUITAR RETURNED! -- Lee's red '69 Competition Mustang is back in his possession after a fortunately honest collector who'd purchased the guitar on eBay realized what he'd found. See the guitar's page for more information and pictures galore!
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So, after the last update in 2007 I did actually take some pictures of SY's gear at a July 2007 show in California. They're mostly snaps of amps and pedals that don't reveal many changes from 2006, but they're each available on the member's pages by clicking their names at the top. Not sure why it took me 2 years to post them, but I'm hoping to be able to provide yet another 'full visual report' on the band's gear if things work out when they head west. Stay tuned...
--
Here's the thrilling continuation of a running joke/handy feature:
OKAY, if you're interested in what guitars SY have been using during 2006, I've prepared a graph detailing their gear on a song-by-song basis. It's available here. Enjoy!
OKAY, if you're interested in what guitars SY have been using during 2007, I've prepared a graph detailing their gear on a song-by-song basis. It's available here. Enjoy!
OKAY, if you're interested in what guitars SY have been using during 2008, I've prepared a graph detailing their gear on a song-by-song basis. It's available here. Enjoy!
--
During research for this update, I've discovered that at least FOUR guitars are listed twice in this guide, and have merged them all with the appropriate information explaining the changes. One was even listed 3 separate times! I blame grainy VHS... Here's a list of all the guitars with major updates, but look around because many guitars had some kind of update to the notes or tuning usage...
Drifter -- added info on 1986 usage + new pix
NEW GUITARS:
Fender Jazzmaster (wood)
BASS UPDATES:
Ovation Magnum -- new pic
So, this update was definitely focused more on guitars, but I've been checking out a lot of old video of the band to try to figure out their amp/drum/fx usage in the big holes in the 80s where I have no information. I really don't find amplifiers as 'sexy' as other gear, so I often can't identify them...if you're ever looking at vintage SY footage, and you notice a specific amp (or drumkit), please let me know! I'd hoped to have more of this stuff included in this update, but it'll have to wait. I did get some blurry caps of Lee's surprisingly many effects from an '87 show, but I can't really identify any of them. I'll post those in the next update...
A couple of additional requests for readers:
As always, comments/corrections welcome:
I took over 200 photographs of SY's gear before soundcheck at the Fillmore in San Francisco on July 14, 2006, and have incorporated the majority of them into the site. Be warned -- they're huge, but detail freaks will be delighted. All the pictures open in the frame, so I suggest right clicking and opening in a new window if you want them to resize to fit your screen. Apologies for the occasional blurriness...
I'm really thrilled to be able to provide these pix, and I'd greatly appreciate if they weren't reproduced elsewhere. I've added some comments where necessary... if you have any comments, send me an e-mail! Enjoy!
FENDER JAZZMASTER (SUNBURST) -- Thurston is still using this for F#F#F#F#EB.
New pics: ONE TWO THREE
FENDER JAZZMASTER (SUNBURST) -- This a '64 sunburst Fender Jazzmaster. Thurston's been using it for a while but I'd previously thought it was the same as the above guitar, which is just a Japanese standard Jazzmaster. It turns out that this guitar, which was used exclusively on "I Love You Golden Blue" for the past couple years, was actually tuned F#F#F#F#EB w/ the bottom 3 F#s in unison, and the 4th F# an octave above (rather than 2 pairs like the 'Kool Thing' etc tuning)). This guitar is NOW being used as the main guitar for about half the new set: Incinerate, Rapture?, Sleepin Around, Jams Run Free, Pink Steam, and Or. It is tuned to a new tuning: D D# A# D# G G // New pics: ONE TWO THREE FOUR
FENDER JAZZMASTER (BLUE) -- Thurston is still using this for GGDDD#D#. This guitar is probably Thurston's most abused -- the headstock has been glued back together among other visible surgery. New pics: ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE SIX SEVEN EIGHT
FENDER JAZZMASTER (GOLD) -- Thurston is still using this for EG#EG#EG#. New pics: ONE TWO THREE
FENDER JAZZMASTER (SEAFOAM) -- Thurston is still using this for F#F#GGAA. New pics: ONE TWO THREE
NEW DRIFTER -- Thurston is still using this for, well, the only thing it does. New pics: ONE TWO THREE FOUR
FENDER TELECASTER DELUXE (FRUIT) -- Lee is now using this guitar for the classic 'Confusion' tuning EADECD (for Shaking Hell and World Looks Red). New pics: ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE
FENDER TELECASTER DELUXE (SUNBURST) -- Lee is now using this guitar for EBEEAB. New pics: ONE TWO THREE
FENDER JAZZMASTER (CORAL) -- Lee is still using this for CGDCGD. It's featured a lot on the new record: Reena, Waste, Lights Out, The Neutral. New pics: ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE SIX SEVEN EIGHT NINE TEN
FENDER JAZZMASTER (CREAM) -- Lee is using this for DDDDAA now. New pics: ONE TWO THREE
FENDER JAZZMASTER (GREEN) -- Lee is still using this for GGDDxx (D#/F/G on top depending on the song). New pics: ONE TWO
FENDER JAZZMASTER (MAGENTA) -- Jim was using this when he first joined the band -- back then it had a Strat neck on it. Now it's been converted to a Jazzblaster and is used for F#F#GGAA. New pics: ONE TWO THREE
GIBSON LES PAUL -- This was previously Thurston's main guitar on the NYC Ghosts & Flowers tour. Lee appears to have taken it over for the new 'Rather Ripped' material tuning, which began as D D# A# D# G G but ended up, for Lee, as D#D#A#D#GG. He uses this on a lot of the new set: Incinerate, Rapture?, Sleepin, & Pink Steam. For 'Sleepin Around' he retunes to D D# A# D# G C // New pics: ONE TWO THREE FOUR
CUSTOM F-HOLE JAZZBLASTER (RED) -- Lee is still using this guitar for GGDGGA. I'm not sure if he retunes to GGDAGA for Sunday -- he may have comprised like Thurston. This is used for 'Turquoise Boy'. New pics: ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE
CUSTOM F-HOLE JAZZBLASTER (SUNBURST) -- This was a replacement for the Red F-hole Jazzblaster in GGDGGA on the Nurse tour, but Lee is now using it for "Incinerate" (as of San Francisco). He prefers it to the Les Paul for that song because it has a whammy bar. Same tuning: D#D#A#D#GG // New pics: ONE TWO THREE FOUR
DEMEL 12-STRING -- This is the guitar from the Corporate Ghost DVD X-Ray cover. It has some active onboard electronics/effects. Lee uses it for EG#EG#EG#. New pics: ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE SIX
FENDER XII -- Lee is still using this for EG#EG#EG#, but the Demel seems to have taken its place. New pics: ONE TWO THREE
FENDER SUBSONIC -- Lee is still using this for EEBEBB. New pics: ONE TWO THREE
FENDER SUBSONIC -- Another SubSonic, Lee might be using this for EEBEBB, or possibly F#F#GGAA. New pics: ONE TWO
TRAVIS BEAN (YELLOW) -- Lee is still using this for F#F#F#F#EB. New pics: ONE TWO THREE
FERNANDES STRAT -- Lee is still using this for AAEEAA. New pics: ONE TWO THREE FOUR
EPIPHONE CASINO -- Lee's previous Casino broke, so this is a replacement. It was in the process of being strung when I photographed it. This guitar is also in F#F#AAEE, for Shadow of a Doubt. New pics: ONE TWO
MARTIN ACOUSTIC -- I don't have a pic of this yet, but Lee uses a Martin acoustic tuned to D#D#A#D#GG for "Or".
ETERNA -- Kim is still using this for DADABB. She uses it on 'Rats' w/ a capo on the 1st fret, and makes a beautiful racket w/ a slide. New pics: ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE
FENDER JAGUAR (RED) -- Kim was using this for Mariah/etc on the last tour, she now uses it in standard tuning (!) on "Shaking Hell". New pics: ONE TWO THREE FOUR
GIBSON LES PAUL JUNIOR -- Kim is still using this for GGDDD#D#. New pics: ONE TWO THREE
FENDER TELECASTER DELUXE -- This is Lee's guitar but Mark plays it on "Rats" while Thurston plays bass, in the same tuning as Lee (D#A#D#BC#F#). New pics: ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE
...and that's it. Here are some miscellaneous shots, the guitar necks might make for good wallpaper. Send me your comments! // Chris 08/13/06
LEE'S GTRS 1
Two more guitars have been recovered, see here or more specifically here for more details.
I've also added a trivial new feature, which I'd hoped would have more content upon launch. It's fairly self-explanatory: check it out...
Oh, and:
OKAY, if you're interested in what guitars SY have been using during 2005, I've prepared a graph detailing their gear on a song-by-song basis. It's available here. Enjoy!
UPDATE 7/15/04
OKAY, if you're interested in what guitars SY have been using during 2004, I've prepared a graph detailing their gear on a song-by-song basis. It's available here. Enjoy!
UPDATE 7/6/03
OKAY, if you're interested in what guitars SY have been using during 2003, I've prepared a graph detailing their gear on a song-by-song basis. It's available here. Enjoy!
UPDATE 2/11/03
Thought it was about time I revisited this site. Minor updates to the following:
hagstrom
Thanks to the following: nick, ben etkin, malcom, thomas cooper, oskar ekstrom, patrick sanders, lzdmn, matthew j reardon, patrick suddath, ricky sutton, henrik jakobsen, roberto mallo garcia, neale scott, jolan lisle-oakley, bastian stein, david rodriguez, ryan sprawlnc86, jean-nicolas raymond, george, skot, jdegreg102, dan jenkins, john lewiston, steve lynch, & leuan george.
UPDATE 9/5/02
This is the one you've been waiting for, folks. The North American Murray Street tour has ended, but not before I had the chance to photograph each and every guitar, effects pedal, amplifier, and organ in SY's touring arsenal prior to soundcheck on August 30th in Portland, Oregon. My eternal thanks to Sonic techs Nic Close and Eric Baecht, who were beyond accomodating and extremely helpful -- my only regret is that I didn't bring more film to capture all of the tiny things nobody ever sees like stageside tech notes, things scrawled on the undersides or headstocks of guitars, all of the broken effects pedals in suitcases offstage, etc etc -- but hopefully what I was able to photograph will satisfy the demands of those who visit this site.
Starting with guitars, the following pages have been updated:
LEE -- Custom F-Hole Blaster, Tele Deluxe 1, Tele Deluxe 3, Subsonic, Coral Jazzblaster, Green Jazzblaster, White Jazzblaster, Fernandes Strat, Wood Jag, Travis Bean, Univox, Epiphone.
THURSTON -- Gold Jazzmaster, Sunburst Jazzmaster, Red Jazzmaster, New Drifter. (I didn't photograph his blue, black, or seafoam Jazzmasters since I already had fairly good pictures of them and not much film...)
KIM -- Les Paul Junior, Eterna, Ibanez, P-bass, Gibson Bass.
JIM -- Gibson Bass, Bigsby Tele, Firebird, Stingray.
Now for the real fun... EFFECTS PEDALS! You can see full descriptions of their rigs by clicking each member's name at the top of the page and scrolling down to 2002 effects, but since some people apparently have a hard time finding that section (?!) I'll identify the new photographs here:
LEE -- Big Muff & Sparkle Drive, Digitech Delay, Tube Factor, Ibanez Delay, MXR Blue Box, Voodoo Lab Pedal Power, Line 6 Delay, Moogerfooger expression pedal & Ring Modulator
THURSTON -- Mutron Wah/Vol, E-H Big Muff, Turbo Rat, Octave Fuzz, MXR Phase 90 + Blue Box
KIM -- Wide shot of Delay, Moogerfooger, Micro Synth, Octave Fuzz, Wide shot of Turbo Rat, Hot Tubes, DI, Volume Pedal, Tuner, Boss Delay, AC, Moogerfooger Phaser w/ Expression Pedal, Micro Synthesizer & Hendrix Octave Fuzz, Turbo Rat & Hot Tubes, DI box, Ernie Ball volume pedal, and Boss tuner
JIM -- Moogerfooger Delay, Mutron Wah/Vol, Moogerfooger expression pedal, Boss Octave, ProCo Rat, Boss Equalizer, Maxon Overdrive, E-H Big Muff, E-H Small Stone, A/B box for bass/guitar amps, footswitches for amp A/B, Distortion, Reverb, Tremolo
...and if you're one of those people who finds something interesting about amps, well:
THURSTON -- Peavey Roadmaster heads w/ Marshall cab + rack illuminator
KIM -- Ampeg head & cab, Peavey Rockmaster head w/ Fender cabs
JIM -- Mesa/Boogie Mark III w/ cab, Acoustic head w/ 2 cabs & ETA Rack Illuminator
Alright, let's see, what else... wanna see Lee's organ? How about Lee and Jim's entire rack of guitars? (for those keeping score, Lee's sunburst tele was easily the heaviest of them all, if I recall...) How 'bout, uh... 4 guitars sitting around at the Amoeba Records in-store? Or.. um.. Nic Close trying to find a spare .036 string for Lee's F-Hole Blaster? ...Alright, I'm out. If anybody has a good picture of Lee's Univox from the first leg of the tour, I'd love to see it, otherwise that pretty much covers things for the Murray Street tour, folks!! Until next time...
UPDATE 6/28/02
uuuuuh just a few things. thurston has a new sun jazz i forgot to add...
green blaster
UPDATE 6/21/02
Ladies and gentlemen, I bring you...THE NEW DRIFTER!
UPDATE 6/14/02
Hi folks. Sorry about the lack of updates, I do still have a backlog of reader submitted info to add, but for now I offer some special info courtesy of a helpful sonic document from a former tech, primarily gauge info but a few new confirmed tunings + usages (see also tab site updates). Keep submitting info please, I'll add it soon... For now:
gold jazz
Hi everybody! You may have noticed that the Gear Guide has changed locations -- from now on it shall live right here at sonicyouth.com. Big thanks to everybody involved in making this move possible, and thanks to everybody who continues to support the site. It will now be located at: http://www.sonicyouth.com/mustang/eq/gear.html -- please update any links/bookmarks/etc.
Aside from the move, I've added a picture of Thurston's gold Jazzmaster here. More updates to come!
previous update 3/27/02:
pretty big update, folks... i've added notes for all guitars used @ all tomorrow's parties and updated a handful of other guitars thanks to info i received from folks who've checked out the site -- thank you all! please send me any info you think might help...
however, the most significant addition is a series of photographs i took at lee's performance in seattle on march 20th at a tiny theatre (he played w/ the climax golden twins, providing a soundscape underneath leah singer's films). the theatre was very tiny and i had the opportunity to take a slew of pictures of his gear before the show, which are all available on Lee's page. 2 in the amp section, and 16 in the effects section (under 2002). enjoy!
here's a list of guitars updated:
old jag (mystery solved??)
...reloads the full list of guitars/basses in left frame. note that some guitars are only viewable thru here -- they're not tied to a specific owner so this is where they show up. also, another note to anyone who's still reading, some guitars are shared between band members and while lee may have used it live and thurston may have used it in a video, i only count it as lee's guitar. if both have used it live, it shows up on both of their lists.
UPDATED 08/04/09
GUITARS
KIM
JAZZMASTER (MASCIS) -- This is a J Mascis signature Jazzmaster that Kim uses for DADABD ("Antenna" "Leaky Lifeboat" & "Massage the History"). Eric replaced the stock white pickguard covers, knob, and switch with black parts. PIX: body - neck - back of headstock - body THURSTON
JAZZMASTER (WOOD) -- This is a '65 Jazzmaster they bought off of eBay from someone in Wyoming. Used in CCEBGD for 'The Sprawl' and 'Cross the Breeze'. PIX: body - close-up - body - back of headstock - bodyLEE
JAZZBLASTER (SIGNATURE) -- This is actually the 2nd prototype designed for Lee's signature model. The first one didn't seem to be on the road with him. For the 2nd prototype they switched to a matched headstock, and changed the pickups to be closer to Lee's specs (the first one had standard Tele Deluxe humbuckers). Like Thurston's green jazz, Lee uses this guitar on the bulk of 'The Eternal' set, in the classic 'DDA' tuning originally featured on Sister classics like 'Schizophrenia' and 'Catholic Block'. PIX: gtr - body - headstock - back of headstockMARK
Mark's still using his '71 P-bass, though Kim's blue P-bass is around as well.AMPS
THURSTON
LEE
KIM
MARK
EFFECTS
LEE
Surprisingly, Lee's effects haven't actually changed since 2007!KIM
Kim's abandoned her TC Electronic phaser as well as her Tube Screamer. She's replaced them with a Boss PH-2 and a Sitori Sonics 'Brownies and Cream'. She's also added a Deluxe Memory Man. THURSTON
Are you sitting down? As I approached Thurston's area of the stage, I noticed his pedalboard was considerably less...blue. Upon closer inspection, it appeared the MXR Blue Box, a staple in Thurston's (non-changing) set-up for over a decade now, was nowhere to be found! Could it be? Has Thurston finally deviated from the same six effects pedals he's been using since the mid-90s? Well...yes! Check it out!MARK
Mark's pedals haven't changed, but here they are again!STEVE
UPDATED 07/04/09
Fender Tele Deluxe -- added picture of Kurt Cobain using guitar
Blue Jazzmaster copy -- merged with 'Fender Jazzmaster (blue)' + added more pix
Knox -- identified gtr + added new pix
Gershon SG -- added new pix
Fender Jaguar (old wood) -- merged with 'Fender Jaguar (old)' + new/upgraded pix
Favilla acoustic -- changed tuning + added better pix
Kimberly -- upgraded + new pix
Fender Duo Sonic -- added new pix
Black Metal Strat -- added new pic
Univox Plexiglas -- added new pix
Quest -- upgraded pix + new pix
Kapa Continental -- identified gtr + added more pix
12-String Strat -- added new pic
Fender Mustang (sunburst) -- added new pictures/upgrades
Fender Jazzmaster (sunburst) -- merged w/ 'Fender Jazzmaster (green)' AND 'Fender Jazzmaster (sunburst)' + added many new pix
Fender Mustang (red) -- stolen guitar returned! many pix
Fender Jaguar (red) -- added new pic
Epiphone Genesis -- upgraded pix
Fender Mustang (black) -- added pix
Fender Jazzmaster (sunburst) -- upgraded pix
Fender Jazzmaster (white) -- added new pic
Gibson SG -- added pics
GABDEG Tele -- added pic
Reject Strat -- upgrades + new pix
Fender Jaguar (leopard) -- added new pic
Fender Jaguar (blonde) -- added new pic
Yamaha Pacifica -- added new pic
Fernandes Vertigo Pro -- merged with 'Fernandes Jazzmaster', added pic
Fender Jazzmaster (coral) -- added new pic
Harmony -- added new pic
Hollywood Hollowbody -- upgraded pic
Fender Mustang (white) -- upgraded pix
STP Strat -- upgraded pix
White Kent -- upgraded pix
Fender Strat (purple) -- upgraded pic
Painted Strat -- upgraded pic
Blue Metal Strat -- upgraded pic
Fender Musicmaster -- added new picture
Framus Jaguar -- upgraded pix
Superstar Plexiglas -- upgraded pic
Fender XII -- added pic
Fender Jazzmaster (black) -- added info + new pic
Gibson Les Paul (conan) -- added pictures
Gibson Sonex (New Drifter) -- changed name
Martin acoustic -- added pic
Fender Jazzmaster (green)
Fender Jazzmaster (wood)
Fender Jazzmaster (red)
Fender Jazzmaster (black)
Fender Jazzmaster (mascis)
Travis Bean
Fender Jazzmaster (pink)
Fender Jazzmaster (sapphire blue)
Fender Jazzmaster (LEE RANALDO SIGNATURE)
Fender Jazzmaster (THURSTON MOORE SIGNATURE)
Various acoustic guitars
Gibson Thunderbird -- new pic
Rickenbacker -- new pic
Gibson Ripper -- upgrade
Fender P-bass (cream) -- upgraded pic
Fender Musicmaster -- upgraded pix
Fender P-bass (yellow) -- new picture
Fender P-bass (mark) -- new pic
Fender P-bass (mark 2) -- new bass!
UPDATED 04/01/07
UPDATE 08/13/06
RATHER RIPPED GEAR REVEALED!GUITARS
THURSTON
FENDER JAZZMASTER (BLACK) -- Thurston is still using this for CGDGCD. It's used for about half of the new record: Reena, What a Waste, Turquoise Boy, Lights Out, and The Neutral. He's also using it for "Sunday" now instead of retuning to CGDGBB, since he doesn't actually use the high strings for that song. New pics: ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE SIX SEVENLEE
FENDER TELECASTER DELUXE (F-HOLE) -- This guitar is finally back in Lee's arsenal after being stolen in '99 and subsequently recovered in fall 2005. The Travis Bean that was found along with this one will likely not return to the stage, however. They fixed the F-hole Tele enough to make it playable, and Lee uses it in a new tuning (D#A#D#BC#F#) on "Rats" and "Jams Run Free". New pics: ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVEKIM
GIBSON EB-0 BASS -- This is still Kim's main bass. She's only playing bass on songs that she doesn't sing (or play guitar on) -- for Reena, Waste, Jams, and Neutral, Mark plays bass and Kim sings/dances. She picks the bass up for parts of Turquoise Boy, when she's not singing. For old material that Thurston sings, she and Mark both play bass. New pics: ONE TWOMARK
FENDER PRECISION BASS -- I'm not sure if this is Mark's or if he found it in SY's stash, but it's his primary bass for the 2006 tour. Thurston plays it on "Rats" and "Shaking Hell". New pics: ONEAMPS
THURSTON
Thurston is using the following amp setup:LEE
Lee is using the following amp setup:KIM
Kim is using the following amp setup:MARK
Mark is using the following amp setup:EFFECTS
THURSTON
Thurston is using the following effects:LEE
Lee is using the following effects:KIM
Kim is using the following effects:MARK
Mark is using the following effects:STEVE
Here are 11 pictures of Steve's kit from a variety of angles, including his assortment of percussion (gongs, mallets, tambourine, etc). Also, take note of the device on his drum stool - the "Thumper" -- which thumps his seat everytime he hits the kick drum.
LEE'S GTRS 2
LEE'S GTRS 3
LEE'S GTRS 4
THURSTON AND KIM'S GTRS
EMPTY FILLMORE
UPDATE 10/22/05
sugar kane gtr
superstar gtr
black jazz
new drifter
univox
epiphone casino
duo sonic
red jazz
epiphone genesis
black stang
g&l tele
SG
travis bean
dearmond
ibanez talman
silvertone
firebird
hollywood hollowbody
musicmaster/mustang
ovation magnum I
gibson EB-0
gibson EB-2
peace jr
subsonic
firebird
red jazz T
goo gtr silver
sun jazz
yellow trav
tele F#GA
white kent
kimberly
univox
new drift
sun jazz
white jazz
red jazz
GABDEG tele
blue jazz
drifter
red jag
duo
expwy tele
eterna
sun p-bass
tbird
snoopy
lp deluxe
target trav
tree tele
fhole tele
fruit tele
fern strat
clover jag
leopard jag
gtr castle
SG
old jag
trav 2
sunny tele
bur. mist
wood jag (...or not?)
blue jazzmaster
seafoam jazzmaster
black jazzmaster
maroon les paul
gold jazzmaster (new guitar)
tele deluxe
travis bean
travis bean (koa)
f-hole jazzblaster
cream jazzmaster (new picture!)
orange jazzmaster
green strat
green jazzblaster
eterna
ibanez
snoopy 2 les paul
les paul junior
firebird
tele deluxe
ibanez roadstar
fernandes jazz
fernandes vertigo
superstar acoustic
carson j robinson
hopf telster
red stang
favilla acoustic
kent 12
blue p-bass
ovation
keanu p-bass
