Rig Rundown - Monster Magnet

#monstermagnet #spacelord #rigrundown
Article & photos: bit.ly/MonsterMagnetRR
PG’s Chris Kies visits Nashville’s Basement East to spend some quality time with Monster Magnet guitarist Phil Caivano who shows off the Gibsons, Marshalls, and custom dirtboxes he and cofounder Dave Wyndorf use to take flight.
This 2003 Gibson Les Paul Custom ’54 Oxblood reissue is Phil Caivano’s main squeeze. The band typically uses two tunings, and this is the first choice for songs that are tuned a half-step down. The original Burstbucker pickups became microphonic so he upgraded with a set of Wolfetone Marshallheads. This guitar uses either Ernie Ball .011-.048 strings or Dunlop .011-.050 strings.
Phil Caivano’s go-to 6-string for songs that require him to tune down to C standard is this 1970s “sandwich-bodied” Gibson Les Paul Standard. It still has the original ’bucker in the neck, but he swapped the bridge model for a DiMarzio PAF Pro. Since it’s tuned lower, and Phil likes to keep the guitars feeling similar, he goes with Dunlop .013-.060 strings to mimic the tension in the other guitars.
No one can accuse Monster Magnet cofounder and Space Lord No. 1, Dave Wyndorf, of being a gear snob as he uses this Epiphone SG Special as his favored live guitar.
Continue reading: bit.ly/MonsterMagnetRR

[@dokazaado]

More than 2 years later, this is still one of the best Rig Rundowns. Badass rock tone and Phil is the coolest, most affable dude.

[@Paul01123]

Phil has 6 pedals that all do about the same thing. I love it.

[@NiftyPlymouth]

Yeeeeaaah🎆😁

[@Umbral_Heavy_Metal_Band]

Similar but not the same!!

[@frankhinckley8462]

@@Umbral_Heavy_Metal_Band To any audience the are all the same but who cares Phil has fun with them.

[@ernieandbert190202]

😂👍👍👍✌️😎

[@Spyke-lz2hl]

Always blows my mind how humble these rock stars are when they start talking about what they love.

[@mikesavage0]

I could listen to Phil talk gear all day. One of the best!

[@MrRandyrugar19]

Phil seems like literally one of the coolest dudes ever. Great gear and tone..

[@Sugarisweet]

Phil is such a cool dude!

[@nostradumbass4984]

I met the whole band (except for Dave ) at an after show party a few years ago. They were all great, down to earth friendly guys. Phil is one of my favorite guitarists.

[@infernalhammer]

"Heavy riffin" "Easy spliffin"

[@hellboundrubber4448]

You guys never ask about the Guitar Straps they use. A lot of them are crafted by special makers. Straps are unique unto themselves.

[@gayvalds]

I love seeing musicians who are willing to let other people play/handle their gear. When Phil asked Chris to play the Les Paul he immediately became a super cool guy in my book

[@achimdg6335]

I'm pretty lucky to be German, Monster Magnet play a lot live around here. I think I'll see them in Esch-sur-Alzette.

[@darrend5563]

Great Rig Rundown. Just saw them last month in Seattle and they absolutely crushed it. One of my favorite bands and just all around good dudes. Great interviewer as well, as it was obvious he's a big fan too.

[@appalachianrk]

I had the pleasure of watching Phil up close at 2 shows this year. I LOVE his playing !! Got to say hello to him in Baltimore after the show 3 weeks ago. I love being down front between him and Dave. Been Diggin` Monster Magnet since `95 and still Love `Em !

[@mookytc]

"I don't know what this does 'cause I' brain dead"...stomps on pedal. Super Ninja classic tone going on. Awesome vid. Thanks!

[@BounceBoomBounce]

Love this one, great interview. Thanks for bringing it to us.

[@raulbrr]

One of my favorite bands! thank you guys!

[@VanWhyDesigns]

Awesome. Great rundown. That's how it's done. Chris Kies is the man. Best interviewer

[@solan417]

I had some pedals of mine modded and luckily I live near the people I wanted to work on them. The day I dropped them off I had to try so hard to not geek out when I realized Phil was the other guy hanging out at the shop, he and I walked around looking at all the cool stuff they had there. It was such an awesome day !!!

[@Ndlanding]

Oddly (?), I had never heard of Monster Magnet before! Maybe I'll go give them a listen. Great rundown, and that guitarist gets some sounds I really love, while keeping an organic tone.

[@mr7oclock346]

It's very interesting to find out that his equipment was used in Monster Magnet before he was actually in the band

[@krustyburgers6668]

I saw them in Sacramento at the aftershock festival a couple days before this rundown was uploaded and I must agree when they it was loud I was on Phil’s side of the stage and holy shit even during sound check all you heard and felt was their guitars

[@sirvicemanone]

I fricking love this guy he is just soo COOL! Another great rig rundown. ..... thanks PG!

[@michaeldorrenbacher8977]

What a cool and nice guy!!!

[@Disharmonikash]

fantastic rundown and what a guy. enjoyed it lots

[@TheThinker39]

A fun interview! Thanks! He gets a great sound with just the guitar into the amp too.

[@Eliguitar1]

Pure rock and roll tone. Always cool.

[@robertallen3031]

Thank you. Great rig rundown. Very humble guitar player, Killer band. The best interviewer.

[@hchoe741]

Les Paul + Marshall = \m/\m/

[@donaldwrissler9059]

Great RR. Chris's enthusiasm is always enjoyable. Really wish he had done the NIN video.

[@akastonefaceddog]

Phil truly is awesome on every level, could listen to him for hours 👍👍

[@rexhargrove5172]

This is one of my favorites!

[@TheKissarmygeneral]

Straight into that Marshall sounds so god damn good.

[@SrDeMaFp]

God bless Chris Kies. That was awesome to watch! You could tell he was having a fucking blast and Phil knows his stuff too. I felt like I was right there with them. I knew ONE MM song before this but, I’m gonna go check out more now. Awesome, awesome Rundown! 🤘🏻

[@StillLivinginthewoods]

Thank you for this!!!!

[@Oilid]

Yeah! Good to watch a rig rundown which doesn't make me feel uncomfortable! (NIN).

[@kennycaligula3081]

Oilid I just came here from that. 😂

[@davidg4726]

Phil C. Is Sooo Awesome!!! He has Grrreat Tones And Sounds!!! 🤘

[@GerryBlue]

14:24 I'm a Strat guy (with Humbuckers) but nothing beats a Les Paul Through a Marshall for taht Rock n Roll sound we all know and love.

[@slickdusud]

pure tone !!! love it

[@scottcollier9178]

All the gain pedals 🤘🤘🤘

[@droogii1142]

Great rig rundown. I'm keeping my ears open for when MM cruises near me.

[@mishastone]

MM is the real deal.

[@MichaelBogomolny]

Gotta love MM. Great work PG!

[@mikemcgraw2101]

Phil is awesome!!!! Nice tones too.

[@section9809]

Driving the tractor on the Drug Farm! \m/

[@seanhershey3390]

Great job Chris... it helps that youre a fan..

[@thedondeluxe6941]

Dude has some NICE tones going here.

[@michaelmitchell5909]

Loved that one guys!.. Holy crap was that a guitar tone!..... Those Marshall's kick maximum ass!...

[@maschoff69]

Great dialog! Love the shirt :)

[@jg932]

God this was so much better than the last one! No offence PG, but as much as I wanted to watch the NIN Rig Rundown, I couldn't sit through that for 5 minutes. Either way, keep up the good work!

[@officialdirtmcgurt]

Yeah I love nin but it was WORK to watch that rundown. That guy seemed either stoned to the gills or incredibly NOT into having a female interview him. Either way keep it up PG

[@brpadington]

@Anthony Hernandez I think he was just stoned. I had to turn the speed up to 1.5x to make it watchable.

[@JohnDoe-pq8yw]

He was probably just really tired, living on the road takes its toll and not sleeping at home never really feels like sleep not to mention all of the unknowns that happen each and every day. It's nothing to cry about like country musicians often do but it is a reality of that life.

[@brpadington]

@@JohnDoe-pq8yw Great point. I know I would have trouble sleeping in conditions like that. I also think the girl interviewing him didn't know guitar gear. She asked him what he liked a sustainiac for..lol. That one caught him off guard.

[@Les537]

It's all good. It's all information more than an entertainment show and I hope it stays that way.

[@peterb7435]

I love MM. killer rundown chris

[@LJOS21]

Badass Rig and Badass dude!!!

[@mike_w_21]

Cool dude and killer tone!

[@bryanclarke1927]

Classic Marshall sound!

[@M.S-Music]

I noticed that Dave seems to play low end guitars, That Epiphone SG Special is the cheapest epiphone SG and i think i saw him playing a Epiphone SG-400 which is the cheaper "Standard copy", respect for that! I have a cheap Harley Benton DC-Custom (SG) and a Gibson SG 70´s Tribute, i love them both, no need to have very expensive gear to write, perform and record good music.

[@JB-mp7fo]

Harley benton have got to be the best value for money guitars at the moment. I have a ja-60 and it plays like a guitar 3x it's worth

[@M.S-Music]

@@JB-mp7fo indeed, i got a HB SC-Custom II 6 moths ago and its has become my go to guitar... I have some demos on my channel recorded using it... 150€ very well spent.(B-stock unit that needed some work..)

[@ettnollbajen9945]

And a cheap ass strap:) Btw,love Harley Bentons,I have three,a St 62 strat,a TE 52 tele,and a very nice black Les Paul with gold hardware,probably gave 400€ for all of them

[@M.S-Music]

@@ettnollbajen9945 Yeah, HB´s are good bang for the buck, i updated my guitar lineup recently, gone are the Gibson & PRS guitars and now i have 1x Yamaha Pacifica 311H (with that fat P90 in the neck!) and a Harley Benton SC-custom II les paul black with gold hardware, beautiful cheap guitars that actually STAY IN TUNE!!!

[@ettnollbajen9945]

@@M.S-Music Yamaha is also very underrated ,always wanted a revstar,had a Tele Yamaha once,great guitar

[@travissandersasbuttshitjac1458]

Cool chill guy

[@if6turnedouttobe9]

Super cool and knowledgeable dude here...

[@federicorodriguezlopez6905]

Great, great Tone.

[@JC3D]

I watch every Premier Guitar video! Love this! Never heard Monster Magnet but I'm going to check them out now. Great sounding gear!

[@devineFanatic]

They've got an eclectic range to 'em, so you might not find something that clicks right away. But keep diggin' and you'll find something that'll knock your socks off!

[@Dracu13]

Monster Magnet . THE Name in Space-Rock

[@Benny_Howie]

Jasen Chambers me too!

[@Sugarisweet]

Well, You 're in for a treat mister!

[@jeffloucks2120]

Start at the beginning. Tab 25... ST, Spine of God (John McBain era), and Superjudge. There's some good stuff after that but the production went a direction I didn't care for and overall things got a bit too corny.

[@dratman1390]

This is tone! Good god!

[@bengalvin9932]

MAN CHRIS KIES COULD BEAT ME UP SO BAD!! LUCKY HE IS A REALLY NICE GUY.

[@melissachinnici]

iiii loveee it!

[@BoyAditya]

How did I missed this video!?🤔

[@shaneedmundson7506]

I wish PG did a Rig Rundown playlist by interviewer. As lame of an idea as that may be, this guy does the best interviews!!!!

[@jordanpratt3821]

no way. He's not bad ,but he interrupts to much.Bollinger is the best I think.

[@pattonPwr]

MM always a great band. thanks for this.. pitty no Dave Wyndorf and no bass either...

[@Door333]

Great tone!

[@zundap100]

This is a killer rock tone

[@asherbeal8357]

Wow, I saw them first in 93’.

[@razorette1]

That metropoulos boost is awesome.

[@0421072]

PAF Pro! Racer X and Morbid Angel! Monster Magnet! Sick!

[@notebender4]

Must be loud, the earplugs aren't much for a fashion accessory... lol ... What a great way to learn about tones!

[@planettvaldivia]

great¡

[@shaitanxul6]

Hmmm,,,,I'mma have to give them a listen again.

[@jwmcmillenii]

I just wanna know EXACTLY how to get the tone on "Look to Your Orb for the Warning." WHAT WAS THAT???

[@peachmelba1000]

I've been obsessed with the guitar sounds on that album for years. The tone on Orb, I believe, is a red FuzzFace with the fuzz control almost off and volume way up, through a really loud Fender Twin. It's not really that distorted, but you tell it's very loud.

[@BaronsDuju]

That Marshall tone! Now I really want a JMP with master volume.

[@jameseberhard7457]

Get yourself one man, they're holy ground

[@currybumjenkins5428]

Phil's awesome. Also reminds me of Marc Maron kinda.

[@BaronsDuju]

BeggFry - holy crap, me too!

[@zakmoon7065]

That tube screamer with four nobs sounded the best of all his overdrives

[@MiSambra]

I've been thinking about putting together a "gain chain" for a while now. Think I'll use Phil's board as a blueprint.

[@jonmyers7485]

Throaty wha love it!!!!!

[@vik44idm]

Wow, that wah says "WAH"!

[@jordanpratt3821]

Yeah I'm with you,every time I get/try some other kind of TS I just go back to my ts9.

[@guitarocd9984]

Cool guy

[@pedalpukus]

Always ask if it has had a headstock snap!! Thanks!

[@trushack]

Prescription Yardbox shout out! That pedal rules....

[@michaelcarrig627]

That Epi was my first guitar.

[@CalifornianSoul]

Is his Marshall modded to have an FX Loop? Delays and reverb didn't sound muddy at all even with gain!

[@basildog007]

Hit the tumbs up if you dropped great acid on Dopes To Infinity in 95! Praise the Bullgod.

[@berniemoss9861]

One of the best rundowns I've seen. Very cool guy with some really great gear. This is what r'n'r is all about. Awesome!

[@ericportillo8277]

I agree if I had a marshall I'd want that distortion at any volume

[@dbuzard326]

"This fuckin' thing'!!

[@veloracer]

Wolfetone for the WIN!

[@Creed_fan_69]

I think I’m sold on the ehx soul food

[@Danh103663]

The Oxblood Les Paul is the Jeff Beck reissue version seen on the cover of Blow by Blow?!?

[@jameseberhard7457]

Such a cool guitar, Jeff rules

[@RashidSivaji]

Do Ghost please

[@lazzer7]

I love Rig Rundown, but please let's have more bass content! After all, every bands got one.....

[@premierguitar]

We ran out of time so we couldn't get Garrett or Chris from MM. Next episode is with Marilyn Manson and features bassist Juan Alderete.

[@lazzer7]

Thanks for the prompt reply! @@premierguitar

[@petemitchell6449]

PG, How about a skid row rig rundown! Please...

[@StillLivinginthewoods]

Chris, what's the story with the cool ass shirt, man? I searched everywhere trying to find out where it might be available, but found nothing.

[@premierguitar]

DesertFest 2018 in Berlin where he saw Monster Magnet along with High On Fire, King Buffalo, Radio Moscow, Graveyard, etc!

[@aylithsflag9203]

hey guys please do a rig rundown of Glassjaw or The Used!

[@codyfoster17]

Chris! That shirt is badass. Where did you get it!?

[@premierguitar]

DesertFest 2018 in Berlin where he saw Monster Magnet along with High On Fire, King Buffalo, Radio Moscow, Graveyard, etc!

[@greatseimn]

Premier Guitar nice! I was at DesertFest London. Would love to see more Rig Rundowns of Bands in this genre! And check out Colour Haze if you haven‘t ;)

[@tomfritz6975]

The “That Pedal Show” name drop horn would be going off like crazy if it was in this video. Good rundown though either way!

[@Sugarisweet]

What's that song he plays at 27:07 ?

[@mishastone]

Sugarisweet Dinosaur Vacume

[@12qwertyuiop90]

PG can you mix in some song parts from life shows so we can actually hear how these sound life???? That would be awesome!

[@premierguitar]

We'd love to but often run into trouble from venues allowing us to film or artist (or more accurately record labels/publishers) owning the rights to songs and not allowing us to put them in our videos without paying license fees. Great idea, though!