Rig Rundown - Steven Wilson [2019]

#rigrundown #stevenwilson #porcupinetree
Article & photos: bit.ly/StevenWilsonRR
We did a pre-soundcheck hang with singer/songwriter/producer/guitarist Steven Wilson during his recent solo gig at Nashville’s Cannery Ballroom. Wilson, known best for his progressive rock with his band Porcupine Tree, stripped his tone down for his current solo project, which requires two rigs.
The raw sound of a Telecaster plugged straight into an amp has become a signature tone for Steven Wilson’s recent project. To capture that tone, Wilson used his Fender 1963 Relic Telecaster built by the Custom Shop. The Telecaster is strung with D'Addario NYXL Plain Steel .011-.014-.018 on top and D’Addario Nickel Wound .030w-.042w-.052w on the bottom.
The centerpiece of Steven Wilson’s pedalboard is a GigRig G2 Switching System, which makes sense since GigRig guru Daniel Steinhardt wired the board up (and made many of its pedal selections himself). Steven’s array of pedals includes a Boss FL-500 volume pedal, a Source Audio Programmable EQ, a GigRig A/B/Y box, a Dunlop Cry Baby Wah, a TC Electronic PolyTune, a custom GigRig bank selector, an Option 5 Destination Rotation, a Selah Quartz, a Strymon TimeLine and BigSky, two Electro-Harmonix POGs, a Diamond Analog Vibrato, a Moog MF Trem, an Analog Man Price of Tone, an Amptweaker TightRock Jr., an Origin Effects Cali76, an EHX Small Stone, and a wealth of GigRig power accessories.
Continue reading: bit.ly/StevenWilsonRR

[@daniwest1370]

John: what PRS is that Tech: Its gold John: what Dimarzios are they Tech: there black and white

[@ilCapotasto]

:D Leave Tonto alone! He's a great guy!!!

[@nathanmotton6152]

Do we actually know which dimazio s they are?

[@AD-kv9kj]

@@nathanmotton6152 Yea, the black and white ones!

[@warren8464]

gear is secret

[@marcmarti5273]

owned!

[@kristofferhjelmaassivertse4736]

love how casually he drops opeth like.. yea friend of mine in a swedish band called opeth, like no biggie

[@krookiemonster2673]

Thats how i found out about wilson and pt was an interview with mikeal

[@carloc8763]

@@krookiemonster2673 it is amazing, but mine was a similar path, only the other way round SW --> Opeth

[@SamperorTV]

@@krookiemonster2673 Yea, I found out about SW when he produced Opeth's Blackwater Park. Fell in love with PT & all SW related immediately.

[@jsleeio]

@@krookiemonster2673 similar, but in Akerfeldt's inter-song talk (one of the Opeth things I really enjoy actually, like when they walked out on stage last time I saw them here in Sydney and he greeted us with "Hello Melbourne", obviously knowing that would really irritate any Sydney person - then pointed at some people at the front and said "I remember you c&%ts")

[@papaisduniyakapapa]

Katatonia got me to Opeth & PT

[@DaveDexterMusic]

"How many shirts are you going to wear for the Wilson interview, John?" "I'll wing it"

[@kyle5709]

LOL bro

[@Hillcapper1]

John is the best and I typically only watch his rig rundowns....but his outfits are pretty crazy sometimes!

[@ryan.1357]

Haha. Even Bohlinger will thumbs up this comment. Well done.

[@kcapkcans]

it's a bit of a shirts arms race with these two... a sleeves race, if you will (12 sleeves between them, in case you're counting)

[@noodles1930]

I'm cracking up rn. Especially not having looked at his outfit before reading your comment. lol

[@jbird2851]

I saw him live last year in D.C. after not being super familiar with his whole body of work(My gf is a huge fan of him and Porcupine Tree so I got introduced that way) I was completely blown away and it stands out as one of the best live shows I've ever seen. Steven Wilson is a genius.

[@kiltymacbagpipe]

Nice to see That Pedal Show and Dan get a name check.

[@davelanciani-dimaensionx]

Dan is a genius. An an underrated guitar player himself.

[@northtimo666]

Funny that how perfectionist he seems to be is so careless about the guitar gear he owns. I like that approach that he just focuses in the sounds than that wankwood the guitar fretboard is made of.

[@Cr8Tron]

NorthTimo Yeah, makes me feel less guilty about this stuff, regarding my *self* as another audio engineer/producer.

[@LeeBarry]

He makes a good point about writers not always wanting to be bothered with the technical side. It can kill creativity when you're trying to capture an idea and having to wade through options. It's nice to have an assistant that knows your style.

[@zachary963]

I used to fiddle with all the settings everytime I grabbed my guitar… it’s fun, but exhausting and it kinds gets in the way. Now I have 3 pedals and they all do the exact right thing. Very freeing.

[@AlanLopez-dg2oq]

Is so weird to see him wearing shoes...

[@DavidOakesMusic]

Maybe he got tired of treading on nails.

[@astroandyborgloh]

... and John Bolinger did not ask him about that... So this RR sems a little incomplete ;-)

[@bugpack6]

First thing I noticed. Lol.

[@andrewthomas3270]

Me too it’s the first thing I looked at, LOL. 😂

[@tysonrinker5958]

probably takes em off for the show

[@madmadmads3103]

He's 52, I can't believe that, he only changed a little bit, comparing to he's 30s

[@nonas2856]

No growth

[@chenguefer156]

Quick explanation: no married ever.

[@Eleventhearlofmars]

@@chenguefer156 so on point. I’m 54 have never married and people don’t think I’m even 40. I have a girlfriend who’s 12 years younger than me now so that’ll probably age me trying to keep up with her lol. I think Steven Wilson has sacrificed having girlfriends even for the benefit of his musical career, that’s committing to the cause.

[@CedricsSpecialLP]

@@Eleventhearlofmars It’s funny you say that because Steven is now married and a Stepfather of 2 kids.

[@CedricsSpecialLP]

@@chenguefer156 Actually, Steven is now married and a Stepfather of 2 kids. And he still does a lot of work.

[@MichaelD8393]

8:05: Steven: "You know a lot more than I do already." John: "Well, it's my job!" 😂

[@p.c.1019]

Porcupine Tree frikkin’ ABSOLUTELY RULES! John Wesley is a seriously formidable guitarist too. Gavin is GOD!

[@howardr3055]

Nice rundown from a chap/bloke who has made some of the most interesting music for over a quarter century.

[@mikeadams4605]

A great rundown and just a killer board build by Daniel from That Pedal Show

[@grahamkelly8299]

Steven wilson seems like a very decent dude, very happy to share, and humble, yet hes a musical genius

[@LLCW]

I feel like Steven Wilson has the exact accent Christopher Guest was going for in Spinal Tap

[@haczabim]

He sounds, talks and probably thinks like Nigel 17:26

[@TJKoch91]

13:05 is exactly the sound I associate with Steven's playing

[@Niamorg1007]

Same here!

[@TheLastDodo-ix5qh]

Unfortunately he doesn’t use that tone nowadays; not as much as he used to in any case. The Porcupine Tree era albums are drenched in those clean leslie type sounds.

[@bernlin2000]

Very reminiscent of David Gilmour's guitar sounds on Pink Floyd's more "psychedelic" albums

[@jeanlundi2141]

Yeah, he uses it a lot. And you know what else this video made me realize (me, that knows nothing about musicianship).....some of these pedals are precisely the difference between some of the music of his I like and what I DONT like.

[@XiyuYang]

Fake, Steven Wilson never wears shoes.

[@cardbored_]

Wteven Silson

[@philt8641]

Rig Rundown - Opeth - please.

[@SamperorTV]

I just found out it is available!

[@aussie_philosopher8079]

The only regret I have in life is not seeing him live here in Australia in 2019.

[@aic209]

I miss Porcupine Tree so much.

[@alfother]

Shame they didn't cover his backing band as well, the backing guitarist and bassist both sounded MASSIVE when I saw them live. All I could see was a Laney IRT head, my friend went and got an IRT studio because of that show haha

[@Dulnlop]

the guitar player did a rundown with boss a year ago, i believe.

[@Matthew-ez4ze]

I now feel supremely validated that I use my wife's "crafts" stickers to place on my pedalboard's pedals, Helix and amplifiers as volume and tone references just like one of my musical heroes. Steven Wilson is such a cool dude. Great interview!

[@InspiretoVictory]

Literally, guys. Literally.

[@michael_caz_nyc]

Love these Rig Rundowns. I could watch A Rig Rundown and a Pedalboard Build - all day, every day. Always learn or hear something inspiring or enlightening.

[@kentfranklin736]

*acts like he's above nerding out on gear* but needs THIS phaser from THIS specific year 🤩

[@rasoolpirhooshyar1286]

lovely thing about this video is not the rig but the personality of Steven. love you all the times you talk unaffected and intimate.

[@nonahyobusiness8063]

Daniel is about to see some G2 switcher orders in about 3, 2, 1.... :) and if you don't already watch That Pedal Show, well, you really should. It's filled with great info and sounds.

[@escommentss]

John Bohlinger is great! Love his interviews. So nice, respectful, and knowledgable! And what a great player in his own right!

[@theeleven42]

I have that same Electro Harmonix Small Stone, I got it at a garage sale for $6 in 1996. It was my first pedal and it is absolutely magic.

[@asherbeal8357]

👏👏👏 That was great guys, thank you for a great rundown! 🤘🍻🤘

[@lyndasteinbrecher7953]

I don't understand anything about his equipment but I love Steven Wilson 😍

[@rozeem6]

YES Thank you!

[@tomashradil3994]

So nice when you see the guitar in this video and suddenly solo from Arriving Somewehere DVD version pops up in your head

[@jitterbug__]

What a chill dude

[@RadityoPramAdi]

Damn that is one of the most impressive switching system ever...

[@steeefin]

I was at this show. Was amazing as always. Cool to see the set-up!

[@robertw1871]

That’s just about the perfect board so nicely done, huge amount of pedals on the floor... wow I wish I had a hundred K to get that organized lol

[@darkmatter7182]

I love Steven Wilson.

[@kieranarnold7525]

Steven Wilson is literally my god, I love that man

[@777Yoni]

It amazes me that I can watch a DVD of him at The Royal Albert Hall (possibly the most beautifully lit show I've seen) and then see him in a tiny theater. Glad we here in the states can still get a glimpse of him in these smaller places before I imagine he will blow up here. Thanks for the content.

[@gtizzle101]

Depends where, in NYC his tickets were 200-600, so I had to pass

[@777Yoni]

@@gtizzle101 Wowza, I paid less than $50 (including fees).

[@lilymuu]

I don't even play the guitar but I could listen to Steven talk about them all day

[@stratplayr6997]

Funny that I was just watching the video of Steven Wilson demoing his pedalboard back in 2013 that was built around a tc electronics g system. He was talking about how he likes to keep things simple & not have so many pedals on his board. Fast forward to 2019 and his pedalboard is completely re-worked with all these pedals and the g system is gone - LOL! Goes to show you how each one of us who play guitar are never satisfied with our gear, and things continually change and evolve over time. It never stops.

[@johnt.mickevich2772]

He is one minute from saying "this one goes to eleven..."

[@angrybird32495]

Battle scarred PRS guitars look amazing! Imagine when a 50 year old vintage PRS guitar exists, oh it’s gonna be beautiful!

[@anthonyfesta1224]

I seen to the bone tour ...incredible show.

[@montal1409]

I love the fact he did a full review of this board.

[@robertkeenan9706]

It’s not a Tremonti, it’s a PRS Single cut 22. The Tremonti has 2 tone/ 2 volume knobs and the pick up selector is where a LP selector is.

[@shredace]

It is a PRS Singlecut Trem. It has a slightly thinner body than a standard Singlecut. These guitars have PRS #6 pickups.

[@KRayxKodessA]

Ooooof... and it’s his job to know that. :S

[@santibanks]

As Mark Dobry points out, it's a singlecut trem. The normal singlecuts have fixed bridges like Les Pauls. Also, the Singlecuts (be it the regular one, trem one, or 245) are always with 22 fret necks. There is none with a 24 fret neck. If it has a 24 fret neck, it's a custom one (usually an artist line). He used to have a Singlecut trem with #6 pickups in amazing black charcoal. He played it with Steve Hackett and on the Deadwing tour (I believe it's in the live video for Start of something beautiful). He also used to have one in Dark Cherry which was tuned to Drop-C and used on Anesthetize and Cheating the Polygraph. I really wonder where all his older PRS guitars are that he used with PT but not for his solo work. Including the amazing Mateo Blue with gold and copper hardware singlecut that he used for Circle of Manias and the Mike Mushok SE baritone (the Incident).

[@dylanbetz1620]

I can't really tell, but the top carve looks rather shallow in a few angles. I know the CE's have a shallow carve that looks rather similar to this but a core model should have a full top carve. Am I just seeing things?

[@santibanks]

@@dylanbetz1620 Yes you are, this is a singlecut :) I've seen it many times with my own eyes from upfront. Just stock #6 pickups. Very nice guitars! (But prefer his charcoal black he had before this one). The CE's are not in singlecut available, only some SE models.

[@npinero1]

Ha, John kept his head down when Steven mentions Daniel from The Pedal Show. Come on guys, genuine content is good for everybody.

[@tabletop77]

I think he's just bored

[@juniorkong9587]

Those opaque over sunburst paintjobs were usually a result of a sunburst making it to the end of the line at the factory and they were put back through to be repainted because of a defect in the wood being visible through the translucent.

[@thanksthe5505]

I saw this guitar on 11th of February, last week in Vienna, on his tour... Guitar is amazing although it is a replica of '63 Fender Telecaster... For all of you who have never seen SW live please do... It's an amazing experience...

[@idefixweirdo]

Totally agreed! Saw him in France/Strasbourg few weeks ago. Music, Sound, Video animations, light show, all was on a high level. His band was state of the art as the master SW himself. I already knew the band because i saw them on the 'Hand Cannot Erase'- tour but had a 'wow-feeling' when i heard and saw Alex Hutchings on guitar.

[@HARwinsOUTagain]

It's GOLD

[@ninja500rider]

Was there for the show just a few hours later. Not quite the Royal Albert Hall.

[@benevolentautore4463]

My favorite musical god.

[@garysmith2983]

I’ve got a PRS 2003 sc term. They are great guitars. Really resonant and clear. Despite this video they do generally stay in tune, unlike my 335 and lester, which I still love, despite their faults. Great single coil sounds from the PRS as well.

[@leitch100]

Lookin' sharp JB!

[@JamesShore1990]

That's a bad SW impersonator, he's wearing shoes.

[@metusaalemi]

Strange, that Steven had his PRS-influences from Opeth :)

[@dylanbetz1620]

Check out their song 'Bleak'. Steven sings a bit on it, and he produced the entire album with them!

[@Cr8Tron]

You gotta be kidding, right?

[@NewsToAstonish]

@@Cr8Tron Nope, he's not. He's personally mixed and produced a couple of Opeth's albums and has sung on Blackwater Park.

[@Cr8Tron]

@@NewsToAstonish I'll believe it once I've heard them all for the thousandth time.

[@riffs66]

Shoes on! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@liammc546]

Good gig last night. ..Yeah quite good.

[@arghadeb9180]

love the pog

[@dr.debajyotibose2928]

Everyone deep down is like, Bring PT back !!

[@fynii9478]

Nope. Far from everyone actually.

[@NANO_333]

Everyday I wish this.

[@tunaXonXtoast]

I'd love to see a Dan and Mick TPS Rig Rundown!

[@dermatze2309]

That's crazy. You hear this opening riff and it sounds HUGE! Then he goes ahead and shows you his tiny little amp. You'd expect a cranked hot rodded Marshall or something...

[@petey604]

Cool band

[@rtmis1]

He prefers delay before drive!!! Man, I thought I was the only person on earth who actually liked that sound. 17:21 - so gnarly

[@sky-shore]

check Takaakira Goto from Mono. The man plays like this for about 20 years

[@exoskeletaljunktion6070]

Van Halen did it first. Running a short echo into his driven amp works all the magic on ain't talking bout...

[@jeffjuhre1494]

He's so creative and I love his music. He's such a nice guy and so patient explaining how everything works. But he didn't explain where on the pedal board he keeps the radioactive toy ;)

[@krookiemonster2673]

Man that "drop d" prs should be in a fucking museum one day!

[@bzx8244]

I've run guitar-delay-reverb-amp input for years and years because I much preferred the sound. So many people would call me out saying it wasn't correct until they heard it in the context of what I was playing. It wasn't anything like Steven Wilson but I wrote the parts that way, and when I tried running through the loop it just never sounded right.

[@JYelton]

Ok John and Premier Guitar, time to go visit Dan and Mick of That Pedal Show. They might not have millions of records sold, but they would blow your mind if you attempted a rundown of their rig(s)! Awesome rundown with Steven here, I am finding I greatly love his music, but I didn't know about him until he was on That Pedal Show!

[@Digiphex]

What’s cool about Rig Rundown is that the pedals can be a hundred kinds and ways for still a great sound.

[@temporarymomentary]

It's funny how Porcupine Tree inspired Opeth and Opeth inspired Porcupine Tree. It's makes so much sense. Jonas from Katatonia introduced Porcupine Tree to Mikael and the rest is history.

[@mrpositronia]

"I know nothing about guitars" Other than how to play them and everything that goes with it! :)

[@haczabim]

17:26 I close my eyes and feel I'm listening to 'Rig Rundown - Nigel Tufnel'

[@Mooseboy08]

17:32. Nigel Tufnel quote for sure!

[@nigelnunes]

1:56 John's signature Rig Rundown Telecaster line ;)

[@ebeep]

I wish he'd remember that even though the person he's speaking to hasn't heard him make this point before, his PG audience never needs to hear it ever again. It's almost like Tourette's at this point.

[@nigelnunes]

@@ebeep Fair enough, but I don't actually mind it, I just find it to be one of the quirks of the Rig Rundowns at this point. On the contrary, I think John's a great interviewer. He's genuinely into his stuff, even when his interviewees aren't that clued in on the equipment they use.

[@stepitupandgo67]

This was irritating cuz I watch these things with my guitar in hand and I couldn't figure out what was humming in my rig....it was Steven Wilson haha

[@larrylampshade1734]

Killer jacket JB

[@musicosm]

Now, see, this is one of many reasons I like Steven. I don't feel weird because of my lack of guitar knowledge. I never geeked out over active pickups or whether rosewood was a better fretboard than maple. If it looked good, felt good, and sounded good, ima play that shit!

[@wrxplayer]

My favorite Gig Rundown of all time (as well as my favorite musician this century). Love the fact that he doesn't know which PRS model he's been playing for 10+ years and which pickups are in it!

[@Eramsay121]

Evan Lerner it’s almost refreshing after having guys that know how many winds are are their pickups and what month the tubes in their amps were made, yaknow?

[@sooparticular]

who is he??? never heard of this guy..he looks like my waiter at my dinner

[@gtizzle101]

The black and white ones!

[@santibanks]

@@sooparticular check out his music, every album is different so don't let one album put you off...

[@sooparticular]

@@santibanks who is he? is he in a famous band?

[@mattybradbury]

The thinking man’s Nigel Tufnel.

[@AndyProkopykChapmanStick]

Reason for the sunburst sticking out from underneath was that in the 60s sometimes they would respray an already painted+ sunburst guitar in a custom color because it was faster than waiting for a new body to be prepped when they got an order for a custom color. Sunburst being the standard color for strats, not sure if that was the case for the tele in the 60s.

[@ElephantTusks]

“Well right now it seems like you’re kind of uh more in single coil land”. “What a fun little science experiment this thing is, right?” So elegant, he really has a way with words.

[@BryceAWD]

What color is that? I don't know, but it's beautiful. True artist.

[@yobhsiFehT]

Around eight minutes is when we learn why this rig rundown is only 27 minutes long 😜😂 Kinda refreshing, actually 😉😄

[@timmontanez3781]

I love it.. Steven Wilson on stage wearing sneakers!!!!

[@ErForce1]

I wish he used his tuner..

[@Mooseboy08]

NO LIE!

[@jimtalltheislandbrothers6639]

Agreed. Seemed way out of tune. Gig rig is great and Dan does a fantastic job. I use a cheaper switcher myself but I swear by them.

[@apolloc.vermouth5672]

And his noise gate!

[@vidamedelafey5662]

Come on, give it a break, he just grabbed a guitar that was laying around probably after a trip and being played for the first time that day.

[@cardbored_]

John is stylin and profilin in this one

[@frankierodriguez8661]

such a great guy SW

[@ArisAlamanos]

John Bohlinger is the best dressed guitar player of all time.

[@ITheFight]

Johnny beans the man!

[@Stashitquick]

The Cannery Ballroom in Nashville, I'd know that offset stage anywhere

[@paulfromjupiter]

Fender would paint solid colors over sunbursts gone wrong instead of stripping the bodies. So it wouldn't be unusual for the top finish to wear away exposing the sunburst finish underneath.

[@1642poltergeist]

the distortion of the black cat with the prs is perfect

[@OutxOfxLife]

First I thought the 600€ Volume Boost was already a ridiculous use of the Unleash. Then I saw the 200$ "Display" .... :D

[@TheJasonEstes]

I'm guessing when you are drumming for SW you better be on tempo! Thus no need for the tap tempo function on the Selah Quartz.

[@DocECS69]

So now I don't feel so bad that I have not used a couple of my guitars for a few years!

[@dantahoua]

Would like to have informations about the Nick Beggs rigs also !

[@Arfshesaid457]

Steven totally sounds like Nigel Tufnel! I mean that as a compliment.

[@its_just_berk]

anyone else feel like That Pedal Show / Dan from Gig Rig is a dirty word around Premier Guitar? Steven mentions That Pedal Show and no response. "the guy" who built your board...hmmm

[@cluecumber]

yeah, i half expected John to say " oh we don't mention those guys here, hahaha"

[@FullMetalDMZ]

Do you know the reason for that?

[@AlextheBant]

@@cluecumber yeah interested in hearing the reason behind that

[@r40l1n]

He's definitely just not responding whenever he mentions GigRig, or when he shouted them out. Sad.. they should be giving credit where credit is due and not just clamming up.

[@ITheFight]

I dont think so, John just doesn't know of them.

[@AD-zw6nn]

Oh My God SHOES!

[@luckylicks3497]

Thanks to Dan from GigRig for designing the perfect looper.