Rig Rundown: The War on Drugs [2022]

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For nearly two decades and across five albums, The War on Drugs’ founder and frontman Adam Granduciel has narrated our complex modern lives while his band has scored our dreams.
The captivating moods of their music, much like us, morph from dense melancholy to saturated, swirling madness and everywhere in between. Granduciel often layers his Springsteen-meets-Young proletariat prose atop a post-rock soundscape, but the heartbeat of their impressive, expansive live shows is their gear and how it is implemented.
“I could play the whole tour with two or maybe three guitars-a White Falcon, Strat, and maybe a Jazzmaster-but I bring all these out just for fun,” he says with a laugh as he considers his trove of axes.
So, let’s have some fun already! Before a full evening of The War on Drugs’ jams in support of 2021’s I Don’t Live Here Anymore, PG was invited to Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium. We covered Granduciel’s growing guitar collection, got the skinny on how Jerry Garcia’s monstrous setup played into the bandleader’s theatre rig, and we took in a cockpit view of his stompbox squadron full of tone ticklers, sizzlers, and wigglers. In addition, bassist David Hartley showed off a trio of Ps, an armada of Ampegs, and demo’d a fuzz that has ended his quest for razing tones.
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[Brought to you by D’Addario XPND Pedalboard: www.daddario.com/XPNDRR]
00:00 - D’Addario XPND Pedalboard
00:15 - Adam Granduciel Intro
01:34 - Fender American Vintage ’57 Strat reissue
02:44 - 1969 Gibson SG
04:29 - 1963 Fender Jazzmaster
06:38 - 1966 Fender Jazzmaster
07:59 - Fender American Vintage ’65 Jazzmaster
08:57 - Gibson Hummingbird
11:19 - Adam Granduciel's Amp Wall
17:12 - Adam Granduciel's Pedalboard
37:38 - David Hartley Intro
38:28 - 2002 Fender Precision Bass
41:46 - 1983 Fender Fullerton ’62 Reissue Precision Bass
43:39 - Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass
45:04 - Ampeg Heritage 50th Anniversary SVT amps
47:45 - David Hartley's Pedalboard
#rigrundown #thewarondrugs #adamgranduciel

[@premierguitar]

Full Rig Details: bit.ly/TWODRig Win Guitar Gear: bit.ly/GiveawaysPG Subscribe to PG's Channel: bit.ly/SubscribePGKZbin Don't Miss a Rundown: bit.ly/RIgRundownENL Merch & Magazines: shop.premierguitar.com

[@dominodd3879]

if the drugs they're fighting are guitar pedals, They've definitely lost.

[@mhoff7722]

Lol some trippy stuff going on but my dude you can’t use a couple or three Axe FX to take the place of a couple dozen pedals? Lol

[@igavehimadollar3354]

Hahaha I mean I have a similar issue that I’ve just kicked but that’s a shit tonne of pedals

[@soofitnsexy]

hahaaaa

[@endevourdaze]

Classic😂

[@jugglerj0e]

I love that Jazzmaster he plays. Beautiful!

[@thestuffmikedoes2309]

This is the best example of a Rig Rundown that a I absolutely love to watch, but an actual rig that I would never want to deal with.

[@willrobertsmith]

We had access to too much money, too much equipment and little by little we went insane.

[@alonsoboulevard]

My dream

[@ThePalindromeProject]

this is a goat'd coppola reference

[@BenCDaugherty]

He has all that and THEN shows us a kemper hiding behind the rig. The cherry on top

[@porchestra]

I’m a drummer who plays guitar when no one else is watching and this channel has been a great way in knowing how some of my favourite bands get their distinctive tones.

[@Apprentice_of_the_Leonine]

Ah, so you're another Charlie Benante from Anthrax? Yeah, he can play guitar pretty good too, in addition to his beastly drumming skills.

[@Steaminlidz]

Holy. The first War On Drugs one is one of my most rewatched Rig Rundowns ever…

[@DMSProduktions]

The war FAILED you know!

[@Dunkaroos248]

Adam is endlessly talented and I respect that he uses fender equipment

[@stealthisname]

The two flavors of fuzz housed in the JHS Bun Runner are the "Astro Mess Fuzz" [designed by the Switchfoot guitarist] and a modified germanium "Tonebender" circuit

[@DanBettridge]

There are some great little awkward silences in this 😅

[@Otis-Isom]

COMPLETE THE CIRCLE!!!

[@pb12661]

That pedalboard looks like the helm of the Starship Enterprise.

[@destroyerjazz]

Yesss thank you for doing another one of these with Adam🙌

[@nickhutchinson9068]

Adam basically is a touring guitar shop, love it

[@thegreatbeluga8224]

❤

[@sweetman714]

welp, just found what I'm going to be rewatching for the next 3 weeks.

[@Marcel-ul7sd]

I’d like to see a rig rundown with this guy and Nigel Tufnel together. Epic! 😁

[@rome8180]

This is one of my favorite Rig Rundown episodes. And I don't even really like War on Drugs as much as most people do. It helps that Chris is my favorite Rig Rundown interviewer.

[@THESESSIONROOM]

He's the best!💯

[@marksimons4108]

Who do you like more?

[@joshphillips9033]

Yup, v1 is a classic. Can't wait to see this one

[@Brian_Boru]

What an interesting musician. So good to hear these background details.

[@olivernoakes4483]

Love these videos so much, so relaxing to watch

[@Twod1980]

100%

[@jjll999]

Nice, been waiting on a new Drugs rundown! Thanks.

[@jesselp50]

One of my favorite bands

[@josephlara2339]

loooove this bass rig. what an excellent rundown

[@stevee_sunset]

I love this show. Thank you so much!

[@premierguitar]

Thank you too!

[@houdinibrains7785]

This guy has decided to try and get pretty much every guitar pedal. How does he sleep at night? Why does he torture himself? He has spent so much time thinking about this and applying it. Wow he’s a champ!

[@jimtroeltsch5998]

Seen this band live in Fredericton NB, they were amazing! I had never listened to them much before, but live it was an incredible sound. I really loved their set! Also, this guy has fantastic taste in pedals. The goatkeeper is amazing. I have a malekko goatkeeper, and its such qa fantastic trem pedal. Best one's I've used, though I wish it was stereo. Also, the reverse reverb on the hardwire is beautiful sounding, one of my favourites.

[@mergie]

Adam is THE tone master

[@SyntagmaStation]

He’s a little light on the pedals. Needs more.

[@Jeanphilopo]

Dave's tone is so warm, a bassist delight

[@GrahamsYouTube]

The first guitar pedalboard for a centipede :0)

[@cszollinger]

Shout-out to my favorite record store growing up, The Record Exchange in Boise! Nice to hear Adam mention it!

[@terrymiller111]

It goes up to a Boise 9!"--Nigel Tufnel (double joke)

[@BruceKnouseMusic]

NICE SHIRT Chris!!!! I picked up the same one a couple weeks ago😂

[@WillBrahm]

Adam is our man

[@ST-xg3gy]

I can't imagine lugging around that many pedals. Wow.

[@warrenbutterfield4208]

Actually That’s what the secretaries are for….

[@graxjpg]

@@warrenbutterfield4208 secretaries LOL

[@warrenbutterfield4208]

Finally….G-RAX A man with a true sense OF humor

[@warrenbutterfield4208]

With that cash…I’m an instant inveterate congenital PEDAL HOARDER….🎸🔥🍾 And so is y’all bishes and you knows it !!!

[@warrenbutterfield4208]

I got the secretaries. I need the PEDALGOGY

[@victorious2178]

Man I was just thinking the other day about how we need a new gear rundown on the war on drugs!!!!!!!! Awesome yo!!💪🏼💪🏼

[@warrenbutterfield4208]

I was thinking of a Place

[@psychic_records]

Awesome. I love seeing pro's who are just a nerdy about gear as I am.

[@misterknightowlandco]

I’m a recent fan and I’m stoked to see this…

[@M_U_S_T_A_R_D]

So glad they did an update since his rig changes so much! Really cool to finally hear about the reissue Jazzmaster since it’s really Adam’s main Jazzmaster live and the one that’s been used on most performances of under the pressure since late 2014. Great to see Dave’s rig too 🤘

[@travisthornton1792]

Thanks for your uploads, Mr. Mustard

[@Pthunderful]

One of the most loyal fans uplaodera

[@AnodyneHipsterInfluencer]

I dig all the gear. In my mind that's what a rock show is _supposed_ to be. A bunch of tube amps, racks full of outboard gear, big pedalboards, Rhodes, B3's, synths, electric pianos, specialized drum kits and a trio of background singers.

[@Meltedcheese567]

The problem is he doesn't touch half those pedals, and many of the pedals are completely extraneous.

[@DavySolaris]

@@Meltedcheese567 how is that a "problem"

[@WanderingCanadian1]

​@@Meltedcheese567 who cares

[@christianholzel560]

Thank you, Premier Guitar!

[@henryfuller69]

You guys should do the chili peppers while they're on tour

[@warrenbutterfield4208]

Don’t forget to include the socks, the boxers, and the asinine tattoos Red hot chili peppers: Frig rundown

[@Lupoexperience]

Chris is a great interviewer, although I also really enjoy listening to John Bohlinger do these rig rundowns. Love War on Drugs and Adam's sound, which reminds me of that pushed back in the mix feel reminiscent of the E Street band. Great one!

[@psychotogether5114]

Chris will ask the question your thinking but he'll name check the song and album for EVERY band.

[@KRayxKodessA]

whoa... check out that _absolute_ spacestation of a board

[@mortenbrandanger4276]

This all goes to Europe :) Love this guy. Looks totally out of control, but some of the best sound and lights I'v ever seen on any concert. Also he manages to use all that stuff without ever sounding over the top effect wise. Awesome!!!

[@Meltedcheese567]

Yeah because 80% of this setup is totally superfluous lol. If you watch live videos he never touches the vast majority of the effects.

[@Twod1980]

I love their music, they are great live but I could listen to Adam talk all day long ❤

[@Mark_Bayer]

This is awesome and insane

[@jeffdixon847]

I’m glad to see Adam simplified things by ditching the Leslie speaker. His roadies have so much less to cart around now. Whew!

[@Eric_K_Sr]

Adam has become one of my favorite singer/songwriter/guitar players!

[@rexhead]

nice to see Pic of Zevon in his vault

[@xdoctorblindx]

Loved the bass part!

[@DannyBrooks1]

Imagine one bad cable in that pedalboard and your screwed.

[@burnthisghost]

He’s just such a good dude

[@Jacob-ur3lh]

Goatkeeper pedal is awesome. Can make your bass sound like an arpeggiated synth

[@klekrfaqer2114]

Is that a 160 on the Swart? If so, it's remarkable they put a ribbon on stage! This reminds me how little credit cab mics get in rundowns; it would be really nice if you could spare a few words on this topic with bands who mic their cabs live (it matters a lot more than e.g. picks IMHO).

[@jeffpettit1]

beyerdynamic ftw

[@jasoncomstock7562]

He plays the riff of "Oceans of Darkness" at 0.44

[@Twod1980]

Thank u 🙏

[@Handyandy747]

Hey guys we’ve got a fly gig. I’m just packing up I’ll see you at the airport in two weeks!

[@wilburwokeii8298]

I love this

[@Burnt_Gerbil]

Damn, that’s a ton of pedals. I wonder how long that takes to set up every night! 😆

[@latontolog]

I'd have to imagine they don't dismantle the pedalboards between gigs :p

[@benmtz]

Now that is a big pedalboard!

[@electricalife]

My, what a nice surprise.

[@lespaulthomson3167]

Pedals are fun but God damn!! In a live setting I can only deal with a few pedals. I'd hate to be stuck in front of that space lauch command center all night.it would be like working.lol

[@brandongurganus7387]

I’m digging the redwing iron ranger boots!

[@michaelmassaro3483]

Automatic like since Adam mentioned the Eagles Super Bowl win. Go Birds! 🦅

[@guitarz]

And here I am fussing with 2 delays and reverbs and wondering what OD and fuzz to use. F it I’ll go with amp distortion and 1 delay

[@songOmatic]

MORE PLAYING PLEASE!!! LOL

[@conturf9973]

that pedal board looks slightly less complicated than the control panel of the space shuttle

[@LDN76]

Ah, very nice! The band that will never win!

[@loneguitarist13]

I believe the bunrunner is a tone bender circuit and the Astro mess fuzz designed by JHS

[@toadnewt62]

That's a rig and a half if ever I saw one. Can anybody make a guess what it would cost to assemble?

[@graxjpg]

About $30 an hour if it had to be me

[@babagadoush1]

Damn this dudes a gear head on another level

[@escommentss]

I certainly wouldn't want to be this guy's guitar tech... Holy moly!! Do those pedal boards pack up in some sort of modular fashion? Or are 8 out of 10 connections, hand patched, unpatched, cables wound up, unwound up, every show??

[@grape_salad]

I've seen a lot of bands w complicated rigs just pack entire boards up into road cases, so yeah kind of a modular fashion. They might unplug the leads going in and out of each board but the patche cables inbetween likely stay in place the whole tour.

[@blahblahfaghrii3061]

... Can you possibly do "John Frusciante" Rig Rundown next or sometime 🤟🚀

[@andreasf6671]

What's the name of the song Adam is playing in the beginning? Sounds great.

[@christianholzel560]

Ocean Of Darkness

[@robsthedon]

Time to go digital 😎

[@kipponi]

This is not pedalboard it is spaceship🤣. Now I know what I need, less. Because this interview helps to decide 👍.

[@meadish]

Yer a Wizard, Hadam.

[@ianmatthewdavis526]

Pretty sure the left side of the Bunrunner is the Devi Ever fuzz!

[@Halliday7895]

I didn't know he was so into the Dead. but i'm new to WOD kinda .

[@iwillnevergetone5]

Premier Guitar, would yall entertain the idea of adding keyboard sections to Rig Rundowns? I know it's not in the magazine's title, but all these awesome key rigs are sitting there teasing us like in this one & the Circles Around The Sun for example. or maybe some of these keyboard publications need to step their game up and get some in-depth keys rundowns for us who love both

[@premierguitar]

We got something cooking your band mates might be interested in… 🤔

[@iwillnevergetone5]

@@premierguitar i love it

[@nickp440]

The recent greta van fleet rundown was great for keys

[@francescoaiello3263]

Does anybody know for what are used the mics in front of the pedalboard (the low ones)?

[@christianholzel560]

I think one is an ambience mic and the other one is a spare vocal mic.

[@frankclarke3689]

I'm not going to survive this whole video. I know there is mad genius going on here but this has to be the most scattered rig rundown ever.

[@xdoctorblindx]

No one is forcing you to watch it.

[@christopherdavidson6717]

@@xdoctorblindx I'm guessing he turned it off at some point like me. This guy is as inspiring as a gnat.

[@lilnutty6821]

All the gear is nice, of course, but does anyone know what type/brand of boots adam is wearing?

[@tomrwills]

I think redwing iron ranger

[@JimmyTwoShoes94]

Red wing iron ranger

[@songscastillos]

Hora de tocarme mirando esto 💛

[@jarcidiacono1]

That rig gives me crazy anxiety

[@ark8001]

Is just the intro n' i'm already thankful that i'm not his guitartech... Holy Cow!!!

[@WanderingCanadian1]

You've never watch the Rig Rundown for The Edge. WoDs tech has it easy compared to Dallas Schoo

[@19581998]

“Just Say No”

[@jejealin]

espero que su música sea más divertida de lo que fue la entrevista poque si no.....

[@BoyAditya]

The guitar tech cries everyday 🤣

[@sefishalev1704]

How do you get asound with so much going on between the guitar and the amplifier

[@ileutur6863]

Because electrical signal flows through. I know, what a surprise

[@nickp440]

Good cables. Buffered bypass. All of those boss pedals are actually buffing his signal.

[@crackerbarn]

As much as I love WODs his pedal setup is not realistic for almost EVERYONE. Regular hogging guy could never pack that much shit. Just sayin.

[@tomhagelberg6651]

J.C plays Fender!

[@TCUK81]

Should we just assume the amps go to 11?

[@glassstooth]

20 minutes of pedals? GIMME.

[@JLCwakeboardingFL]

Got enough pedals?

[@morielchukrun5574]

one of the best bands out there. their music is a true work of art,

[@peterbaker3878]

Someone's got a pedal addiction... 😂😂😂

[@mattthrun-nowicki8641]

Alembics over Hiwatts?! Adam, are you fucking kidding?! No fucking way.

[@fiddlefolk]

When the pedal board shows up to the wrong gig!

[@soofitnsexy]

gotta enuff pedals there chief?

[@DisabilityExams]

Needs more pedals