Loathe's Erik Bickerstaffe Rig Rundown Guitar Gear Tour

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Loathe is a challenging listen. In 10 years, they’ve released three dissimilar albums, a pair of pulverizing EPs, and a couple reinventive, collaborative covers (with Sleep Token and Teenage Wrist) of their own material, proving they thrive on juxtaposition and keeping your ears off guard. The Liverpool foursome morph from blissful dream state to Nightmare on Elm Street and everything in between. Their sound can be familiar like an old friend but thrilling like a first date.
From the ashes of Our Imbalance’s pure metalcore madness-featuring guitarist/vocalist Erik Bickerstaffe, vocalist Kadeem France, and drummer Sean Radcliffe before recruiting guitarist Connor Sweeney and bassist Shayne Smith-rose the reformation that became the experimental Loathe in 2014. (Current bassist Feisal El-Khazragi replaced Smith in 2018 and Sweeney left the band in 2021.)
Nu-metal bounce, djent precision, shoegaze shimmer, post-hardcore chaos, synth segues, barbwire breakdowns, moody melodies, and singalong choruses aren’t groundbreaking elements. But how they make them gel and grate against each other is what makes Loathe special. In a matter of minutes, they can make you scream, cry, and then dance before inciting you to do all three at once. The difference is in the disparate.
Their creative applications of the past, present, and future keep them ahead of the audience providing a deep musical menu. If you don’t like the first Loathe song you hear, there’s a chance the next one will be your favorite.
“The four of us have very differing influences, but when we work together, we create something very unique,” contends Bickerstaffe.
Even Bickerstaffe’s guitar choices are at odds. He wants the heaviest sound possible but avoids using 7- or 8-string guitars because of their brash tones and jagged aesthetics. He prefers to swing the sledgehammer in a classic costume of a Gretsch Jet (and formerly a Jazzmaster).
“We wanted a British-rock sound that pushes further into modern extreme-metal influence when we were writing. I don’t like anything too metallic or sharp sounding. For the band we are and what we’re trying to do musically, it’s not the right thing,” states Bickerstaffe.
It’s been over four years since their heralded I Let It In and It Took Everything, and the fans are growing impatient. The band is aware of the wait and are concerned with impressing themselves rather than capitalizing on the attention.
“There’s music in the world the four of us as individuals miss hearing, and we want to be the people that create that in our own style. Hopefully, people who agree with us are along for the ride, and if not, that’s absolutely cool. We’ve been through a lot, and we’re working really hard together to make sure the music that we put out is exactly what we want to put out. We’ll let it speak for itself when we release it,” explains Bickerstaffe.
Before Loathe’s opening slot supporting Knocked Loose on May 1 at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works, Bickerstaffe carved out some time to talk with PG’s Chris Kies. Bickerstaffe details the obtainable instruments that help him deliver both deathly and dreamy moments, why he shies away from the metallic edges of metal, and what fans should expect from the ever-evolving outfit’s new music.
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[Brought to you by D’Addario Strings: ddar.io/wykyk-rr & D'Addario XPND: ddari.io/xpnd.rr]
0:00 - D'Addario & Yvette Young
0:15 - Chris Kies Intro
1:44 - Erik Bickerstaffe Intro
3:01 - Gretsch G5260 Electromatic Jet Baritone
5:59 - Erik Bickerstaffe's Guitar Influences
8:36 - Erik Bickerstaffe's Strings & Tunings
11:55 - D'Addario XPND & John Bohlinger
12:45 - Amps & Fractal Audio Axe-Fx III
17:14 - Erik Bickerstaffe's Pedalboard
21:06 - Loathe's Next Album
23:06 - D'Addario & Yvette Young
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
#guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #guitarplayer #loathe

[@premierguitar]

Shop Erik Bickerstaffe's Loathe Gear: Gretsch G5260 Electromatic Jet Baritone - sweetwater.sjv.io/k0r2BN Fender Player Telecaster - sweetwater.sjv.io/anMGaZ EarthQuaker Devices Zoar - sweetwater.sjv.io/y2oyK2 Behringer SF300 Super Fuzz - sweetwater.sjv.io/GmMdzk Electro-Harmonix Mel9 - sweetwater.sjv.io/6eK2WK Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal - sweetwater.sjv.io/JzMdEa DigiTech Whammy Ricochet - sweetwater.sjv.io/ZQMj91 Behringer FX600 Digital Multi-FX - sweetwater.sjv.io/g1xXZB EarthQuaker Devices Rainbow Machine - sweetwater.sjv.io/oqk6E9 DigiTech Whammy - sweetwater.sjv.io/q4LBRO Electro-Harmonix Freeze - sweetwater.sjv.io/OraQ9P Boss TU-3 Chromatic Tuner - sweetwater.sjv.io/jryA4M Two Notes Torpedo Captor X - sweetwater.sjv.io/anxzbQ Sennheiser EW 100 G4-Ci1 Wireless Guitar System - sweetwater.sjv.io/zNomLM D’Addario EXL157 Medium Nickel Wound Electric Baritone Set - sweetwater.sjv.io/WqMQmM

[@chris_kies]

I hope everyone digs this episode - I feel super fortunate to make this one happen and really excited to see what Loathe does next!

[@balkibeatbox1131]

Good on you for making it happen, finally!

[@TheBANDEMIC]

Hell yes bro, you guys are knocking it out of the park, literally doing run downs with everyone in all genres

[@AYAiYaiYaiYai]

effort massively appreciated! Only wished there was a Feisal episode, but Erik should do for now.

[@rickyjester123]

This was great! Did you guys happen to get a rundown with Show Me the Body? Wanted to check out the Bass Player’s rig. He has a huge sound

[@chlorinecompany3847]

Clicked immediately when I saw this one. Was waiting for this 🙌🏽

[@sonofboar13]

This has got to be one of the most anticipated rig rundowns

[@balkibeatbox1131]

It totally is! Now we just need the drums and bass rig covered as well.

[@RaynP]

So thrilled to have been in there for a few seconds! It was an absolute pleasure meeting Chris and the rest of the Premier Guitar team! All the best!

[@premierguitar]

See you next time and hopefully Erik has some of your pickups in his guitar then!

[@RaynP]

@@premierguitar I’ve literally swapped them out for my own pickups the day after you guys shot the rig rundown haha ☠️

[@songsforsanguinius8576]

Legendary guitar tech

[@Penberth1]

@@RaynP Ryan, what's doing the gating for Erik's high gain tones? Sounds very quick and accurate!

[@SlyRyFry]

@@Penberth1 Probably the axe fx, I'm pretty sure it has built in gates

[@JoshCastleTCM]

Hell - YES. Loathe! Wanted this for ages

[@nat_yaeger]

Saw these guys open for Knocked Loose and thought they were incredible. Big props for calling out Guitar Hero 3 starting his guitar journey, I think that's true for more people than like to admit haha

[@ternusguitar8012]

Hope to see Thornhill next.

[@Return2TheLiving]

I hope so too, my guess is at the core it’s going to be similar gear with different approach. JCM800 simulation on a Quad Cortex

[@aniketacharya512]

Thornhill are now endorsed by Fender so that's gonna be a pretty boring rig imo

[@its_adamboi6276]

at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="346">5:46</a> isn’t that Aaron Sato from Speed who walked past them? i know they toured with Loathe and Knocked Loose

[@jackattack8044]

Yep! They're all on tour right now.

[@j.jaguilar9770]

@@jackattack8044saw em a few days ago. sickest show i’ve been to

[@mattyice210]

GANG CALLED SPEED BABY

[@seanriley2534]

I'd hit the buy button SO FAST on an Erik Bickerstaffe sig squire hahahaha

[@TobyKBTY]

Same. Or any sig baritone he’d put out whether it’s Squier or Gretsch

[@lukepaterlini7396]

whenever permier guitar does a rundown for your fav band, is always a special day

[@limesplays2420]

THIS is THE content.

[@BTPA_USA]

LOVE seeing the rigs are still in great shape looking like they did when they left our shop after building them 😎

[@lowpack8792]

The gods have delivered! Been waiting for this rig rundown!

[@poe942tech]

Would love to see a Bass rundown for them, too. The bassists rig is so cool!

[@bluenitriletouch2842]

I already know this is gonna be great

[@BrayanAndrew1]

Erik just put 2 toy pedals on the board (Behringer). This make me smile, even I will never do that in my whole life as a guitarrist. Legend!

[@seanriley2534]

I've wanted this rig rundown for so long

[@GaryHiebner]

YES! Finally a rig rundown with Loathe! What a band!

[@frankrodriguez7400]

YEEEEEEE I’ve been waiting for a loathe rig rundown! Loathe is goated and Erik is a fantastic guitarist 🤘🏽🤘🏽

[@Bobbyboiii_]

Amazing!!! Love that you guys are showing these players and showing them shining, and talking about the stuff we love - what powers the riffs!! Love it dudes

[@elijahs4785]

I’ve been WAITING FOR THIS!!!!

[@purplehaze47]

Honestly love the intro on this video - hope more of the upcoming videos contain similar levels of context

[@ThisxFate]

Spoke to him in Philly 2 years ago and he was probably one of the nicest musicians ive ever met. Absolutely incredible band

[@purpl3882]

I HAVE BEEN WATING FOR THIS

[@LucasOliveira-rj2jf]

Finally, been waiting forever for this one. Gotta love the fact that he's rocking some Behringer pedals, so funny (and cool)

[@KowProdMedia]

'bout damn time, one of my favorite bands of the last few years for sure.

[@nickrodriguez9848]

i am so excited for new music

[@TheChrispablo]

I think that i speak for everyone right now by saying Chris Kies is the best interviewer when it comes to this stuff

[@who_we_are______5926]

True he doesn't seem like hasty to interrupt, the other guy can't go 2 seconds without bringing the convo back to himself

[@queetlebeef2822]

Erik is awesome. I got to meet the whole band after the knocked loose show I recently went to. Awesome band.

[@grantandrews4826]

Really liked having Chris do his little talking head at the beginning of this one. Great format giving a little insight into a band I've never heard of.

[@ignaciomorin8176]

I love this band so much

[@dannyatx]

this is monumental

[@wakinpuyat]

Great rig rundown. Now we need a wardrobe rundown bc you know Loathe got the drip.

[@HARwinsOUTagain]

Loathe was my absolute favorite show last year. I'm 40 now and felt like I was going to die being up front and in the pit area. Would not have regretted it! Lol

[@joshmore7175]

I saw Loathe like 2 months ago and they were very impressive

[@stickyvenom73]

SPEED in the back settin up. lit brother

[@GrahamsYouTube]

This band just create such layered and melodic music

[@acledfloyd]

Those Gretsch baritones are so popular in bands. Sleep Token used them for a while. People want classic looking baritones.

[@theiranxican7412]

Exactly. As much as I appreciate 7 and 8 stringers and has had em in my possession at times, I'm kinda boomer-minded in regards to guitar designs (fender/gibson/prs/silvertone/Guild,etc) and a 27 or 30 inch baritones just speak more my language. Good for Loathe to shine light on this style. Definitely the most requested gear rundown as I was one of the staggering many that asked for this lol 😅

[@paleemperor5379]

I'm surprised doom/sludge/drone bands aren't more into them. I have one and it's great for that kind of music.

[@umbraydn]

I just got one a few days ago. They’re surprisingly light and they play like a dream.

[@googo151]

Man that distortion is way over the top. wow!

[@finnancahill2644]

I wish Connor was still in the band

[@diegopizarro4196]

Same... :c

[@austinmichael7547]

Yoooo, peep speed setting up. Legendary line-up, legendary show. Went to the STL show Tuesday and it was absolutely nuts. I know someone got knocked out, i think a possible head split open. Fella got up and kept on with the concert i do believe. SPPPPEEEEEEEEEDDD BABBYYYYYYYY!

[@avocadotron]

Geez blew my heaphone speakers into oblivion when he kicked in that pitch shifter!!

[@ChaboyAnthony]

hype!!

[@madslagsallupinthisgaff]

What a nice chill man

[@dookie0311]

I appreciate an artist acknowledging that aesthetics factor into their gear choices. Personally, I like stuff that looks cool to me. I think guitars are MOSTLY fungible, with some exceptions. You can make a lot of them sound the same with EQ, effects, amps, post, etc.

[@jakewilson7211]

On the subject of baritones, the reverend baritone feels like a standard guitar to play. The bridge is pushed back so the longer scale doesn’t impacted the neck length so much, if anyone wants a baritone I’d recommend you check it out

[@balkibeatbox1131]

Good job PG

[@ryanrobertkane]

beautiful noise

[@logosmedia9942]

I wonder how they mix because if they’re playing baritones in Drop E, aren’t they playing in the same exact range as their bassist in E standard?

[@MangoJerry93]

Yeah true, they play in the same exact octave. From my personal experience it's all about blending textures and cutting out certain frequencies. More Mids on the Guitar, Less Mids on the Bass or Vice versa 😊

[@logosmedia9942]

@@MangoJerry93 I gotcha! That makes sense, that’s why I was like I’m so curious to see what their mixes look like lol super interesting. Appreciate the response!

[@MangoJerry93]

@@logosmedia9942 Yeah of course, I'm glad I could help ☺️

[@1xXDrifterzXx1]

i saw them last night crazy

[@alexandertorrente198]

Got to see them in 2022! They used a hiwatt at the time!

[@JGSondaar]

live laugh loathe

[@ferdidoguevara1110]

Great content

[@user-qd9mm5mt4i]

Erik, never seen him before this but he is a cool player. Very interesting interview.

[@coda1786]

how does he get the octave up AND down effect with the digitech whammy?

[@Owenator26]

It's cool Erik brought up Thomas Erak from Fall Of Troy. I went through a phase where all I listened too was FOT and got introduced to them the same way from Guitar Hero lol.

[@chronischironisch9076]

Great band 👍👍👍

[@Kelvin-ud4pz]

Did you do a Thrown rig rundown too?

[@psymon1981]

An Egnator Rebel 30 on the intro there. Cool head! I have the Rebel 20 Mk2

[@Josh_Torre]

Best band in the world, Loathe! 🫶

[@JordonBeal]

Interseting. He’s basically using a slightly higher and slightly lower version of the turnings Mike Mushok uses. I’ve always dug those tunings, they’re a lot of fun.

[@campraincloud]

Ryan just hands you a guitar... What a moment

[@liodwika]

GOAT, nothing more.

[@TheEnd-vn9rb]

Should review in-ears used too. I feel like they are essential to the full rig rundown.

[@kieranlaprade6049]

FINALLY GOOD LORD

[@rnbwsmtl]

erik's outfit looks like it's made out of the most comfortable fabric ever

[@amnorth5342]

He said that Loathe is writting some new stuff like it was nothing

[@alemalia6888]

Yeah I agree with that like what we have seen

[@CFChristian]

Fall of Troy Doppelgänger will forever be in my top 10.

[@Clayfff]

I would kill for a signature guitar. Fender needs to get on that

[@grantandrews4826]

I NEED a rig rundown for Wunderhorse. Like, please.

[@FabrizioPeretti]

What pedal is he using at 19.20 as delay?? Can't get the name

[@premierguitar]

Behringer FX600 Digital Multi-FX ... his first pedal!

[@dannystumpf321]

im still waiting for that mike stringer rig rundown :)

[@JUNKO____]

Got that guitar direct from the company and they couldn't drill the hole for the lowest string out a little bit?

[@irza8072]

Erik is so so cool

[@drumrundown]

🤘

[@petecomplains]

✊🏾🖤

[@RustinRoark]

Fall of Troy shout-out, very nice.

[@samthomas1945]

Awesome. Teen Mortgage please!

[@vinnybearbones1446]

Finally

[@SebastianGonzalez-cf1jl]

Please give us the Gatecreeper rig rundown!

[@olofljunggren1189]

Did he say he tunes town do B sometimes? Isn't it basically a six string bass at that point? 😅

[@eyeskateandsheet8015]

FUCK YEAH!

[@matthewaguirre9517]

HOLY FUCK LETS GO

[@red240red2]

What cab IR ?

[@RC30675]

Hoping for a Mike Stringer rig rundown, I would love that

[@GerardoMd]

What pups are this?

[@christophersmart8067]

Brutiful

[@songsforsanguinius8576]

GO ON RYAN!!!

[@qpphil5150]

finally

[@rareform6747]

Wobble Mosh should be the band name ! The Super Fuzz works ?

[@matthewochoa2804]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="653">10:53</a> that was so real

[@veguillar1]

a wild speed bassist appears <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="345">05:45</a>

[@thebloodychord]

THE HM-2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@F.S.T.S]

Shoutout Speed

[@Micha83HB]

A Squier Erik Jazzmaster Baritone would suck me and my wallet Dry for sure!

[@antonionsfw]

my fucking goat

[@timothylpappas]

What is that outfit. I want to buy it

[@TobyKBTY]

There’s nothing quite as badass as making filthy disgusting riffs on a Gretsch. Loathe rules.

[@JamesBernardohk]

Hectic