Rig Rundown - Los Straitjackets

Article and photos: bit.ly/LosStraitjacketsRR
Premier Guitar’s John Bohlinger met with modern surf-guitar superheroes Eddie Angel and Greg Townson of Los Straitjackets before their hometown show in Nashville. Both guitarists prove that sometimes all you need is a guitar and an amp to rock and roll.
Eddie Angel rocks a sparkly DiPinto Galaxie 4 that houses four single-coil DiPinto pickups. It’s nearly identical to Townson’s guitar with the exception of the five-position switch on the upper bout. Angel spends nearly the entire show on the bridge pickup and strings up his guitar with a hefty set of Ernie Ball Power Slinky strings (.011-.048).
Greg Townson plays the DiPinto Los Straitjackets Signature Galaxie 4 as well, but his version has four small buttons that turn each pickup on and off. He uses D’Addario Nickel Wound .011-.049 strings and if either guitarist breaks a string they keep a single Galaxie on the road as a backup.
To continue learning about the band's gear, visit: bit.ly/LosStraitjacketsRR

[@idlevandal69]

"Tremolo it's like Tabasco man, you can put it on anything!!!" John's quote of the day...

[@tonyl6203]

Eddie is an extremely underrated guitar player, and more importantly, an amazing songwriter. I've met him a few times, and he's a soft spoken guy who just plain loves to play his music. Doesn't get any purer than that. 🙂

[@justinmcinerny]

I have been following these guys for a long time, I have some of their CD's, I have listened to tons of their music on youtube and spotify and finally saw Los Straitjackets with Nick Lowe a few weeks ago at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in San Francisco. They are extraordinarily good. A great, great band that seems to be mostly underappreciated. Please go see them, buy their records and make positive comments about them on line.

[@marknason4572]

Los Straitjackets are by far the greatest modern day surf guitar band and although their lineup has changed over the years, they continue to be great musicians who also know how to entertain their crowds!

[@GASMan-57]

I really like Los Straitjackets, but The Mermen are probably my top fave surf fan. But unfortunately they never seem to tour outside of the So. Cal area. They're more ethereal, but indeed, I luv the Straitjackets too. Great tone guys.

[@alexandert696]

The mermen !!!

[@DSilvergun]

Also Satan's Pilgrims - easily as good as these guys.

[@endrizo]

dont miss laika and the cosmonauts

[@dingleydb]

viva los straitjackets

[@lerxst990]

I met Eddie and Greg when they were in Cleveland. 2 genuine nice people. great band, go see them if they come to your city..

[@PhilHenzig]

These guys are my favorite band, both musically inspiring songs, tones, and guitarists. Their show is ALWAYS a fun entertaining special event for me and they are all very down to earth great guys! I loved Chet Atkins ,The Ventures,Dick Dale , Link Ray etc as a kid and the beautiful guitar tones ,song arrangements and fun factor of their show bring it all back to me of why I took up the guitar. You have to see them if you love a fun time and great guitar music!

[@BillCompo]

I like the Dick Dale mention. I read a article with Dick oh 20 years ago now and he was asked about his facial expressions while playing and if it was for effect and Dick said no that's pain because I play the heaviest strings I can get. Thanks to all the KZbin people for posting all the boss Los Straitjackets tunes and shows that keep surf music alive today.

[@treloskitharistas]

AT LAST, a Surf Rig Rundown!! That's the spirit!!!!

[@faunoram]

NO MAMEN ! No sabía que Los Straitjackets tenían su Rig Rundown ! Buena onda Premier Guitar !!

[@billnelson9413]

Best rig rundown ever!

[@loogy6482]

Both Greg and Eddie came through Glenside, PA via The Blue Comet many times through various acts. Fabulous guitar players, both of them. Nice video.

[@panther289]

Been a fan of them since the mid 90's. Love that straight in / straight out sound. Fits so well with their brand of instrumental rock.

[@noi5emaker]

Great job, John! Love the humour and how you interact with the guys.

[@anotherheadlessdemo]

Totally agree with the tremolo on "Rumble." Awesome sound. I have lots of Los Straightjackets music (but not all - yet). Great band.

[@imangus247]

What about the bass player?? I realise it's probably a DiPinto straight into that Ashdown amp, but I'd like to hear it anyway!

[@sirvicemanone]

I really loved these guys attitude and the masks. I checked out their sound and they are really cool... Another great find and thank you PG!

[@premierguitar]

Heck yah!

[@deaterk]

They formed in 1988, and gained (fairly widespread) notoriety with the release of their first album in 1995. Definitely not a 'new discovery' 🙂

[@philipellis7039]

I haven't even watched this yet but well done PG, such an awesome band.

[@metelegerald]

They are the coolest for doing that intro!!!

[@jonnymac9262]

Great episode!

[@GASMan-57]

This was cool to find. I got to hear them live in B'ham WA years ago and their performance and tone was stellar. The Pontani Sisters were also a kick in the pants. But it's nice to now know what they use. I got a DiPinto LS Galaxie model years ago and already have a DRRI, so now I just need to re-string to 11s. \m/

[@gwer369]

love these guys!

[@haf816r]

What a fun band and great tunes. :)

[@3bar]

I love these guys!

[@gaboquintana3628]

no bass? why? he was sitting there

[@ryanlevin1912]

those guitars are amazing imo. rly gives the Jazzmaster a run for its money

[@surrealchemist]

Pretty cool. Would have liked to hear from the bass player too.

[@dublinboyo]

Pete Curry is their regular Bass player and is on a short leave of absence. The guy behind them is subbing for him, so I guess out of respect for Pete they skipped the Bass run down.

[@MyNamelsBlue]

looks like an Ashdown Evo head, some 115 and a Radial DI box. bass probably made by DiPinto, with a p pickup

[@stephen9944]

John is such a class act. That seemed like a tough one but the dude just smiles on through it.

[@Oral-B2]

"Tremolo is like Tabasco, you can put it on anything."

[@billyrouse4813]

Cool to see a Pentagón mask on the bassist. I don't know the other two masks, unfortunately.

[@renodavid]

Great advice about finding new sounds with your fingers instead if with a pedal.

[@ebeep]

Anyone know details about these pickups? Alnico magnets? Formvar or enamel coated windings? Approximate output/resistance? They sound great! Also, since their rigs are so minimal, why not cover their amp settings and speakers???

[@cyoa4u]

anyone know what the name of that jack was? i'm super curious

[@devinj]

No bass?

[@BestTits]

saw them a while back nice

[@calebrosazza]

did you do a video with nrbq?

[@dr2675]

What happened to the bass player?

[@johncalaway4446]

They remind me of the Ventures.

[@jakeshack3958]

Nice interview, hope you did a rundown for NRBQ while you were there!

[@rvierra7235]

YEAH!!!!!! The Jackets!!!!!!!! Even though its an older post, still GREAT!!!

[@konradhof7318]

I bought the same magnetic-end cable at C&M Music in Kenner LA maybe 10 years ago. So you could get them in the USA.

[@GNeuman]

What pleasant fellas👏👏👏👍👍👍

[@jtlemay4878]

Great!

[@rca3rd]

Why does the bass player always get screwed?

[@guitarron1963]

cool band. nice product placement with the ernie ball strings btw. lol.

[@nickabraham8472]

Do a rig rundown for SWMRS they have awesome gear!

[@kevinpaul1719]

Cool.

[@scotthartman1142]

Donde Esta Pedro?

[@sonicosurrealista]

whats that small amp for ? next to the greg Townson deluxe reverb

[@HARTYNMUGHES]

Small amps can be driven easier than a big old thing, possibly for that.

[@jdsick1]

accidently had the CC on in my settings, it was worth the laugh for sure from the 2min. mark it gets good...@ 3:06 he loves fender for a nap!

[@PintsofGuinness]

the band daikaiju 15 years from now.

[@donbale5504]

What's that Super Champ XD next to second guitarist doing there ???

[@MuscleDad420]

It appears to be a vintage Vibro Champ. Note the chassis straps and corner protectors. Amount of knobs differs as well. It probably belongs to one of the support bands.

[@Dusty76]

What's the name of the song at the beginning?

[@timcallender999]

Pacifica

[@adamsrober]

What is the name of the intro tune? Great feel!

[@-GuitarZero]

3 years too late, but "Pacifica"

[@bengalvin9932]

the movie pulp fiction really helped bring surf music into the main stream back it the mid 90's and every time i hear that reverb drenched guitar with the tremolo with a bit of break up i think of that movie but i am sure there are other maybe from an older generation who grew up on the 60's surf scene who did not need the movie pulp fiction to know that this music was so cool!

[@tylerdiesso5164]

Rip some dipinto twist Eddie yaaaa . Thanks guys

[@bigearl33]

I saw them over 10 years ago, they the same rigs back then !

[@noi5emaker]

It tells you how much money they don't waste on gear. If it aint broke, keep playing.

[@chrisspurrier5092]

10 years ago they had Pete playing Bass, whom played a bassman, and a folded 18. they also had a different drummer.. I sold merch for them on their Christmas pageant tour '02

[@scurfie2343]

Awesome backup for Marshall Crenshaw. Catch them while they are still on tour!

[@BoyAditya]

last time i saw dipinto guitars 15 yearsago =_=

[@jdion79]

Los Straitjackets vs Aquabats... engage!

[@pepe7drum]

Octagon!!

[@penguin99ify]

Gotta give them points for keeping their masks on the whole time during the interview.

[@billyrouse4813]

Probably a tip of the hat to Lucha Libre. The masked wrestlers can enter the venue, put their gear on, compete, change and leave. No one will know who they are. El Santo was one who never took his mask off, even being buried with it on.

[@-GuitarZero]

Danny Amis (Daddy O' Grande) from Los Straitjackets showed his 'Quarantine hair' on Facebook - Full Mask no hair

[@onemat2000]

That stuff is neato keen but I'm a drummer.

[@lottootto21ger71]

Warum liegt hier Stroh ?

[@dominikschempp]

Und warum hast du ne Maske an?

[@DSilvergun]

What?

[@StoneyAngel]

I just hit like just because the mask

[@rimbadirgantarasakti8110]

Dipinto nyakk

[@obscurebandfan]

What's with surf bands and obscuring their faces?

[@shawntyson4339]

Jonah Fuerstenberg Because they're ashamed lol

[@Lvkkie]

Is it just me, or is this a 50's Slipknot band?..

[@hchoe741]

More like SlipKnot is a 2000's Los Straitjackets band

[@TheClemcaster]

It's just you.

[@jhrdrake7205]

Putting those two names in the same sentence is sacrilege. Slipknot would have copied them, not the other way around.

[@singaporeaudiochannel6568]

Surf slipknot

[@SteveV74]

Lol yeah the beach boys join Slipknot

[@Halliday55]

No rig rundown for the bass payer?

[@Ithumpify]

Didn't even talk to bass player

[@jhrdrake7205]

Well it is Premier Guitar Magazine not Premier Bass Guitar. There are magazines for bass players.

[@mikesheehan3712]

Great band. Cool rundown. The interviewer is terrible.

[@moondog50002000]

cant like @ 420 sorry

[@arturzakrzewski4887]

dramat

[@andrewpappas9311]

What's up with these guys' masks? It's like if the guys of Slipknot wanted to become luchador wrestlers or something

[@brandonio_granger]

Andrew Pappas Los Straitjackets started waaaay before Slipnot.

[@andrewpappas9311]

Brandonio Granger Oh

[@johnpandolfino8663]

Couldn't you boy's think of a better gimmick than Party City Halloween mask's.....how about a paper bag instead

[@MosriteCharlie]

Lose the masks.

[@DSilvergun]

They should really take the masks off for the interview.

[@WaRLoKWYATT]

The band's name and gimmick is kinda embarrassing, but cool guitar I guess.