Rig Rundown - Testament's Alex Skolnick

[@luvz2sploogeify]

this man is an absolute legend and one of the most underrated guitarists out there. i have just bought every single testament album from rolling stones records here in chicago, and they are just an amazing metal band. cant wait for their next masterpeice.

[@toodiesel]

Long Live the Mode IV!!! Completely agree, my brother and friend have had one for a couple of years... great stock sound for metal!

[@Lynch34]

Skolnick always sounds like a humble guy in interviews, such an amazing guitar player.

[@axeslinger]

Alex Skolnick Amp Settings: AMP 1 Crunch: Bass 1 o’clock Mids 10 o’clock Treble 1 o’clock AMP 2 OD 2: Bass 3 o’clock Mids 9 o’clock Treble 1 o’clock Tone matrix - 3 RESONANCE: 3.5 o’clock PRESENCE: 1 o’clock Your welcome!

[@JohnnyBeane]

I played some of Alex's Ibanez guitars at his apt way back in 1995. JB

[@Topcat6103]

Those mode fours are awesome. Both guitarist in my friend justins band play them, they fucking scream

[@icecube0606]

what a cool dude, and and such an underrated guitarist

[@esa1810]

I played once with Alex 20 years ago, and he played RG550 and 560's..total opposite of the Heritage.

[@mmooppaarr6699]

Marshall Mode Four is an amazing amp! I have one can't understand why it never caught on. Tone is amazing, thought it does take some experimentation and setup time. This amp sounds good at lower volume levels, but screams at higher volume and gain. Looks like I have a buyer if I decide to sell.

[@girtha1134]

just saw testament and it was amazing watching him play 1 foot in front of me i was talking to the techs before the show and they confirmed this is really what he is using eric is running the 5150 III got to hear sound check and got to hear there rigs with no front of house sound and effects and they sounded badass together

[@romusromulus]

one of the greatest lead guitarists out there

[@angrytroll27]

Alex n that bloody "t" noise he makes

[@R.R.R.465]

credit to alex skolnick for the being the most fascinating and most monotone person i've ever heard, playing 13's in E flat, it's hard but what a tone.

[@horstlippitsch]

What kind of pick is he using? Dunlop Jazz 3?

[@lookingatcrap]

Now that you mentioned it every time they talk I totally notice it

[@bethshair]

I love Alex's playing! I just realized he sounds like Harold Ramis (Dr. Egon Spengler from Ghostbusters) hahaha.

[@HurricaneTBag]

Heritage Guitars fucking rule, by far and away my favorite guitar company. Can't wait to get my H157.

[@kottengod]

@HurricaneTBag cant tell about erics gear, too....but thx for the info^^

[@AbundanceOfBees]

Saw one of those Marshall Heads and a Cab at a pawnshop for something like 500-700$, never really noticed them until now.

[@thechallengeresponse]

Great shout out for the boys at Heritage! Alex also rocks a Heritage 575 with his jazz outfit (check out their cover of 'Warpigs'...pretty sweet!). I'll be taking my Heritage guitars to the grave!

[@thegermansat]

this guy is a beast, heavy guitar, thick neck, thick strings... just great xD

[@Dakan17]

Hell Yeah !! i use The Mode 4 also !!\m/

[@bongofury67]

Perfectly said !!

[@Zippo765]

@Itsooz The answer you are looking for: YES. Testament is some old school stuff, and they used to tour a LOT. Do the math however you will. ;-)

[@dougbline]

I use 12- 54 on my C# tuned guitars and it's not bad at all specially for downtunings!

[@Dusarrion]

When was this interview conducted? And is he stoned or just really tired? :}

[@WindsOfNeptune]

Funny how he's describing his 'signature model' like it's something extraordinary, when it's basically a fucking LP with Duncan '59 and JB pick ups, A SUPER COMMON CONFIGURATION! BIG DEAL!! Haha!! Seriously though, he is a great player and Heritage guitars are super nice. I WAS surprised o hear that he uses such thick, massive strings, even for lead work! Crazy!

[@thechallengeresponse]

I own two Heritage guitars, a 535 and a 575 and they are both 'hits'. In fact, the only problem I have with Heritage guitars is trying to decide which one to buy next :)

[@rerun51dude]

@chooseyourblues he is a really really nice guy, i had lunch with him at national guitar workshop. very funny too.

[@c4tze]

@esa1810 the jazz stuff made him switch to fixed bridge les pauls. but at least he has been the proud presenting ibanez shredsman.

[@TheScaredofsilence]

I tried a mode 4 at GC and it sounded like dog crap. However, I did like and buy the oversized mode 4 cab. I put v30's in it and it sounds HUGE

[@davidallen346]

Im not into his current ESP guitars, this Heritage model looks a lot more playable

[@Joeseffel]

@lovepuremetal5 On the latest record (Formation Of Damnation) they're in E flat.

[@B1ueEyeliner]

Awe I love Alex... It sounds almost like he had a few drinks before hand lol... How can one person hold so much knowledge? \m/

[@bongofury67]

totally correct , Bro

[@ducky811]

So does Phil Collen on his signature guitars. I was surprised to hear that.

[@bongofury67]

suprising how many people are still using Peavey

[@MrSimondaniel3]

not birdseye but those heritage guitars sound really good.

[@MetalHead1965]

Heavy guitars and 13 gauge strings and still shreds like an animal!

[@megaluisdeth]

A used mode 4 goes for $300-$600. They sell pretty cheap. 6505s and Blackstars are way more expensive.

[@TheGodseye76]

I love seeing these dudes doing their own run-down. I think they get a little jaded having somwone else do them. Im sure the bigger the band the tighter the schedule. But im glad Alex did his own.

what does it mean when they say "mint condition"?

[@ChristBurner]

@312chicagoadam i hear ya ..damn i wanna find one of these M4's ahha ive never played one but i wanna see whats up..

[@MisterTee]

Heritage doesnt sell online.

[@rackeffect]

Shit! He plays 13s. Strong fingers. The great SRV went even higher. Amazing.

[@aligatorsandwitch72]

Alex has a very smart rig

[@Metaldudehere]

@lovepuremetal5 Most testament songs are in standard i think

[@stevedood7278]

does he play in standard tuning in Testament? ..which those thick strings

[@stevedood7278]

nvrmind

[@zillathegorilla]

@ 1:12 that's not birdseye maple.

[@xbreathingisirrelevantx]

I play 13-56 in E/Eb its not as hard as you think. If he has low action and a shorter scale guitar its reasonably easy. You do need some calluses to handle them though.

[@sweeptapper]

5:47-5:51 is great!!

[@AdamSteinzOfficial]

@WhyMeWhyYou22 Ouch! I feel your pain, Brother! Actually, my buddy Chappers (check out his KZbin Channel) always touts the musical goodness that is "Anderton's" out your way....ever been there? They seem like a great bunch of people there!

[@bongofury67]

I would have to fully agree, Bro. The Heritage guitars are nice but they are SO not the same as vintage.

[@HurricaneTBag]

@kottengod I was wrong, Eric uses a Fender 5150 III. Those are absolutely tits.

[@rafnaj1]

Alex is like a modern day Beethoven to me.

[@dkyelak]

Looks like flame maple to me.

[@ImpalersDK]

@lovepuremetal5 Either E or D. I'm not really sure.

[@thesound606]

I guess guitar center employees don't realize that the tone is also in the fingers. It isn't all about the amp settings. If you play on Van Halen's rig, you will sound like you, not Van Halen.

[@ArthurAlmeidaVossen]

Magnus Hammersmith

[@IMBACHABRI]

@capmkrob he is jazz player,so thick strings don't mind him xD

[@NocturnosRockShow]

wow someone uses peavey still... cool!

[@B1ueEyeliner]

@TheSupernaut92 I play drums so that's why I said that.

[@HurricaneTBag]

@kottengod Ehhhh...Eric plays most of the rhythms. JVMs can get sounds that aren't very Marshally, I'm not really familiar with the amp that Alex uses though.

[@guitarguru08]

haha i live in kalamazoo, mi like 5 mins from heratige guitars

[@LichKingSkullWart]

@drakey27 He sounds a bit like Silvester Selone...

[@Nightmaroid]

How hard is that!!! He must have the strenght of a grizzly bear in his left hand!!! O_o

[@kingofloss1]

it means perfect condition.

[@torrid94]

I think the shorter scale length helps...

[@kottengod]

@megaluisdeth i know, but testament never sounded marshally to me^^

[@icecube0606]

@HurricaneTBag but there is no denying his metal, even if he doesnt show it

[@trex257]

He does sound a little drunk most of the time, that is just the way he talks. He has a deep voice and he enunciates his words EXTREMELY clearly with can sound like he is trying to hard to talk (like a drunk person does when they are talking to the cops).

[@LordOfThisWorld74]

Dude its made in the same factory that the old school collector gibsons that cost over $10,000 were made.

are u sure?=p

[@MisterTee]

Budda amps are manufactured by Peavey????

[@lern2swim]

It's what rock star's use in their hair after shampooing to keep their hair long, luxurious, and healthy.

[@megaluisdeth]

@312chicagoadam Yea I know! I when to guy buy me 2nd guitar there...This guy was all like are you going to buy that guitar? And I said yea. Anyways....He dem0-ed the guitar and he tried tuning the pegs while the lockpads were on! He had no Idea what locking tuners were for!

[@Gibson17]

Alex talks like the chick from Homeland on Showtime :) WOW !

[@AXESLINGER2112]

idk? i bought the 5150 III and i'll be damn if i don't sound like eddie!!! ha ha ha!!! no, but it does nail his tone if you want?

[@streetwarrior31]

i presume that probaly is tired. It must be in the end of a show.

[@chrisiztheman1618]

birdseye maple top? uhh its flame, nice guitar though

[@AXESLINGER2112]

i bet if you were Alex Skolnick you would receive a heritage that was on par with a vintage and i bet he pays for it too?

[@mami3790]

i play heavy guitars too! haha

[@MBvolcom92]

@damnonii he's just getting older man :P

[@virgult]

Mode 4s are rare and expensive, AFAIR... They might be killer as long as you need a cold and totally flat power amp with lots and lots of uncompressed headroom, which is Alex's case with Testament I think :) But Blackstars and Peavey 6505s come to my mind when I think of currently available metal machines that don't cost a fortune.

[@0Heavy0Metal0]

You know it's true metal guitarist when he refers to a EVH MXR Phase 90 going thru a Marshall stack as his "clean" tone. lol

[@metallideth83]

He talks like Ray Romano

[@HurricaneTBag]

@Itsooz I'm sure he's used them, but most guys that talented are a bit off.

[@lern2swim]

Yeah, it comes in a big jug, smells like peppermint and you can buy it at the natural foods market. (and yes, I am joking)

[@spaceXforXrent]

Eb

[@MisterTee]

That is incorrect. James Murphy had a brain tumor ALex did not. Chuck also had cancer but beat the crap out of it.

[@MisterTee]

I have to say that the notion that Heritage is JUST like an old Gibson is bollocks. Yes some of t he guys stayed but a LOT of the old luthiers left and went with Gibson. Also, there is a lot more machine work on a Heritage than a 50's or 60's Gibson. I have found Heritage to be ABSOLUTELY hit and miss. I understand that Alex is stoked about this guitar and it looks cool but Heritage instruments are not equal to vintage Gibsons in any way.

[@kottengod]

cant believe he plays marshall...

[@HurricaneTBag]

@chooseyourblues Oh he's a great guy...like THE least Metal guy that I've seen. Kinda like a Marty Friedman in that light.

[@Art_Riddle]

@312chicagoadam Unless you become friends with people who work there, I got half 15 percent off of my half stack, and half off of a set up :P

[@Soliturna]

Shit, yeah he does lol

[@HurricaneTBag]

13-53s? Holy dogshit.

[@AdamSteinzOfficial]

In December, I was in the market for a new (HIGH END) guitar, call up GC, ask for a "Manager," they give me a fucking SALESMAN-some stupid KID. Been dealing with them for YEARS, I know how it works-IF I need something from them (which is RARE), I want a Manager, not some poor sap worried about his bullshit commission (how THEY get paid). I made the appointment to meet with the Manager to buy the guitar, and the day I come in, he's NOT there! He told me 11AM; wasn't coming in until 1PM: I left.

[@TristanJCumpole]

Meh. Pretty much the same as old SVTs. Just use several serial connected cabs and pop, there you go.

[@jasonbartlett9139]

they were bnuilt for metal onbly thats wht they cant get tonbe mate as rah sah sets in them must be native to understand them our stocks not pale stocks

[@bethshair]

haha! ;-0