Rig Rundown - Gang of Four's Andy Gill

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Andy Gill, founding member of Gang of Four, talked gear with PG’s John Bohlinger while in Nashville at the Mercy Lounge. Gill is known for his hard hitting, jagged guitar riffs that helped to shape post-punk in late-’70s England. Not one to remain locked in the past, Gill’s rig and approach to live and recorded guitar has evolved into something decidedly modern.
Andy Gill has been through a lot of guitars over his long career. His No. 1 for the past several decades is this ’80s Fender Strat Ultra that has been modified with a kill switch.
This Reverend Double Agent also serves time during a Gang of Four set. It has an angry P-90 in the neck with a humbucker in the bridge. All of Gill’s guitars are strung up with Ernie Ball 2222 (.09-.046) Hybrid Slinky strings.
To continue learning about Gill's setup, visit: www.premierguit...

[@markbrooks4471]

The marvellous Andy Gill explains the secrets of his sound. This video was a complete surprise to find here. Rest in Peace Andy - thank you for all the great records you either played on or produced over the years. A revolutionary musician gone.

[@Mr.Steve-O]

The first UK victim of Covid, so sad

[@blueabattoir]

Andy Gill underground hero.

[@steadyed]

Rest easy Andy

[@keithburgess1567]

He died yesterday...this just came up in my feed...he was planning a tour and reviewing a new album from his hospital bed sadly he never made it...he had everything figured out but his body gave in I feel a sadness and a loss for his family friends and fans...may his music and memories live on ,..god bless...

[@nigellambert6701]

keith burgess well said.

[@jaykay5811]

The guitar on entertainment may be my favorite guitar work on any single album. It’s so raw and unnaturally natural

[@nickfanzo]

Jordan Kay solid gold is also fantastic, actually their best

[@weldonwenturine3395]

@@nickfanzo my favorite too!!!

[@nicholsonfile]

I love it when older artists experiment with new (to them) technology. I would never be comfortable using a laptop on stage. We were lucky to be alive at the same time at Andy Gill.

[@OldSethOnetooth]

Gang Of Four are one of those bands who never made it big but their success was how influential they were not only in post punk but hardcore punk (and anything guitar related which followed) with the bands who didn't want to follow a uniform template. For anyone watching this unfamiliar with GOF I'd recommend doing a search for their John Peel Sessions on here. I'd say the same thing for Wire.

[@deanarnold6284]

Yep! Funny how the post punk UK scene really didn't have a direct analog in America, maybe Mission of Burma or a few obscure acts.

[@LedZeppelinHK]

I am a kinda mainstream guy. i think Entertainment was mainstream enough to achieve some good success.I enjoyed most of the songs from that album. you can literally dance to the songs.. yet, managed to maintain some heavy punk element. in terms of fame, i think they deserve as much as to The Clash get. i think Andy Gill deserves more recognition than Johnny Ramone in punk culture and history. it was mind blowing when i first heard his uniquie guitar sound. it was totally something new, something never heard before.

[@xbob]

I was in on Go4 from their start. Saw them open for Buzzcocks in Chicago ('79?). They were a sonic revolution for me. The way GIll used his guitar was very different to me. He primarily used single notes or a couple of notes, not full on chords for everything. The way he used feedback and other sounds from amps and effects opened my eyes to a whole new way of playing guitar. I've followed them ever since. I think it's pretty cool the way he's embraced technology to continue to create sounds. Thanks for going out and talking to guitar players who were never mainstream but, truly have a place in pushing guitar playing through barriers to lay new ground for the rest of us to explore.

[@blueabattoir]

Yes, Andy Gill has a unique style. Love it!

[@jackdempsey9644]

Lucky

[@ericboreen4040]

For those of you who are in a rush this morning: The guitars have pickups. The strat needs a re-fret, and there is a Reverend of unknown identity. He allegedly owns a 335. Instead of a pedal board there are various computer plugins for sound shaping, and there are Peavy amps with a gain control.

[@uriahfiiya]

Eric Boreen Lmao thanks

[@mtsn]

too late, I want my 15 minutes back.

[@TheSpoonwood]

Lol..... guitar, right?

[@arielista]

That is a Strat Ultra, has dually red sensors in the bridge, gold middle, and blue neck. I should know I proudly own one.

[@nickfanzo]

Ariel Lopez they’re great guitars

[@JosefRosam]

strat plus? no?

[@DrRussPhd]

Saw these guys back in the early 1980's in a small club in NJ . . my ears buzzed for days . .great show . . Sara Lee was with them at the time.

[@theWARMJET]

super underrated but trully original and influential player and band

[@andrewelk23]

I was at that show. Never would have guessed his effects were coming out of a laptop, sounded really great.

[@carloscasillero4422]

original player original band! he obviously doesn't really care that much about the equipment he uses. it's refreshing!

[@Getyabootsoffskinny]

Saw gang of four support the rezillos in 1978.was amazed by gills playing and his sound. Rezillos were great by the way.

[@skawashers]

RIP Andy.

[@gewglesux]

Nice choice

[@ch.s.5180]

coming back to this after hearing this legend died - rip andy

[@CayleBrekka]

"It does sound HUGE upfront" ... "oh, good" lol. Andy's such an iconic guitarist and so humble. RIP Andy.

[@theyearoftherat]

Legend and such a loss. RIP Andy.

[@epicmeade]

It;s kind of funny to notice that if you freeze frame on Gill's amp settings,he's got the 'Pre' and the 'Post', and the 'Master volume', all set at ten. I'm not saying this to make fun of him. As an old school Punk Rocker, I kind of love that approach (Big fan of Lemmy as well).

[@andrewludlam5686]

I saw G.O.4 at the Shepherds Bush Empire when they reformed with original line up in early 2000's. All good except Andy Gill's guitar sound. He was using a Strat and a Fender Tweed ( looked like a Deluxe ) . No bite, no punch, no metal string percussion attack. Back in the day I saw them a few times in London. At the Electric Ballroom Andy played Strat through an H&H transistor amp. The sound was like being hacked to pieces with a giant sword. The attack was so brutal. It was fantastic. Andy Gill might well be a respected Producer.....but the choice of tube amp ( especially Tweed with valve rectifier that 'sags' ) has fucked up his guitar sound on their earliest, best work. For new projects, absolutely anything goes.

[@AndrewZ54321]

If you listen to the interview you'll note he said "when I can't get a Peavey I'll have to use a Fender...I don't really get on with those... [due to their lack of master volume] you have to turn it up all the way to get any gain [distortion]". So looks like you were at one of those gigs where he couldn't get a Peavey.

[@harveycan5820]

Saw that tour here in LA and his attack was like an axe chopping glaciers. Pretty intense.

[@vacuumelite2065]

@@AndrewZ54321 Pair play Gov. However : The Bush Empire is a big venue (it can take a loud guitar combo). This was their re-form come back Gig. They would be playing early material. There is no excuse for failing to source an amp with 'attack'...not in Russia but in LONDON. I doubt the Peavey option was even on the table. A cute side issue : in the Press, before the Gig ; Hugo said he was "shitting himself". Top lad. He was, in fact, magnificent on the day. :-) :-)

[@cuggyboysmith81]

RIP Andy. That's my mate's Drum kit in the background

[@morticialechatnoir541]

RIP Andy. Hard to believe you were mortal.

[@bewes72]

Rest in peace ANDY ... died today

[@josephcallahan1664]

I was lucky enough to see Gang of Four three times: in Ann Arbor, Detroit, and Windsor. The stack he had in A2 was amazing for Anthrax, which sounded better than the album! Peace.

[@veerchasm1]

Go4 are awesome. Really the forerunner to a lot of indie and alternative rock

[@bradbarker4041]

One of my favorite rundowns.

[@BestTits]

Reverend Double Agent, Magneto pickups , Asheville, NC.

[@GeneTrujillo]

A real legend. RIP

[@fenderfetish]

RIP Andy. Thanks for the guitar lessons...and the evenings and weekends =^)

[@louderthangod]

The kiddies probably won't care for this episode but Gang of Four is fucking amazing. Politics and social commentary sadly seem to lose out to fancy haircuts and stage histrionics.

[@geordiedog1749]

First time I saw them Andy played his strat with a Carlsberg Special Brew can and had a nasty Carlsboro transistor amp.

[@laneyguy1458]

Hey 👋 john, your rig rundowns are always amazing, you've got to do a rig rundown of the band "COLOSSEUM" 70's band you obviously must be knowing it. Their guitarist Clem Clemson, is one fantastic guitar player. Pardon my ignorance but maybe you've already got it done but I've not seen it yet. Regardless always like your style ur an amazing artist your self. Hopefully we will have the opportunity to see more from you.

[@magsuns7648]

THANK YOOUU FOR ANDY GILL!!!!!!

[@daktari9]

Andy will be missed rip

[@nickfanzo]

Legend

[@nicolasmrn]

This video is amazing, and I hadn't watched it yet.

[@atomkraftteddy]

R.I.P. Andy Gill

[@UnremarkableMarx]

❤️

[@slavvewilliams1948]

love Go4 and actually really dig the fact that andy's relying so heavily on digital emulation... but why is he opening different projects for every song?? mainstage allows you to have ONE project that is always open with different patches within it... it will surely load much faster that way.

[@sweetb879]

That "spectacularly ugly strap" is the Maryland state flag. Nobody rocks their state flag as an accessory like we do in Maryland! Insane really when most people probably don't know what their state flag looks like. I wonder how Andy ended up with that strap? Haha

[@fonzybrookestone727]

That MD flag is EVERYWHERE! It is the coolest looking state flag. It's out of control in MD too!

[@damonwillis3672]

R.I.P

[@martydurlam]

What a strangely complicated rig. I was thinking Strat into amp only, but…who knew!

[@thevelointhevale1132]

What a contradiction in terms ... he's almost completely nonchalant in regard to physical gear but then very much a Tech head on the Digital end of things ... he's made things complex when his end user sound is pretty basic. Its a process I suppose ... in the 70's it was his Guitar straight into a Solid State Amp ... now he has added layers of complexity to achieve more or less the same thing. We all have hobbies!

[@marsattacks7071]

R.I.P. Andy Gill (1st Feb 2020)

[@zachz2333]

Lol funny when you see guitar heroes know less about their gear than you did at 13

[@alyssadsb9106]

Sad news. Rest in power Andy

[@robertschultz4100]

RIP

[@snavs420]

RIP Andy

[@MisterGuitarItalia]

Poor John... this interview is painfully dull.

[@pentatonicburst2753]

TheTRUTH you know i have seen alot of his demos and things,and to me it looks like he backs off the description if the items amd lets the artist describe there stuff,and that makes it slow at times.

[@TheZooropaBaby]

Wow. I'm speechless

[@ernie12man]

I can dig it, they did plenty of talking for all of us,... not a note played unless I slept through that part ;) ....

[@TheZooropaBaby]

This is Andy Gill's rig, man. that guy who made all of these post punk sounds we all like. and influenced us so much

[@charlieschmitt1420]

Doesn't talk about the tele he used to play quit a bit.

[@user-cy8jv5dv7i]

RIP MY GOD

[@SanFranciscoFatboy]

that has to be the only peavrey on tour anywher :)

[@cbquills9107]

He has a pick-up made of lace. Expect that might be an interesting drive home from the lumber yard.

[@chade355]

He's never seen Pre and Post gain controls on an amp ? He must be a new Peavey user. I had a Classic 50 410 in the early 90's ( no effects loop)...I miss that amp.

[@sirvidia]

all amps with preamp gain have them, just different labelled.

[@hostofodin4602]

What peavey is he using? I don't think they actually said

[@HARTYNMUGHES]

Zzzzzzzz. That reverend is a double agent. They're great guitars and nicely priced.

[@andymiles3886]

Influential a gutairist as there has ever been.

[@junk206]

I came for the vintage Mk1 Schecter strat and all I got was Reverend/fender strat. Earthbound guitars. Booo, coming from a vintage schecter precision bass owner here.

[@geordiedog1749]

Ledge.

[@jg932]

Good god their stage setup is really messy. God only wonders how they can move on stage without tripping over cables, let alone trying to avoid stepping on them.

[@tristansmith7921]

They should do Asking Alexandria

[@LiberTBo]

When its this boring right outta the gate, things tend not to improve further on in the interview...I almost looked for John to pull out his cell-phone and check it for messages...what a yawner....

[@danielsoto5441]

Terrance Hill lol!

[@hirawstra8edge137]

Andy Gill a man who hates what he does, and thats pretty sad.

[@zordakAU]

Seriously, what a stupid setup, 30 seconds to change a patch???? Come on....

[@BestTits]

Magneto Guitars is usa

[@FrankBottazzo]

i am bored to death

[@tMatt5M]

That huge mess of cables and equipment on the floor gives me anxiety.

[@jg932]

I once done a gig at my college where there were cables everywhere on the floor, seriously it was literally a health and safety nightmare!

[@DomSchu]

All I can think about is spending 2-3 hours at 2 in the morning winding them all up.

[@claytonsmith8694]

zzzzzzzz

[@ASMRBass]

Peavey :(

[@misterknightowlandco]

ASMR Bass whats wrong with peavey? i enjoy mine.

[@ASMRBass]

You know their motto, "If its gonna sound like sh*t, its gonna sound like sh*t forever". Its true, their gear is indestructible and lasts forever, but that sound though...

[@misterknightowlandco]

ASMR Bass i think they made some quality sounding gear when they were made in the usa. its the 80s sound really.

[@FecklessCretin]

The peavey classic series are perfectly fine amps

[@itszaidihamid]

Don't overgeneralize.. The Classic line from Peavey is well respected.

[@markmcclellan8421]

I wouldn’t ever categorize the Gang of Four as “rock”

[@weldonwenturine3395]

Then what? Just curious?

[@markmcclellan8421]

@@weldonwenturine3395 Post Punk, angular art damage , whatever, just not rock. Technically “rock” is four on the floor, loud guitars playing pentatonic riffs with distorted guitars, “rock and roll” on the other hand was originally from jump music and Rand B - rocking and rolling like the dance the Stroll, back and forth, tenor saxes turned into electric guitars.

[@weldonwenturine3395]

@@markmcclellan8421 well one thing is sure rock and roll is done

[@markmcclellan8421]

@@weldonwenturine3395 for the most part yeas- but it lives on on my turntable!

[@ariefaundes]

What a boring old man, he never tried to be nice, he took deep breaths after every single question!!! why don't simply send his technician instead? I don't like Boelinger very much, but he made a great work not to killing him...

[@LedZeppelinHK]

he looked as if he was waken up in the middle of his sleep

[@PhatPhrank]

Andy was a profoundly awkward man.

[@dalethedippa5822]

He's just not a big personally, so what? He's an inspirational musician

[@ariefaundes]

@@dalethedippa5822 OK, but i'm not judging his life or contributions to the history of music; just saying if you go to the interview, be nice; if you don't want to, send the guitar tech instead... If you are asked for an interview and you say yes, play the game! other way, simply say no.

[@mattwright2964]

@@ariefaundes errr he's an ex punk (kind of) ffs. Maybe you are missing the point a bit. Its all DIY and he doesn't care. That's the real point.

[@Romany1111]

Leader of Gang of One. Interview is a boring as the band. Rather listen to Entertainment! or Solid Gold than go to one of his shows.

[@vinnievictory1186]

RIP