Snarky Puppy Rig Rundown with Michael League and Mark Lettieri Guitar & Bass Gear Tour

Article & photos: bit.ly/SnarkyPuppyRR
Composer/producer/bassist Michael League and guitarist Mark Lettieri of Grammy-winning jazz-fusion group met PG before their slamming, sold-out show at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works and took us through their hard-grooving gear.
Michael League has a cache of vintage and modern basses at home, but for touring, he gets it done with his stock 1959 Fender Precision. League strings the P with Dunlop Medium Flatwound strings.
Mark Lettieri’s main guitar is a Don Grosh NOS Retro model that features a swamp ash body, maple neck, Grosh ‘60s Fat single-coils and a Small Block 327 humbucker. The Grosh is strung with Dunlop nickel-wound strings (.0095-.044) and plucked with heavy Dunlop celluloid picks.
Continue reading: bit.ly/SnarkyPuppyRR

[@TySharron]

Michael League = one of the most brilliant musical minds of our era. Thanks PG!

[@maliwilliams7262]

I should be "RICH" Then.....

[@BoyleJr]

Such a sweet bass intro

[@atree88]

yeah made me smile

[@ziphrox]

What song is it?

[@BoyleJr]

I don't think its a song.just a pretty litlle intro he wrote.im trying to tab it

[@jamesonnewhouse1298]

Johnny Boyle can you send it to my gmail [e-mail]

[@thorbynumbers5368]

Seems like a mix between Continuum (Jaco Pastorius) and Silly Putty (Stanley Clarke)

[@charliebigred]

The 52 he describes actually came through my shop in the 90's! I always wondered what happened to that bass.

[@revolutionday1]

Man, that's crazy!

[@lockedowng]

Please tell me you didn't put that emg in!

[@felixdeschambault5648]

I would have said yes and called the police immediately

[@imandan1966]

prob not the same bass

[@VladCotrus]

4:26 "some...id....uhmmm...PERSON" ahahah awesome Mike.

[@mendoxx097]

very kind from his part xD

[@samharding8201]

That intro is stunning. League has bags of feel and such a nice touch on the instrument!

[@AlanScottBand]

Years ago I played guitar at the Black Cat in DC for an artist named Keite Young. MIke League was on Bass and was the MD. We rehearsed the tunes without the artist and then played it live when Keite arrived. What a fun show!! Great player...commits to every note.

[@ska2dt]

Love the "sub octave" head bobbing. By far one of my favourite run downs. NOw to tell Alexa to play some Puppy!

[@Rhythmicons]

This needs to happen for the keyboard section

[@pianoman_luke]

That would be THE dream. Along with the patches😂 that would take a few hours

[@eds6889]

Rhythmicons the channel is called premier guitar

[@dieterjohnson3018]

Somehow, someway, I never got around to checking out these guys before. After watching this rundown, I'm now watching "Snarky Puppy Live at Java Jazz Festival 2014". Wicked!

[@fonkamex]

Same here. Never heard about this band before, now I am very impressed by they musical quality and their personalities. They are the opposite of a rockstar.

[@ericcarpenter3263]

This is my band. These guys are so good. Mark is so damn amazing. Even though I don’t play bass, watching Michael League keep time with his neck and body is so damn cool. He just looks cool as hell doing it. Thanks John and Premier Guitar.

[@ChanceCooper125]

Good Lord that bass tone at the beginning is sublime. Not a bass player but it makes me want to play bass.

[@WelcomeToJ]

I swear I watch this video just for Michael's playing at the very beginning...

[@WillyFranklinOnBass]

Thumbs up for that intro!!! Go Michael!!!

[@bak1386]

All these guys seem so humble and cool for being some of the best musicians u will ever see. Not that I'm really surprised, it's just cool to see

[@hegartyj1]

This is just a superb video. The folks who created it should be rightly proud of a great job.

[@yobhsiFehT]

Yaaaay! A rig rundown with a band I care about! 😜😄

[@keyboardmusician6914]

yobhsiFehT lol

[@caseysaunders3016]

What a beautiful bass tone!!

[@KevinMajka]

Thanks for sharing Snarky Puppy. I had heard of the individual players in interviews and on endorsement sites, but this made me check out the band. Fantastic stuff!

[@seanhershey3390]

i love discovering new bands through here...

[@jacobshandling5440]

15:37 "It's a one piece swamp ash" 😂😂🤣🤣🤣 yea Mark

[@boynamedlen]

Been hoping for a Michael League gear tour for a long time now, great to finally see it!

[@davemassie3726]

22:43 Man i want to HEAR this stuff! Nice John so do i. You the Rig Master! Mark Love your Playing & Tone thanks for sharing!

[@Rakstation]

Great Rig Rundown episode!!! Congrats!

[@loganalford4129]

These are so great! Thanks, and keep 'em comin!

[@gimmeagig]

Came for the bass stayed for the guitar Great presentation!

[@axeslinger94]

What a tone god!! Also, I knew the one time I missed out on tickets Mark would be in the lineup playing with them! I'm jealous lol!!

[@CanyonWanderer]

What a super pedal board, such versatility and what a great guitarist!

[@seanpark1998]

wow...he's just using a bass guitar as just a tool to express good music he has inside his heart.

[@deerosa2000]

Saw them at this show in Nashville. Mind Blowing!

[@dragon-id5uj]

Bad Santa out here getting to the bottom of some funky string-slingers' setups :)

[@lavadoraautomatica1]

Exactly what I wanted to see!!!

[@ozan.arslan]

Before I begin to watch, I'd like to say thanks for this!

[@benmusicperson]

Rig Rundown: 10% of Snarky Puppy

[@dragostego]

its all the bits that can have a rig rundown tbh not too much going on with saxophones or trumpets

[@lucienfournier0]

ryan dirks in fairness, if you look at “Dunlop sessions” with snarky puppy, the trumpet player’s got some pretty cool effects goin on

[@ts4gv]

Lucien Fournier Not to mention what trumpet, mouthpiece, and mute(s) he plays. Although I guess this is Premier Guitar lol

[@guitarran]

Duh "Premier Guitar" not premier keyboard, drums...etc.

[@fireemblemistrash75]

NA I mean the horn or non electric side doesn’t seem ever that interesting, the only interesting thing being probably their technique for blowing without getting exhausted, drummers and the way they grip their sticks, but nothing else at least imo The electronics side is more interesting and interactive because you see players who got big by making do with not as expensive equipment, others with odd and strange choices of gear

[@MrCornelius234]

Thanks for doing this rig rundown. I know I've been asking for it for a long time in the comment sections lol

[@onixtheone]

About damn time!

[@martincrowe81]

John, love the grey. Suits you.

[@revolutionday1]

I'm having a hard time with it, personally. :-P

[@tysonrinker8089]

he's a fic

[@allenbryant]

I was at that concert and it was great!

[@Nicko30able]

Thanks so much for this.

[@SublimeManifesto]

Love it when the musicians actually play the pedal board

[@_here_hear]

🖐 The intro was so beautiful! 🖑

[@merl7972]

Love to see that opening bass tune written out. Maybe I'll get to it some day...

[@jacobporter9732]

Great all around!

[@nojyeloot]

Great great guys and band

[@MarkbassAmps]

Michael League's signature series by Markbass, check it out: www.markbass.it/news-detail/michael-league-casa-signature-series/

[@isaaclim3348]

MarkbassAmps when can I buy it????

[@MarkbassAmps]

We'd start selling it in May.

[@danielelise7348]

Michael seems like such a nice,very personable guy,Mark is a good guy too! 🎼🎶🎵🎸

[@davidespinosa1910]

Grosh makes awesome guitars!

[@casiodan]

I love that bass tone at the start........off to fire up the amp and work on that!

[@jnh73]

Love these guys. That comment from Mark about his No. 1 guitar being whatever he wants it to be, rather than vice versa, is a great one. So true. Mark really surprised me, never having heard an interview with him he comes across as a really knowledgeable, down-to-earth gent, as well as being a legit monster player.

[@AZFunk]

in case you haven't seen this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6rUZHWjj52CgJY

[@uriteimwrong7317]

Jack Narcotta great guitarist but pissed off I wasted money on his pedal. Doesn’t sound all that great with my rig. I guess that’s why it’s for him. But I hate when a seller says yes it’s a great pedal and after I buy it says oh I never tried it. Wtf? Do not waste my money. Lost my business too.

[@pablofichaje]

That's a lovely bass solo for the intro

[@enkiea8322]

Yesss! Finally!

[@marknorris3769]

master class , markbass casa +

[@krispatel1]

I need a bobble head to replicate the head movement at 9:32

[@revolutionday1]

LuLz

[@plaash7396]

Then you haven't watched joe dart !

[@tmuka]

John, I'd say Line 6 already nailed the new version with the new Helix FX :)

[@DG-dn7rr]

Mark is a boss and Dallas legend

[@cillianreilly2128]

I’ve been wanting a guitar that can do everything but I never thought it was possible, turns out he has one

[@mathiashls]

That first P is GORGEOUS

[@coleemmersonhallman5329]

Michael is in my top 5

[@fastra3621]

That bass seems to play like butter.

[@bertofski]

"Have you always been a pee guy?" HAHAHA made me LOL.

[@revolutionday1]

Ditto, boss. X-D

[@mathiasousen]

I was looking for this comment

[@lukefreligh531]

Just wait til he does a rig rundown with r. Kelly...

[@seanmarshallmusic]

Guitar demo definitely conducted during drummer soundcheck.

[@kimdemegillo9631]

whats the first song on the bass? thanks

[@Grayham4]

Holy crap yes

[@eugenechek7288]

Why does Michael have a different distance from the strings to the edges of the fingerboard on the guitar? The 1st string is closer than the 4th string. I have the same bass and the same situation. Crooked screwed neck?

[@colbysims4124]

I wish I knew which pawn shop he went into because I live in Greenville and I’d love to get my hands on a P Bass

[@jonathanbehar7604]

"Warwick Thumb Corvette"?? Haven't heard of that model... : )

[@omikl]

That sub octave is bringing home to me how tired the Altec Lansing woofer on this cheapo old system is :-) Glad to see its not just me who's using a cutting board and velcro to put together a small fly board. The chef in the restaurant I played last week had a good laugh when he spotted it. Wanted to know if he could borrow it to chop onions between sets.

[@Bennettcustomaudio]

If there was ever to be a Rig Rundown drinking game, you'd have to finish your drink whenever John says "find your sonic space" hahaha

[@Brainwash_victim]

You guys need to interview Smashing Pumpkins on the new tour!

[@dantedt3931]

Great rundown!Love Snarky.Can you please do Cory and The Funk Apostles?

[@mbaile1984]

9:25....guy's neck is going to snap off!

[@lts4627]

Gênio!!!

[@LiquidBread13]

fastest rig rundown i ever clicked on

[@Hillcapper1]

That intro, wow.

[@KRayxKodessA]

Super nice dudes... but why is the resolution so low?

[@devinanderson1792]

John Bolinger is a fun person to watch interview others.

[@lts4627]

best intro....

[@davidsix8907]

Micheal League is the best part of Snarky Puppy but still manages to get less screen time than the guitarist.

[@alstartheman]

That's how it goes unless you're also the frontman haha

[@kernelwhite5613]

David Six I smell salty bassist

[@davidsix8907]

Fergus McGregor thank you. He writes most of the music from what I know.

[@deldia]

Corey?

[@PSOLOBEATS]

He's very humble. A great guy. Corey and Shaun tend to be polarizing and in your face which I totally don't mind. Together as a band they are simply the best.

[@wildersparks9161]

10:32 what was the guy off camera asking?

[@borawastaken]

I haven't checked out Premier Guitar for a while. But I see Michael League and I have to check it out. By the way what happened to the chick host, I think she was Rebecca something?

[@CyanKash]

That's killer

[@Csar-wj3od]

I already bought my Melody ... Great with single coils!

[@uriteimwrong7317]

Csar 4144 do you like it? I’m not sure about it and I’m selling mine. I need more gain and I think a tone knobs better for me. FYI I’m using hbs. It doesn’t really make my amp sound better. Maybe need to fool with it a bit more.

[@Csar-wj3od]

Hey Urite... I'm in a similar situation, and I'm trying to return It to JRockett... On my case, I thought the MELODY could be an enhancement to my DUDE pedal, to get a nice blues edge brake up tone for my strat. But I feel the MELODY Is too compressed for my taste. So I'll stick to my DUDE, and will try to return Ithe MELODY... so far no success...

[@uriteimwrong7317]

Csar 4144 sold mine. Good luck buddy. 👍

[@joerobinson6199]

Csar 4144 I got one too and was thinking ok there’s barely any distortion in this pedal. Constantly changing the EQ’s around but...I’ve learned to slow down. Not everything needs to be high gain. Try it with another amp and learn to play with less gain sometimes. I’m a bluesy/ rock type okayed too. So usually high gain is not used but I love it. Like Gary Moore type sound. FYI a great Supro pedal is the Drive. It’s great.

[@mikegeld1280]

That's not bad, I'd like to point out that this tone you started the video with is totally JPJ, cool 😎

[@crunchoverdryv9358]

Paging Line 6: please do that manual/preset button, I promise to buy my 2nd m5 if you do.

[@james6151]

It's cool that Spider-Man takes time out of his busy life to play guitar from snarky puppy

[@bacicinvatteneaca]

How's the signature amp called? He said "casa" with a hard s, as if it was Spanish, so I don't know if it's supposed to be "casa" with a soft s or "cassa" with a double hard s.

[@mtkwe]

Considering the fact that Markbass is an Italian brand, I think it's "cassa". That's the italian word for "cabinet"

[@EricMiller630]

Warwick Corvette Thumb???? Which one was it, man? Love the run down

[@Tony-lc7op]

After 3 minutes Michael is talking about he could only play 1/10 th of the notes because of the "action" on the other bass. I'm fairly new to bass playing and I have a lot to learn. Would someone be so kind to explain what exactly Michael means? I think the action is the distance between the snares and the frets that is adjusted by the bridge, was that distance large in this case and what effect would that have? (So why would someone like this setting as it is so hard to play with this action setting?) And is it even more difficult with flatwounds? Thanks!

[@JosephGallagher]

That's correct, the action is how high the strings are from the fretboard and is adjusted both by the bridge saddles and the thrusrod (which controls how straight / bent a neck is).

[@mrtyreus0]

as a beginning bass player I would definitely recommend sticking with a low action bass so that it's easy to play. What Michael was referring to was that since the action on the P bass was high and in a way uncomfortable to play he only play the notes that counted instead of superfluous notes that he might play on an easier to play instrument.

[@Samhoneyfield]

The kick soundcheck in the background of Mark 😅

[@JP-pm5hj]

8:45 Mic: "ight, imma head out"

[@philip_plays_bass]

Would have been also nice to see the synth basses Michael uses ... but anyway, good video!

[@LaTigerGenesis]

Great video. As an aside, Bolinger is the man.

[@stephenowen3383]

LaTigerGenesis He is. Wonderful ability to converse and enthuse about gear.

[@revolutionday1]

Damn~right!!!

[@revolutionday1]

He's a helluvah player himself, as well!

[@noreaction1]

What about the rest of the band and what they use?

[@Foresthexomega]

What is the first song he was playing? Sounds so good

[@NotDingse]

Michael in conversation reminds me a bit of Mac DeMarco.

[@TomatoestDuck]

12:50 Gemini!!!

[@harrychrome844]

Dig the new hair style John!

[@joaquinchidichimo7346]

Sad he didn t ask Michael the position of the tone knob on his bass for his clean tone... is it all the way down?

[@itsfailix98]

Anyone knows how Michael is running two input cables into his amp? I only see one of them going out of the pedalboard but there's no splitter for the second cable..

[@jonathanmoore1690]

My guess is it may be for his moog key bass

[@itsfailix98]

@@jonathanmoore1690 ahh yea right, thank you! Didn't see his key bass.

[@michaelbowe1485]

"have you always been a P guy?" "..."

[@projectz975]

have you always been a pee guy

[@elihansen328]

better than being a poo guy

[@hetul784]

@@elihansen328 that's actually a little offensive I'm a big time Poo guy....

[@GeorgeFafa]

No choice there...sometimes pee, sometimes poo...bass. And sometimes ripendbacker...those are hard!

[@Holden-C.]

@@GeorgeFafa well played