Rig Rundown - Brian Setzer

www.premierguitar.com PG's Shawn Hammond is On Location in Columbia, MO, where he catches up with Brian Setzer's tech Tyler Sweet who shows us all of Brian's Gretsch guitars, his Roland Chorus Echo RE-301, and Fender Bassman amps.
For more Rig Rundowns or to watch one of Premier Guitar's 1500 other videos online for free, be sure to visit www.premierguitar.com/video

[@notebender5073]

I met this fellow at a recent Brian Setzer appearance at the Ryman. I have to say this is a super nice guy and certainly knows what he's doing. Very personable and very on top of taking care of Setzers gear. The show was flawless. I shouted at him before the show from the edge of the stage. He graciously came over an engaged with my 12 year old son and I. He answered my questions and said hold on a sec. He went back stage and got my son a couple of Setzers picks without my asking for a thing. That was awesome for my kid. Cut the guy some slack, Brian wouldn't use this guy if he didn't know what he was doing.

[@davidringo1399]

hes a nice guy....a professional and in demand....Chew all the gum ya want Tyler

[@rocknrollrambling874]

The internet.....gives people the opportunity to insult people because they are simply bitter, nasty and talentless. This chap comes across genuine, informative and a nice guy.

[@LesMoore6]

Lol he is Definitely boring. Barely able to give correct answers.

[@albionseed4866]

@@LesMoore6 If you smash my bread you lose your tip.

[@waded4610]

Don't know why people are hating on this guy in this comment section. This dude is pretty chill and down to earth. He absolutely seems to know what he's doing because he is still with Setzer as far as I know! Cool video!

[@andrewvitale2556]

Jealous of his playing.

[@jasonpinkney8624]

Dude absolutely knows his stuff. he's just not the most exciting interview. He's an old school tech. Brian trusts him so he's gotta be good.

[@jwhite1016aol]

Must be your brother or uncle or somethin

[@jasonpinkney8624]

@@jwhite1016aol nah. He's a cool guy. Setzer's stuff is always working well so he's gotta be good

[@CelticAndyTheBard]

Definitely not exciting and I have to argue with the know his stuff comment - he may be great as a tech but his knowledge of guitar history (Brian's guitars) is somewhat lacking. Stagefright maybe, and I'm sure he's decent and a nice guy, but that doesn't cut it on these gear interviews.

[@thrashgnarly]

@@CelticAndyTheBard would you make the cut?

[@CelticAndyTheBard]

@@thrashgnarly possibly not but probably. As frontman of trio I'm fairly adept at crowd communication and as a guitarist who works on all his own equipment I have the skill set to be competent roadie. I'd bet on me, just not job I want. Thanks for asking.

[@mindwarp666]

I came back to watch this again purely for that custom green sparkle, it is a work of art.

[@larryjohnson9406]

Awesome. Young guys please remember his tour tech has been around a while and is trusted by the player. Sometimes fans are much more technical than the players.

[@MoeSlislack]

micsayre the saying is, "couldn't care less". Idiot!

[@icut1]

I know awesome guitar players that doesn`t know how to change strings.

[@tysonrinker5958]

i dont get what these kids are talking about. I enjoyed listening to this guy and checking out brians rig

[@tgfabthunderbird1]

Precisely, Larry. This dude knows what he's talking about, has intimate knowledge of what his boss wants, and does his job. I play, but I'm no techie. I listen to the techs, because I always learn something.

[@dwrdyts]

"What kind of gum are you chewing there Tyler?"......"uh not sure probably just some juicy fruit or something like that .... whatever Brian had lying around maybe trident"

[@KeeperOfPoops]

lmao yeah, but his gum chewing isn't as bad as Hans Buscher who is the roadie/technician for Billie Joe Armstrong of Green day

[@hansonmick]

FUNNY !!!!

[@jwhite1016aol]

I was gonna try to come up with a burn on how little he seems to know but this one was great I can't top it

[@jeffkirby7261]

It is juicy fruit actually. He told me he was sick when they did it, and was barely able to make it through. Hes a great guy, super friendly.

[@billyvalentine4365]

@@KeeperOfPoops That was a trainwreck.

[@teddyleather9079]

being a rockabilly myself I thought this was very cool and both gentlemen did great!

[@jmflyer55]

Awesome interview..!! You asked all the right questions, this was a real pleasure to watch. Thank you. JM

[@metelegerald]

This rig rundown guy is GREAT!

[@MaGariShun]

I love how those techs only care about how good a guitar stays in tune and don't care at all about history, tone, looks or anything else. "It's a great guitar, it stays in tune well" - every tech ever

[@No1liveshere]

Cause.... that’s there job....

[@johneffinger6977]

So then, tbe guitar stays in tune very well, , and that is the tech's job, then the tech does nothing, just "makes sure" the guitar is in tune, which it stays ..... wow. Why interview the tech? Why not just just call the tech guy a emergency guitar tuner???

[@lencycler1]

I really enjoy this series of videos. thanks

[@screenpuller]

Oh, that sparkle green!!! On a '32 Ford, chopped & dropped! THAT would be one HOT rod. ;)

[@BreadandFaxes]

I love to listen to every single sound of this guy's breathing. It's great. Just what I wanted.

[@A.BondGirl]

Love this information and rundown on his equipment! That gretsch is so beautiful 🧡💚❤️

[@DerredmaxTRIAX]

Man I really enjoy these Rig Rundown's good stuff guys. thanks!

[@microbus99]

I love this stuff!

[@crlguitar1]

Good interview...Tyler knows his stuff!

[@MikeHaduck]

enjoyed the insight. good job

[@theedrstrangelove]

In the mid to late eighties, if you looked, you could find these Bassman's for less that 400 bucks.

[@dickbanks3606]

Now that's a relic job! And a great story to go with it!

[@robgreen1818]

Hopefully, today is the day I finally achieve a small dream and step into the shop to pick up my first gretsch. Spending the morning looking at Setzer's guitars is the perfect way to get in the mood!

[@greatvanzini]

Loved the IView. He really doesn't have much to tell. It's THE Guitar & THE Amp & THE Space Echo. What ever this guy does he does it well because Setzer sounded great last night at the casino! Amazing show.

[@spshapes]

Yeah, best one(rig rundown) i've seen yet. Damn now i want all that stuff!!

[@shango02005]

Great stuff!! Loved this RR!

[@bunkman64]

Seen the Cats in Germany at the Longhorn in Stuggart in 1988. The first guitar shown was the one he was playing that night! Awesome to see he still has it!

[@0Heavy0Metal0]

Thomas V. Jones is a guitarist and luthier best known for manufacturing vintage-style Filtertron pickups. TV Jones pickups attempt to recreate the sound of vintage Gretsch guitars by using American-made materials and a manufacturing process similar to what was used in the late ‘50’s and 1960’s by Gretsch. The company was founded in 1993.

[@OrisLover]

He really does man! Even the heavy inhalation sound identical!

[@chreld]

He was digging deep. Good info. do this more often please.

[@heshion1]

Shawn, I really liked this. I love to hear all the in-depth details about the taped bridges and trestle bracings, vs. the new signature models, etc. You gotta stop and admire original '59s, and take them in a bit. And you go into a lot of detail about the years and models of the Bassmans. This was very informative. Thanks for the detail. I appreciate your interviews a lot more than Rebecca's because I find her diction hard to understand.

[@Rski1234]

Tyler ! Great seeing you at the Hoods show. I got some great video of you !

[@stumadison9443]

Nice job Shawn. A great interview. I wish he'd have picked a few bars on each one.. THANX so much. I enjoy all the work you guys do.

[@61254John]

This video is especially cool for me, as I have a 1965 Gretsch Chet Atkins model, similar to his 59 guitar. Same color, same Bigsby tailpiece, same pick ups. Mine is double cutaway w/ painted (false) S-holes. It has a mechanical mute + a black leather snap-on pad on the back of the guitar covering the access panel. Bought it used in 1968 for $300. Used it in my high school band. Still plays awesome + sounds amazing. Never had any major work done. You can see the guitar in my profile photo.

[@boynamedlen]

Really enjoyable rundown, Shawn sounds like he knows his stuff.

[@Nostaljack]

....and you must not be listening. He certainly knows more than this tech does. Worst tech on Rig Rundown so far.

[@TempoDrift1480]

Kidding

[@LetThereBeLoud]

I love this tech!

[@GRBAquatics]

This is SO Cool. Thankyou so much. Awesome.

[@jrenner325]

Interviewer (Shawn Hammond) is totally geekin' out. Awesome !!! I would too. Super Fan !!!

[@Badhands55]

Great video

[@2PlayGuitarNow]

the gretch is amazing!!

[@LEnzo-yg3im]

This guitar with Brian Setzer is MAGIC. from France,bye !!!

[@KentCCarpenter]

Thanks Tyler! Very Knowledgeable! Thanks PG! Very Informative.

[@patohare4868]

I do remember being in a music shop in Birmingham UK when the sales assistant demonstrated the just launched space echo, scary to think how long ago, and I wish I could've afforded it,

[@ghggk1]

Brian is the best

[@mellowfred8935]

Awesome 👏🏻 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@Twirlyhead]

Nice to see he's taken the rollers off.

[@tylersweet5994]

I liked the Dude's attitude so much I named myself after him!

[@ScrewballMcAdams]

Great interview, Shawn. Thanks!

[@PaintHerWhite]

The rig rundowns that feature the actual performer are so much better. Steve Stevens' interview, for example.

[@KONAROCK1]

I like how the interviewer knows more than the tech about Brian's gear! haha

[@SRVMOE]

Love that 59' ! Got one of BS picks from Tyler the other night !

[@MisterTee]

I think changing the tubes that often is insane. I have preamp tubes from the 50's that still test fine.

[@GTRJohnny66]

Seemed like a good dude. The gum didn't bug me at all. Nice interview!

[@brimill1980]

great watch...! mucho kudos :)

[@hectorjcm800]

I really think we've have to come to terms with the fact they like it plain and simple.

[@wyldmanwgrable]

Great interview! I play a couple stray cat songs in my cover band pretty much note for note but on my Warmoth partscaster I built. I’m looking to pull the trigger on a Gretsch 5200/5400 series just get the bigsby and the P90 tone. I’m definitely with Brian on the leave the strings on, I’ve had them last for years and never break! The D’addarios are great, I’ll change them once the winding (generally on the D string) starts to unravel. Get a few thousand hours out of them. Haha!

[@Bbendfender]

Cables, he uses Belden. I still have an old Belden cable that I've used for 35 years. If it goes bad, I just cut off about 3-4" and put the end back on.

[@marknorris3769]

very intelligent entertaining rig rundown

[@ONdorch]

i have never seen an interviewer have to work so hard to get a guitar tech to talk and fill in the the answer to the questions...the interviewer sounds like he knows the answer and has to get him to just say it...

[@davidsmith-hb1jx]

Brian is apparently not too fussy about his equipment. I like that and the fact he has a laid back crew. When you are as good as Brian Setzer you could do a concert on a rusty tin ukulele.

[@rubenreza]

Man I would so love to be Brian's Tech! :-)

[@TheAlexkru]

i would have been drooling all over the stage if i was that close to his stuff

[@thurmanmermon4160]

nice!!

[@lookingatcrap]

I want to do the interviews I would do it for free just to be around the gear. This is the best interviewer yet

[@keithmcneil883]

I made it through the whole video. Damn.

[@squalid45]

Setzer and 6G6 Bassmans rule! But 60 hours on a tube then replace?? That's nuts. Never heard of AMS tubes, but if they're that cool I'd love to get hooked up with the discarded ones.

[@shjhdhah]

Shawn, excellent job.....Tyler did not see mto have the best personaility for interviews, but Brian uses him for his best assets we are sure.

[@erikvaldur3334]

a lot of people bashing here. here are my 2 cents. Look around the stage. these guys are minimalists. the fewer things in the signal chain = more organic tone. I understand what they go for. he knows which tubes they preffer. that makes a big difference. It's a very basic rig. It's not a multi amp, rack gear, midi/ amp switcher type rig.some people just don't bother themselves with details they feel they might not need to look at. perhaps Brian doesn't know or care about certain details. it plays great and sounds great. I like it.

[@smacman68]

Wow. Your like Mr. Smartypants. Wish I was! Thanks for the info bro!

[@JRAFF145]

Wow lots of critics out there - the fact is if you've ever been three feet away from Setzer when he plays - you would be amazed - then again, I have the feeling some of the "critics" might not

[@fretbored1974]

Tech guy: Re-Animator! LOL Love Brian's old Gretsch!!!!

[@indagdnm]

@sify11 I know! My tubes have been in my 65 bassman for about 2 years now doing about 4 shows a week.

[@susanjoy1969]

Right? 60 hours for Power tubes??? Please!!! They are good for 2000 hours under typical conditions, and 4000 hours or more for preamp tubes!! This guys is throwing away tubes with a lot of life in them, and 60 matched sets of AMS tubes purchased in late '80's doesn't match up with his constant retubing. He would have run out of them years ago.

[@XiaNingTian]

I want that lime sparkle Hot Rod.

[@KeeperOfPoops]

you can buy it from a guitar website for £2,975 if you can afford that much

[@dmedicFF]

Nice to have a rig rundown when its quiet- no sound checks with drums banging and lights flashing!

[@sinnertrain7405]

I watched this Rig Rundown to get some info on Brian's strings and a few other things that I'd forgotten. I got the info I was looking for, I don't know why people are being so hard on his tech. Lighten up kids! :-)

[@guyman3000]

this guitar tech sounds like he does not give a crap. the gum chewing really adds to the effect

[@CoandCaSSTB]

God, that first one.... whew.

[@1dabirdman68]

The idea behind the pinned bridge is to make it easier for the normal everyday players to not move the bridge when changing strings..A tech has to deal with real world problems on the road with climate conditions constantly affecting the intonation so therefore he uses 2 sided tape to compensate having to adjust the intonation..Most players who buy the guitar will be staying in the same place with it so a pinned bridge is preffered.

[@HBSuccess]

Phooey - wood expands contracts along its WIDTH not length - climate change impacts a lot of stuff but intonation is not one of them. Taping a bridge does one thing - it wrecks the factory finish. I've also done it but pins are infinitely better. This guy is a hack.

[@JimButler1234567890]

That number 60 hours on output tubes will depend on what tube it is and how it's played. For rock'n roll played live, I can certainly believe it. However I run 807s for my stereo listening and at moderate volume, and get well over 1000 hours without noticable degredation of performance.

[@Scottocaster6668]

Brian's tech is pretty tolerable with the goofy questions. It seemed like he had to keep him for a certain time limit. I'd hire him to take care of my equipment. Seems like a good dude to have around 👍.

[@richieluckenbill1590]

Goofy questions??? He asked all the right questions. I'm just surprised that his tech couldn't answer most of them.. Seems like the interviewer knows more and is much more observant than Brian's tech is!

[@surfstomp]

Cool.

[@JimButler1234567890]

The original "Stray Cats" guitar looks great. You can tell how the lacquer has darkened over the years as compared to the "Stray Cat's Strut" video. Guitars like so many other things, seem to get better with age.

[@codeman5811]

Damn that's a sexy guitar. Cool tech and interviewer also

[@JosephODonnellMusic]

@threex4 Haha! I know!

[@lookingatcrap]

@jrenner325 I feel he knew more then the tech I would like to do the interviews I would geekout that much too. Nels Cline's rig rundown would have been two hours long if I did it

[@salsplace]

Why were the roller saddles removed, I added them to mine and they improved tuning stability

[@Jaidezilla]

The guy doing the interview didn't even bother to ask why there were sperzel tuners on a 59 Gretsch. That stood out like a sore thumb.

[@chrisbirch92]

really wish they had actually spoken to brian setzer himself in the interview but it was still good

[@ryanolinski7163]

Wow I am inclined to strongly disagree with 200 hours on pre-amp tubes. Some companies burn them in for nearly that long. Can't deny Mr Setzer's tone though. His playing and tone are unmatched.

[@chojinkid]

and where does he get his overdriven sound? he sometimes has a pretty amount of rock gain, and his amp doesn't seem to be cranked here, does he use any OD pedal with don't see in this video?

[@AlexSosaBolivia]

Does Brian make him wear that bowling shirt with "Tyler" stitched across the front?

[@RickMcCargar]

Shawn pointed out the screw head in the heel of the repaired guitar and asked if that was just missing a cap or something...the tech said, no, he didn't think they came that way....then pulls out another old one, and sure as hell, it's got a cover over a screw-hole. How did the tech never notice that considering how often he handles those guitars? And they're classics?!?

[@dtorr14]

+Rick McCargar Guy was clearly not too bright. *chews gum*

[@tommonfron5166]

+dtorr14 hahaha😂

[@Jazzdrummerperson]

The 1959 (maybe late 1958 as well) 6120s had that bolt in the neck heel in order to improve neck stability. Older 6120s did not have that at all, but Setzer only uses 1959 6120s and their modern reissues; so, yes, this tech really does not know his Gretsch guitar history. However, his job as tech is basically, among other things, making sure the instrument is intonated, the neck properly adjusted, and the amps properly set up, all in the way Setzer wants it. So, he's really just doing his job, and nothing else...

[@RickMcCargar]

I don't think he needed to know the history so much as the fact he had two guitars, one with, one without, handles them both regularly and hadn't noticed the difference.

[@StuartPeel]

@@Jazzdrummerperson It certainly wasn't all of them, but I don't think that the '59s that had that black spot were bolted. To my knowledge it was a dowel, so you weren't seeing a 'cap' on a bolt but the end of that wooden dowel. The bolt in Setzer's broken one replaced the dowel.

[@mikebishop8489]

THIS guy could sure use a StringRay! Cheers!

[@monkeysbum999]

The guy is asking about the saddles because he knows that Brian used different saddles .They look like the tone o matic ones ,[not tune o matic] i think i can see those small holes that the guy drilled for extra resonance.They do give a slightly ringier sound compared to the standard tune o matic ones.

[@murfdog19]

Power tube life varies depending on the amp and how hard it's being pushed, but 60 hours seems a bit much. I know of a few famous guitarists who have their tubes changed every six months, which would still be a few hundred hours worth. For the average weekend gigging musician, power tubes can last for well over a year. Hell, I know a few guys who haven't changed tubes in five years.

[@mscottashley]

Well, what about overdrive pedals? I've heard he likes the Expandora.

[@samuelzetterman]

Wasnt the corner of the neck pickup ring chipped on the original stray cats guitar? 0:25

[@gerberbernstein7360]

He's probably the drum tech.

[@TheMusicalElitist]

But you're definitely a moron.

[@jks2]

pauze @ 0:17 ''Hello i'm Johnny Cash''

[@kensheeler7914]

Jensen speakers got mojo!

[@TracyLongo]

The Bridge is my Idea.. called a Tone-0-matic, TV put it on many years ago... Holes in the saddles.

[@BryanClark-gk6ie]

BS I don't think so ' I came up with that idea in 1958 when I set up Chets guitar while he was doing a Xmas tour in Jerusalem. Why do people like you want to talk BS and take credit for something you didn't do.

[@TracyLongo]

@@BryanClark-gk6ie You are sadly wrong .. my bridge saddles have 2 holes in each of them and are made of aluminum.. Brian talks about them in Guitar Player magazine in October 2001 Its in print go look it up.. It's trademarked as well... Peace