Rig Rundown - Death Cab for Cutie's Ben Gibbard and Nick Harmer

Article and photos: bit.ly/DeathCabRR
On April 29th, 2015, Ben Gibbard and Nick Harmer of Death Cab for Cutie met with PG in Nashville’s historic Ryman to talk short-scale Fenders and Acme Silvertones.
Ben Gibbard tours with four 1970s Fender Mustangs with solid maple necks (He likes their comfy 24" scale.) The Mustangs have had their pickup switches and tone controls removed, and a single volume knob controls both pickups. Tech Jesse Quitslund also replaced the tremolo springs with bolts, locking down the floating tailpiece.
When Gibbard wants a softer, gentler tone, he goes with one of two 2008 Gibson J-45s with B-Band pickup systems.
To learn more about the setups behind Gibbard and Harmer's live sound, visit: bit.ly/DeathCabRR

[@veerchasm1]

BRING BACK REBECCA! Ben is one of the few people whose speaking voice sounds like his singing voice👍🏻😉

[@coleemmersonhallman5329]

i feel like i’m watching this on 1.5x speed

[@FrostByte_AC]

If Perry was in my band I'd be inspired just by his enthusiasm.

[@davidjameschamberlain]

why do i feel like he used to use the line 6 delay

[@venemataylor]

David Chamberlain he mentions an "unnamed modeler" he used to use at 17:34, that was probably it.

[@Asillyhobo]

The funny thing is that he uses a DL4 for vocals and mentions it, but who knows.

[@cwilson7798]

I wish the interviewer would've cut in less, like stop cutting them off, they're the ones we want to hear talk

[@PaulManningg]

He interrupts everybody. You see some of the musicians look up at him like “dude wtf”

[@Dielawn69]

Perry is a good dood. I think he is just a bit of a nervous spaz and he thinks he has to chime in every two seconds lpl.

[@AnodyneHipsterInfluencer]

Jesus this was hyper AF.

[@NICKHAM16]

Hey Perry, how about you try letting the artists finish their own sentences?

[@TheFameMobster]

The cut-off that irritated me the most was when Nick was explaining his choice of picks and the guy interrupts him with "Are you always playing with picks?" ...are you serious? They say there are no stupid questions, but that was definitely a stupid one. I can attest now though that the Sharps rule for bass.

[@bigtakeshi]

I know many bass players that switch between picks and using their fingers, it's a fair question. I agree, he should let people finish speaking.

[@ubernate860]

He should probably lay off the coke, too

[@merkantelismo]

He did mention at 13:50 that the guys needed to do a sound check so they're a little pressed for time.

[@allrain]

I agree with whoever said they were clearly pressed for time. I've had my fair share of dealing with artists and their crew before a concert, and i can only imagine the hell these guys go through to arrange this kind of thing ON STAGE with artists AND their gear.

[@zshwn]

love these videos! You guys should try and hit up the Foo Fighters, Paramore, and Angels and Airwaves. Linkin Park would be cool too.

[@jeremyshutrump7351]

I wish he'd go through why he likes the lakland pbass copies over the fender pbass, because in my experience I've never played a pbass copy better feel or playability than the fender. I doubt it's for cost, but I could be wrong?

[@kevinclark8261]

You should try and get a Young the Giant rig rundown.

[@acidburn_]

American Football

[@marylandstationmusic9422]

when you guys gonna do Taking Back Sunday?

[@Asaski09]

Maryland Station Music would have loved to see the Fred&Ed setup back in the day..

[@nontajoin719]

i used to think that Nick would go,,,bald someday but it doesn't seem to happen sofa. anyway Nick is my favorite bass player in the world!hes awesome!

[@TheJamiefbolton]

Nope. The Super Duper 2 n 1 is two cascaded Super Hard On boosts. The "yellow" side of the box of rock is a super hard on boost. The "red" side of the box of rock is three cascaded super hard on boosts with a tone control. He's basically got 6 SHO boosts from ZVEX. Which is a phenomenal line of pedals!!

[@wadejohnson2700]

I was wondering if you could do a rig rundown for the band Daughter? I would love to see their pedalboards.

[@PaulManningg]

14 minutes on bass and less than 5 on guitar......

[@niallduffy704]

Premier Guitar, Can you do a U2 rig rundown, they have just started their new tour, and The Edge has just UPDATED his rig with new guitars and effects, and Adam Clayton has got a few new basses too, and also has new signature Fender and Warwick basses out.

[@Jcaburianhimself]

Edge is using 4 axe fx 2 ultras, crazy!

[@alexanderlynch7528]

STROKES RIG RUNDOWN!!!!!!!!

[@tee5152]

If you focus, listen, and close your eyes as Ben talks...he sounds like Weird Al. Try it.

[@SticksAandstonesBozo]

Damn. We get 5 mins with Ben Gibbard? The man who made one of the greatest albums of all time ? Come on

[@lowyaw]

our bassist recently switched to ashdown. greatest bass amp we ever had for live gigs (the other amp he owns is an svt 3 w/410 hlf

[@9cccaseycane]

It would be awesome if you did a rig rundown with Rush!

[@premierguitar]

9cccaseycane kzbin.info/www/bejne/bnWmpadtqqynrZo

[@AnchovyRun]

Premier Guitar A more recent one would be cool though if you get the chance!

[@LiberTBo]

It would likewise be awesome if you could just manage to focus on the rig rundown at hand.

[@DaveMorrisonMusic]

Squirrel!

[@LiberTBo]

Dave Morrison Monosyllabic responses may work for you elsewhere but, you're engaged in a serious discussion here about music and you should be able to do better than that..

[@RealNerdyProductions]

Although he was cutting everyone off pretty regularly. I think he still did a good job with the interview. Especially with the time crunch. Thanks Premier Guitar! DCFC is one of my #1 favorite bands!

[@noreaction1]

Wow had no idea he used Lakland. I just ordered a 5502 model and can't wait to get it

[@ccgbassandmore3]

You should do a Narrow Head rig rundown

[@frederickpfeiffer9276]

What pedal maker is Ben referring to when he says, "another similar kind of modeler for a long time which will go nameless...always broke"?

[@HARwinsOUTagain]

Probably the Line 6 DL4 delay modeler. I've had a few of them. So many damn problems. I read of numerous people and artists who go through a lot of them too.

[@frederickpfeiffer9276]

Thanks for the reply. I was worried that he was referring to Strymon, I own a few.

[@ubernate860]

Interruptus Maximus

[@murph7489]

I have played bass for a long time but I have never used any pedals..ever...nothing to me really sounds all that great to me thru a bass...although I do like the compressor mxr makes....really nice pedal, dbx is probably much better though, and 3-4xs the cost...

[@matteop.481]

Great video as always! But did you guys removed the Jeff Beck's rig rundown?? I was searching for it but didn't find anything on your channel.

[@premierguitar]

Matt Patton We were asked by Beck's team of lawyers and management to remove the video. Sorry for the inconvenience.

[@matteop.481]

Premier Guitar Oh ok... now I understand. Thanks for the reply.

[@1sainteve1]

Premier Guitar That's too bad. It's sad when a group of overpaid suits try and justify their salary by making arbitrary decisions.

[@allrain]

Real musicians put on a shirt and play. Wannabes just show off their tats and haircuts. LOL just kidding, love these vids!

[@lucianos1990]

I wanted to go to their show in Oslo 13th of june but I cant afford it. Seeing this made it worse.. Great band, great rundown.

[@cigarettesmokingman9471]

I can't use anything other than those sharp dunlop picks. I heard others say the same about different picks and it wasn't love at first play but now its all I use.

[@Palefirecreative]

Really enjoy PG’s interviewers. Maybe make their name prominent in the description? Great stuff!

[@MaleInMarchMusic]

i waiting for this 5 years!!!! ow my fuckin gUd

[@thomasramsey6642]

¿Has anyone ever accidentally choked on your pick?

[@michaelyahner6695]

everyone has a pog, is that accurate?

[@maibeid5112]

Melvins rig rundown or at least only Buzz Osborne

[@maibeid5112]

Maibeid sorry i didn't notice there was already one

[@acrock21]

had to rush gibbard =|

[@selectsurfboards]

Thank the lord!

[@3113_records]

What's the name of the intro song?

[@Majora99]

you are a tourist

[@devonomicon]

Ahh man clearly rushing Ben Gibbard through his stuff.

[@spinblackcircles]

Ben had sound check he probably told him he couldn't do it unless it was fast. He says it at the beginning of talking to ben

[@operationremodel]

14 mins with the bass player?? Boo

[@thomasramsey6642]

Still great to learn either way

[@theedwardcunningham]

I remember seeing death cab and Gibbard totally missed the vocal loop trigger and had to start the song over. Happens. Cool video thanks.

[@elephantricity]

Change out the filter caps so its road worthy... Are you like just trying to sound knowledgable on amps on something? Whats to change out? Its a custom amp. There is no changing out of anything.

[@jnh73]

Alex Padilla I think he's talking about it in the context of using the custom amp as opposed to bringing an old, legit Silvertone on tour. I think. Maybe.

[@thomasramsey6642]

Tabs?

[@elephantricity]

Jack Narcotta Even if thats what he meant it doesn't make sense. Obviously he wouldn't use filter caps from an original silvertone in his custom amp, as thats just dumb, he would use either modern or NOS caps not ones directly out of a silvertone. So his comment was really obnoxious imo.

[@EVH_]

Alex Padilla You're the one that sounds obnoxious, give him a break. Everyone says nonsensical things from time to time.

[@8-TrackCustomAudio]

Alex Padilla He was very clearly just asking what was different between the custom amp and the original silvertone amp.

[@JTakasa]

Can we get an interviewer who knows what a common pedal like the Box of Rock does? I`ll give him the deuce rat as those aren`t very common, but the BoR is a standard Marshall in-a-box.

[@joelwitherspoon6481]

19:24 so THAT'S what he says at the beginning!

[@cammincar3833]

You guys should do a rig rundown on the foo fighters

[@JustusVidyo]

song in the beginning?

[@THRILL606]

Justus Bacon You are a tourist

[@craterhead]

you are a tourist

[@JustusVidyo]

No, you are a tourist. ;)

[@wilfredjbrimley]

Every musician at this level can hear a change in tone after a set of strings that have been played for a few songs (how they feel about that change is up to the individual). At this level a musician has been playing for 20 years, through pro gear, and on records made in pro studios with pro engineers/producers. They know their tone. After they get that tone in the studio they go on tour and listen to their monitor mixes through in ear monitors that are not effected by room size or shape, mixed by a person that is paid $2000-$3000 a week to make it sound exactly the same every night. These are not people playing Peavy rigs in a different bar with different wedges, and different engineer every night. That's not a slam on any one who is at that level, I'm just saying that's not this guy situation. I will acknowledge what this guy is hearing may not be noticeable to the audience, and if it is, the FOH engineer is surely adjusting.

[@LiberTBo]

This rig rundown is a testament why Millennials aren't selling that many albums.

[@MorganJaneP]

No, it's because very few people buy albums anymore and instead use Spotify, KZbin etc??? That makes no sense

[@LiberTBo]

Layne Javel That's an inaccurate statement, millions of albums are sold on Amazon, iTunes, MP3 and Discs.. People are willing to pay for the bands/music they love. The sad reality is that even with our limitless technology which has enabled just about anyone access to public domains such as You Tube. The redemption clause amongst this tech flurry is that among musicians, there remains a critical element of respect and honesty about music. A great illustration of this could be Clapton's inability to play the blues classic "Cutting Floor," as well as he would have liked nearly 50 years ago , and Jimi Hendrix playing the exact same song effortlessly and adding a multiplicity of his own versions of Cutting Floor, astonishing everyone with his technique, creativity and sheer talent. There are literally an unlimited amount of illustrations of genius type guitar/music innovations here in the 21st century but ,all honesty some have developed too much of a reliance on technology verses hard work and perseverance. Only God can supply the talent.

[@LiberTBo]

***** Calling me Mr. Hipster and inferring I only listen to white people's soundscapes garbage is a bit of racist projectionism. I'm thinking that's a result of your investigation of my Google-You Tube site. All very interesting in light of the fact you don't seem to be able to create your own page. Clicking on your name to find a You Tube page just draws a big blank. Apparently you don't have the skill, the knowledge or the where-with-all to build a simple web page. It's either that or you're just plainly too stupid and fearful to do anything but, run your mouth, attempt to piss others off with your home-brewed nonsense and lame-ass trolling.

[@LiberTBo]

***** Somewhere out there is a tree, tirelessly producing oxygen so you can breathe, I think you owe it an apology.

[@hocksaw]

why two tuners?

[@empreme]

+hocksaw A second for his acoustic?

[@memorize22]

+empreme probably just a backup

[@sidfernandez7569]

why not just play a p bass?

[@mikemikemike701]

So he hears his strings going dead half way through a show? Total BS, just a waste of money and time. Can you guys stick to real bands with actual players, instead of guys like this?

[@lookingforwhiteprivilege9330]

Sounds perfectly plausible to me if u have really acidic sweat. Do you play bass? I do and I can see it being possible in certain conditions

[@quasarpuffs]

mikemikemike701 Seriously? How much time and money does it "waste" changing strings on 2 basses? Its like $5 (when buying in bulk) and 5 minutes work. He likes fresh strings, just like nearly every guitar player in the world. I don't see anything weird about it just because he play bass. Round-wound bass strings DO sound different after about a half-hour of playing; they lose a little bit of their zing. Some guys like that zing and change strings often, while some like the more 'broken in' sound and keep their strings on longer. Its just personal preference.

[@dylanjeffers9257]

mikemikemike701 You can absolutely tell the difference in an hour with a new set of rounds on bass..... That said I don't know why anyone would be more used to the feel and sound of an an untouched set of strings. To me they feel unnatural for about an hour, then they feel good for about 2-3 weeks then they are basically garbage. If I was gigging like 3-4 shows a week I'd probably change strings every week.

[@brianborders8003]

Can you define "real band" and "actual player"? It's an actual question.

[@BarronVonSchnoot]

@@quasarpuffs no

[@urwholefamilydied]

They all made an agreement to use the same tuner in case the tuners are off??? Jesus christ this guy is insane. If the tuner is off, which it is not, it's not going to be off in one direction, its going to have some give and take both sharp and flat. It's really hard listening to this guy. Only six minutes in and think I have to peace to the next video.

[@jrcenina85]

I heard a Tone of humor in it a little bit but we all have our own ears, of course

[@mr.champlinssciencechannel906]

I think what he was trying to say is using the same brand of tuner gives the bands sound more consistently. KZbin has some great videos where they compare different brands of tuners and they do not react exactly the same.

[@urwholefamilydied]

Did he just "knock on wood", but wasn't doing it to be funny? He knocked on wood in two different places. I'm going to keep commenting, as long as this dude keeps saying dumb shit.

[@spinblackcircles]

That's great your life must be really rewarding