Rig Rundown - Primus' Larry LaLonde [2017]

Article & photos: bit.ly/PrimusRR...
Win a Keeley Bubble Tron & Super Mod Workstation: bit.ly/WinKeele...
Before their double-set show (one containing hits and deep cuts while the other included playing their new album, The Desaturating Seven, from front to back), guitarist Larry “Ler” LaLonde hopped onstage to show off all his Fender and PRS guitars, detail his latest switch to Orange Dark Terrors, and he finally explains how he uses traditional stompboxes with a Fractal Axe-Fx.
“I don’t know why this became my current No. 1, but it just is,” says LaLonde about his sunburst Fender American Deluxe Strat. “Something about this guitar just makes it sound amazing.” In addition to being his go-to road warrior, he used it quite a bit in the studio to record Primus’ new album, The Desaturating Seven. All of his 6-strings take Dunlop .009-.046 strings. His guitars are typically tuned to standard, but if Larry is feeling heavy, he’ll tune down to dropped-D.
Another main ride for the band’s current tour is this custom Fender Stratocaster that is decked out in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory colors because the band recorded an album as an ode to the Wilder film in 2014, so LaLonde commissioned Fender to build him some custom-painted Strats for the subsequent tour. This one sounded so good (it’s loaded with unknown DiMarzio single-coils) that he continues to use it on tour and in the studio.
Continue reading: bit.ly/PrimusRR...

[@robscallon]

Go Ler! Thanks Ler!

[@Brian19451]

ROB!! Do a Primus medley.

[@andrewpappas9311]

Sup Rob

[@marcospintor1333]

Tu eres tasty ❤️

[@beck_tybg]

Please do the Primus medley or anything primus

[@itsquodo131]

itttts ya boy

[@JeffBecerra1]

Feels good to see Larry and how well he’s doing these days. He looks exactly the same as 33 years ago. We started our first band together and I made damned sure to go back and get him for Possessed. Great guy, amazing guitarist, we need to get together again ! ~Jeff/Possessed~

[@MrShreddykruger]

Jeff Becerra 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@MrSimondaniel3]

all hail Possessed : )

[@LupusYonderboy13]

Seven Churches is my hymn book.

[@chrisberg2083]

Jeff, your new Album kills.

[@TheDarquon]

Great to see your latest album and seeing your gigs on youtube especially I have watched all the waken gigs. Thanks for the music man. Wish I could get a version of beyond the gates with the original opening gates. Sick of moving and losing all my cool shit, which is anything by Jeff and Larry

[@Orieus]

One of the most underrated guitar players from the 90s easily . The man has a unique sound

[@willlastnameguy8329]

Oreius One of the most underrated in history.

[@user-js8wz6yt4v]

Probably overshadowed by the fact his band mate is the one of best bass players out there. Alex Lifeson much?

[@MyDemon32]

He played with Possessed when they were starting

[@Kevin.Kelly.]

He’s a Death Metal legend from that album. Seven Churches.

[@Steely_Fran]

His solo in "Wynona's Big Brown Beaver" is one of my favorite guitar solos, ever. Just about every time I listen to that tune, I rewind the solo and listen to it again.

[@the-LeoKnightus]

Being the guitar player for Primus must be the coolest job ever Ler. No one is gonna tell you ...'you cant do that".

[@spongebitchbobface]

He was also the founding guitarist of the legendary death metal band possessed!.

[@Condemned782]

@@spongebitchbobface No fuckin way what

[@kevfullo]

@@Condemned782 See the top comment ^^ :-)

[@TheCiaMKultra]

Truly since PRIMUS SUCKS ! Mind blown in 89' - Jerry was a race car driver era ! Never looked back and has been amazing ever since

[@joelapilainen]

​@@spongebitchbobfacehe wasn't a founding member, he replaced Brian Montana in 1984 or 1985

[@Brian19451]

WE NEED LES CLAYPOOL RIG RUNDOWN

[@zerbie8272]

THIS A 1000 FUCKING TIMES!!!!

[@premierguitar]

We tried, but he politely declined to participate.

[@Brian19451]

Understandable. Indeed, a master does not reveal his methods.

[@jasonfifi]

giant speakers, 15s and 18s, lots of highs in the front end, pretty even eq settings on lots of really high wattage solid state power amps. boom. done.

[@MatheusSantos-fb2vu]

aaaaaaah man :(

[@jnaz3thirty1]

I love when guys try to dissect everything , from gear to scales etc especially with a unique player like ler and he’s just like “ I don’t know man , I just go with what sounds cool “

[@elspookso8414]

Holy shit! I nearly wrote this comment word-for-word. Definitely, man. Larry nearly seemed as nervous as the host in the beginning, haha...

[@cjlive5182]

Right?! It’s like asking an athlete to describe their action movement by movement. They can’t. It’s muscle memory and flow.

[@richbailey5025]

a lot of them arent as technical.about the gear...they have techs that handle that

[@nellrussellstarving_artist1215]

IKR.? Like Hendrix would have broke it down... Like the music is because IT IS...

[@bdwitt66]

So if you dislike, are you saying Primus sucks?

[@bartul777]

bdwitt66 no actually when you say primus sucks that means that they rock

[@geoffwhitaker6062]

wierzacy 27 I think that was the joke.

[@luciousgrun922]

no, that would be - Primus Rocks

[@Bunnytoes666]

Wrong! Primus promoted themselves to be awesome with (find out for yourself) stickers and the like back in the early nineties....PRIMUS SUCKS! ...they read!

[@JkNttr]

@@bartul777 w o o s h

[@chriskeck3689]

Larry got tired of playing Les Paul guitars, he has more than enough "Les" in his life already

[@samchrist2508]

"I don't even think they still play music on that channel" - Chris Kies (2017) Being savage as fuck

[@stevenedgar8061]

whats crazy is that most peeps still don't know Larry recorded the first true death metal album "Seven Churches" with the band Possessed when he was just 17 in 1985

[@metalpractor5150]

Steven Edgar i know, and cry daily for his and Torao's return

[@volks5410]

Shit i actually didn't know that.

[@iiWNMii]

Thanks for the heads up!

[@clintwilson6380]

Steven, yeah I just read that about "7 Churhes" the other day. For some weird reason I never got into Primus, but I finally sorta rediscovered them lately, so do you know what Primus song that is playing at the very start of the rig rundown? Sounds killer want to hear the whole thing. Thanks, Clinton Wayne

[@McSuckage]

That would be "The Seven" from their latest record. @@clintwilson6380

[@spookylaundry3326]

Wow, Larry's a great dude.

[@mauriciohernandezdiaz9825]

I met him once outside their hotel in my hometown and he couldn't have been nicer, even apologized for not having any picks on him to hand out.

[@billman890]

Honestly, this is my favourite rig rundown ever

[@papasmamas1]

Hello dear Premier guitar, hope you havin a good day, just wanted to say that I really enjoy the videos you make and say thanks to bring us all the guitar fun. Bye and have a nice day.

[@BlynxZero]

Frickin love Primus. And also Ler, Fender should really make a Larry Lelonde signature guitar, that'd be rad.

[@macmuggo5459]

Deffo

[@kevfullo]

A white strat with a purple knob, black guard. A wonky Floyd with inch high action and a jagged hole for the (wonky) humbucker. I would buy that.

[@gwb19]

Yeah that green one with the black knobs and pickup covers. The wonka ones are so fantastic though

[@Frankincensedjb123]

I've been a Primus fan for years, followed Les in all his manifestations with Rush, Buckethead, Lennon, et al., but in all that time with Larry so often in the background, this is the first time I've heard him speak or be featured at all. Such a humble guy. Good stuff.

[@MST3Killa]

Larry has to be up there with Joey Santiago for most underrated guitarists in otherwise relatively famous bands. (Primus and The Pixies)

[@RisikoAO]

Finally something I am interested in! Larry is such a nice and funny guy.

[@andrewpappas9311]

God I missed these guys, Ler is such an underrated guitarist. Plus it's cool to see him with his PRS again

[@Punkpsychobilly]

The man is a guitar wizard. I never truly appreciated him as a guitarist until I was older, though. Easily one of the best guitarists in rock. Or metal, or whatever you classify Primus as these days.

[@Slammansam]

@@Punkpsychobilly I would consider primus "Funk Metal" and larry was one of the guitarists from the death metal band Possessed.

[@aavila1206]

From Death to Funk, weird huh?

[@Slammansam]

@@aavila1206 Yeah its very interesting, but the 2 genres are very interchangeable

[@jamesmunn576]

@@Slammansam Funkamentally similar! 😄

[@duaneanderson9492]

the purple wonka guitar is beautiful.

[@Loko-kk7tl]

You're beautiful

[@Crazy-bq2ke]

@@Loko-kk7tl simp

[@Loko-kk7tl]

@@Crazy-bq2ke you're beautiful too

[@-Bishop-]

I know right!

[@Crazy-bq2ke]

@@Loko-kk7tl 😳

[@Disco-Terry]

Dude has some cool looking strats, looks a bit like phil x too haha

[@lucamoqi]

물고기 I was thinking the same. He does look a bit like Phil X indeed haha

[@TheZooropaBaby]

well he was in Possessed, so

[@theedgeinshow]

Nothing Primus does makes any sense...its just confusion and noise...and it's so awesome and perfect because of it. True musicianship that totally deserves to be pretentious but has never taken itself too serious. These dudes are just awesome.

[@elspookso8414]

Eat a couple 1000 shrooms over an extended period of time and... it makes even less sense. But, it's so awesome & perfect because of it.

[@matthewtop]

The more experimental and weird the better mushrooms make it. Listen to Tago Mago by Can for that as well

[@kernalkarma4752]

Makes perfect sense to king crimson fans .

[@nellrussellstarving_artist1215]

And then add "shine lemons"... Perfect chaos at every turn

[@cjlive5182]

I named my cat Ler. He’s a cool cat.

[@andrewpappas9311]

Not Tommy?

[@chapinandersen]

Hell yeah. I really like how he actually took the time and went through everything on set and walked through everything on his board. Definitely one of my most favorite guitarists

[@josejalaeno73]

Strats, Keeley Dark Side pedal, and the opening chord to Breathe at 18:14 Fair to say he might be a Gilmour fan ;)

[@gdprice79]

What a cool, easy going guy. No attitude, or swagger. Just seems like a genuine guy. Great to see someone with all the talent and notoriety so down to earth.

[@marksummers666]

oh man...the Tweekers sound actually gave me chills. i wouldve freaked out

[@jokermtb]

interesting how the middle pickup is slammed to the deck to keep it out of the way....

[@kuga6566]

Chris is the best god damn editor at PG. He asks all the right questions and his enthusiasm for the artist and meeting his heroes is absolutely adorable, yet he does it with utmost professionalism.

[@mr.mustard4602]

you can tell he's really uncomfortable lol

[@Mrbungleface0u818]

Shout out starving musician in San Jose ca... That's where I shop too larry

[@willlastnameguy8329]

Most underrated guitarist in history.

[@subeeinsuresh5896]

The purple and orange one looks so beautiful!

[@markdevlin6442]

He looks like someone from Possessed

[@elspookso8414]

Could it be?!

[@uncle_bro_eh6911]

Mark Devlin is it possible?

[@MrSergeantfudge]

Is it luck?

[@nuke97]

Larry is awesome. Inspired me to get back on guitar.

[@davidnissim589]

Ler helped pioneer death metal (with Possessed). Why does no one talk about that?

[@t3hgir]

check out his Gibson "guitar lesson" video, he breaks down some Possessed riffs \m/

[@Rollingalucky7]

Amazing how every little riff played just sounds like primus. No matter the effect. All in the artist’s fingers.

[@MisterFarce]

Ler is such a criminally underrated player.

[@ulis3082]

So often is the Bassman´s Rig Rundown missing. And in the case of Les Claypool ... it´s a mortal sin! Please do a Rundown of Les` Rig! Thanks.

[@premierguitar]

Trust us, we tried, but Les and his tech politely declined to partake in the video. We ABSOLUTELY wanted to include it, but Les seems to like to keep his gear details a bit murky.

[@bobbyberetta4206]

111 111 I'm the same way, even when it comes to learning songs. I purposely don't want know so it remains mysterious and I can live within in it.

[@basstea338]

Premier Guitar thundercat rig rundown?

[@jsullivan2112]

@@kilo3811 This right here. I don't wanna know what's in the sauce.

[@metalifan]

Larry should of hooked up and played "Burning in Hell"!! \m/

[@Spiri7ualShi7]

Rig Rundown: Tommy Wisseau.

[@MyDemon32]

His rig teared the competence apart!

[@auntjenifer7774]

Robinson Aquino *!* 🤣😆😂

[@RiffRock51]

Oh hai, Mark!

[@beck_tybg]

I saw them live a few weeks ago. By far the best concert I have ever been to.

[@TWTexasA1]

Now this is my kind of guitar player…who gives a crap about this and that if it sounds good and plays good…use it 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@Travis-pf3gt]

Premier Guitar is awesome and it's super cool they keep up with Larry Lalonde, imo he doesn't get enough respect in the guitar world.

[@imunchienandalusia]

one of the best rig rundowns.

[@heirrose1606]

My favorite guitarists are dirty. Music is not Math. It's emotion played voiced through instruments not some musical math map.

[@premierguitar]

Win a Keeley Bubble Tron & Super Mod Workstation like Ler's: bit.ly/WinKeeleyPrimus

[@bushleague3472]

The world in general, and youtube in particular, is full of musicians who have less than half of Larry's talent, but take themselves more than twice as seriously.

[@ZosAos]

What a lovely humble guy. I've been a big fan of LaLonde since I was a young teenage guitarist, so to see this kind of down to earth interview many years later is a treat!

[@TheGreenKingdom]

Ler is such a great guy, instantly recognizable sound(s). Good on Chris for knowing the music so well and asking great questions. I want that orange Wonka Strat!

[@helterskelter1178]

I saw Les, Ler and Herb on this tour with Clutch. Planning on seeing them again playing A Farewell to Kings in it's entirety. Love Primus.

[@horizontalblanking]

Nice shout-out to The Starving Musician in SJ!

[@burresseffects]

I was at this show at War Memorial in Nashville, and Ler and the boys blew me away. Seems like a really knowledgeable, friendly guy too! I can’t believe this was shot right before I got inside the venue! RAD!

[@premierguitar]

Say 'hi' next time!

[@sabre22b]

Wow. A real bloke with a healthy ego, humour be and self deprecation. Creative, honest, sooo coool. Pleasure to watch.

[@paulosicne5803]

I saw Larry at the Balboa Theatre in L.A. when he was in Possessed in 1986. Awesome set!

[@jsullivan2112]

It's awesome to hear someone who knows his shit but is also an actual fan of the music too doing this rundown. And he's just playing it cool, despite the urge to fanboy out while doing the interview. Good job!

[@seeteasea5497]

Most guitarists say “I want this wood for the body, this for the neck and this for the fretboard. I want this brand of string in this particular gauge. I want a single coil at the neck and a humbucker at the bridge out of phase, etc, etc” Larry is like “can I have a purple and orange one?”

[@destianpatrianagara1119]

The most UNDERRATED guitarist ever. His style is so unique

[@nuggethead008]

lol..."I saw Jimmy Page do that"

[@mwothe]

"That's my sound. Outta tune man!"

[@SaberToothGary]

Larry! Rip out some "No Will To Live" solo stuff from WAYYYYY back, eh? Possessed rules!! (used to) Cheers!! -T

[@EDAR96]

I could go for another hour of this

[@roxtar10870]

I love when the guy asks them a super specific question about pickups or switches and the guy is like, "I dunno, man... I just play them". Proof that gear doesn't mean shit.

[@the_musiccellar]

Square wave gets you the most drastic helicopter tremolo :)

[@michaelmadness7892]

Thank you Larry for the sounds you create. You bring much joy to the world my friend.

[@mouthmw]

Larry is so cool. I wanna buy him a beer and just hang out man.

[@cjlive5182]

mouthmw can I come too?

[@mouthmw]

Sure thing bro, grab a brewski.

[@jobelewis6416]

“would always be fretting about it”😏😏

[@inrewts3936]

I just noticed, these are the Jim Root cabs but he drew over the signature on the top left of the cab

[@its_adamboi6276]

Fender should release that willy wonka guitar as like a limited run, looks sick

[@MaskedRiderChris]

Now if only he'd talk about Possessed, already...dude, you helped contribute to death metal history by pioneering the template for it with Possessed, and you won't even talk about it, still?! WHY?!

[@aaronhegg1856]

Christopher Pineau I’d hit that podcast. Episode 96

[@chriskeck3689]

They call Larry Bird, "Larry Legend", yet there is another that deserves the name. Les and Ler are a match made in a psychedelic paradise

[@aestethical2221]

Its hard to believe this is the same guitarist from Possessed

[@ZJtraylor]

I have never known specifically why (partially cause of his subtle style of play) but Ler has been one of my favorite guitarists since I started listening to Primus. The solo in Big Brown Beaver and the riff in Toys Go Winding Down just amazing. Can’t teach that shit.

[@johnesmoke]

Just saw this show in Knoxville last night and it was mind blowing as usual.

[@FeelingShred]

Luckiest guitar player in the biz after Andy Summers (although his recent album "Fundamental" is really cool, check it out!)

[@Tombstonecross]

Those purple/orange guitars are awesome!

[@phi6337]

If anyone's interested, that 'Robert Fripp chord' Ler mentions at 25:45 is from King Crimson's song 'Nuages (That Which Passes, Passes Like Clouds)', off the Three of a Perfect Pair record.

[@gutterdocmd]

Seems like the nicest, most humble guy. Love ya Ler! I was so lucky to see them in the late 80s early 90s in a very small venue in Las Vegas, Calamity Janes. It was a spiritual experience!

[@davidenoch818]

Man, he seems like such a simple man who likes what he likes. Doesn't put alot of care into details. Best way to enjoy life.

[@therealnafis3637]

This such a good rundown with great questions especially since you know that Chris is clearly a fanboy :D

[@bacongl]

What a cool dude. One of my favorite guitar players of all time actually. I love how he just does what he wants. Of course Les and Herb are among my favorites too.

[@tobasco_jones6160]

This was shot At Nashvilles War Memorial Auditorium I was at the show and saw the Premier Guitar guys walk by us outside

[@jayhallman6666]

Alex Cardwell I noticed most of the episodes are done in Nashville

[@BoyAditya]

If Phil X is the crazy brother, Larry Lalonde is the weird brother 😁 ... And Robben ford is their Dad 😋

[@kernalkarma4752]

A guitarists guitarist .

[@DavidWright-yn9bi]

Larry is just one of those super cool guys that you could have a beer with and shoot the shit all day. A simply talented musician.

[@somepickles]

lol I just watched the vid where Ler's guitar goes flying... so sad

[@bristolww]

Hey! If Larry is leaving that lacquer on the neck on the strat, he would really appreciate it if he tried some Lightnin Magic. I can get him a sample for free if one of you get back to me. Cheers

[@richthetrashpicker-upper5244]

Man I never laughed so much during a Rig Rundown thank you awesome job you guys have I'm For Hire

[@ponyboy481]

Would like to see what his rig was when he was in possessed

[@90sGuitarCovers]

Cool rig. I'm pretty sure the dark terror preamp is from the TH series. The JR terror is the rockerverb preamp

[@jayhallman6666]

90s Guitar Covers yep

[@divinefallfromgrace]

What a sweet lil' Ler. Seriously though, one of the best, and most unique, axers ever. Best experienced live. 😁

[@martijnkemperman7689]

Ler, the only dude that can care so little about his guitars that he lost his '69 tele...

[@seeteasea5497]

I love how he is asked a question and his reply is “it’s probably this” hahaha it’s exactly what I expect and want from Larry

[@danielwilson6529]

How down to earth and laid back , refreshing , and very cool ✌️😎

[@Beatypatrockks]

thumps up on calling out MTV for not playing music and a great Faith No More shirt. Cheers,man!

[@willemniehorster9836]

he is so underrated! I love his sound and attitude

[@samquicky3052]

I want to see a les claypool rig rundown 🐷

[@Pannemat]

It's burple.

[@jimorocks]

Cool dude! it would be fun to jam with him.

[@Patrick33194]

Larry always looks soo cool and chill and down to earth One of my fav guitarists xD

[@krisfrosz133]

12:35 The lighting looks like as if god has blessed Ler with a magnificent wall of sound.

[@jamlive6650]

10:53 I’d heard another story that said for the encore during a Primus show in Feb. 2000, Ler hit some of Brains cymbals with the headstock of the PRS, Brain (supposedly) got pissed, ripped the guitar off Larry and chucked it across the stage. That’s how the headstock broke. Anyone else back this up because I’ve seen this from a couple people who they were at that show? Regardless of whether it’s true or not, I hope there is no bad blood between Ler and Brain. Love ya Ler!!