Rig Rundown - The Black Angels

Article & photos: bit.ly/BlackAngelsRR
Carrying on the Austin, Texas, pysch-rock torch sparked by the hometown giants, The 13th Floor Elevators, guitarist Christian Bland and multi-instrumentalists Jake Garcia and Kyle Hunt show off their vintage gear and display how they get their radical sounds.
This instrument started it all. This is Christian Bland’s main baby and he’s had it since the band formed in the early 2000s. He scored this 1978 Rickenbacker 345 on eBay after getting his SG stolen from bandmate Alex Maas’ house. Being a big Beatles fan, he always wanted a Rickenbacker and had to settle for this model even though John used 320 and 330 models. (Lefties can’t be too picky.) he uses D’Addario Pure Nickel (.011 sets) on all his guitars and shreds with Dunlop Orange Tortex .60 mm picks.
The band’s other left-handed guitarist Jake Garcia’s main ride is a 1971 Gibson ES-335. It was a player’s guitar so he’s had several refret jobs, added new tuners, graphite saddles, and installed period-correct Throbak P.A.F.-style pickups in it. You may notice the battle scars of four-removed switches and that was from single-coil taps that Jake got rid of to get the guitar as close as possible to its early ’70s roots.
The only righty guitarist in the band, Kyle Hunt, rocks with this 1965 Fender Jazzmaster he bougt years ago at Austin Vintage. He changed out the tuners and added a Mastery bridge, otherwise he believes it’s stock as the day it was made. He goes with either D’Addario or Gabriel Tenorio (.011 sets) and strums away with Dunlop Yellow Tortex .73 mm picks.
Continue reading: bit.ly/BlackAngelsRR

[@analogspam]

I'm listening! Send the NKT Sun Face for repair any time, sorry for the trouble!!!!!

[@hitnorcal]

WOW... thats service.

[@ohiho1010]

Analog Mike is the best!

[@gcb4799]

hey Mike! Just seeing this. Unfortunately the pedal was lost/misplaced on that tour, so I found another NKT 275 on Reverb.com and bought it.

[@enkiea8322]

@@gcb4799 Ooooh, someone scored a nice fuzz. I just bought a nkt275 white dot high gain and oh my LORD. ❤ your band bro. The last record is fantastic and your rig has been a huge inspiration for me.

[@johnhebert6242]

@@gcb4799 - please play New Orleans- sorry I just now found your amazing- transcendent band !!!!

[@completesentences2125]

These dudes are all super nice guys! I saw them in 2014 when they came to St. Louis with Roky Erickson. After their show, I bought a poster and saw Alex by the merch stand and asked if he would sign it. I’m one of those people that would rather die than be one of those pain in the ass fans at a show...but he went out of his way to offer to round up the rest of the band to sign it. He was like “No, seriously, it’ll just take a second!”...then he personalized it with “Rocky, THANKS FOR BEING HERE!!”...(and off the subject, I actually got Roky to sign it too at the end of the night). I have it framed and hanging over my fireplace to this day. I still look at it and think about how cool the Black Angels were. Good times.

[@mr.e93tilinfinity49]

Complete Sentences Holy crap! I got to see them back in 2011 but I wish I saw them when they were with Roky...

[@johnbodine8217]

Your so lucky that would have been killer. Please tell me you framed the poster ?

[@rexhargrove5172]

Excellent story!

[@irinapizzurro4546]

I saw them with Roky in Austin and it was an amazing show. They are truly such nice guys. I remember Alex was putting wrist bands on people one year for Psych Fest.

[@TheBaller67]

As a lefty, it's always a treat to see such rad guitars!

[@Leightsm]

“They usually come with two springs but this one’s got three!” = These go up to eleven!

[@TheSailsCall]

I've been obsessed with the Black Angels and Christian's tone for so long now, finally all the deep secrets are revealed.

[@matthewdecker3347]

Stoked to see some Black Angels love on Rig Rundown. I do posters for some of their shows, their some of the kindest, funniest and down to earth musicians Ive ever met. True artists.

[@dowz1969]

Matthew Decker that’s cool. Do you sell prints?

[@matthewdecker3347]

Yeah for sure! www.etsy.com/shop/MatthewStuartDecker

[@dowz1969]

Matthew Decker WOOOOOOAAAH!!! These are insanely great. Expect an order soon. Thanks

[@alcoyot]

This is like the greatest education that exists on what different fuzz sound like.

[@reverberateddreams7958]

Christian Bland time stamps 10:41 Rickenbacker 345 (dry sound) 10:50 Fender twin reverb amp (3rd spring installed, reverb cranked to 10) 12:19 Electro Harmonix- Russian Big Muff Pi (black) 13:27 Analogman- Peppermint Fuzz 14:39 Analogman- Sunface bc108 16:07 Acid Fuzz- Acid Fuzzer 16:34 Catalinbread- FUZZrite 17:52 Ibanez- ts9dx Turbo Tube Screamer 18:41 Danelectro- Backtalk 19:44 Dawner Prince Electronics- Boonar (echo) 19:50 Gurus- Echosex 2 20:20 Fulltone- Tube Tape Echo (+Bigmuff fuzz) 20:56 Vox- v846 Wah 22:19 Electro Harmonix- Holygrail reverb (+ reverb from amp) 23:18 Third Man Records- Bumble Buzz (LTD yellow) 24:18 Fender amp tremolo 24:29 Big Tone Music Brewery- Maggie tremolo 24:55 Acid Fuzz- Repeater

[@iiivanoeee651]

you are a prince

[@49short]

I’m kind of surprised I’ve never even heard of these dudes before so I’ll definitely have to check their stuff out. Especially since Jake seems like the nicest, sweetest guy on the planet.

[@alexhebert7730]

We need a King Gizzard rig rundown!

[@WhiteWolf--]

Been a big fan of these guys since Passover was released, cant believe it's been 14 years. Great tones, great vibes, good times, and many musically-connected memories!

[@ajk1989]

Love The Black Angels, was waiting for this one!

[@bluegreenface1193]

so strange, I listended to the black angels a day or so before I saw this on premierguitar.com, hadnt listened to them in years, whats that, a premonition?

[@TheTacticalButterknife]

Ive somehow just discovered The Black Angels (because of this video) and holy crap have I been missing out. The surfy, droning, fuzzy vibes are everything. Thanks PG for doing killer rig rundowns.

[@jokermtb]

3rd Spring!!!............definite Spinal Tap moment! great rig rundown!

[@McDoinky]

DO KING GIZZARD

[@slimturnpike]

Six fuzz pedals on one board! Don't think I've ever seen that before.

[@captainbazookas]

Ever seen Kevin Shields board?

[@pulpero666]

Me 😁

[@RastaSaiyaman]

What he says about a Big Muff really working with a Rickie, I found that out for myself when I went shopping for my own Rickie 330, to really give it the beans I plugged it into a Boss Katana 100 and was surprised how well it worked with distortion, since they aren't well known for that. But when I dialed in Fuzz, it was as if angels suddenly looked down on me. So after I got home, I went and searched up Fuzz tones on my Line 6 floor pod and there it was again, that tone. But when I bought a Big Muff, I hit paydirt (pun intended) what a glorious sound.

[@Saganite]

My favorite rundown thus far. I love how into it these guys are. Great seeing them run-through every pedal!

[@MrBobJeffs]

This is my new favorite Rig Rundown over J and Nels! So much awesome so much fuzz!

[@crystalettuce]

These guys seem like the nicest dudes. Great band too.

[@ArthurStone]

Very nice tones and riffs; thanks guys, much appreciated :D

[@langstonkalstrom6258]

This is sick! My dad’s band used to record songs with them!

[@sebastianarancibia2870]

I totally missed this one and just found it!!!! thank you :) these guys are so nice, The Black Angels are amazing, love their gear, those fuzzes wow!!

[@wilburwokeii8298]

Love this

[@lptomtom]

Wow, he really is a Beatles fanatic, even his strap is the same as Lennon's!

[@josuesamaniego182]

Love the lefty love! Thanks for this episode PG.

[@rodawallace]

Thanks for this.

[@dbmayne]

One of the best RR's I've ever seen. Why I ignored this band so, search me.'

[@dls3939]

Awesome rig rundown episode just by the way

[@kellymckenzie4865]

I really appreciate this as a lefty who loves Beatles guitars

[@jansonnichsen8988]

YES!!! , Waited so long for this

[@williamhurrelbrink3324]

Super super cool!!!!!! Love these guys!! I like when the actual guitar player does the show instead of the tech.

[@raulbrr]

True Detective yeah!

[@chrisattigliato1]

You can till Chris is trying so hard to keep his cool 😎 love these rig rundowns

[@lorenzocafferata6826]

These guys hate fuzzes and pentatonic scales

[@TheGuitarifier]

Lorenzo Cafferata yeah definitely they should use more of them

[@umpygoodness2369]

l THlNK ALL THElR FvZZES S0vND THE SAME.

[@adenconnell]

I wish they would use some delay/echo, even just a little

[@bobbyberetta4206]

aden connell and just a hint of reverb

[@Dam0n11]

THANK YOU SO MUCH

[@mikedouglas398]

Awesome questions that really get to some insight that sometimes is lost on laymen.

[@MatONeill]

Many of the artists featured in this series have their microphones facing towards the audience. You've got to admire the balls of that.

[@premierguitar]

We often turn the mics to face away from the normal position where a player may sing into during a show so it doesn't interfere with the shot or cross either the host or the player's face. Or maybe it's just for a all-night sing-a-long?!

[@MatONeill]

Ha! Yes I was just yanking your chain - sorry it's so hard to do irony in print. What I should have said is: I discovered these Rig Rundowns about a year ago and have been absolutely loving every one of them. Thanks so much for going to the effort of making them - they're absolute goldmines of information and are a fantastic way of cutting through manufacturers' rhetoric and getting right to the truth as seen by our heroes. You're awesome!

[@premierguitar]

Thanks for watching! Everyone that tunes in makes this gig possible!!

[@johndriver8646]

Very Cool ,Jake !! J.Driver

[@ouroborosboys1313]

Let's hear about the Mellotron and other keyboards!!!!!!!

[@Saganite]

Also, that's the best sound from a tube screamer I've heard... wowzers

[@jackp.walker6247]

GREAT, GREAT, BAND !

[@dls3939]

Guys after my own obsessive heart.... Damn, so many cool pedals on those boards

[@jackperry2670]

Great surf/psyche tones!

[@palodine1]

I love this band and their sound!

[@revengeofthebrick9890]

Do The Brian Jonestown Massacre next !

[@preacher4reel]

Lets see if Anton can make it thru a 10 min interview without walking off

[@trevorknapp5467]

Love the black Angels! He reminds me of a real life shaggy

[@brendonprice1586]

love those guitar straps!

[@GraphTechGuitarLabs]

What pedal makes that train sound? It sounds great! :P

[@richardthayer5907]

THANK YOU.

[@timhall3575]

He needs one of those switcher boards.. so he's not breaking his pedals all the time by stomping so hard. As a concerned parent - i feel he should invest in one ASAP

[@mynmyself]

amazing to see a thundertomate!!!

[@bluegreenface1193]

I remember listening alot to Passover and Directions to see a ghost, those two albums are something else. After those I kinda lost interest. Nice to see this bands rundown. You've done The Dandys and now The Angels, time to do Brian Jonestown Massacre!

[@guitarolm]

Kyle, if you see this: I have your black Fender CS '67 tele that was at AVG :)

[@jonny1943]

Well...fauk yes!!!! Minds blown, thanks alot! Love!!! These guys.

[@danieloux]

now that's a good fuzz tone!

[@axxellein]

TRES Cool

[@andrewpappas9311]

I want a righty version of that Rickenbacker and the Gretsch, also considering I'm a massive Beatles fan as well

[@jimjiminy76]

I don't know who this guy is...but he is a serious authority in fuzz.

[@tysonrinker8089]

Oh nice!

[@bak1386]

2 lefties in 1 band. Unprecedented lol

[@langedocalgvazil6760]

bak 138 - There are also two left-handed guitarists in the Australian rock band MihedUpEverything! Watch their videos on KZbin!🤗

[@breakerPaul]

Super cool rigs rundowns ;-). I'm missing 1 board though, on which I think I see a H&K Rotosphere. Possibly for the keys? Anybody?

[@crisprtalk6963]

guy has good taste in guitars.

[@Annelle-nt7ig]

Holy shit that Bumble Buzz is filthy!

[@marknorris3769]

jack-in-austin , does he have a shop ?

[@cold-momentss]

PG-what kinda fuzz do you guys use Black Angels-yes

[@enkiea8322]

It's like Kurt Cobain and Joaquin Phoenix somehow had a son together.

[@birdmancult]

anyone know what vocal peddle they use?

[@BestTits]

quit hating on the metal zone lol

[@cgoicoechea]

Wait a Gretsch Country Gentleman has the f-holes painted on?!?

[@RastaSaiyaman]

Yup, they always came that way.

[@jaymore012]

Wheres the drone machine?

[@Les537]

I like the part where he bought a twin because he was always using it in a modeler. Same for me with an AC15.

[@Alcookeverybody]

Can ANYBODY tell me how the keyboard player gets his vocals to sound the way he does?

[@BestTits]

hell yeah Robby Krieger

[@petemclinc]

Rickenbaker must be using their standard neck for L.H. guitars which explains having marker dots on both sides of the neck and the headstock logo upside down. Also, it takes 18 months to get a lefty. ;-\

[@rhumandlove393]

Lefty life. Pay lot. Get a hodge podge unit.

[@Shovelglove545]

Kinda lazy kinda cool

[@oknonnireimars4793]

That’s a reissue Fender Twin Reverb, right?

[@randomboobdrag]

What's the name of the band he likes along with The Doors?

[@aessington]

randomboobdrag Cream. Eric Clapton/Jack Bruce/Ginger Baker.

[@guitarsarelikestupid7200]

I saw Charlie Sexton at South Austin Guitars years ago. Actually, I saw his haystack of hair first.

[@samwisegrangee]

To boil it down to a handful of pedals, I’d go: Cloven Hoof, Tubescreamer, Vox Wah, Flint, El Capistan (or Echoplex & RE-20)

[@krbluesagendatv2625]

I think a HoofReaper would do a better job for fuzz. You get the muff, the tonebender (which can get thinner and bitier) plus the octavia style octave circuit to add. You need at least 2 very different fuzzes to really cover the ground these guys do.

[@DstandsforDoomed]

Such a shame Kyle got almost no air time, his bass is such a key component to Black Angels’ sound.

[@deadlegs187]

I have a big muff and a double muff. I need about 8 more fuzz pedals and I'll be set

[@protronix]

Now they need left handed pedals so you're not tripping over the guitar cable.

[@fredfuller2281]

the Neo 13th Floor Elevators...sans Roky Erickson!!

[@Mark_Bayer]

Do amen dunes please!!!!!!

[@johnhebert6242]

Sorry just found this band, but please please play New Orleans !

[@jsalmons84]

“See-ox”, no “chocks” lol Cioks makes a power supply called the Ciokolate “chocolate”.

[@19Cluj]

Great video, but he makes a mistake between vibrato and tremolo. He compares the Fender Twin's vibrato (which is actually a tremolo, despite the label on the amp) with a Maggie, which is an actual vibrato. No wonder the sounds are vastly different, they are simply not the same effects at all.

[@PierrePants]

"yeah yeah they tend to be pretty plastic"

[@petemclinc]

Just like Jimi Hendrix, Dick Dale and maybe Paul McCartney, LEFTYS RULE!!! ;-]

[@Damiana_Dimock]

I just have to stop the video and ask, did a train just go by??

[@carolsaxton839]

He used play a black telecaster .

[@johnwortherly4592]

so its one guy with a twin and his pedals, then another guy that wanted to up the first guy by 3 twins and bison leather.

[@acledfloyd]

This is my kind of pedal board, lots of delays and fuzzes.

[@jens8014]

Christian looks like Alvin Lee

[@colaboytje]

Fuzz, fuzz, fuzz...

[@MrMicalo]

That bass needs a neck adjustment! Look at those strings!

[@robertjones8430]

Take a shot every time someone says Fuzz

[@ChrisDN]

Every time Jake says "ya know".

[@GothicXlightning]

Only RICKENs i like are the RICKENBACKER BASSES otherwise give me back my SG

[@DatMetalBoi75]

If tame impala still tours, do them

[@AB-uu1vj]

I want to be best friends with Christian.