Rig Rundown - The Black Crowes' Rich Robinson

Rig Rundown Article: www.premierguitar.com/articles...
Rig Rundown Playlist: premierguitar.com/rigrundown
Premier Guitar's Jason Shadrick is on location in Madison, WI, where he catches up with The Black Crowes' Rich Robinson's longtime tech, Doug "Red" Redler, to go through the gear Robinson is using on the Crowes' latest tour. A large portion of the band's gear was damaged during Hurricane Sandy and Redler had to replace nearly everything in Robinson's touring rig. On this leg, Robinson was hauling everything from relic'd out Gibsons to Japanese Zemaitis models, and even a few Gretschs and Teles.

[@Steeve9292]

I'm largely ambivalent about relics, but some of these comments make me feel very down. If simply playing a relic is enough to make you lose your respect for a musician, then your respect is worth fuck all to begin with.

[@Steeve9292]

***** To put it shortly, I disagree. There's no way around it, making decisions about musicians simply by the instruments they play and equipment they use, is ridiculous. And worse, hypocritical. It's saying that you don't like it because you think the musician has placed greater importance on their look than their music, all the while judging them on their look, and not their music. Sorry for the essay below...got a bit carried away. No, they're not stupid. They're stupid in your opinion. It's an important distinction. The finish, or lack thereof, says absolutely nothing about a player. It's the same as saying that you can ascertain certain men masturbate over livestock because they play blue Telecasters. It's a dud statement, that makes no sense and has absolutely no basis. It's fine when said in jest, but when making a serious point, it becomes a worrying statement. They bought a guitar they thought looks cool, and indeed feels nicely worn in. And while it's by no means more important when stacked up against things like sound, practicality and comfort of play, nigh on all of us want to play guitars we think look good, and looks do play a part in larger or smaller parts depending on the person. Posers play all sorts of different guitars of different finishes, they want to stand out, and if they all play the same types of guitars, they won't stand out. You can judge nothing about a player, and I mean absolutely nothing, until you hear them play. And then it doesn't matter what the hell they're playing it with, as long as it makes music that makes people happy. As I said in my original post, I'm neither here nor there with relics, and indeed personally I prefer my guitars caked in Poly so the finish doesn't get harmed in any way, even with time passing. I just think it's the worst kind of self indulgent, school yard, tribal bullshit when people gang together in a circle jerk to whip themselves up into a frenzy, making judgements about people they've never met simply because they like their guitars to look a certain way that the tribe deem unworthy. A sad, but very real trait amongst guitar players in general it seems, our ability to mock each other ruthlessly and disparage each other over nonsensical arseholery. No wonder people who play other instruments seem to think for the most part that those of us who play the guitar are bloody retarded.

[@whiketurner6249]

***** Right on! You made the right decision about the Marshall. Professional relicking is image and nostalgia shit that says something about the player. It says that they are a douchebag! Guitar is my love. For me, a worn guitar is like a woman who has been shaped by her life's experiences. Her scars are her beauty. Relicking is like taking a virgin and having her gang-banged to give her "experience" so you can deal with her. Relicking is disingenous at best and guitar rape at worst.

[@jrchris1121]

If Rich Robinson wants to relic his shit who are we to give him shit about it? He's a performer! It's part of the show! The Music speaks for itself and I personally find nothing disingenuous about it for a performer of his status. If you have some kind of problem with relics then you are taking shit a bit too seriously. I personally wouldn't want a relic guitar, I take pride in all the wear and tear on my guitars, and to me for a regular person to buy one and simply play at home is a little strange to me but hey as long as it makes em happy who the hell cares.

[@TheDannyGrause]

jrchris1121 Amazing how many basement commandos go off about this shit. Image is important, no matter how you slice it and at the end of the day the crowes are a great band with great songs and no one gives a shit about your relic debate. Who's better, a guy who beats the shit out of his guitar or a guy who pain-stakingly wears it down on purpose to make it look awesome? (that's a rhetorical question). I just got done doing a wood-burned design on one of my guitars by hand. Am I a "poser"? (insert laughter).

[@jrchris1121]

Danny Grause Not sure what a wood-burned design is exactly but it doesn't really sound like "relicing" per se, so no I wouldn't call you a "poser" LOL. BTW you really can't join a debate and then say "no one gives a shit about your relic debate" becuz you obviously care a lil bit friend ;)

[@MichaelD8393]

The Gretsch at 8:48 reminded me of my White Falcon that also went through Hurricane Sandy. It was at my aunt & uncle's vacation house in Tom's River where the water rose about 6 feet and submerged the guitar from the rear strap button right to in between the pickups as it was on a wall mounted hanger. I thought it was a goner but my uncle (who's a pro luthier in New City, New York) restored it completely in time to get it back to me for Christmas. Best Christmas ever!

[@judemisura4323]

MichaelD8393 great story. glad she got her mojo back

[@MichaelD8393]

+Jude Misura Me too! Though admittedly my uncle completely restored and refinished it. In other words, it still looks brand new. My aunt told me my uncle was hellbent to make it perfect again. And he sure did.

[@judemisura4323]

MichaelD8393 if you want, friend me on Facebook Jude Patrick Misura

[@graham1745]

Phew……close one, Michael. Glad it came out of it all well…👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🎸🇺🇸

[@MichaelD8393]

@@graham1745 Definitely, I’m never parting with that Falcon for anything, not even an identical Falcon. It’s just got. Too much sentimental value after what it’s been through.

[@starc1839]

I saw Rich Tuesday night at The Satellite in Los Angeles.. he played n sang amazingly.. :)

[@spanky10940]

This was great! Doug really knows his stuff.... good dude and great interview.. Thanks Jason!

[@JJGhostHunters]

Seems like a great guitar tech...knows his stuff and seems easy to work with.

[@hepone]

Thanks for doing this. Rich has the finest gear. damn

[@wagnervallim]

@20:15 when Jason mics the 12-string guitar it sounds huge, man. What a guitar!

[@reginaldperiwinkle]

The most beautiful guitars of any of these Rig Rundowns.

[@MrObelisk2290]

great rig rundown

[@jeffrey.a.hanson]

Played guitar on a lot of Black Crowes in a band and had huge influence on my playing. Along with the versatility of Open G and others. Jealous Again and Angels.

[@Bluzian74]

OMG! Why has this never been suggested to me until now??!

[@Mickcotton]

Excellent Video Thank You So Much

[@thegeargeeks1]

Floated to the Top...I love it...

[@Jesusspop]

Enough with the relic talk, Rich is an amazing guitarist and songwriter, he can play whatever the hell he wants. as far as I'm concerned this is a beautiful collection of guitars

[@abg125]

amen brother...Rich is a certified badass. He doesn't have the time play a guitar enough to wear the finish off...if he wants a new or new to him guitar to look roadworn then that's his prerogative...

[@andrewgarcia3136]

rich is a pussy who thought he was too good to work with jimmy page

[@andrewgarcia3136]

@@abg125 a guitarist that doesn't have the time to play a guitar, that's contradictory

[@LiamNashMiller]

@@andrewgarcia3136 Not really. Guitarists don’t just play guitar. To get that kind of wear, you would have to be playing with it for decades, or be REALLY rough with the guitar. He had already had played played/toured for over 20 years at the time. He lost almost all of his guitars in Hurricane Sandy. Rich likes his guitars worn in, so he got the guitars reliced to help replicate that feeling of a worn in guitar.

[@premierguitar]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppWwdox4hseGbdU

[@kevinpaul1719]

Great interview! I found out a lot of stuff.

[@jeffellingson373]

I was at the Show! Fliping Rocked

[@myway43]

Need to get the book

[@mikelatimer8439]

Great guitar tech, thanks for sharing.

[@justinrulesass]

to each their own. i have an MJT relic cabronita in my collection, and while it's not my absolute favorite guitar, it's a great quality beater/traveler. very nice to take to friend's houses or something and not have to worry about little brothers, kids, or drunk adults 'abusing' it.

[@AndreAmeli]

i like this rig, great sounds, so much better then the 65 amps rig

[@jaysonc9690]

Gosh, Those 335s are gorgeuos

[@shaunm1983]

That black flood Gretsch looks amazing.

[@MichaelD8393]

Yeah, Gretsch should make Rich a tribute model just like it.

[@MichaelD8393]

The Gretsch at 9:49 reminded me of my White Falcon that got also trashed by Sandy. It was at my uncle's vacation home in Tom's River, NJ sitting on a guitar stand. We got about a foot and a half of water there best I remember & my Falcon was half submerged in the water. I thought it was ruined for good, but my uncle spoke with my other uncle (his brother) who's a luthier to put it back together and save it for me. Now it's one of my absolute favorites & I'll never part with it.

[@smelltheglove2038]

I had a vintage Ludwig drum set that got completely fucked by Sandy. I’m over in Camden county too, not even near the shore. My basement flooded for the first and only time. Only got about six inches down there but I the drums all sitting on the floor got water damage. Completely fucked. They all expanded where they were in the water and they looked like cones.

[@nevvai]

YES!

[@skynyrdrocksss]

Playing in open G (DGDGBD), makes it possible to play a bar chord with one finger, or a slide. Keith Richards among many others are also known for using this tuning, hence the edgy blues shuffles. Gives a very fat tone!

[@lacymacdougall9660]

Yeah Joni Mitchell used that too. Circle game

[@benlogan430]

I like GGDGBD myself.

[@skynyrdrocksss]

There's already one out there, though I can't remember if it was PG that did it. Pretty cool stuff.

[@k2snowbo]

Great rig rundown. But this guitar tech's little laugh kills me. Wtf. Haha. Other than that it's great. Love The relic guitars!

[@Quikfingers]

The dude is a guitar tech, who are normally fairly shy people anyway. He likely didn't ask to be on video. He's giving us the ins and outs, chill out.

[@TVeye65]

Would love to get some of those magic 46 E strings that tune down to a C or B.

[@JeremyDore]

RS guitar works mention! Yeah!

[@LesterPaul01]

He's a great tech.

[@thecrashharder01]

yeah. I change my strings after just one song too.

[@whitetigersLC04]

he's had the best guitars in my opinion

[@TheSonsofHorusx]

nice your uploading alot of rig rundowns i see

[@Thebigdoublek]

YES

[@xDooksx]

Finally

[@rookd1137]

That is super sad about the flood and gear.....

[@abg125]

Damn I didn't know Kim Coates was a guitar tech!

[@trabenfan001]

PLEASE do a rig rundown of Skillet's Seth Morrison and Korey Kooper. Their new rig sounds incredible!

[@ronnydeluxeman]

That dude has the scariest laugh I've ever heard... aha ha ha ha..

[@BluesTravelerArchive]

Please do John Kadlecik of Furthur.

[@jackymarc4801]

Hello. Great reportage, can you activate the option comments for the translation (I am French). Thank you.

[@kosminenkosonen2246]

The metal plates he so loves on hse guitars 8mainly on top), do they affect the sound? Any resonance?

[@PolyphonicPress]

He's not tuning the guitars in standard tuning but in the key of G. It's open G tuning which means the strings are in a different sequence.

[@zencb]

He had the guitars reliced because all his vintage guitars were damaged in a flood.....

[@timothycormier3494]

Mark Agneise from norms rare guitars. Would call it a Mestro wiggle stick.

[@lueysixty-six7300]

I had such a spin out at 22:00 ! That Way Huge...its almost exactly my board... even down to the oversize Big Muff at the end!😲 I've never seen anyone else ho Way Huge crazy like I did! I got carried away on a Way Huge trip (excuse the pun - George Tripps..? Yea, you see it!) and bought a bunch of them, thinking I could make my whole board WH. Cos look how sick it looks! But I didn't think it thru enough to realize that Way Huge don't do a lot pedals you need...like a noise gate... Octaver...Looper etc But what I do have looks awesome. Mine goes, from top right to left...ANGRY TROLL....GREEN RHINO....RED LlAMA (25th Ann. Ed. with tone knob)....SAUCY BOX (which is basically a streamlined newer version of PORK LOIN where the Eq's are built into the gain sweep)....then its the Fuzz trio...Swollen Pickle....The CONQUISTADOR (sickest Velcro fuzz of ALL time!!)...and Jumbo BIG MUFF.. Oh, I almost forgot... I run a Conspiracy Theory in front of all of that, which is basically a Klone. And its here to stay in my rig. Its that good. I have a.compressor by MXR in front of that...and mean to replace it with a Saffron Squeeze when I get around to it, someday - just coz. Edit: oh yes, totally forgot.. there's also an AQUA PUSS - the WH prfal started it all..my first WH - in the Fx loop. All up that's 8, I think.. Itkk be 9 when a swap the Compressor. And I had just one that I didn't agree with, n so I flipped it... and that was the Supa- Lead.

[@smelltheglove2038]

Dang, your “have to have” pedals are useless to me. Goes to show just how different peoples likes and needs are.

[@HarryJoyceAmpsUSA]

Cool

[@MrDrewbies]

PLEASE do a rig rundown of John Mayer's current setup. He's touring right now and an update would be cool.

[@seancolville9373]

Amp you can’t afford and a guitar you can’t afford. Done.

[@chefgiovanni]

Does the red guitar fly, or what ?

[@markking4182]

If he really wants a Flip Tremolo I have one sitting in a box! Somehow I doubt he'll find this and contact me, but the offer is out there.

[@chriss2452]

Still have it?

[@skycaptain141]

do a video of periphery setup and born of osirirs.

[@skynyrdrocksss]

It changes the tone of the guitar when the relic' process is done correctly. Gives it that good feel of a guitar that's got a little soul. If you ever get to sit down and play a Strat or Tele by "Nash Guitars", you will know what I mean.

[@john84896]

You are right on the money 💰 with that bro...I have couple of tele’s but my thin paint Nash is as sweet as Fuc...lollar pups help too😛

[@robertwhitcomb6105]

Why don’t people request rig rundowns directly at the premiere site?

[@premierguitar]

[e-mail]

[@michaelleigh]

So if he's using that Reason amp and only one speaker box...makes me wonder when they were on Leno doing Sting Me years ago with large cabinet stacks, were they just there for show? Empty cabinets maybe? I've heard of bands with several Marshall stacks, with empty cabs and only using one amp & cab.

[@teilhardomega9731]

michael leigh from some podcasts most guys from the Marc Ford era remember it being deafening loud

[@gms2s]

Was the flood before or after Rich's Guitar Aficionado spread?

[@roknfnrol]

Can we expect a Jackie Greene rig rundown?

[@mck974]

noooo Rebecca is gone!?? loved her!

[@justinrulesass]

i hate hearing that the strings get changed after 1 song

[@wammbarro]

Jackie Greene RR would be cool too!

[@bixnoodfc]

Please do cage the elephant and muse... They're on tour

[@israelbonnard]

which was the name of the guitar brand? Tai?

[@Veaseify]

I remember reading an interview with Rich Robinson about ten years ago where he said he really doesn't know any songs other than what he plays in the Black Crowes, kind of hard to believe but if its true it probably makes him unique as a professional musician!

[@DaPoopIsInDaPudding]

He’s played a shit ton of covers

[@smelltheglove2038]

@@DaPoopIsInDaPudding you need to read the comment completely. Your comment doesn’t disprove what was said.

[@Gibbs199761]

Stratocaster and Martin acoustic there you go

[@projectmoon13]

I relic my own guitars. I do it so when I bang it into something I won’t care. Yes, new guitars feel weird. Sandpaper works wonders. I hate it when people have a bad opinion about It. I like it. That’s that..

[@gonde21]

what aboout a new north mississippi allstars Rundown??? PLEAASE

[@TheZooropaBaby]

I seriously want to see Edge's rig rundown, I'm just curious.

[@judemisura4323]

***** Jack White

[@Stewdogin1]

Wow. I guess I would trade Mr. Robinson straight up.

[@chriss2452]

I see now this was from 2013... Were the Black Crowes playing by then or is this Rich's rig with Magpie or solo?

[@daveyboy8907]

They were touring and made the warpaint and before and after the frost albums. My favorite era actually .

[@tgrules565]

Do Saxon. They're in the US right now.

[@mma1st105]

I spend years taking as much care and attention to detail making sure my guitars are playing and looking good (except when drunk) and others drag high end instruments through parking lots. If Rich wasn't such a badass guitarist I'd talk shit lol

[@Otis-Isom]

Well to be fair it was your choice to try and keep em clean. When I get a les paul Im gonna play it into the ground even if it gets dents and finish checks ill keep playing it as hard as I can.

[@benlogan430]

You don’t need to wear my hat you can choose to wear your own.

[@lacymacdougall9660]

Damn, I thought Rich was going to be in this due to the title...

[@premierguitar]

Teye Guitars

[@ricklewis5804]

Premier Guitar I have 7 Teye guitars. Most excellent instruments beautiful but they’re heavy.

[@TheZooropaBaby]

where does she work now?

[@JacksonKillroy]

Please guys i'd do terrible things for a Tame Impala rig rundown. They're touring the US right now, get on it!

[@yitboy11]

This guy sounds supper nervous for some reason. It's ok dude, we like rig rundowns!

[@lawlaw1]

guitar god

[@scootmcgoot570]

Awesome rig! You could about buy a nice house for the price of his gear

[@slowfasters]

...and the Gibson model where are

[@nmblack02]

Is... That... Tig from Sons of Anarchy?

[@fdfsdfsvsfgsg4888]

Nope.

[@Bass-n-Boom]

🤔... That tone difference "for the better" (you say & I'd believe) might be 'cause'a how much humidity all'a the wood absorbed In That Flood! (🤷🏻‍♂️) Like more than "vintage-look", it may've literally "Vintaged!" 'em sumbitches Earlier than normal. (🙆🏻‍♂️ Like, soaked 'em to the bones, & dryed 'em back out, Waaaaay quicker'n Blood, Sweat, Spotlights, & Beer! 😂). 😎🤙🏻 I've always heard one'a the Main reasons the older (Gibson, Fender, & Martin/electric & especially acoustic) guitars Sounded the Way They Do...was Because of How OLD ("Aged" applies a tad betterer, I reckon) they Are.

[@jakelus71]

it bends the b string....

[@samivellamo3995]

Well, qudos to Rich's guitar tech. No qudos to Rich. But I do love Lions.

[@Sunstrat27]

So strings won't break.

[@robertwillett4122]

It's just a brand new hand wired VOX. Nice

[@MellowSexual]

its OPEN G my friend

[@Jamler3]

I've seen that... And if feeds back like crazy on Jack... Doug's point was nobody manages feedback, at these volumes off hollow body axes like the Grestch, better than Rich... Oh and Jack's tone blows bud...LOL

[@andrew624097]

does this guy change guitars every song?

[@widowmaker5544]

i don't see no rich robinson, only a doug "red" redler but hey he did use to work for slash back when he was playing in the conspirators along side Myles Kennedy oh and also 200th

[@jb9dog]

Cant understand the silly comments about The Crowes - they are a great band and so what if Rich likes to beat up his guitars a bit. Who doesn't like faded distressed jeans over a brand new pair ?

[@jb9dog]

Come on Cyrus - you can do better than that.

[@FlyingAce39]

I much prefer a brand new pair of jeans over a pair that's already worn out before I even wear them.

[@trillrifaxegrindor4411]

If you pay someone else to wear out your pants for you,you have joined the hipster douchebag club. and you definitely own relic guitars because you love for other people to make you look cool because you arent cool on your own.

[@wittvonwitt4403]

He can do what he wants. He's Rich Robinson. He's toured the world and been on the radio and Mtv and guitar magazine covers. We haven't. I doubt be gives a shit about our opinion anyway. But i think it looks cool. And looking cool is important.

[@fdfsdfsvsfgsg4888]

Anyone who isn't a dickhead.

[@michaelluczak3019]

Why dont the players do these interviews?

[@mattf2666]

I think it would be awesome if you guys did a Rig Rundown on Hillsong United. Their guitar players have awesome tone.

[@johndoe6156]

I'm an horrible guy. Thinking about guitars lost in a flood makes me sad.

[@MichaelJBirch-yj1ol]

drone on

[@kaypolo]

Everybody's got different taste buds.

[@Veaseify]

Not if you play slide or open tunings, also if you recorded a song on an SG or a 335 or a Strat why not use the same guitar for playing live? The one that gets me is Billy Gibbons who has a bunch of guitars but puts them through an Axe FX to deliberately make them sound the same..what is the point of that?

[@shanemcconnell1736]

No he puts them through an equalizer

[@Semmostaja]

KISS rig rundown?

[@ccopester8951]

“Um”

[@alpacheno]

What's the function of the B bender system?