Rig Rundown - Social Distortion's Mike Ness & Jonny Wickersham [2015]
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Article and photos: bit.ly/SocialDistortionRR
Frontman Mike Ness’ longtime #1 is a 1976 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe that was modded with custom-wound Seymour Duncan Antiquity P-90s. Ness got the idea of swapping in P-90s when he opened for Neil Young and was blown away by his raw, powerful tone throughout the Ragged Glory tour. He prefers ’70s Deluxes because they’re more affordable than older, holy grail Les Pauls and he gravitates towards mid-decade models-’75-’76- because they shifted from all mahogany models to a mahogany-body-maple-cap-and-neck construction. He feels the added maple brightens up the overall tone of the guitar, which meshes well with his heavy use of a capo on the second fret. All of his guitars use custom-wound Seymour Duncan Antiquity P-90s, Ernie Ball 2215 Skinny Top/Heavy Bottom strings, and he prefers .88 mm Dunlop Nylon picks.
Ness’ main amp-stage or studio-is a 1967 Fender Bassman modded by Divided by 13’s Fred Taccone. Ness on his modded Bassman: “I don’t exactly know what he does to my amps, but I know that I look for a hotter, more overdriven tone at a lower volume. To get a great, rockin’ tone with most older amps, you need to push the amp and its power tubes. I was just looking for a way to heat ’em up at a lower volume so I wasn’t blown off the stage.”
Guitarist Jonny Wickersham can’t decide so he currently has two #1 guitars-this is one is a 1957 Gibson Les Paul Junior tuned down a half step with a capo on the second fret. All of his guitars are loaded with Ernie Ball 2215 Skinny Top/Heavy Bottom strings and he prefers to play with .92 mm Dunlop Tortex picks.
To continue learning about Social D's gear, visit: bit.ly/SocialDistortionRR
Пікірлер: 426
Haha I love how Mike won't give up his secrets and talks about all the toys and props instead.
I love the way Mike takes him away from the guitars and amps and shows him the props...
@davidallen346
4 жыл бұрын
Very odd moment for the interview guy
Me and my friends had the pleasure of having a 20 minute or so conversation with Johnny outside a show at warehouse here in Houston with Chuck Ragan and The White Buffalo. He was definitely one of the most down to earth guys I have met.
@imvandenh
4 жыл бұрын
I've also met Jonny 2Bags. He is what I like to call 70s cool. Great guy
@coreylebleu
3 жыл бұрын
Met him when he was playing with Youth Brigade in New Orleans in like ‘96. They snuck all of us underage kids into the show.
Jonny: "Let me show you all 30 of my guitars, explain their backstory, and tell you specifically which riff I play on each one." Mike: "I like Les Pauls. Here's one. I also like toys. Look at this truck!"
That green/black Gretsch was beautiful
@dvdpz89
5 жыл бұрын
Cadallac Green
@TokyoBlue587
4 жыл бұрын
Gretsches are sweet guitars
Mike lived every one of his songs 10 times. Great band Social D.
@6nosis
4 жыл бұрын
AMEN
@michaelr.4878
3 жыл бұрын
..and he has been essentially playing the same song for 40 years. Hey Mike, we need a new song....his response, 'Slide the capo up a fret'. SD formula,...use the same chord progression throughout the entire song..palm mute the verses and let the chords ring in chorus. Just change the key and the vocal melody so that the songs don't all sound the same.
@pimtool9351
2 жыл бұрын
ONE OF THE GREATEST
@tassobear
2 жыл бұрын
@@pimtool9351 yes for sure. As a matter of fact, they are playing in Vienna Austria in a few days! Well....
@tassobear
2 жыл бұрын
@@pimtool9351 for sure! As a matter of fact, they are going to play here in Vienna Austria on 2.of June. Its an Open Air! I'm here this June so I'll be there! lol
Johnny has the best rig of any in this series. A true punk rock guitar player with the Juniors
LOVE Mike, he'd rather talk about his toys than his guitars/amp setup. Classy guy, and a true collector!
Mike Ness is the most under appreciated rocker in history.
@lewistunbridgemusic6884
11 ай бұрын
Aint that the truth
Really smart guys. Most people dismiss these "punk rockers" as playing dumb, unintelligent music...but Jonny and Mike are clearly completely in touch with gear and tone. I love seeing how in touch musicians are with gear and the intricacies of the stuff they use. Love it or hate it, just shows what they do is with purpose, and they know what they are doing.
@DSilvergun
9 жыл бұрын
+sullimd Jonny isn't real Social D. He's a replacement player.
@sullimd
9 жыл бұрын
+DcsOrCity I know man. Doesn't change anything.
@benjamynfoxcroft5205
9 жыл бұрын
+DcsOrCity A replacement player? if he was a replacement he wouldn't be in the band 15 years on, unfortunately yes.. Dennis passed away, but every other band member has come and gone in and out of the band every couple of years, Jonny has contributed to the sound of the band massively, please don't say things like he isn't real Social D, cause he's brought a massive amount to the band and wrote a lot of material for them.
@DSilvergun
9 жыл бұрын
+Benjamyn Foxcroft didn't realize he'd been on with them that long. That said, their best songs were recorded long before he joined the band.
@imvandenh
5 жыл бұрын
@@DSilvergun Yes, he has been with them that long. As to the best SD tunes coming before 2 Bags joined the group, that is debatable. Personally, I think Sex, Love, and Rock n Roll has more great songs than any other SD record. At least half that record are played at shows almost every night. Last 4 times I've seen them they didn't even play Story of My Life, the one people who aren't even fans love.
Premier guitar should def have this interviewer do more of these rig rundowns
Mike talked about one guitar out of the many in his boat, mentioned an amp he didn't say too much about, and showed peddles he wouldn't really talk about. His choice, of course, and Chris handled it like a pro. That could have become awkward but Chris made jokes and kept it moving. A real pro.
@Hey-Its-Dingo
6 жыл бұрын
Based on the comments, Mike just didn't have much to mention because his stuff was almost exactly the same as the last Rig Rundown these guys did with them in 2010.
Mike Ness did a "Pursuit of Tone" interview where he goes into detail on his guitars, amps, etc
@JD-rq5jf
4 жыл бұрын
He’s also done a rig rundown before with Chris Kies. Not in this setting, they were on their bus. But still.
please do a bad religion rig run down
Mikes got very unique tone. P90 through hopped up Bassman. Love his sound!
@pimtool9351
2 жыл бұрын
PURE ROCK N ROLL
I saw Social D this past September in Denver. When my buddy and I walked out of there, the first thing I said to him was I couldn't believe how incredible Ness' tone was.
@mothygryphon9111
3 жыл бұрын
Oh yeah. He is massively underrated for his tone. The opening riff on Crown of Thorns from White Light, White Heat, White Trash is so freaking lush. I back it up every time I hear it.
Jonny, my good Ol buddy, nice to see your Gits. You taught me that Bad Religion song in 9th grade, still remember it. Keep on truckin my friend!
I wonder if Mike Ness talks like that to make us feel like we’re on all the drugs he’s done in his life. *side note- huge fan of Mike Ness
Could the Ness part have been any more awkward?
@revolutionday1
9 жыл бұрын
+SEANxOCONNOR Psssst- ..........................."heroin".
@bobbyberetta4206
9 жыл бұрын
+revolutionday1 you think Rick?
@ariefaundes
8 жыл бұрын
+SEANxOCONNOR what a dick! If you don't want to give the tour, send your tech... otherwise, be nice!
@GIRTHBROOKSmusic
8 жыл бұрын
+YodatheHobbit Thats why mike is a good musician. He prolly didn't care to learn proper social behavior. I can tell you the better at socializing I get, the worse at music I get. The worse at socializing I get, the better at music I get.
@steveveramontes6011
8 жыл бұрын
+SEANxOCONNOR I was thinking more "pretentious douchebag".
Even if Mike gave up his secrets no one will ever be Social Distortion.
@mraycgz
4 жыл бұрын
Dark Matter I have pretty much compiled every piece of gear he uses here. And tune accordingly. Yeah, I can get a tone that’s similar to his and I love it, but the only person with Mike’s hands is Mike. Edit I have a clone of his centaur pedal because they’re around $3,000 for an original and a soul food pedal is comparable and only about $80 shipped.
@Mr.Steve-O
2 жыл бұрын
@@mraycgz Soul Food and The Archer are the 2 best clones of the Klon you will find out there
Oh man,what a great rig rundown. Jonny is articulate and provides great, useful information. Mike, OTOH, is a great example of someone who is just about the perfect spokesman for all things worldly. Did he know what planet he was on?
Jonny's Archer pedal is awesome, love mine. Beyond his dedication, fantastic music and sound, love Mike's esthetic and laid back attitude.
Mike Ness is fine. Everyone is so quick to say he’s high. He’s not; he’s just bored with this interview. He was probably just tired from the show the night before and it’s the interviewer who’s so awkward… like he’s super intimidated (“thanks for not killing me”? WTF? ) and doesn’t know how to just have a conversation with Mike. John Bohlinger is SO much better at being a conversationalist and making the guests comfortable, while still getting them to talk about their gear. Leave Mike Ness alone… he’s cooler than all of us combined.
Chris is the best host I have seen yet to do a rundown. He has a really comfortable and natural way of communicating with the members. It made for a very smooth and interesting interview. Looking forward to more from him.
@donaldtrump9712
7 жыл бұрын
He sucks, he doesn't let them speak without interrupting them and cutting them off with another question before they're finished
@SRNF
6 жыл бұрын
"ok" .... "yup".... "ok... "Uh huh" .... "ok" - Chris interview style
Jonny’s green Gretsch is gorgeous!
There's a great video of a Guitar Center Live where he's using that red 59 Junior on Mommy's Little Monster which was made in 2011. It is much cleaner in the video than it is now in 2019. I love seeing shit like that. Shows how much that guitar get's played.
"One can't give up all his secrets" aka "I don't fkn know bro"
@metalabsynth
4 жыл бұрын
He knows, he doesn’t want his tone copied
@juanc1328
4 жыл бұрын
I don’t why he wants to keep his tone secret. He should be honor that others want his tone. Does Steve Vai get mad about others wanting his tone!
@JD-oe5uc
4 жыл бұрын
@@juanc1328 people are very lazy. Why just give away everything? People should go through the process of finding their tone themselves....not just copy a great tone.
@cardbored_
3 жыл бұрын
@@JD-oe5uc agreed. The process is part of the fun and the journey of discovering your sound as a guitarist. The KZread generation has made people lazy. They think they can just pay their way.
@Ironworthstriking
3 жыл бұрын
@@metalabsynth The thing is he didn't even listen to the question. He just asked what the sonic difference was after the mod, as in "It had more mids" or "it sounded louder and more open". He didn't ask what the mod was.
mike ness played in Slc , utah at the tower theatre and I was helping the promoter and I got to meet him , he was very nice ! made me love social d even more ! great great band
Man never knew mike was such a small dude, guess dynamite does come in small packages
@jamesgrossnickle8040
3 жыл бұрын
MFKRS KNOW..YOU DONT MESS WITH MIKE..unless you are just TRYING to get your ass kicked!
YES!!! Thank you for this one!!
It's crazy to think that Social D has been a band for almost 40 years
I was at this show. These guys are made for the Ryman. Outstanding show.
I found social distortion late but I'm a huge fan .they have great taste in guitar too
I own a 67 bassman amp... They sound great cranked, but they are too loud. The general gist of the mod is a "Master Volume" add on... to bleed off the volume and allow it to distort without killing you. Similarly a power brake device could be employed.
mike ness has really fancy looking guitars. and I love them. the stickers and stuff he puts on them are badass.
Awesome !!! My favorite Band
mike ness is such a legend
It was a cool tour. I caught some shows. I like SxDx from way back in the early 80s
Really enjoyed how Johnny showed his gear like grandma sharing and teaching you the spice cabinet for a good stew. I even liked Mike's better. Direct simple to a very sweet point. Key notes like moms cookies, just a few things needed,get her done haha and kaboom mmmmmmm sweetness. Just my take. 🐢
a lot of critical remarks re Mike- did ya consider he might just be tired + conserving his energy for the show... dude is mellow. has seen it all and is just going through the motions here.
Mike has been unhappy for a long time, and although I get the feeling he just wasn’t feeling the interview. Mike is just a troubled dude but still puts on a great show. The last two SD albums have been a really fun and enjoyable listen.
hahaha totally thrown by mike ness!! I'd love to see J mascis and mike ness interview each other =,^)
@willwolfinger2770
5 жыл бұрын
Josh Porter-Taylor a lot of awkward staring. Pointing at something, nodding, never saying anything.
these guys are rad!!
"Just wanna hold it, look at it all night." Haha, right on, Jonny! 7:38
nice collection - dude seems pretty cool !
Chris is lookin sharp with the beard!
@revolutionday1
9 жыл бұрын
+headwhop26 He keeps picking at it.....
@premierguitar
9 жыл бұрын
+revolutionday1 He hides his boogers in there...
@robertsparling917
8 жыл бұрын
+Premier Guitar Ew! That is disgusting!
back in the 80s a big kick cheeks was reading flipside and Maximum Rock'n'Roll look at all the vintage gear bands were using... SD gatefold lp showing all these guitars and the iconic sg
Listening to Johnny talk reminds me of Travis Barker
Johnny rules! Honored to call him my friend!
Was hoping to get the lowdown on Brents bass gear. But then again I am a bassist so... Yeah. At least we got to see the 63 hanging on the cab there.
@firemarshal2629
6 жыл бұрын
Johnny Flores LOL I know right! But it looked like an Ampeg SVT with a P bass, pretty much the punk standard.
Mike loves his P-90's. 😊
I think Mike Ness spent more time showing his props than his guitar stuff. Awkward as hell, but humans are awkward.
I met the lead singer from Agnostic Front and didn't even realize who it was a first because I hadn't kept up with that band much since high school but later there he was on stage and I can say that guy spoke to me first before the show outside and seemed very laid back and humble God bless 🎸🙏🏻😇
@michaelgraham9774
4 жыл бұрын
My dad installed cable for Agnostic Front at a house they were all living at in the 80s. Said they were all super cool.
Haha... That was funny... Here is my guitars, amps & pedal... Thank you goodnight!!!
Jonny is right, never knew what all the fuss was about until I got the chance to try a Klon pedal. Round and Fat is the way I describe the tone.
the echopark johnny signature guitar is so killer....I want one....
Mike's tone is something I've gotten close to but never found completely. It's as if he has lots of bass but it doesn't take away from the sustain and twang of the treble. Maybe its just his use of mostly or all vi rage gear.
I love it when the interviewer just steam rolls and talks over the person they're interviewing. Question Answer -Follow on Next question!
Hi my name is Jonny Hafer I own Sound Sounds Fuzz Filters. The pedal that mike is using is a klon klone, I believe its the silver hawk, I actually built him 3 or 4 klons mixed with other pedals, when I built them they were aion boards. I got the job as I was building and designing Aj Peat pedals. Jim of aj peat is really good friends with mike and also builds him guitars. I specialize in germanium fuzz so when they asked me about doing klons paired with another circuit I used the aion boards as they were the nicest available at the time. for what ever reasons he diecided to go with the silver hawk. the ones I built him were weird pairs but its what he wanted, the coolest was probably the klon paired with his trusty boss over drive. Any ways the unlabeled pedal is a silver hawk klon klone for those who wanted to know.
@tiodjati6894
7 жыл бұрын
thank you
@antthomas7916
6 жыл бұрын
Do you still make them?
Jonny seems like the chillest dude ever
Love that Chip Hanna shoutout.
Mike cut it short because you can tell he was annoyed with the guy in the first 30 seconds. He talked like he knew Mike better than Mike knows himself. His comments were off.
Johnny is AWESOME 😎 🎸 🤘🏻
Chris' awesome value has just raised with that beard of his.
You guys should do The Killers sometime!
O is for olive lawn! and thrasher skate pics from the wayback, and of course fluf.
Thanks:-)
19:58 i'd like to know what he thinks about the potato in charge now .Anyone with half a brain should rethink anything they once believed.
I wish i knew theee guys, would love to just hang out, chill and play guitar
Neil Young has a firebird pickup in the bridge of old black
jesus christ man stop cutting him off and talking over him xD
I actually sat next to Mike on an airplane from Vegas to OC a few years ago, the day after seeing them at HOB, and believe me, it didn't go well .... (it was my fault, i was still up from the night before and needed to shut up)
@Trh1
2 жыл бұрын
Five years later, and were still waiting for the details
When I see old videos of social D, Dennis D would use maybe 2 guitars in shows. So everyone is different I would guess Dennis had a lighter touch or maybe just a preference.
Seriously!? Mike's rig isn't a compete mystery. Plug a P90 Les Paul into a modded 66 Bassman (Billy Zoom did his earlier mods) and plug it into a Marshall 4x10 (not 4x12) cabinet. Throw a mild distortion box (tube screamer would do) into the mix and you have the Secret Sound. To be honest, the heart of the sound is from the amp. I have a 66 Bassman and had the power section moded to another famous Fender amp . But Mike's Bassman has been converted to one channel (think Marshall) design. The amp is really the secret weapon. However, I'm sure the design isn't far from the Bassman/Marshall territory.
@tysonrinker5958
5 жыл бұрын
That was a klon pedal he had
@kcewing1
2 жыл бұрын
Yeah and you're the mommy's basement genius. Another legend in your own mind. But of course, "you're sure"..."Blazer A**hat"...
@kcewing1
2 жыл бұрын
And yeah, it's five years later and I'm still not listening to you not playing...
I was wondering what kind of speaker Mike was using in his cabs?
To think, that there’s been rockstars that would destroy their guitars on stage for a flashy stage show. And here Johnny shows his love for guitars. FU to all the bands that destroys guitars on stage.
He might as well say his secret pedal is a Klon Centaur. Not like anyone can easily obtain an original anyways.
I second a Bad Religion RR! And Pennywise please!
"He brought his god damned toys."
Just caught them at HOB 091418 Greatness
I think O is from Fluff right?
Jonny is so cool
Obviously an original Klon Centaur. I should know - Ive had the identical box since '97. Always loved Mike Ness's playing and tone.
@f.l.6049
4 жыл бұрын
Drew Townson arc effects Klone. NOT the original.
His main LP looks hella cool, though!
bad religion please!!!
I know what that pedal is straight away, I don't know why he went to the trouble to tell the truth! I bet he said that amp thing was a secret because he didn't entirely know himself..
@robertallenpiehl
9 жыл бұрын
What kind of pedal was that?
@shoominati23
9 жыл бұрын
A Klon of course
@AnchovyRun
8 жыл бұрын
+shoominati23 Looks like an Arc Effects Klone to be precise
@VHT418
7 жыл бұрын
Nah..definitely a Boss Metal zone. Rookie mistake.
"ok" .... "yup".... "ok... "Uh huh" .... "ok" - Chris interview style
The guy doing the interview won’t stop talking!
Added a gain stage and knob, most likely because they suck stock.
I would have liked to hear why he's not using the Orange county goldtop. I saw them on this tour and he only used the new "Gent" LPs.
@skylerspringsteen5730
8 жыл бұрын
Probably retired it
@watchdog4353
7 жыл бұрын
Robert Rawlins He just used it at Riot Fest on September 17th
I love there style there stage looks like my living room..old toys masonic paraphilia and creepy stuff mixed in
Mike you know Ness
What was Mikes mistery pedal, still can’t tell what it is
that's rite mike keep your secrets. don't blame you one bit.
wish they'd played some of their gear...
Mikes a ruler
i had a mint 56 with case and amp. 200 bucks. 87. i could and do kick myself a lot over that one. heard the 57s sound amazing.
Jonny is a cool dude. Archer for the win!
Ness sounds strung out
I have a les paul special and nothing touches punk rock like a p90