This article series is about the tools of popular guitarists or bassists.. What are their favorite guitars or basses and how is it related to them? This time with the band Project 86 (Darren Kyle King / guitar & Cody Driggers / bass).
all pics credit@kurtlunsfordphoto
Who am I interviewing?
My name is Darren Kyle King. I am an American producer, engineer, songwriter, and guitarist for the band Project 86/P86:OMNI.
When Did you start playing guitar and do you remember your first guitar?
I started playing bass when I was twelve. My brother was playing guitar, and my cousin was playing drums. I only started with bass so we could all play together. This was just outside Fayetteville, Arkansas, where I was born and raised. I was about seventeen years old, and to be honest, when I started guitar was Mexican Fender Telecaster. I switched to guitar because the first band I played in (called The Overseer) asked me to play. I didn’t know how to play AT ALL. In fact, it’s insane that they asked me to. So, I put in the time and energy to learn the craft so I could play in the band.
What are your influences and which guitar players are your faves?
These are in no particular order. I’d have to start with Jimmy Page. I consider him to be the godfather of rock n’ roll. Obviously there were guys before him, but as far as heavy music we know today, it all spawns from him. Then, I’d have to mention Dave Grohl. I love Dave, because he almost treats guitar parts like a drum kit. He layers parts like a kick, snare, high hat, etc. He doesn’t have a guitar brain, and therefore the things that he writes are very unique, and lock in very well the band. Next, Johnny Greenwood from Radiohead. He just makes sounds that I didn’t think a guitar could make. He really expanded my perception of the capabilities of the instrument. You will never hear him just play a classic blues scale…he is very unique and approaches writing differently than anyone. I would say he write guitar parts from an orchestral standpoint.
How many guitars do you own and what are your favorite models?
Man. Because I produce I own quite a few. Currently I own nineteen. I am a classic Fender/Gibson guy at heart. The Tele and the Gibson 335 are my go-tos, for sure. They are super versatile, and you can do almost anything with them.
What do you think makes the perfect guitar and amp?
Wood and electronics. HA. Seriously, though, I think of guitar amps like tools. Just as you would use different tools for different jobs, you need different sounds for different types of songs, genres, and artists. The song will dictate what tool is needed, usually. I say all this, knowing I am justifying a reason to own so many amps and pieces of gear, haha!
How do you feel about the question of modeler vs. tube amp?
It depends on the situation and job! In the studio, I use an amp in most situations, because I feel like you can be more creative with them. Obviously, we are talking about tools again. If you are flying to a show or playing extremely down-tuned metal, having a modeler is absolutely necessary. I’m old enough to have grown up playing amps, so I definitely appreciate them, while recognizing the need for newer technologies for certain contexts.
Which guitars and amps were used on the new album or for recordings?
So, so many, and it’s really all over the place. We made 23 songs and they go a lot of directions and many people touched them along the way. We had a big production team, so there was a ton of different sounds. Fender Telecaster Baritone and PRS Baritone was used for a good chunk of material. As far as amps go, we used Peavy 5150 for the really heavy tones. For cleaner parts I used a Fender Bassman and a Dr. Z Maz 18. And for overdriven (medium drive) parts I used a Marshall JMP.
When you only can choose one guitar, which one will you take?
The band owns a 1994 black Les Paul Classic that is always my go-to. The headstock has broken more times than I can count, but it just keeps kicking. My Gibson 335 is amazing, but it is massive and I hate lugging it through airports. If I was smart I would always play the Gibson SG I own because it’s lighter and easier to deal with, but I’m not smart…I make music for a living!
Who am I interviewing?
My name is Cody Driggers and I play bass for Project 86/P86:OMNI. I am originally from Arkansas and now live in Nashville.
When did you start bass playing and do you remember your first bass?
I started playing bass when I was about 16. Before that, I played drums in a couple local bands, plus a little bit of guitar at home. I started playing bass because my friends started a new band and they needed a bass player. It ended up being a great thing, because I fell in love with the instrument. Through that first experience as a bass player, I learned you could play drums with notes on a bass. So, I approached the instrument like a drummer, which really worked for me. It is my sweet spot…rhythm. My first bass was an Ibanez. It was very cheap and GREEN. My grandpa bought it at a garage sale. That was the one I used to learn the instrument. The first bass I actually bought was an Ernie Ball Stingray…black with a white pick guard. I played that one for a year until I discovered the Fender P-Bass, at which I never picked up an Ernie Ball Stingray again! No shade to Ernie, but it just wasn’t for me (I do love his strings, though!).
What are your influences and which bass players are your favs?
Man, I just never have great answers to this question. I’m not a bass player nerd and I don’t have bass player heroes…I just do what I do and it happens to be on a bass, if that makes sense. I will say I do respect Nate Mendel from Foo Fighters and Sunny Day Real Estate, because he balances the rhythmic and the melodic. I guess that would describe how I play. I don’t really fixate on bass players at all or have heroes, I just kind of do my thing!
How many basses do you own and what are your favorite models?
I own five, at the moment. My favorite is the Fender P-bass. I own three of them. They are a Swiss Army knife, as in very versatile. My 2009 American white is my go-to. I also have a Peavy T-40, and a 1975 Gibson grabber (which is the bass I use in the Project 86 “Pariah” Video). I have been grabbing my Grabber (ha) more as of late, because it sounds and looks really cool, plus it has a very unique tone. It has a lot of midrange growl, especially if you play with a pick. The Grabber has a more specific type of tone and it’s less versatile than the P-Bass, but when it works, it really works well.
What do you think makes the perfect bass and amp?
Traditionally, my sound has come from a Fender P-Bass, with an Ampeg SVT Classic head, and a SansAmp pedal. For rock, you can make that setup work for wherever you need, and it will always sound cool.
Which basses and amps were used on the new album or for recordings?
Fender P and Fender Jazz Bass (American). Ampeg V-4B amp. Darkglass B7K Ultra pedal for the dirt.
When you only can choose one bass, which one will you take?
Well, it would have to be the P-bass because of the versatility!
