Mesa-Boogie Dual Rectifier
The centerpiece of my live rig is my beloved Mesa-Boogie Dual Rectifier. It’s one of the newer three channel models, which is great. It still has that classic Boogie tone, but allows for distinct rhythm and lead channels, which helps incredibly when you really want to accent a lead or solo.
Although I’ve wanted one for years, I was only able to acquire one at the tail end of 2009. Prior to that, I was using a Marshall JCM2000, which is also a fantastic amp. Since I switched over to the Mesa, I passed the JCM to Pat, and it has really helped to fill out our sound; I don’t know about you, but I’m a sucker for that dueling Marshall/Mesa sound, and with this setup it works to great effect!
SKB PS-55 Stage Five
When I started the band I originally used a Gator Powered Pedal tote, but as time went on and I acquired more stuff it became too small, so I upgraded to this bad boy. At first I thought I was being a little excessive, but I’ve pretty much filled it up. It’s a great unit, with the built in power supply for everything, and it makes setup at shows a snap, since I drop it, unlock it, run the cables to the amp and boom: done.
Now, I bet you’re curious about what’s in it….
Sennheiser FreePort
I picked up this unit really cheap, not knowing how it would work, but I’m pleased to say that it has never given me a problem. The Sennheiser FreePort is a UHF system with a diversity receiver, and is really well built. Even after banging around in my gig bag for years it still works wonderfully, and now that it’s in my pedal board I expect to get years more worth of use from it! I’ve never had a dropout or any issues like that, and while the battery life isn’t that great (maybe 90 – 120 minutes tops) once I got a couple rechargeable batteries for it even that hasn’t been an issue!
BOSS TU-2
The only inline pedal I use is my BOSS TU-2 tuner pedal. It’s pretty much the industry standard tuning pedal, and with good reason: It just works. No waiting for years for it to find the note, no reliability issues, true pass through when it’s not in use. I love this thing!
BOSS TR-2
The first pedal in my FX loop is the BOSS TR-2 Tremolo. It doesn’t see much use in The Murder, but I do utilize it on some of my more rockabilly & country oriented music.
Danelectro Reel Echo
The second (and last pedal) in my FX loop is the Danelectro Reel Echo. I’d been lusting over this baby for a while, and finally my lovely wife was kind enough to get it for me. It’s a great solid state tape emulator to give you the sound of a vintage echoplex (Think Dead Kennedys) without the hefty weight and price tag (Not to mention reliability issues!). I use this pedal somewhat judiciously, but it is an integral part of my sound. (There is no reverb on my guitar, so what you’re hearing is probably this pedal)
TC-Helicon VoiceTone Correct
Now, I know what you’re thinking, and no: I am not trying to be T-Pain. I got the TC-Helicon VoiceTone Correct after years of playing in venues with either no sound guy, or one that was so bad we would have been better off without one. This pedal basically picks up the slack by performing the function a good soundman (or woman, if you want to be PC) should do. While it has an auto-tune type function, I don’t utilize it, instead opting to use the automated EQ and compression. Since it conforms to the voice of the person using it, it does a great job of helping the vocals cut through, even when the sound system or person operating it is subpar.
(Let me follow this up by saying we have worked with some absolutely fantastic sound people over the years, and I am not trying to discount anyone’s work, so please don’t take offense to this. I believe that this is one of those situations where a few bad apples spoil the bunch, but then again, from the amount of these units TC-Helicon sells it seems there’s certainly a market for it…)
Shure SM58
Yes. I use a Shure SM58 for vocals. Just like everyone else in the free world.
Galaxy AnySpot
For many of the same reasons that I have the VoiceTone Correct, I utilize the Galaxy AS-1000 AnySpot Wireless Monitor System. It utilizes UHF diversity receivers to ensure top performance, although I can’t really speak to it’s reliability yet, as this is the newest addition to my collection. With that being said, I have read a multitude of good reviews about it, and I’ll be sure to update this once I’ve had a chance to play with it more.
M-Audio IE-10
In conjunction with the Galaxy AnySpot system I use M-Audio IE-10 ear buds, which have become something of an industry standard themselves. They just work, and work well, like most M-Audio products, and I’m happy to have these as part of my arsenal.
That’s about it for my current stage setup. I’ll be sure to update this page as my rig evolves, and please feel free to comment if you have a question, or just want to talk gear!