Rig Rundown - Avenged Sevenfold's Synyster Gates, Zacky Vengeance, & Johnny Christ

Rig Rundown Article: www.premierguitar.com/articles...
Rig Rundown Playlist: www.premierguitar.com/rigrundown
PG's Chris Kies is on location in Omaha, NE, where he catches up with the techs behind the rigs of Avenged Sevenfold guitarists Synsyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance, and bassist Johnny Christ who all used their own signature Schecter instruments during the fall leg of the Hail to the King 2013 tour.

[@johnstoner666]

the tech is baked out his mind

[@miked3300]

He's supposed to know all those little details that the artists don't need to worry themselves with, but it doesn't seem like that is what's happening here. LOL.

[@andrewhassell9891]

Mike D Hes probably nervous

[@brutalbasspro]

My guess is drunk not drugs.

[@mrbard1]

Give him a break. He works for a Great band and living his best life lol

[@DFWTF]

woah man 420 man.

[@Lewis---]

i wish we heard it from the guys themselves. it always sounds better to hear it from the players, because they're so passionate about their own preferences and can tell you the detail that a tech can't.

[@KeeperOfPoops]

i agree, i disliked the video cos it's just some random fuckboys doing the gear i dislike every video that's a random fuckboy

[@Wurdox]

"Then there is standard, but we call it E." YOU DON'T SAY, MATE! I WANNA KNOW, HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THAT?

[@KeeperOfPoops]

i think kevin has had too many doobies either that or he's wasted

[@johngabrielle3001]

William Allison or both

[@XMetalChefX]

Does Synyster gates amp have a Synyster Gate for noise reduction?

[@markcosmic697]

PSMTCHEF see yourself out, friend 😂

[@dominicwainaina3960]

It has a built in noise gate

[@XMetalChefX]

@@dominicwainaina3960 wow

[@dominicwainaina3960]

@@XMetalChefX What I want to help people out to the best of my abilities. Sorry for being a party pooper but I want to help others

[@cardbored_]

@@dominicwainaina3960 wow

[@raze1012]

" then there is standard tuning, we just call it E". no shit!

[@andrewpappas9311]

Exactly how I felt, I was laughing my ass off

[@DanCapeau]

"You know what I mean?" The most annoying phrase in any conversation when said a hundred times

[@benboi5388]

“Yes I speak English, I do know what you mean, thanks for making sure I do”

[@Kaleb673]

Johnny has an Emg 81 in his bass guitars. In case anyone wanted to know.

[@chriskrausesmovie]

I dont care really..i am here for to see the unknown string guages

[@jeremydukes4228]

@@chriskrausesmovie thanks christopher I'm sure he was asking you directly

[@alexandershaer1079]

christopher krause I’m pretty sure they both use the 10-52 Ernie ball paradigms

[@ReVenge6661]

@@alexandershaer1079yeah they do

[@SchecterIsKING]

​@@ReVenge6661Now they use the Paradigms but back in 2014 they only used the regular heavy top skinny bottoms.

[@TomWhaley621]

The techs run a good show, but they're clearly not cut out for interviews. I mean, I guess it's not really their job to do things like this, hah... Honestly, I wish Avenged was more hands on with their equipment. I'd rather hear Gates talk about his rig, his preferences, his live show routines, his sound inspirations, etc. instead his tech. There's like no equipment personality when it comes to these guys. I mean, they do change their rigs almost every other tour, so I guess they're always experimenting...

[@KeeperOfPoops]

i agree with you there, it'd been better if Syn, Zacky and Johnny hauled ass to show gear, but most likely they had other stuff planned or weren't there at the time

[@NoName6732]

Tom Whaley There's the intereview he did with Rick Beato. It's worth watching to be honest.

[@backfromthedead4827]

You should see slipknot’s rig rundown, Jim and Mick talk abt all their stuff and obviously know their shit

[@jakemertz2660]

lol but syn's tech seems to know essentially nothing xD

[@miked3300]

@@NoName6732 Yea, it's really good. Two smart talented guys!!

[@TrevorOTRex]

Zacky's tech is WAY better than Syn's...

[@CankleCankle]

What makes you say that? I assume it's because Zacky's explained things a little bit more, and because Syn's didn't know exactly what the neck pickup is in Johnny's bass (does it really matter? I'm sure he could find out very easily if he needed to) but really this video doesn't tell the whole story. Also, Syn's tech is also Johnny's tech so he has more responsibility.

[@MillsCustomGuitars1]

djr0108 Well I don't think anyone can attest to either tech's capabilities as actual guitar technicians, but it seemed like Syn and Johnny's tech was drunk or didn't know much about what he was working with, where as Zacky's tech knew exactly what he was working with.

[@TrevorOTRex]

djr0108 As with what shelbyfanss said, Syn's tech really did not seem to be overly professional.

[@ShadowKiller571]

djr0108 YES IT MATTERS! its his to job to know about the instruments, how the hell do you not know what the neck pickup is?

[@KeeperOfPoops]

neither of them are good, cos they're not the acutla guitarist which makes this rundown a residing failure

[@chimkinnunget7882]

“What pickup is that?” Tech: “I don’t know you know what I mean?”

[@rachetCD]

"What's in the bridge position I know the sustainiac is in the neck" "sustainiac" LOLOLOLOLOL

[@KeeperOfPoops]

Kevin is the most braindead tech ever!

[@robingustafsson9199]

He didn't even know, he just repeated what the interviewer said..

[@connorstones4181]

Sustainiac gates

[@blearghbleorgh4663]

Being a right handed tech for a left handed guitar player would be really annoying.

[@mikespillman3075]

I know, right? I cant even imagine.....just the simple act of re stringing and tuning it would give me fits.....

[@verysurvival]

would be more interesting to hear what weed Zah is caning

[@coltonfrausell9047]

'I dont know what he modeled them after' What, have you only ever heard one type of amp? It doesnt take a genius to be able to say something along the lines of ' He was going for more of a Fender crystal clean, or an Orange Thunderverb style clean. Also, really... You dont know what kind of pickups are in the basses?! How are you a tech for a bigger band like AX7?!

[@SamOwenI]

He probably techs for different bands. If he gets the job done, cut him some slack.

[@toddschmersal798]

You know what he means?

[@BrandoHF]

Ahhh can anyone else hear the opening chords to (Change) In The House Of Flies at 1:21? Touring with the Def Tones was SUCH a good idea. Best night of my life.

[@dokcso]

He's like the most unprepared tech ever

[@KeeperOfPoops]

Kevin is, but Billy is a bit more brains over brawn

[@jakepark9962]

The first tech looks and sounds high af

[@skaterjdub]

I've been waiting for this run down!! Yes!!!

[@murfdog19]

You can hear Change In The House Of Flies being played on guitar in the background. Probably Chino doing soundcheck.

[@svengoslack3620]

I feel that Zacky’s guitar tech is much more knowledgeable and amiable than Syn’s.

[@austinjbarber]

this tech is definitely stoned

[@toddhansen4681]

Austin Barber

[@charlieburnham5611]

this guy is totally wasted 'yeah they got... uh... they got... uh, different tunings, you know what i mean?'

[@johnnytsunami7150]

and he explains NO DETAIL...

[@charlieburnham5611]

exactly

[@charlieburnham5611]

hold on, dude, you posted that at 5:16 in the morning?

[@johnnytsunami7150]

I have no idea

[@charlieburnham5611]

it also says you posted that comment at 6,48 in the morning! Are you okay?

[@Relentlessxxryan]

turn on the closed captions for this video. you will not be disappointed I promise

[@ghostware6057]

i can't even i'm laughing so hard XD

[@madarmiklos98]

"Our strenght we get your nipple skinny"

[@DJEshelman-personal]

that made enduring that much easier, thank you. You know what I mean?

[@JacksonKillroy]

"Iraq war cry baby"

dude thanks for 10 minutes of crazy laughter

[@suicideasteroid]

Let that be a lesson to you kids, don't drink and roadie.

[@aidanlarose6901]

Zackys tech is so much more like friendly and social compared to syn and Johnny’s

[@BrilliantMuppetSex69]

glad they did a rundown of one of my all time favorite bands

[@fluffytoaster427]

Occasionally I’ll come back to this rundown just to hear Syn’s tech “HUH?!” his way through his whole segment

[@SamHoyekGuitar]

Couldn't actually get syn and zacky?

[@andrewpappas9311]

Yeah, I would've loved to see Syn, Zack and Johnny do this themselves. Maybe they were occupied or something, I don't know

[@H3llboundHero]

Andrew Pappas probably doing some pre show stuff

[@mrmisterman999]

"doing something" they were sucking dicks in the bathroom

[@andrewpappas9311]

Thatyoutubeguy What the hell

[@mrmisterman999]

Andrew Pappas mad bro?

[@premierguitar]

Drop D. But someone should work with Drop G... start a new trend!

[@michaelmiller7909]

Premier Guitar black label society "counterfeit god''.. drop G.

[@daemonk756890]

BMTH used to use that tuning back in the day for a few of their songs.

[@ChaziChaz89]

nice job Chris, cool rig rundown

[@matt.lemonnier]

"You know what I mean ?" Why the hell would the reporter do a rig rundown if he knew ??

[@fluffytoaster427]

Lol Chris sounded like he was getting pissed off just a wee bit

[@ME16510]

The funny thing is Syn Gates knows much more about his gear than his tech...

[@daemonk756890]

Coming from the Animals As Leaders rundown to this is such a drastic drop in insight and quality.

[@chrismontgomery8278]

I’d be so bummed for that set list.

[@Martyr9991]

Probably the least knowledgeable guitar-tech I've ever seen. I know more about their instruments than he does.

[@becauseiey]

Same. I feel like maybe Syn knows enough to the point where maybe he doesn't even need to bother getting a knowledgeable guitar tech?

[@someoneelse101]

becauseiey If he wasn't anyway knowledgible I think he'd be out of a job

[@shane2432]

FEARS same

[@vernonsmith5937]

Syn definitely does know more than his techs, I'm sure. He's classically trained and his father was classically trained as well. He's no stranger to it.

[@Carepackage65]

Vernon Smith what does classically trained have to do with it? He just knows his gear because he designed it.

[@ballzswetski7289]

hey...this guy works at my local deli

[@tobinwasabi]

Ballz Swetski really

[@Shaxigaming]

This video really makes me surprised that A7X doesn't sound like absolute shit live. Either the tech is really doped up or he just doesn't know shit about the gear. He's supposed to service their stuff, for heaven's sake.

[@jordanjohnson7729]

I saw the this past Saturday and I thought the guitar tone was awful. the clean was to die for though

[@dedo7326]

Shaxi I have worked with guys who build a house by himself but couldn’t explain how he did it to save his life some people have a hard time talking to people I know if I was interviewed about something I know everything about top to bottom I would look stupid.

[@senorpotato8657]

I feel like Johnny and Syn's tech is bullied by em😂

[@brayant152h]

Schecters are very reliable. ive owned 3 an have had ZERO problems with any of them, if you say schecter is bad its mostly likely you have never owned more than 1 schecter. The blackjack series of guitars are flawless.

[@dominicspizzirri4399]

Well not to be that guy, but I had owned two schecters and have played other models, guitars and basses, 6 and 7 strings. And let me tell you, I'm happy i sold them. Not bad guitars just not the kind of guitars that I can see people owning and playing for years.

[@guitarb3ast7x]

Dm Sp Yeah, I can see how this is reasonable. I like schecter, the one I own hasn't had any issues. Though if I had a budget of 1000+ dollars, I would definitely be shopping Gibson and not Schecter.

[@kodykindhart5644]

Yea my blackjack is a great guitar

[@coledurbin2610]

I think Schecters are fantastic guitars as far as reliability and stability goes but it's like someone said before. They're not something you play when you're 50 lol

[@faizhas4721]

can you tell me what part on little piece of heaven when zacky plays his floyd rose? sorry for my English

[@BRG13DEAN]

Is it me or does the tech seem to not know much about the gear?

[@MB-yw3pv]

THAT FIRST TECH WAS STONED OUT OF HIS MIND!

[@joshuavictoria1347]

is that change by deftones in the background at 1:45 ?

[@TarbyRocks]

The guitar teck for syn/johnny sounded either high or stoned, and admittedly I wish he put a bit more effort into describing the bass rig

[@cadillackeeper]

Dude is an awesome Tech,Ranging the gammut from DRI to Cher and STP,REO,Furs sheeze.When were any of you guys interviewed on camera???

[@Dreager141]

7:41 the sheet says that Welcome To The Family is in C#, but I’m pretty sure it’s in drop D?

[@JCVenomous]

C# live because Matt could barely hit the C5 note in the bridge live.

[@georgeburned]

what's the second music wich is playing while they're talking about the bass gear?

[@MichaelD8393]

Schecter Please make Zacky's model in flat green & Camo.

[@brianwarner308]

they need to put "Walk" by Pantera back in that setlist. That was the best cover i have ever seen live!!

[@diegozuniga9873]

zacky signature guitar is a very good looking piece of art

[@lesacarl4417]

that pick was a Dunlop Gator Grip 2.0 in case anyone cares to know kthnxbai

[@tylercoggins2866]

doesn't​ Zack play his acoustic on so far away aswell?

[@elvilx3262]

just about $25,000 and you can have Synyster's tone lol

[@aaronlettman9491]

9:11 EMG 81 is the pickup in the bass.

[@Fl0d3r]

Funny how is bored "yeah, i'm guitar tech for youngs cunts of Avenged Sevenfold, could be my sons...should created my own band when I could..."

[@ZatchMh]

Where i can buy that isocab ????? What model or brand are that?

[@jv9715]

idk if it's just me but I heard "change" by deftones going on during syns guitars lol

[@deadeyes2803]

It was

[@juliusnisonen2431]

What's the bridge pickup I mean the neck is sutainiac? Umm sustainiac

[@9cccaseycane]

If you guys ever get the chance, please do a rig rundown with Gary Clark Jr. and/or Jonny Lang.

[@markuskaardal]

This was in Norway 8, November!!! I was there!!!

[@ivse]

Was Deftones sound checking in the back, at the beginning of the video?

[@mikespillman3075]

Some guitar techs do a masterful job of explaining the guitars and gear, specially to us casual guitar heads......but im thinking that even straight I question Zah's focus, and Chris kinda steered him back on the road more than once. But hey, he's on tour with Avenged Sevenfold....and im at home on a keyboard.

[@J3richoproductions]

many of these rig rundowns are sooo awkward lol. they sound like presentations in grade school.

[@MrBernardoMetal]

I'm actually impressed Zacky uses Jet City amps.

[@bboyflapps]

What song was playing in the 8-9 minute mark?

[@widowmaker5544]

Can we have a rig rundown for Extreme's Nuno Bettencourt?

[@KeeperOfPoops]

YES PLEASE!! I WANT THAT NUNO

[@DinosaurInATarPit]

So, does anyone know why Rebecca is no longer with Premier Guitar?

[@AgentPB]

Does anyone know which band is playing at around 8:30?

[@mikeyeatman2066]

Not sure if anyone has watched their rug rundown, but is Zacky V's tech also a tech for Dropkick Murphys?

[@isaiashinojosa_guitarist]

The “tech” looks more Like a sound engineer that knows how to change strings, and charged them cheaper for the tour

[@Ject-pm8wh]

The second Guy seems actually profesional

[@poliboneless4658]

which microphones are at the amp of syn??

[@deadeyes2803]

Deftones change in the background, at the drive in t shirt

[@fabiltrizky4139]

what is the size of Synyster guitar pick?

[@pililaman97]

They got danny trejo as guitar tech AWESOME

[@tonygrissom422]

it's incredible how uneducated some techs are. There's a million people out there that would probably love to be in the position that techs are in that would be much better suited for the position. And it would also make for much more informative video on these rig rundowns.

[@TheItalianoMafiosi]

Oh so you think he doesn't know shit and the band just keeps him? Yeah, that's probably the way it is. Or it could be him being high af and not feeling comfortable in interviews. But I bet he's an idiot who just happens to work for A7X, seems totally plausible.

[@mmll25]

bands like Slipknot and Korn make their own rig rundown... this guys from avenged sevenfold have a divo complex like greenday

[@toddhansen4681]

gcsgt2104

[@tkl7049]

Or maybe they were busy doing something else ? Not all bands have open schedules to do interviews & if you've seen in previous interviews the a7x guys are nice layed back people so relax

[@acarlovonsexron1994]

Hey, I'm just glad Cheeseball Cheeseington-McCheeseface the third isn't there doing whatever the hell that was from the last two Rig Rundowns.

[@Oakyplays]

Um correct me if I'm wrong but it sounds like he says the first one is in drop G :/

[@fletchjones3869]

Why didn't they call the noise gate on Syn's amp the Synyster Gate?

[@davidkarikas882]

Does Gates use any pedals besides the wah and the big one they had shown? Anyone know?

[@pioiuytrrewq]

no he does not

[@davidharing9147]

i wish syn and zacky were the ones being interviewed.

[@cazza710]

I've seen it done before, sounds absolutely mad

[@Strider1313]

Dont ask me things I dont know I'm just talking about the amp

[@TheRealSonicYouth]

Deftones playing in the background during zacky's stuff :D

[@jonathanmizaky]

what mics are those 7:02 ??

[@aethersong_]

at4050

[@alexandershaer1079]

For anyone wondering he uses a Dunlop gator grip 2.0mm

[@backfromthedead4827]

“awawa “ 6:20 KILLED me with closed captioning omg

[@skrieg13]

That tech sounds clueless.

[@Andrew-no2ds]

Can someone tell me the purpose of having a radio on the guitar strap

[@lukecomiskey6058]

It's part of the wireless electric guitar system

[@kafka6309]

Wait did he say one of synysters guitars are in drop G?

[@kunalgoel4371]

I didn't understand the radio pack part.

[@dayontapout]

I feel I'd be able to give the same description of the gear. Except I know for a fact that on Synyster Gates guitar he has his signature invader in the bridge. I've never been to their live show and I'm sure it's good, I really do love the band, but my guess is this guy really knows his digital and soldering and string winding. He wouldn't be with them if he didn't know what he was doing technically.

[@shaneedmundson7506]

please do a rr on fleetwood mac! im sure its been discussed, but now that mike c and neil finn are in the group, im even more interested in their rr!

[@tmblacktrack]

Anyone know what mics Syn is using on his Hellwin cabinet?

[@aethersong_]

audio technica AT4050 ;)

[@banzo1165]

Zachys guitar tech is way more communicative and qualified for his job than Syns be actually knows what he’s talking about

[@michaelsmoak6267]

I'm so confused with the setlist, I though welcome to the family was drop d not drop c# and there isn't even any guitar in fiction

[@darkwolves14]

14:05 when you put a dent in Zacky Vengeance' guitar