Rig Rundown - Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan

www.premierguitar.com PG's Rebecca Dirks is on location in St. Louis, Missouri, talking with the Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan. In this segment, he discusses his modular preamp system, the handful of pedals he relies on, and his signature Fender Billy Corgan Strats.

[@skyrnir]

>"I'm not super technical" >points at a rack from hell

[@12inchvertical]

And then he's talking about hump points and all kinds of other sound engineer type jargon. He didn't get his sounds by accident, that's for sure.

[@JeremyBlant]

He’s got each component of the sound in a separate piece of equipment equaling a higher quality of sound. More customization especially with the preamp sections. It’s a great idea and very organic sound.

[@aztecwhistle9122]

Tell me all of your secrets

[@kitten-inside]

You don't have to know the details of the tools, but a professional knows what they are using and why. That is how I understand the "not super technical" comment.

[@chancegabriel2827]

i realize it's pretty randomly asking but do anyone know of a good place to stream newly released movies online?

[@adamsbeerblog1212]

Very cool that billy showed off his gear himself instead of making his guitar tech do it.

[@joywolfe.]

Yeah, I like when artists do that, it lets you understand the artist's personal take on their gear

[@andrewpappas9311]

Billy Manilly I like it as well

[@joem1256]

Have you noticed that the artists did the rig rundown themselves a lot more often when Rebecca was doing the interview? Wonder why? :-D

[@markwood3389]

Joe M the tits?

[@vitron01]

Billy is just being himself

[@spicecrop]

He finally got his Gish guitar (strat) back.

[@mattmarkus4868]

he did? is there a link to that story

[@jacobhensley8614]

@@mattmarkus4868 kzbin.info/www/bejne/earNc3ejesh-d6c

[@f3uibeghardt522]

@@mattmarkus4868 There's an article or even a video on it. It wound up being found at a garage sale. The woman who bought it (for dirt cheap) learned it was Billy's and got in contact with him.

[@cimmerian100]

@@mattmarkus4868 kzbin.info/www/bejne/earNc3ejesh-d6c&t

[@jg1772]

Did he really?!

[@youtert]

"What Strat pickups do you use?" "The Dimarzio Me."

[@JRWahrhaftig]

LOL. Totally.

[@barbdrake5999]

based

[@sidneylacroix204]

@@barbdrake5999 based

[@lancetti4843]

"He's out of Czechoslovakia." Wow, some real vintage time traveling stuff here.

[@davidwile1277]

That goes over most heads

[@CasaDeJoker]

Unless this video was made prior to Jan 1 1993 the guy is from the Czech Republic 🇨🇿, NOT “Czechoslovakia” as its dissolution was on Dec 31,1992.

[@cravebassist]

For someone who says he's not super technical, Billy Corgan seems to know a hell of a lot more than he says.

[@justinbowlin8723]

Yeah. Billy is kinda notorious for playing coy when people ask him gear questions. But he's not ignorant. I think he's intentionally a little evasive, in order to protect some of his tone secrets. However, his comment about not being "super technical" is believable with regards to this particular set up. It looks like a lot, but it's essentially just a bunch of different preamps running into a power amp and a 4x12 cab. And then he has a footswitch to select different amps, plus a handful of phasers and echos for soloing. He didn't make all those preamp clones or set up the system. He just knows what they do and how to use them.

[@joem1256]

Yeah. He basically has 8 different amps with an 8 way splitter.

[@craigusselman546]

Id get Billy to fix my guitar any day.

[@gretasstolendreams2154]

He’s clearly some kindof technical whiz who wants to be seen as an aloof artist type

[@honeyfrost3355]

He probably just knows what he likes with his sound.

[@benallmark9671]

Awesome. Billy hasn’t changed a bit nor will he ever. No matter what you think of Billy , he’ll always be a huge musical legend, and an honest decent man in my mind. I love em

[@hircoe33]

Hasn’t changed? He has got fat!! Like his riffs!

[@horaciolopez2096]

It is just GREAT that the guitar player is actually there talking about his/her rig, with all those rock divas that NEVER show up unless somebody is paying a truck load of bucks. That my friends, is the real rock and roll!

[@joshcarus7771]

Horacio Lopez a lot of times the techs actually know more about the gear

[@nt8932]

I think it's the fact that a lot of guitarists don't know that much about the gear they're playing............there's nothing wrong with that, but a lot of guitarists just hire people so they don't need to worry about things like that

[@michaeledwards6683]

Billy Corgan never gives up a chance to talk about himself

[@alexmcfly276]

Stfu bro

[@d23rdjedigames65]

His rig.

[@throckmorton9321]

"I'm not super technical, but I have 12 pedals, custom guitar pickups, and about 8 preamps, just to make sure it sounds okay." "Well, I don't really like using effects live much, you know?" Lol.

[@KEPHALLE]

+Space Boy despite the many stomps, knobs and other stuff you see it's actually a very bare signal. at best he has a flanger and a delay on, the keely pedals are only loopers. even the preamps are on one at a time, and he plays in mono.

[@amphlett7]

+Sadland Machines when he says he's not super technical he means he doesn't understand how it really works. Same thing happens in the video where he shows off his reverend guitar. He didn't know what the bass contour was for.

[@matthewmaki]

Yeah and then he goes off talking about the section of the tree his mid 70s strategy was cut from and how it effects the tone, geez billy

[@BAJARACER43X]

+Sadland Machines epic!

[@mirrorrorrim6481]

Sadland Machines I was thinking he said that because he maybe assumed she didn't know much and didn't want her to feel uncomfortable and what the hell was that about, that certain section of a tree & weight has everything to do with the sound?! Lol

[@AB-80X]

"Billy Corgan, Smashing Pumpkins" "Homer Simpson, Smiling politely"

[@evanadams815]

Quickest way to get blocked by Billy on insta is to say that on one of his Q&A's

[@stella-vu8vh]

This rig is honestly super impressive and I wish more guitarists tried to have their studio sound live.

[@sigep0359]

When did Billy Corgan turn into the guy from Despicable Me?

[@LongviewGD182]

about 15 years ago

[@nicholasfrundt4125]

jamieson conkin u vil sufer ze wraf ov gru

[@LatkaKaufman]

hahahaahahahaaha

[@michael350p6]

Gru Corgan

[@diamondtiara2062]

Best comment xD. It's funny because that's exactly what I was thinking and was hoping someone else noticed.

[@mrserv0n18]

Wow this guy has one of the most advanced setups. Those tiny remade preamps ARE INSANE

[@tressor904]

"I'm here with Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins" He's just like naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah with that weird little nod xD

[@JIMJAMSC]

Another "I do not like pedals and prefer a pure signal straight to the amp" interview. Then the star and techs show off racks after rack of effects,heads,preamps,loopers and boards with enough switches to run a aircraft carrier.....All strung together with enough cable to run from coast to coast. But yeah gotta love that "clean" tone.

[@JIMJAMSC]

rshone99 I understand. Still when you plug in your guitar and the lights in the city dim I get a kick out of these tech/guitarist discussions. I have been collecting effects pedals,guitars,amps and cabs since the late 70s. I have enough pedals,mostly ods and fuzzes to open a store. A lot of the older effects such a EHX are notorious for tone sucking and noise. I have 2 large Pedal pro floor racks crammed with pedals all running through loopers. Keeps the signal out of them and also you do not want to go stomping on a $500 plus Big Muff or early big box Proco Rat. 2 Voodoo pedal power supplies,power filters etc...Yeah I am a gear geek.

[@joem1256]

It does make you wonder how he is able to strike a good balance with the tubes and transformers in the power amp because the old 60's and 70's preamp circuits rely so much more on you flogging the power amp section than the more modern high gain preamps.

[@Aaron-zh4kj]

Well, he said he runs the preamps at half power so it gets more saturated more easily, if I'm understanding you @@joem1256

[@blindpilots2107]

The Strat has been found!

[@bassrealestatetn]

The more I learn about Billy, the more I like him. Great interview, excellent questions.

[@KevinSmith-qn8fn]

that dude has given me many many hours of happiness

[@GiacomoRavioli]

Well said

[@lokotron1]

when he speaks about the stolen guitar, he broke my heart.

[@blindpilots2107]

lokotron1 He’s got it back!

[@endezeichengrimm]

Check their official youtube channel! He got it back!!!

[@dsenunez]

He is almost crying.

[@465marko]

lol Yeah, my heart really weeps for the poor situation this man was in...

[@astroboirap]

​@@465marko oh give it a rest

[@allenrm120]

Some really cool gear. Makes me wanna go to my studio and try some different things. Billy is a thoughtful craftsman. Excellent.

[@lapidarydave]

A couple years ago Billy Corgan stole the show for me he showed up and played the gig we were going to he paid us double and treated me and my party to unlimited food and drinks Billy Corgan can still show for me any day of the week he’s a really sweet guy

[@shodaboy54]

So cool that Billy himself did his own rig rundown! I wish it happens more often.

[@Airtrooper719]

This is my favourite KZbin channel to date! Keep the awesome videos up guys :)

[@moonside24]

So cool to come back to this video years later and he's gotten his guitar back.

[@veerchasm1]

Come back Rebecca! Still the coolest and best interviewer/tech head

[@dsenunez]

Nice comment. Everybody use to make just kinky comments about Rebecca.

[@sweetlowsounds]

I'm not super technical, but it's all about getting the right signal collapse into the preamp... lol.

[@latentsea]

Super technical and you know all the guts and exactly what they do... Many can build their own effects boxes and amps. Soldiering, set up guitars, etc. Potentiometers, fuses, Gates, diodes, tubes, transistors, ohms, read schematics, etc.

[@bassmanbig]

Thank you premier guitar for this rundown!!!!!! you guys have been doing great lately with who you are running down!

[@timdunn2344]

This is great. What a genuine guy, and really cares about his sounds (no surprise obvs)

[@johnshepherd4232]

There're a lot of us who wish fuzz pedals weren't so difficult to mix and didn't produce such undefined, wider notes in their tone...I bet Billy does more than most. Can you imagine getting that clear, compressed, saturated fuzz from Siamese Dream and Pisces Iscariot without studio tricks? In a perfect world...

[@stella-vu8vh]

It's doable. Competent layering and pedal stacking.

[@stella-vu8vh]

I've spent a long long time trying to figure out how to build a ridiculously oversaturated fuzz tone and finally figured it out a grip and a half ago

[@NR-gp2il]

Pretty easy nowadays.

[@johnb4024]

Just kill all the cymbals

[@Wargasm54]

I just use a lot of gain and open strings to emulate a pumpkins style fuzz. More like a buzz than a fuzz . Lol

[@NightMedicine]

FYI: Billy eventually found the gish guitar and got it back after like 30 years. Crazy.

[@HolidayRoadNY]

A great rundown of his current gear and why he uses it. I see alot of gear videos and this is one of the very best. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@443556jack]

the video we have all been waiting for!

[@themadkraken1912]

Rip the roadie who has to drag that HellRack around to shows. People talk about running through lots of guitars or strings in a tour, this man goes through guitar techs.

[@basicoptimalmouse]

12:47 I'm so glad he got the Gish guitar back 7 years later

[@petecarpenter9414]

Loved this video :) The pedal selections were the most interesting for me.

[@jonathanwright8802]

LOVE Billy. Such a cool, smart guy. Phenomenal writer and player.

[@connorbuckingham963]

I really hopes that he gets that guitar back someday

[@MichaelD8393]

Me too!

[@wallyiverson4878]

Imagine being the kid that bought that pawned guitar. It's probably in a closet or frankenstratted

[@captainkev10]

Only if he pries it from my cold dead hands, cause I'm sure not giving it back!!

[@austintyler8567]

Is that yous Toki?

[@ColdToiletSeats]

well he got it back yesterday :)

[@lamberty]

billy is officially the alt. rock mr. Rogers.

[@el0blaino]

Great interview, great discussion, making Chicagoland proud!

[@xXXBongToker420xXx]

So dour, but such a visionary. He's my one of my favorite guitar players because he captures the best balance of being production minded with being an artist. It was very interesting to me that he had a lot of rack mounted effects instead of letting his pedalboards do the work; That's pretty efficient and way more technical than I would have thought. I love these videos, Premier Guitar!

[@DetroitDogTrainer]

I found this to be awesome! Tremendous amount of information! It's great how Billy keeps saying, "I'm not very technical" ~ and then rattle off stuff like an encyclopedia........ Thanks!

[@honeyfrost3355]

He's probably super knowledgeable about the stuff he likes.

[@CertainIguana]

Aw man as a guitar player I teared up a bit when he talked about his stolen guitar.

[@benasslick67]

Cheer up he got it back yesterday

[@slickcross]

Saw there live in NY concert on TV and i was blown away. There sound is phenomenal. Every instrument is heard clearly. There is no weak link in the new pumpkins lineup

[@tbobmann229]

Guitar genius!.. always evolving his sound..a lot like Hendrix.. his Gish strat finally came back! amazing!

[@ithaca976]

HE GOT IT BACK!!!

[@willbrewer9253]

Then this year a acoustic tour lol It was awesome!

[@jasonnn2284]

Just saw them in December in Chicago, and got so hype when this guitar came out b/c I knew there was an old song coming. 9:36

[@TeleGuitar1]

So pumped to see this!

[@OUTWOZ]

I was impressed with Rebecca is not just a pretty face behind a Mic. She was keeping up with Billy's explanations of his equipment and countering him with questions on his descriptions. Girl, knows her guitar shit!

[@1985cactus]

You are surprised when a pretty woman isn't empty headed?

[@CNCTEMATIC]

Billy's a really smart guy. It comes across here.

[@jayleomac]

because the way he's dressed?

[@LiberTBo]

Farley On Fleek Are you dyslexic? Shut up, you'll never be the man your mother is.

[@thisnameiseitherrestricted6270]

He's a big Infowars guy, so he must be dumb as dirt...

[@LiberTBo]

***** back to touching yourself again aren't you?

[@LiberTBo]

***** Suddenly you've become the conscience of the world...see I knew it would work out for you!

[@xdeathtoll]

i remember when i first watched this video and everything he said went way over my head now watching it again its like oh so much useful info

[@Anthony-df4bs]

I clicked this video and really didn't expect Billy to be giving the tour. Pretty cool.

[@PANICBLADE]

I wanna give Billy a hug man. He seems sad. Or maybe he's more.... melancholy....

[@mattjonesable]

Mellon Collie* With a bit of Infinite Sadness.

[@PANICBLADE]

+mattjonesable Yes Matt that was the joke.

[@lokotron1]

+PANICBLADE specially when he speaks of his lost guitar, he broke my heart.

[@herbie747]

Matt is a bit slow.

[@lucasmedia1]

XD yesss

[@platetechfonics7006]

Congrats on getting that guitar back Billy!

[@iditarod4081]

So giving and gracious

[@ChadWork1]

Billy actually has had his Gish Strat returned after all these years! Way cool.

[@jayrobb9]

Corgan sounds like George Lucas when he talks.

[@GEAsolar]

Thanks Sir, I was having a rought afternoon

[@stiglistanbul]

Hahahaha yes!

[@Chrispypullen]

Omfg....weird!

[@coffeecomics3583]

Maybe George Lucas sounds like Billy Corgan when he sings?

[@darrencruz8952]

Damn, it’s like poetry...

[@Snipesy9]

he seems like such a nice guy

[@fantasyyygarbage]

Rave LTG he really is. very nice

[@xxandrewwilsonxxable]

Glad I got to see him and shake his hand in my life time

[@jeffo8455]

Awesome job during the interview. She’s great.

[@TheOldOakSyndicate]

I would have never guessed in a million years that Billy doesn't like to use effects...

[@ATRTAP]

HAhahahahaha!

[@TheOldOakSyndicate]

Jon S What's so funny?

[@smoss469]

I've always been intrigued that their signature sound was a wall of Big Muff Pi fuzz yet their live sound is almost 100% distortion. I guess when you play loud enough and in big enough venues close will get you there. Plus it must've been hell even recording the earlier CD's since there are so many layered parts... BMP's aren't exactly known for cutting through the mix.

[@sheldonbenton5278]

Type on KZbin . "Billy corgan stompland"

[@mil182]

smoss469 Billy spoke before in an interview about how when Siamese Dream first released, he and james attempted to use the fuzz pedals live but they did not cut through the mix in a live setting at all and made for a poor sound. I find this to be true with my own gear as well. I have own a handful of different fuzz pedals and none of them could get the optimal sound with a live band like they could on a recording. I would assume this still holds true for Billy, plus the fact that he plays so much other material which he didn't record with a fuzz.

[@Karl_Squell]

he got his guitar back last year!

[@SaulmanPhishbass]

look at all those amps! this man's insane! a musical genius for sure! :)

[@ArcedSwordMovies]

My Godfathers Ibanez Studio was stolen a while back and 1 year ago someone he was playing with with some other friends had it. Thankfully he got it back, and I got to play it. Plays like a beauty.

[@Sadlander2]

I didn't know that one of his (first) guitars were stolen. It makes me sad cause I know what it is like to have found something unique and suddenly, it's lost. He even gives a 20k $ reward, no questions asked... that proves how much he loved that piece!

[@MrSulfor]

He got it back!

[@gtrartnow]

Bloody Finger is available at the guitar tone company website.

[@skinengine]

Billy Corgan! a true guitar hero of mine. Nice rundown!

[@billyrouse4813]

The amp used on Led Zeppelin I, even according to Jimmy Page, is a Supro Thunderbolt. At one point he did use Hiwatt amps (made by Dave Reeves), but not on that album.

[@SwooopieShark]

He got the guitar back!!!!

[@JasonTopo]

do a slowdive one pls

[@celienasn8426]

Yes yes Yes!!!

[@Unsubscribedd]

Yes!

[@capt_howdy]

yesssss

[@CinKaiDRocks]

Cool that he's out there talking about the rig himself.. I did not expect that.

[@yakplateado1923]

this is incredibly cool and interesting

[@dutchchatham1]

I'm from Detroit and I'd consider making finding Billy's stolen guitar my life's mission.

[@spencercowan8862]

I will gladly join you and we'll jam at all sorts of places on our search to find it

[@odw_99]

+Spencer Cowan sounds like a reality show waiting to happen

[@Gumpa2]

Well....how did it look actually?

[@AlexGordonMusic]

Gumpa2 it’s in the I am one video. It has like a rainbow psychedelic paint job. It’s actually a really beautiful looking strat. Kinda similar to Eric Clapton’s cream era SG, but a little different. It looks like it was painstakingly painted There’s a strat on reverb right now that actually looks a lot like it, but the headstock is painted.... I doubt it’s that one, cuz reverb would’ve blown up if it was....

[@eastvanphotography7394]

I doubt you're going to find it in some pawn shop. Likely some rich prick has it and brags about it at pretentious parties.

[@programmedwrong3795]

Billy, I'm sure they make that Cardigan one size bigger. :)

[@LAMF1968]

Every top he wears he likes to show off his beer gut.

[@celosemnexo]

He likes it small.

[@celosemnexo]

He likes to show his ripped body.

[@benasslick67]

Glad to hear he just got that guitar back yesterday!!!!

[@RichKDollarElement]

Great interview

[@fidelrivera2887]

I like that bit at the end when he talked about his stolen guitar. Players know what he means when you have an attachment to the old gear. I have my first acoustic fender on display and it's comforting to know it's there even tho it's been years since it's been playable. When you invest hundreds of hours of your life with a certain thing, you get very attached. I feel his sadness...

[@coltonlightning7012]

I doubt you have a guitar on display... maybe to your mom or something..

[@fidelrivera2887]

You're right Colton! My mom bought me that guitar... it's right there next to my jam jams from when I was 4. Thanks!

[@diregremo]

Fidel Rivera You are right on bro. I recently had to stop playing my first acoustic. It came down with the inevitable ovation bulging bridge. It hangs on the wall and comforts me. I cried for a week, when I had to stop playing it.

[@blacksuperwoman1837]

give billy back his guitar. :(

[@hughjass2612]

Black SuperWoman only if you give me back my hair

[@benasslick67]

He just got it back yesterday :)

[@abraxian7090]

He hot it back! Go Bill!

[@sean106alcon]

Benn waiting for this!!!!!!

[@stevemaslow703]

I've got two d'Armond gold-foil pick-ups on my Harmony H-15 from '64. I love to see that .

[@onkel44lekno]

mad props to billy for continuing wearing tight cardigans over that chub belly :-)

[@hotstankygarbage788]

Billy looks like he needed a hug.😑

[@Orieus]

what a creative dude billy is, sure the orignal stuff is way better then his newer stuff, but the new stuff is fresh and awesome in its own way. Billy still has the guitar genius he had back in the day. Under rated in my book

[@aggelakas]

The preamp idea is super cool and smart.

[@DennisAlvey]

For a non-technical guy, he sure knows what he's talking about and what he likes. I really enjoyed this.

[@GearZenChannel]

Whenever I feel like I have too much gear, K watch rig rundown and soon after buy more shit.

[@K3vinK]

It’s nice when the “interviewer” knows what they are talking about in regards to gear. I’ve seen some like this, and they have no clue.

[@TeddyLovesBacon]

So glad Billy got his guitar back!!!

[@DebutanteMassacre]

I would like to get some of those mods.

[@inso80]

Awesome combo. An artist going trough his own rig and a pretty girl who actually has a clue of what the video is about.

[@slavesforging5361]

right. both interviewer and the person showing the rig were so cool. not guitar techs aren't awesome, but for the fans it's more personal to show the artist going through their stuff, even if they don't know what speaker is in there. i thought that was a good spot of advice to leave your precious guitars at home. with the moisture and temp differences over time and all that. that was pretty sweet of gru to give off advice like that.

[@KorieG]

Great gear review Rebecca! Very much appreciated! Later...

[@lolmao_O]

If anyone was wondering like me, Billy got his strat back a few weeks ago!

[@yitboy11]

The Jeff Goldblum of rock.

[@nixdawegda]

I like the interview style a lot. Rebecca knows what to ask for, what viewers could be interested in. Great one. But still, the Pumpkins used to be better...

[@JarickL]

Those Randall modular amps were brilliant.

[@acarlovonsexron1994]

It was actually the #1 Gish Strat that was the 74. That was the one that was stolen. It was the one he recorded all the clean and rhythm parts with. He does still have his #2 though- he calls it a 78 but it's actually an 81 in ultra rare Maui Blue that got a psychedelic paintjob all over that you can see in those videos he talked about. He recorded all the solos and hot overdubs with that. The dark blue one he has there used to be the "I Love My Mom" yellow 76 Strat. It was on Siamese and MCIS.

[@TheGreatPinataChase]

8:21 typical Billy wearing a shirt that is too small...

[@sillymilly311]

Does he still have the whistling "mayonaise" guitar?

[@projecticeman365]

I hope

[@PantheonLincoln]

He does and it occasionally still gets used in the studio.

[@andrewpappas9311]

Benjamin Thomas What guitar was that?

[@bradwhite8070]

Andrew Pappas a Kimberly Apollo II

[@andrewpappas9311]

Brad White Never heard of them, sorry

[@ZiGy14]

Thank you Billy Corgan!!! Rock on!!!

[@gustabartok]

where´s the goddamn fuzz big muff pi !

[@nomad1713]

He's said before that he can't use the big muff live because it's such a bassy low rumble fuzz it gets lost in the noise.

[@PantheonLincoln]

Noah Jaybird15 the Big Muff is a VERY scooped sound. Great sounding pedal, but in the context of a band the guitar tends to get lost because of the lack of mids. That's likely why he didn't use them live.

[@gustabartok]

James Ogilvie great info there.. thanks

[@djlazypaul]

Gustavo Rodríguez I like big muff

[@zaiten2012]

first, the Muff is not a fuzz, Mike Mathews has been known to say it's a distortion pedal. Second, a cheap 7 band EQ easily solves the lack of mids to cut through any live mix; I've never found the "scooped mids" to be a veracious explation. It never deterred Dan Auerbach or Jack White from using them live. Billy simply seems to be more preocupied with sounding like Jimmy Page, Randy Roads and Uli John Roth, classic amps sounds. Also, he didn't disclose what type of fuzz he uses, other than mentioning some fuzz built into one of the amp mods.