Rig Rundown: Descendents' Stephen Egerton

It’s pretty astonishing that a sophomoric band of misfits and outcasts have chiseled a 40-plus-year legacy of punk rock, but that’s what the improbable Descendents have been doing since 1977. Their brand of snotty, snarling, snarky, succinct songs have endeared them to rock titans like Dave Grohl.
“[They have] this shameless, love-song aesthetic-none of the other bands had the balls to do that,” proclaimed Grohl in 2013’s documentary Filmage: The Story of Descendents/All. “Everyone was screaming about Reagan or whatever.”
Additionally, through their blending of hardcore, drag-strip tempos, and melodious harmonies, they designed a vehicle for the ’90s pop-punk explosion-paving the expressway for bands like Green Day and Blink-182 to crash into the mainstream. “They’re like the punk-rock Beach Boys,” said Blink-182’s Mark Hoppus in Filmage.
And don’t forget their iconic, line-drawn mascot Milo, patterned after lead singer Milo Aukerman. That nerdy caricature’s singular outline comically defines the Descendents’ simplicity, humor, subtle brilliance, and everyman appeal. It also reflects the persona of Aukerman, who stated in Filmage, “I have this dichotomy of desires. I wanna rock out. I wanna be a punk-rock guy, but I also have this really strong ambition to be a scientist.”
The band’s redlining riffer Stephen Egerton welcomed PG down to Birmingham, Alabama’s Avondale Brewing Company, where he blasted through his punk-rock-approved, simplistic-yet-seething setup.
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#rigrundown #descendents #punk

[@premierguitar]

Full Rig Details: bit.ly/DescendentsRR Subscribe to PG's Channel: bit.ly/SubscribePGKZbin Don't Miss a Rundown: bit.ly/RIgRundownENL Merch & Magazines: shop.premierguitar.com

[@Footerismyname]

My band got to open for The Descendents 2 years ago. Some of the best people in the world. All killer no filler.

[@punkrocktv8229]

We opened for All, such an honor

[@TraceyAllen]

I seen them last night, they had to of played 35 songs.

[@Fafafohi]

It’s like two testicles talking to each other. Thank you guys/gals for covering punk bands!

[@Andresortega-nd2js]

With IDLES now on tour and Chris wearing their shirt, I sense a possible rig rundown of my favorite angry british men 👀

[@travissandersasbuttshitjac1458]

I hope!

[@jamesmotiv8989]

Pleasseeeee

[@jrg1231]

He’s a great spokesman for the companies that sponsor him!

[@trefwoordpunk2225]

Always liked his guitars but jesus, £2500 for a guitar with one pick up and no controls and a bolt on neck....not too many "Punk" fans going to be buying one of those I think....

[@1thess523]

@@trefwoordpunk2225 I wonder if there is a sterling version, Mike Herrera of MXPX has a signature bass model with no knobs and it's almost 3k if I'm not mistaken

[@AnnoyingOrange420]

@@trefwoordpunk2225I can’t blame a guy for accepting free guitars but it is pretty stupid to cost so much. Though I’d be surprised if he, or most other signature artists, had any say in the price

[@322dan]

One of the best sounding set-ups I've ever heard. Hearing one note and you know its Stephen. Thanks for the closer look.

[@premierguitar]

Glad you like it!

[@kyles9320]

So true. His tone is crisp.

[@mikequinlivan8842]

He is incredible. I saw them perhaps 2 years ago; a true bucket list concert. And it was everything I wanted it to be! I noticed his guitar, and thought it was rad. He clearly just turns it up to ten when they play, and rips!

[@shawn-roy]

“Filmage” is one of the best documentaries ever to date. Cheers to these legends.

[@houdini-ng9yv]

Agreed! I have given it friends for bdays, Xmas, or just "you gotta see THIS!" - I should get a case discount. Although it has ZERO to do with the quality of the doc, it bums me out to hear people badmouthing/discounting ALL. "Filmage" is so f@#king good, it could be about some band I hate and I would love it, so the "subject matter" makes it exponentially great.

[@MrCaddySlash]

That IDLES shirt is just making me craaaaave an IDLES rig rundown.

[@doyourbest999]

The proud, the few, DESCENDENTS rocking alone tonight

[@Purusam]

Stephen is one of my favorite guitarist ever, and an inspiration for me as a player too. He's such a cool guy (not like Karl, he's "not a cool guy anymore" ;) ), with great actitude and an underrated player, that's for sure. Thank you for playing the way you play, Stephen. PS: Please, do it with Karl Alvarez soon. I'd love to see his equipment.

[@fuckassnumberone]

Thank you for playin the waaaaaay you playy…..

[@Thonggdelonge]

Interview your dad day must’ve been fun.

[@jakobveatch]

Hahahaha

[@NoCoverCharge]

His dad is a guitar god

[@jamiemcparland]

So stoked you guys did this one!

[@totalrobot]

He's the guitarist who made me stop using barre chords and start using the thinnest 3 strings (G-B-E) to better separate from the bass, sonically. Nice guy to meet in person too.

[@4evertrick]

Saw ALL (the Descendants) in the early 90s at a club in Champaign, IL called the Blind Pig. Great show, keep rocking

[@swhitehouse]

from one STEPHEN to another, thanks for the tunes!!!!

[@jasonearll5742]

So weird to see him referred to as Descendants guitarist. To me, he’ll always be the All guitarist.

[@calvinfeustel2147]

Agreed! He totally did his best work with ALL! I associate the Descendents sound more with Frank Navetta and Ray Cooper

[@ZaryaMain]

Big hell yes, thank you for this

[@gregmize01]

Met Stephen several times. He's a heck of a nice fellow!

[@strictlydubwise]

The nicest guy in rock, and a badass player to boot!

[@gottagoquickscope7017]

Awesome!

[@GlennJimenez]

One of my favorite guitarists in punk rock

[@jnewton000]

Man, I like that guitar.

[@colico14]

It's really cool, but I would prefer a volume and tone knob, or at least a volume. I understand why he had it built the way it is, though.

[@cirjames2540]

Great band, brilliant songs and even better people.

[@slashtrio]

I think he had his bonus cup right before the interview ☺️

[@jasoncarey2092]

😂 100%

[@morais99]

As expected, it would be a short one.

[@rickyjoeshippyful]

Maybe my favorite Rig Rundown ever, and for sure the only time I've wanted to get the exact same rig for myself! I used to have a EBMM Albert Lee HH in Aztec Gold that I traded for a Les Paul Trad. II that I sold to build a Warmoth hotrod Strat...now I'm looking at the EBMM guitars again!! I love that sig guitar of Stephen's!

[@Swogie]

I know Im late but I have an EBMM Stingray bass. Seriously one of the best basses out there. It sounds amazing and works for everything. I definitely recommend EBMM guitars

[@rockeyepunkcovers4921]

Legend!

[@H3DG3xC043]

Just perfect and she's my ex are some of my fav songs the guitars and solos are so bad ass , what a sick guitarist!

[@houdini-ng9yv]

Thorough as that was, there was one piece of info missing about his rig ---how does the 'operator' of this rig kick so much ass? It is so refreshing to see a hero of mine be so humble, cool, down to earth, funny, yada yada yada.....whatta a badass.

[@JackRefuse]

❤❤❤

[@savethedandelions]

legend.

[@tommasovietina]

That glossy finish is great

[@brianbeattie4358]

Yes!!! I’ve been waiting on this one! I have a Sting Ray because of Stephen!

[@premierguitar]

Rock on!

[@namplifier]

One hell of a guitarist!!!!!

[@soulsurfer5531]

Stephen is a genius!!!

[@Saulkoll]

All killer no filler

[@JustinZimmermann-mh8kj]

First time I saw all he played a dan Armstrong plexi painted grey..it was at the whisky in 89.

[@conormackinnon4622]

Helllllll yes

[@matthewmcdonald4222]

I own one of these Blackstar ht1 hundreds and I also own one of the Blackstar series one 100w heads as well I blend both mine together with a few pedals as well Blackstar amps rule

[@siavashmassoudi]

Gotta love Descendents 🤘🏽

[@dezionlion]

Nice guitar!

[@mvarnzo5709]

Bill and Milo lurking. lol

[@jconner3891]

Guitar with out knobs. I like that. I’m full on bridge. Always.

[@musicman7773]

I have the same head and it sounds good.

[@peacemyguy5332]

Lol bill walking away in the background. Would have loved to hear him chime in

[@doyourbest999]

Where’s Karl???

[@benchinho]

Yes, please...!!!

[@jamesr_whiterock_ocmd_3629]

Should do slipknot rig rundown again soon I think it's been awhile 🤔?

[@KC-uw3fq]

I just recently got into the Music Man stuff, and let me tell you… I LOVE em!

[@masonvincent2446]

Now I want to try a MusicMan!

[@bukwok]

i thought single pickup with vol knob, no tone knob guitar cool enough, now this one even cooler no tone and vol knob, but i think PRS have a guitar looks no knob no pickup at all, just piezo pickup underneath of body, white color( solid color, not very PRS to me), super clean, dont know that PRS just like this one no knob at all, or just put the knob on the back.

[@zakkcovers18]

👍🎸

[@p.4890]

Pls do Toru and Ryota from One Ok Rock

[@Roman-rz3qj]

Interesting guitar. I like my toggle to cut my guitar between songs. Back off the neck pickup. I don’t see music man guitars often. Basses tho.

[@jasoncarey2092]

Stingray is one of the iconic basses but this may be the first Stingray 6 ive ever seen. Though obviously this 'Ray was modified to SE's standards. The stock Stingray 6 is nice though i can totally see what he means about the knobs and switches being in the way

[@KipCount]

Interesting on the amps. I thought Stephen went back to using Marshalls.

[@andrewvallee5738]

Do Karl!

[@jconner3891]

Blackstar gets bashed sometimes. Don’t know why. Had a few of them.

[@TheSonsofHorusx]

I’m an old guy, put a tortoise shell pick guard on there xP

[@brockvond1967]

Am I the only one here who marked out seeing Milo in the background at the 0:39 mark?

[@yomuthabyotch]

blackstar woohoo!

[@yeyonge]

Dam he sounded like creed bratton

[@tomace194]

Stephen plays in his own style . Any guitar would do

[@MrSupaflyd4384]

🖖📿💓

[@dezionlion]

I like the d’s but that was torture

[@John3_16andthensome]

All those questions and all that talk, and he didn't even play anything! Waiting patiently to hear him demonstrate the new sig model + rig, and.... ....left me hangin'! You could of at least asked him to "play us out" at the end of vid. PG just made the Lame List.

[@premierguitar]

Doors were literally opening and were being flagged (off camera) to get off stage by production and venue management. Consider this one of the luckiest Rundowns to ever happen given the circumstances.

[@WatchingMamut]

@@premierguitar when's the rig rundown for Tragedy?

[@robertsutherland1457]

Coo guitar. Hell year. $2,600? No, thanks....

[@greagandev]

"he is the guitarists guitarist" ~ Zach Blair.

[@joepro182]

Please, do the Foo Fighters

[@britshell]

I thought they quit?

[@bobbya8241]

Been back since 2010!

[@bradball42]

Music man is ok I guess

[@RichL4899]

One of the best guitarists in the genre hes a legend

[@invay69]

Yeah... you don't use the whammy bar AND the first 3 strings! Why don't you try a REBEC?

[@dezionlion]

Crackstar!

[@stephenbobby6715]

lol a $2500 punk guitar

[@Lee-fn6en]

There’s no such thing as a punk guitar. It’s 2500 for a high quality signature guitar of some guy you might like

[@totalrobot]

And he still plays better than you

[@RichL4899]

Pretty normal price for a quality guitar

[@carvinblack]

Ahh...the generic "Was in tune out of the case" or "it's nice to know I can walk into any store and I know will be the same consistent quality". 🤔

[@gRosh08]

Hello DISLIKE BUTTON COUNTER! If you are Not part of the solution... You ARE THE PROBLEM! Hello?!