Rig Rundown - Reverend Horton Heat

www.premierguitar.com PG's Chris Kies is On Location at RIBCO Brewing in Rock Island, IL, where he catches up with rockabilly guitar slinger Jim "Reverend Horton" Heath for another Rig Rundown installment.
In this Rig Rundown video segment, the Rev talks about his signature Gretsch G6120RHH Hollowbody electric guitar, switching from his tried-and-true 1978 Fender Deluxe Reverb amp to a Gretsch Executive combo, and why he uses a rackmount delay during his live shows. In addition to the gear talk, the Rev talks and show off some techniques and playing styles he uses on a nightly basis while performing.
For more Rig Rundown videos, or to view Premier Guitar's completely FREE digital edition magazine, be sure to visit www.premierguitar.com

[@nofriendtojesus]

I would pay big money for a good detailed 2 hour video lesson from this guy. He's amazing and underrated.

[@kermitthefrog3685]

Guitar.com has a 4-video series on KZbin with him. it's old but good.

[@MoeSlislack]

thanks Kermit.

[@dworvorock]

He has his own very small KZbin channel, 222Horton, where he sometimes posts lessons.

[@videogenic]

This guy has been seriously touring *forever*. I have been going to his shows since around 1994 and it's always the highlight of the year when they come through town.

[@sinnertrain7405]

Jim Heath is one of my favorite guitarists. I love his modern take on rockabilly. Reverend Horton Heat ROCK!!!

[@johnnyguerrero4615]

If you've never seen this guy live, you owe it to yourself to do so. Wow!

[@crashstitches79]

Denton, TX in 2004...and I've never been so drunk in public as that night. Also all my friends. Fuggit, *IT'S MARTINI TIME!*

[@Aquahutch]

I love the fact that he can be so badass on stage. But outside of that, as a person, he's a mature man and doesn't act like some rock n' roll bad boy douche. He's established himself and he does't need to try to act any kind of way.

[@frankrizzo5710]

Agreed, funny guy too!

[@SocksworthRiffs]

Came for a rig rundown, got a techniques lesson and example Stellar.

[@gjh400]

KaisDragonBlade me as well -- I check this out all the time trying lift those tasty licks!

[@PapiSorrels]

The REV just rocks more accident than most guitar players do on purpose! Love him!

[@fraterlucifer888]

LOVE THE REV!!!! we had a psychobilly/cowpunk band about 10 yrs ago called the ecclectomaniacs, rockabilly is the most fun music to play or hear live,,I love rockabilly so much

[@MisterTee]

First time I saw the Rev they opened for Soundgarden on the Superunknown tour. They blew Soundgarden off the stage.....it wasnt even close.

[@joynthis]

Kind of hard to do their normal rig rundown -- "I take this guitar, plug a cord into it here, then I take that same cord and plug that into this amp."

[@DennisChaves]

Jim must be the greatest guy to hang with. He's a guitar god and he doesn't even give a shit. Seems like the most down-to-earth rock star ever.

[@steveburchfield5576]

ONLY ONE JUDGE GOD ALLMIGHTY!!!

[@aaronmccutcheon]

The Rev is great...Jimbo is an awesome guy too, talked to him for 10-15 minutes after a show in Akron a couple years ago!

[@dunemetal67]

Saw the Rev at House of Blues Chicago in 95. That guy rocked the fuckin place. I'd never heard of him before that but been a fan since. Crazy he was using a 78 Ultralinear Super Reverb for all that time before the Gretsch amp. Jim is the real deal

[@hinduismwithpremananddasbhagat]

One of our most under-rated guitarists. He can play anything.

[@djangolad]

To change strings on a Bigsby you need to use a capo to hold the strings in place as you change them...I figured that out after much frustration.

[@marksc1929]

djangolad ...agreed

[@BadlyBentPub]

I'm buying my first Gretsch w/a Bigsby tomorrow (been a Fender guy my whole life) - thanks for the tip on changing strings - that will come in handy!

[@cornstar1253]

Oh. Never thought of that. Thanks

[@Mahdcat]

DUDE. I restrung my first Gretsch with a Bigsby last month. It took me over an hour. Thanks for the advice. Should have looked up how to do it first.

[@nickp.2169]

Late to the party but that is a great idea

[@hitoneguitars]

Having the Rev plugged in would have been nice. He's a hell of a player!

[@mcarter3371]

Premiere Guitar needs to invest in a wireless mic for interviews...

[@Saltanic]

Love the Rev, such an amazing player.

[@Babillonia]

This Gretsch guitar is really something. So pretty in every prospect.

[@elwoodblues9579]

Silverface Super Reverb was kicked up to 70 watts from 45 in 1977, I owned one once (78'). That's why they're so Boss!

[@InfiniteRhombus]

ive never had as much fun playing guitar as i do when i play galaxy 500

[@benarauz1092]

favorite comment i have seen in a while

[@nasosnevrantzas9644]

any tab for that brother? would be much appreciated in greece i may be the only one who knows the rev so its kinda hard to find tab books on stores

[@viperBSG]

You know what someone told me years ago when I was a youngin? That a good electric guitar sounds good even unplugged. should have a pleasing sound about it. I just bought my first Gretsch It sound wonderful unplugged. Now I'm hooked on all these Gretsch players Like Rev. Horton .

[@stepitupandgo67]

seeing him in feb...hopefully playing with him!!....lots of wisdom from this vid, ty

[@juanrules]

premier guitar always has the best rig rundowns!

[@carlosyepez9069]

i love how it went from being a rig rundown to a full out guitar lesson...lol

[@ibuprofen303]

Beautiful guitar

[@GuySperry]

Gretschy Gretschen McGretschowitz Loving that guitar.

[@bldallas]

Takes me back to the laste 80s, when we used to frequently see RHH in Deep Ellum, Dallas. Good times. On a side note, I wish like hell my thumb would bend like that.

[@spider62able]

I luv the Revs Signature Gretsch! Great player and great no frills setup!

[@randyc5650]

Great unplugged sound.

[@willtrible6612]

I meet him the late eighties or early nineties in deep elluim😮 then I didn't know who he was he was like this a good club and this one's not to great and oh In couple nights I'm playing it was it was awesome. I've seen 5 or six times since every times been great.most recently I seen him at the mesa theater in grand junction Colorado. It was a great show. Its weird. When he comes on stage you forget about the other bands that played .it's so cool thanks

[@DetroitDogTrainer]

What a cool guy & gorgeous guitar. Thanks!!!

[@Oakheart]

Rev throws a shout to Split Lip! Sweet.

[@bradoozy]

I love this guy

[@rob550]

I'm 12 years late to this video, but that walking bass thing he did with his thumb over the neck at 08:40 is great and i'm gonna try it later.

[@aidenchizinya3840]

To sum up the rig: Gretsch, delay, amp.

[@davedoubleddykhuizen]

Hey, I've got the same glasses as the Rev! Got some of the lickage, too...

[@oimate4201]

Sweet guitar. My favorite so far. That Fillmore show was fun. Good times

[@RemoteAbductionArm]

Has he done any instructional videos/courses/dvds? It seems like he likes to teach. I have weird hands with huge palms and moderately long fingers, so I've pretty much given up on trying to use my thumb, but he inspired me. It doesn't look like he has excepionally long fingers either.

[@MsHjennings]

Oh! I love him!

[@J-L79]

Damn I'de be happy to be able to play like that on that type of gear

[@MoeSlislack]

I love the revered!

[@richardc2803]

In some videos I see he uses a couple of pedals.. one looks like a volume pedal..are there others?

[@schlagdog]

Nice. Whatever new camera you are using looks fantastic.

[@Jackdesj]

I wish this was about an hour longer...that man can pick!

[@cpnms5]

Ok, this is 9 years old but damn, that was way too short. I could have listened and studied for a few hours! That was great

[@buddyollie180]

rig rundown and guitar lesson!

[@tobiashoyden2644]

Hands down, no bullsnit, my absolute favorite entertainer I nearly soiled myself meeting him

[@kbrown649]

Right? I woulda loved to hear that Gretsch amp!

[@Charismafire]

Galaxie 500 is one of my favorite songs.

[@michaelbartholomew8155]

too cool!

[@gregorylynch3274]

Newcastle brown ale? I’m watching from down the road from Newcastle upon Tyne England!! Small world.

[@OldSkoolF]

The Reverend for President!

[@danielktdoranie]

Someone should tell the Rev about those replacement Bigsby shafts with the holes in them

[@JerkyTreat]

The Rev is coo. Way coo.

[@RowenCx4]

real cool man.

[@papahjoshscene4234]

Bigsby bridge type/series ?

[@mcatinfo3829]

Plug the guy in!

[@stepitupandgo67]

Well, it's taken me 3 years to admit it, but,...that didn't pan out..haha ....but he played and ripped it up...voodoo glow skulls opened...it was a great show

[@wesmitchem825]

Holy crap I play a lot like the rev.i thought I was the only one who used his thumb to play the low strings I had to develop a new way to play after chopping off my finger tips on my ring and middle finger I can use them now but a lot more minimally I can't hold more than one string down at a time

[@robertscoggin]

SUPER reverb

[@cesibley]

RHH has Sound Post vs. Trestle Bracing of the SS

[@gmsdrmr]

I'm a drummer, but Jim is my guitar God. LOVE this guy.

[@tommy1gtr]

what band is he mentioning in 9:24?? i could not make out what he said!

[@robertsanders2010]

Split Lip Rayfield

[@criticalfxck13]

I also love how he looks like he could be Robert Patrick's brother

[@dd8194]

What the hell @ 7:47! Sounds like a effin' accordion! I gotta lift that.

[@JInfinity7]

Fingerpick battle: Heath vs. Knopfler. Annnnd after seeing the 7:13 point....nevermind. Both are masters.

[@xDooksx]

It's all in the thumb

[@shawnawesome7770]

I swear you can go to any city in the US and find a flyer for a Reverend horton heat show

[@daytimerocker3808]

8:25 - is that a song? if so whats the name?

[@JLE82998]

Indigo Friends

[@daytimerocker3808]

thanks

[@Sigourneyweaversboobs]

Kinda sounds like cold shot by stevie ray Vaughan

[@t4texastom587]

Jim Heath, OR Brian Setzer?

[@TheScr4tchy]

Work ethics are cool

[@juanc1328]

Wish he had a signature series workingman’s model that didn’t cost a down payment on a house!

[@cliffworks4321]

7:00 ~ hold the damned mic near sound source!!

[@QuaidShun]

rig rundown sounds like it could be a revernd song

[@jfhudak]

Use bow rosin on the underside of the bridge and it won't move at all. None of my Gretsch bridges move, and they are not pinned. The other thing you want to do is use 11's.

[@notdreadyet33]

Been seeing him live for 25 years. He's up there with Fishbone for incredible music and showmanship live.

[@richgannonrocks]

Let’s talk about his guitar and amp setup, and then let him play unplugged with the microphone a couple feet away lol

[@marksc1929]

10 years ago...think he's back to Fender amps ...

[@LeeChavezMusic]

That's what she said at 3:05

[@Getyabootsoffskinny]

Anyone who disliked this video must not be able to play the solo in Galaxie 500 😀

[@TheDelboyoelmundo]

NEWCASTLE BROWN ALE!!!!! NUKIE...

[@AdolfFauci]

I was a huge fan of his back in the 90's and then talked to him a couple times at Reverend Organ Drum shows at the All Good Cafe in Deep Ellum back in the early 2000's and he was kind of a wierd guy. Wasn't impressed with him but Tim and Todd were super cool. That's kind of how it goes with guys you look up to. Always a let down.

[@TheAlexkru]

is rig is simpler than mine

[@xeroxsuesforcopy]

Show Pony!

[@Brett8527]

1:45 hght....hg....hot pickups

[@MrSneaksful]

$3,500-4,000.00

[@hey_buddy_waz_up]

Boy he got old

[@theflatulentfreddy1]

And you got even more stupid...

[@unclefoiley819]

The last show I saw was Reverend Horton Heat. That was in February 2020. Just before this pesky pandemic hit.

[@crashstitches79]

*TEXAS MUSIC ALL DAY*

[@taylor410ce]

Anything thats not metal sucks!.............just kidding i like this kind of music, and i have spent years trying to learn to play like these guys. i just wanted to be that one guy on youtube who hates on anything thats not metal.

[@chadwickwright2833]

Funny, he has a song called "death metal guys" where he talks shit about metalheads, you should listen, you might learn something.

[@codyhamar5593]

G

[@terrylunabautista]

Rev was clearly annoyed with the host

[@rch6650]

What a terrible interviewer. I would have done MUCH better.

[@crestonhorton6970]

A friend of mine gave me a cd of Horton Heat I gave it a play and I must say I like the way it burnt in the fireplace better.

[@NothingSacred27]

Damn, you're cool.

[@buddyollie180]

Creston Horton XD

[@michaelhunziker7287]

Chomo