Pour rester dans l'esprit :
QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE
La partie parlant du matériel :
Guitar.com: Tell us about the gear you currently use in your live rig and what was used in the studio to record the tracks for Lullabies To Paralyze?
Troy Van Leeuwen: Well, theres a limitation to this answer because we have a sworn-to-secrecy policy, which comes from Josh [Homme, QOTSA guitarist/singer/founder]. Hes been working on his sound for a long time and doesnt want us to give up the information. Theres a bit of mystique because Queens has a unique sound. So I cant tell you what type of amps Im using, but I will say that nearly every track on this record was done with some sort of hollowbody guitar, even bass. And every guitar that I use has a Duncan pickup in it, if it doesnt have the stock pickup. Ive always used the Seymour Duncan Custom and sometimes Ill use a JB. Ive experimented with using different models for the neck and the bridge, but I almost always end up using the Custom. I have an ES-135 that I really love which is maybe five years old. Thats my main one. I helped to design a guitar with Yamaha which may come out at the end of the year. Its a hollowbody with a Bigsby and three P90s. Thats kind of a unique sound, as well, and having the option of three pickups is cool. I also play a Chandler lapsteel with a big mahogany body and little palm trees as fret markers.
As for effects, I can tell you theres nothing too outlandish. I use a Dunlop Crybaby wah, Guyatone Spring Reverb, and Lexicon Vortex, which is the easiest tap delay to use. Analog delay sounds better, but I think that its better for me to tap out a tempo on that thing live. Onstage, Im playing lapsteel guitar and keyboards, so Ive got enough to do. I cant lean down and change my echo setting. I rely on using a switching system. Ive been using the Ground Control GCS for years. Its easier for me to program stuff and hit one button, rather than tap dancing around, and I like the fact that it cuts down noise, too. I also use an MXR Dyna Comp compressor to keep the sustain, and a Maxon Overdrive the one like the old Tube Screamer. Those are great pedals for just a little overdrive and a little boost. Ive used the new Duncan boost pedal as well, and thats a great straight boost. Its like an MXR Micro Amp a linear boost.
Guitar.com: How are your guitars set up?
Troy Van Leeuwen: Well, the lapsteel is a little high, for obvious reasons. I use straight open E tuning on it. Theres no strange tuning going on with any of the other guitars either. Its all either straight E or C (standard tuning dropped down), and theres maybe one song thats in D. I like the action on my guitars set kind of high, especially for C because it gets a little floppy. So I like to use heavier strings to compensate. On the Es, Im using a .011-.052. On Cs, Ill use a .012-.056. For some guitars tuned to C, Ill even go .013-.058, depending on the way the guitar plays and the way the tension feels. The sets all have a wound third string. I use Ernie Ball strings on all guitars. On the lapsteel, I just use a heavier gauge because you dont need to bend, and I think a heavier gauge has more matter, so it gives you a better sound.
Guitar.com: What type of picks do you prefer?
Troy Van Leeuwen: I have to have a thicker pick with a grip. I use the silver Herco .75mm ones, like Jimmy Page.
