Rig Rundown - 311's Tim Mahoney, P-Nut, and Nick Hexum

Article & photos: bit.ly/311RigRundown
Before their career-spanning show at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works, guitarists Tim Mahoney, (and singer) Nick Hexum, and bassist Aaron “P-Nut” Wills (above right) walk PG through their various instruments and talk about how they use their impressive load of gear to cover material from 14 studio albums.
Tim’s longtime No. 1 is “Ol Blue”-a PRS Custom 24 that has been used on every 311 album and tour since he got it from Paul in 1999. When testing out new gear or pickups, Tim goes with “Ol Blue” because he’s most familiar with its tone and can hear the slightest changes to the sound produced out of the speaker. He used to use Seymour Duncan Antiquities and PAF-style humbuckers, but before this tour he put in Seymour Duncan Pegasus (bridge) and Sentient (neck) pickups.
Frontman/guitarist Nick Hexum’s gear lust started when he was 14 and traveling with his dad to a camping trip in Canada where they found a 1963 Gibson Les Paul goldtop in a pawn shop. Sadly, the guitar no longer exists-snapped neck-but his love for Les Pauls is still there. He uses this natural Gibson Les Paul on most of the band’s early work like “Down” and “Homebrew.” All of his guitars take Ernie Ball Slinky .011-.048 strings.
Influenced by Fishbone’s Norwood Fisher who rocked Warwick in the ’90s, a young Aaron “P-Nut” Wills loved how Norwood’s sound “was greasy, distorted, funky, and at the same time, the bass looked like it had just been freshly cut from a tree,” and he’s been popping and rocking ever since on Warwicks. This particular 5-string is from his signature series and based on the Streamer II body that Wills first played decades earlier. One request on the body design is that they sandwiched purpleheart in between to slabs of Australian blackwood burl (top) and afzelia (back). It comes stock with MEC pickups and preamp, but P-Nut has upgraded with a Seymour Duncan Music Man humbucker and a slanted Seymour Duncan Apollo.
Continue reading: bit.ly/311RigRundown

[@DFDBEAST]

He’s so rad. He always looks like he just finished a joint then saw a ghost.

[@mcastaneda]

Tim's playing can be tight and sharp, but then spacey and whimsical. His solos are fucking amazing. And he is a nice dude. One of the goats. Def underrated give this man his respect.

[@danlum304]

Tim's such a low key soft spoken guy, the perfect foil to the sonic carnage he creates onstage. He loves talking shop and respects his instruments. A real pleasure having him walk us through his gear

[@ja5304]

If I ever had bad news, I’d like for Tim to be the one to tell me.

[@kimdixson3566]

😂😂😂

[@MrJackrockerman]

Wut da fuckkkkk bruhhhh!!!! Get off !!!

[@michaelfrazia4569]

p nut and Tim Mahoney along with the deleo Brothers are my 2 fave guitar bass combos from the 90s...such melodic playing...

[@deterpinklage4406]

Wow great choices. I gotta agree!

[@quarrydoggs4532]

time to schedule a prostate check.

[@julianthesmooshyhusky8976]

Tim ain’t lying, the PRS stoptail is insanely comfortable, it makes palm muting an absolute joy.

[@PaulRoseMusic]

TIM IS MY DUDE I'm SO happy you guys put this out!! He is the absolute NICEST guy if you've met him!! Love these guys more and more over the years!

[@Unity1975]

Paul Rose I’ve met many of my musical heroes, but Tim is EASILY the most genuinely kind and down to earth out of all of them. He pulled ME in for a hug after we were done chatting. Just an amazing, humble guy.

[@El...Presidente]

Saw em last night. Tim played all night with the natural PRS… flawless. Incredible tones, working the pedal board live such a bad ass band. So pro and so much fun!

[@KRayxKodessA]

Is Tim Mahoney the nicest guy ever, or is it just me?

[@lucamoqi]

K -Ray I couldn't agree more. He's such a nice guy.

[@alexcsenar5228]

Every 311 member is, they're so soft spoken but their words are speaking louder than they know. Such an inspiration

[@SirPhilMcCrackinVonBeggington]

Holy shit i couldn't believe how cool he seems.

[@Flux799]

That’s what psychedelic drugs, yoga and meditation will do to you. Great way to live.

[@timmahoney2541]

Oh, It's me too.

[@tdelam]

I'm 39. I've been a HUGE fan of 311 since I first heard Music in 1993 (27 years, wow, I feel old now lol). Saw them live multiple times, met Nick and Tim, and can play most of their songs on guitar to this day; such an awesome bunch of dudes! Tim and Nick were just as friendly as they were in this video. They genuinely listened to what you had to say.

[@josephbelford4163]

After watching a bunch of these rig rundown videos, Tim is like a tech and guitarist with his knowledge and mastery of sound and equipment.

[@thejamnasium6447]

I don't know why but it really cracked me up that his daughter has a name like "Sunshine" and then he's like "and my son Tim Jr." hahaha. "hey, Sunshine! Tim Jr! time for dinner!"

[@jc6594]

Happy 50th Birthday Tim Mahoney

[@ReedRock115]

311 has finally been investigated

[@yourfriendlyneighborhoodtr3590]

Now we just need to get ranch legalized.

[@boofert.washington2499]

Lame joke. Lame show. Tom Green did it first.

[@rebelguy9487]

SA Martinez did 311

[@aaronfrazier524]

Pnut is a legend to me, hes the reason I play bass Absolutely love 311, underrated af

[@roosterj2599]

I was blown away when 311's first video premiered on MTV. Loved them ever since.

[@pali1H]

I've always loved miT

[@christiancavestany1909]

Tim mahoney is like the chill, cool twin brother of kirk hammett but is always the favorite son HAHA

[@GilesDMT]

“Beautiful Transistor”

[@tiredintrovert2457]

investigate 311

[@DirkMonroe]

My favorite 311 song? No question, it's gotta be "Beautiful Transistor"

[@premierguitar]

Chris doesn't have a firm grip on the English language ... and he was geeking out!!

[@Therankinlife]

Yeah I had to go back and replay that section, I thought I heard him wrong at first. Lmao

[@agirlsname7159]

Every PG interviewer has a quirky, unique and delightfully dorky enthusiasm. I even hope Perry drinks more coffee in 2018. One of the coolest crews online.

[@mwm48]

Tyler Kershaw Mine is "Down Tread on Me".

[@satanismybraindonor]

Shit I love this channel and the reason 311 is still killing it today is because of that Midwest work ethic and they are the most chill laid back dudes ever but I'd have to say Transistor Disaster is my favorite track

[@modelcitizen1977]

Siiiiiiiiiick! What a fat rundown.

[@ia5662]

About time we got a rundown for these boys! This was the most thorough one yet, love their tones and styles, a very cool band still doing their thing admirably all these years later. Tim's a hell of a guitar player to anyone who knows 311, but I really wish you guys would have had them play their key tones and DEMONSTRATE rather than talk. I really wanted to hear that "Down" T-wah tone Nick was speaking about, until now, I had no freaking idea how they got that raunchy tone on that classic intro. Makes a lot of sense now. I always just thought it was the way it was captured in the studio and punched in to the console with the right kind of harmonics. Now I know!

[@iLikeMyOwnPosts]

...so, so cool to see. 311 has been my favorite band since I was a teenager. I have recently gotten my first electric (been noodling an accoustic a few years) and it's so awesome to see what kind of gear my peeps use. Can't wait to see them in concert again.

[@customdocuments398]

Tim Mahoney looks unbelievably tired and incredibly awake at the same time

[@nehemiahzo_]

Custom Documents called being stoned my guy lmao 😂

[@xbeast666]

Too much dope

[@Fafafohi]

Yes!!!! Thought I was the only one who noticed that!

[@Fafafohi]

@@nehemiahzo_ LOL

[@scournado6330]

I literally had the thought to type in 311 rig rundown and boom! new upload. Sometimes the stars do align. Thank you for making my day. :)

[@donewithmodernlife]

So good, one of the best episodes to date. I dig the fact they all know their gear & how much effort they put into sounding the best they can. Bravo PG. Chris you did an excellent job as well, they picked the right guy for this one.

[@k8sune]

Nick and Tim have always been connoisseurs of great guitar-tone.

[@michaelfrazia4569]

yes...such tasteful stuff...well put

[@EDAR96]

Tim’s always had the best gear, wish PRS made more 24 fret models with stoptails. I’ve got 3 customs all with tremolo which is fine but I love the stoptail on my McCarty. Fantastic dudes with awesome gear

[@ryeyanmatthew]

acid and jerry garcia. pure honesty in that statement! you aren't the only one tim! :~)

[@stephenulicny]

Finally!!! Thank you Premier Guitar.

[@chrisbec3313]

311 - You guys ROCK!

[@bondalero0074]

I’ve never owned a PRS guitar knowing they are fine guitars but Tim Mahoney made me want one because of this blue he wrote so many hits on!#311#PRS#🎸🔥✨

[@scootmcgoot570]

I love 311! Ive been fortunate to see them at smaller venues

[@boofert.washington2499]

The smallest club I've ever seen them play only held 1,300. I wanna say it was the club dates on the Soundsystem tour. I think that was the tour, at least. Early 2000s, I remember that much lol

[@nhoff7703]

Yes. This tour was lit! I bought a shirt from their site and they sent me free tickets to it. I was like 14yo.

[@robbyray]

Loved this! Great job.

[@brianmclendon1647]

All the dudes in 311 are cool as shit. Great band and their live show still kicks ass!!!! Awesome rig rundown!!!

[@tommyj139]

This is so great!!

[@PMTluke]

Love the newest 311 album it’s rare that I love a band’s earliest albums and still love there new albums.

[@mancefine]

This was great, always love the big bass rigs

[@rdog421]

Not a tone douche, just a great musician who happens to be a guitar player. So clean and he makes it look effortless.

[@DragonCrestPC]

Great video! Love the Mesa's and Bogner amps!

[@jasondaywalker1949]

They obviously found the fountain of youth..still look the same..fantastic

[@joequinn3234]

Great guys and awesome musicians.

[@marknason4572]

Gotta love any guitar player that does his Rig Rundown with coffee in-hand!

[@danieldoran521]

NEVER FORGET

[@christianboddum8783]

Chris really kept his cool this time, much appreciated ;-) !!

[@scootmcgoot570]

Was fortunate to see 311 back in the mid 90s at a small place called 5 points south music hall in bham al. Also saw the ramones there

[@ripplebear]

Same here.. at 5 points. Not until '99 though. Was a sophomore in highschool and pretty much feeling like a king

[@PMTluke]

Tim’s setup is my favorite and 311 is def one of my fav bands. A lot of time bands that are famous suck or have sucky rigs but tim is not that guy and 311 is not that band. They are famous for being actually good intelligent sounds. Tim’s rig speaks volumes of intelligent awesome psychedelic genius fun sounds. Really nice mix of the digital and analog psychedelic new and classic old psychedelic sounds. Sounds pretty sounds heavy. Love the double board rig. Cool to see the pedals behind the sounds.

[@MichaelBalchaitis]

How about the good Karma PRS sent Tim a guitar to an up and coming band overnight after the fire? Great story.

[@fanoboss]

great rig rundown

[@three11forlife]

Oh yeah! Love me some PRS 😎👍

[@alfredogonzalez8573]

Yes!! Love 311!!

[@SatriaAndyKirana]

Such nice people!

[@gregmize01]

Incredible band! Old Blue is an icon! 🎸🎸🎸🎸

[@thinkingjack]

Tim is one of my all time favorite guitarists, the guys just absolutely great. It really throws me for a loop that he doesn’t use the HFS/Bass pickups and opts for Seymour Duncan’s. That’s super surprising but makes total sense and not gonna lie, I kind of wanna go the route of low output pickups considering I use high gain amps and his explanation makes way more sense.

[@usaflagraybans]

Tim made a comment about starting on trombone and liking flats. Instrumentalists tend to think in flats, singers think is sharps, so if you started on an orchestral or wind instrument, you will think more in flats, and if you started by just playing guitar, you'll think in sharps because you're likely to play with singers. I started as a trombone player as well.

[@josuesamaniego182]

Don’t care for their music but I appreciate that they take the time to talk about their gear instead of just pushing through it real quick

[@arvisfletcher962]

Tim is really down to earth and awesome 311 rules

[@yojimboeastwood5602]

Still love em. Hexing is obviously really creative and talented but Tim and pnut steal the show. Appreciate his honesty about envelope filters. Always loved that they squeeze in that jerry sound whenever possible even tho it shouldn’t fit in this type of music.

[@sn95_mustang_garage]

Didn’t know Steve Buscemi played guitar. He’s awesome! Love 311.

[@yobhsiFehT]

Nick's speaking voice is like he could be John Malkovich's son. Also, Stranger Things into "Heathens" is brilliant! XD Great rundown!

[@DougieD_Funk]

Love you Aaron. I've been runnin a similar rig for a while and the Hellborg Cabs are actually 2x12's in the Hi-Cab and 2x15's in the low cab and the bottom 15 is downfacing just moving air. I'll probably play this rig till the day I die. Couldn't be happier. Keep it greasey

[@SoilentGr33n]

Do you use it for recording? How's the note clarity in thick ass mixes?

[@DougieD_Funk]

@@SoilentGr33n Oh shit brotha im so sorry im a year late on ya! Helllllllll yeah dude its footprint is insane in a mix. Its like it carves out this nice little hole for my bass to perfectly sit in, its incredible. I WAS mic'ing the low cab and blending with the Hellborg Pre, which is perfection by the way, i dont want ya to think otherwise but as of late, for about only 6 months or so now, ive been using the Hellborg rig for a shimmery beautiful defined clean, and then my trusty Pro Tube IX(which my friends and old FOH guy called "the God amp") and an old Terminator cab for a dirty, in the studio and live although as of late have only been15 or so live jobs thanks to this covid bullshit, but yeah man i HIGHLY recommend! Ive been lucky enough to be a Warwick Endorsee since 2008 and a bit of a fanatic, so i couldnt be luckier or happier! If ya ever wanna talk Warwick or bass in general or have any recommendations or whatever the case, please feel free to look up my Facebook which is exactly my username on here as well. If ya ever need anything, hit a brotha up! Take care homie sorry for the late reply.

[@SoilentGr33n]

@@DougieD_Funk Not even close to being a problem. I was tone hunting hard last year trying to dial in virtual amps according to physical setups I enjoy listening to. I solved some problems, created new ones (of course) but overall am pleased with what I came up with. Pretty interesting idea to have a 15 facing down to round things up. Never heard of that before. Is that something a lot of bass rigs have?

[@LoCoGuitars]

10:26 This is just a backup, just another one ... and pulls out one of the most beautiful guitars I've ever seen. :D

[@gregmize01]

Chad Sexton has the greatest Piccolo snare tone of all time!

[@Todesnuss]

Sentient and Pegasus is about the last pup combination I would've expected them to use for music like that.

[@abshmusic]

Sentient and Pegasus are 2 of my favorite ones.

[@Todesnuss]

I'm a metalhead too. If I was gonna make music like that I would use different pickups. I don't use metal guitars for everything so it seems odd to me that he would use pickups like that in this context. If it works that's cool I'm all for experimenting it was simply unexpected.

[@Todesnuss]

Yea totally, it's just simply unexpected to see something quite so specialized on metal in a context like this. That was all I was pointing out. I love stuff like this and tend to repurpose stuff myself.

[@Astral_Wave]

Todesnuss what about the uberschall? it's more metal than Pegasus (like ~13dcr, alnico v)

[@nurk_barry]

A lot of 311’s riffs are heavy-metal single note riff stuff

[@neobx2]

Awesome video,when they are so close to the guitar cabs, I always feel like they gonna hit the head stock against the cabinet

[@caseytroise7028]

Dude is just stepping all over Tim’s cables and it’s driving me nuts. You can tell he’s in a metal band

[@svtman93]

Can we just investigate 311 already??!!

[@ooferrell]

Supersnake 93 yam boo bay!!!

[@boofert.washington2499]

Can we just make an original comment already?

[@nehemiahzo_]

Now ranch needs to be legalized

[@flash109]

Kinda disappointed we didn't get to see or hear the discontinued A/DA Preamp with the "t-wah" or whatever. I've never seen one and apparently it's crucial enough for Down that it gets brought for just that song. Would've been great to learn more about it instead of just the passing comments.

[@bradadams8177]

That T-Wah was like THE secret to their sound, especially around blue album. (I haven't gotten through the whole video yet, so maybe he goes over it)

[@derrickbullock6548]

Tim is an extremely open armed kind of guy...super nice! I strive to be like that.

[@ElJuanSolo]

Is that the PRS adjustable wraparound ? I have the SE but it comes with the regular stop tail bridge.

[@LukeBass1000]

Two guitarists could not be more different :D

[@johnhart79]

Surprised not to see the Ernie ball ambient delay pedal in the mix. I bought one years ago just because Tim was demonstrating the pedal. Hmmm, Anyways... Tim is the man !! One of my biggest inspirations to playing the 6th string 💯🤙🏼

[@josephdamico2047]

When he returns with that cup of coffee.

[@SuperLibu]

"fuckin' indian rosewood"

[@unknownband1981]

the signature prs looks great... does he sand down the paint on the headstock 3:44 and then put a finish on it? really cool looking!

[@seanraidleyatt8477]

I love PRS

[@CaptZapBrenigan]

Love 311 so much. The Athens show this year was insane amazing, very cool vibe. On a secondary note what shoes is miT wearing?

[@PhillipBoydIII-hr4hj]

CaptZapBrenigan Vans or Puma

[@samwill226]

Don't worry Tim a lot of us are having trouble seeing numbers and letters on things. I virtually can not read any medicine bottle at this point. I have to use my phone camera and enlarge it. I feel you.

[@alga1309]

I hear a Vibrato effect on the Amber solo, but don't see any vibrato pedal on Tim's pedalboard. Is anyone aware of what FX he uses for that solo?

[@JM-rl1jj]

Is Tim's main high-gain tone just the dry Uberschal or does he use any of the drive pedals with it?

[@Freddytacvbito]

were is this show at?

[@subpoppy1]

Worked their show in 98 at your average 10,000 seat, concrete cavern, all purpose, sounds like shit, college arena. Absolutely the best live sound production I have ever heard.

[@mcnell311]

Andy Madden scotch is a wizard for them

[@funkGASM]

Looks like you all hit the volcano before the interview. Great rig rundown!

[@blastedfrets1382]

what model schecter is that 7 string?

[@allsic]

Whished Tim played every pedal there for us...

[@tylerhiermusic]

He had a 63 Les Paul Goldtop?? How?? They didn't make the "Les Paul" between 61-68.. it was an SG body through those years.

[@atreyukekona9614]

Tyler Hier then why is the original '59 Les Paul the most saught after Gibson of all time

[@davidjameschamberlain]

@@atreyukekona9614 because at the time, in 1960, they weren't as popular, so they tried to replace it with the SG. They ended up getting used a lot by British blues rock bands, and then they became popular again. The rest is history

[@UnixStudios]

Beautiful Transitor lulz Running A Dub

[@kevin_nagle]

thought i was the only one who caught that

[@soundknight]

Can you guys please do a rig run down of Julian Lage?

[@jclev99]

Seymour Duncan JB stands for Jazz/Blues, not Jeff Beck. Common mistake though

[@uncleant5309]

jclev99 trick question, Jeff Beck IS Jazz Blues!!!!!

[@jclev99]

Anthony Valencia can't disagree with that statement!

[@CR-xe5iz]

Usually its the interviewers that ruin things like this for me. This guys very cool.

[@ernie12man]

28:49 FINALLY,.... " Let's hear some of these things" Ya think!? Thank gawd they finally went there, but only for like 30 seconds smattered here and there. Rig Rundowns are great with PLAYING the GEAR, and worthless without it, Rig Letdowns. The venue was empty and they talked it to death. Great guys, but come on, play as you go....

[@wvparrothead31]

Cool, Nick actually uses a $800 faded studio

[@nurk_barry]

He’s been known to play studios and smartwood exotic Gibsons , seen him with a black Studio, a few Smartwood exotics and the faded like you see here. Of course he’s into those Johnny A models nowadays which are pretty expensive.

[@JRP3music]

Hey Nick there is an ADA MP-1 channel pedal!

[@jamesivan2877]

Omg. All 311. Explained!

[@thewildernessguy4805]

Did anyone catch when p-nut said he covers all his basses

[@krustyburgers6668]

It's funny how they mentioned deftones because when I saw 311 at aftershock a couple years ago deftones headlined that night I went and watched 311 on the main stage right after watching monster magnet on the small stage

[@jlooper09]

I was at that same Aftershock. Oct 2018, I believe? Got to meet Tim before it. As nice in person as he is in this video. What an amazing day/night that was.

[@krustyburgers6668]

@John Looper that was a fun year I haven’t been since 2019 of course Covid screwed up 2020 and the last couple years I’ve just been too busy but that’s cool you got to meet Tim though

[@jlooper09]

@@krustyburgers6668 that was a fun year (2018)! I saw 311 three times that year, so it was a really good year for me music-wise. And yes, covid spoiled all that fun...last concert I went to was seeing 311 again March 7, 2020 in Reno, NV where they were on the road to Vegas for 311 day, right before everything shut down. Got to meet Nick before that show and we talked guitars, pickups, and all that. Super cool, nice, chill dude - so gracious and appreciative of 311 fans. Rock on Krustyburgers!

[@krustyburgers6668]

@@jlooper09 nice last show I saw was in September of this year I went to LA and saw rammstein at memorial coliseum didn’t get meet any of the guys of course but that was still one hell of a show if your a fan I would definitely recommend if you get the chance

[@stevenborrowman9282]

Chad at 56:40 was rad!

[@5urg3x]

A sentient and a pegasus....For 311? Damn...I would've never thought that Tim would be using those.

[@DesignBuildExecute]

Tim seems like such a great guy and he knows his shit inside and out!