This article series is about the tools of popular guitarists. What are their favorite guitars and how is it related to them? This time with Davey Langford (guitar), Hayden (guitar) and James (bass) from the band TURIN.
Who am I interviewing?
Davey Langfor, guitar player in TURIN
When you start guitar playing and do you remember your first guitar?
So I first started properly playing when I was 12/13. I remember it was Xmas and I rushed upstairs to unbox my new guitar/amp. It was a Yamaha ERG121 in a black finish, HSH combination, 3 way selector switch and a standard tremolo setup. After getting used to it for a few hours I went back downstairs to watch some films and James Cameron’s Terminator was on. I heard the main theme and got it so stuck in my head, I ran upstairs and learnt it by ear/memory. Think I did the Axel F theme from Beverly Hills Cop as well 😂.
What are your influences and which guitar players are your faves?
I’ve always been heavily influenced by film scores and composers. Some of my favourite composers are John Murphy (who scored 28 Days Later), Jerry Goldsmith (Alien), John Carpenter, Phillip Glass. A lot of my work on ‘The Unforgiving Reality In Nothing’ was inspired by these guys. Guitar wise I was a Vai fan really early on. His choice of melody, technique and emotion really gets me. I know some people can see him as being overly excessive, but there’s an underlying emotion that carries his work. If I can’t feel something in a song, I’m not going gel with it. Trent Reznor from Nine Inch Nails is a big inspiration. Although not being strictly a guitarist the way he writes songs as a whole really speaks to me. It’s not necessarily about the individual parts, it’s about the bigger picture. I’d also include Robin Finck in this too. He’s just got this approach to controlled chaos, always on the verge of something blowing up or kicking a hole through a speaker. Takes a lot of skill to reign in some of the feedback and effects to hit a specific note when everything sounds like it’s going to implode. Wes Hauch has been a big inspiration for me over the years since he was in The Faceless and now Alluvial. He’s the one guy who really made me step up and become a better player. He’s got that Dimebag meets Allan Holdsworth thing. Fucking devastating technique, insane precision, but still has a whole load of melody and feel. I could lose myself for hours just listening to that guy shred. Ian Jekelis from Aborted is also one of my favourites. He’s just a riff factory. I love how tight Aborted is as a unit but it’s the riffs. His note choices are top tier in death metal. Ian has the technique and mental solos but it’s how everything flows. A big inspiration whenever I need to write a big riff or something fucking ominous. Super underrated guitarist.
How many guitars do you own and what are your favorite models?
Currently I have 7 guitars. I’ve been an Ibanez guy for as long as I can remember. My main 2 live guitars are my Ibanez S920E and my RG550 in Desert Sun Yellow. The S920E is loaded with Bareknuckle Blackhawks, I’ve been a Bare Knuckle artist since about 2016, the best bunch of people and really care about their artists. I love the S series because it’s got the all access neck joint, 24frets, ZR trem (which I think they’ve discontinued – one of THE best innovations floating trem wise) and has a sleeker profile neck, it’s not a super wizard but it’s just got this feel that is comfortable for both chord work and soloing. It also weighs next to nothing so you can sling it around in relative comfort. I’ve also got a real soft spot for my Fender Telecaster. Yeah its not a typical “metal” guitar but the reduced frets, C profile neck and stripped back approach really pushes me to focus on what I’m playing. It’s my writing guitar. I’ve modded the living shit out of it with Graph Tech saddles/nut/string trees, Sperzel Locking Tuners, re sheilded the cavities (single coils scream a lot) added some Bareknuckle Brute Force’s in there. Looks vintage. Sounds savage.
What do you think makes the perfect guitar and amp?
Guitar wise I’d say it has to be balanced. I’ve played some absolute bricks over the years but having the right body density for good resonance and feeling like you’ve actually got something in your hands is really important. The neck for me has to be smooth and fast, I love an unfinished neck. It’s got to be flat enough so I can get a good low action but also be easy enough for chord work without feeling sticky. My Charvel SK1FR Desolation has a great neck, just unfinished but with gunstock oil. I’m a super strat guy. I just resonate with the shape, it’s classic but also fits in with multiple genres and wouldn’t look out of place. I think a mahogany body or maybe a swamp ash would be cool. Something that is dense enough to give the guitar a bit of bite unplugged/acoustically. Pickups wise I’m biased. I struggled with a lot of stock pickups in guitars. They’ve always been ‘safe’ and I never really felt they catered to what I was looking for. A dynamically expressive pickup is what I’d look for. It’s the reason I use Bare Knuckle Pickups. Clear note definition, clarity under high gain and able to pickup on my playing nuances when I’m easing off of going all in with the grind. Amp wise is a really good question. I guess I’d be looking for something that can handle a variety of genres. TURIN cover everything from Death Metal to Ambient Post Metal. It needs to be tight enough to avoid sounding muddy but also have good headroom and have that punch. The cleans are important too. They need to be warm enough to have depth but with that glassy sparkle. A good amp for me needs to work well with effects. I use the Walrus Audio ARP87 multi delay live alongside an old school Ibanez TS9 to tighten things up a notch. My go to live amp is the EVH5153 it covers all bases and I can midi control via the Boss ES5 smart switch.
How do you feel about the question of modeler or tube amp?
I’m good with both. I actually started off using Line 6 products throughout my career. I love how consistent they are. The ease of not having to tap dance to switch from a gain channel to an effected clean with lo fi delay, no noise gate, reverb/echo then back was a game changer. I think modellers now with the advent of brands like Neural have really stepped up the quality of what players can expect. We used the Quad Cortex during the pre-production and demoing process of ‘The Unforgiving Reality In Nothing’. It’s super intuitive in how to dial in a really good rhythm or lead tone and smash out some riffs with ease. I guess on the other hand I’ve moved from amp modelling to actual valve amps. I can see the convenience of using something like a Line 6 rack/floor unit travel wise and space. But there’s just something organic about having an amp behind you with a cranked head pushing air. I love how you can go crazy and abuse the amp, hit a delay and fight with a note until you get that sweet spot. It’s a fucking beautiful moment. Knowing when you smash that opening chord you can feel it, it’s a natural thing. Amp modellers can emulate that to a point but there’s that element of sterility that’s there.
Which guitars and amps were used on the new album or for recordings?
We used Ibanez guitars for almost all of the album. My S920E and Hayden’s Ibanez RGT6EXFX (both BKP Blackhawk loaded). I did use my Fender Telecaster for the cleans to add a different dynamic. I love layering different guitars as each has their own space to work in and experimenting with what might work/or any unexpected surprises is always a win. For the amps we actually used Neural to get a good basic tone for the album when we recorded the stems with Mike Bennett at Foxhound Studios. We always tend to gravitate toward the EVH5150/Peavey 6505 Block letter type tones. Tight, aggressive whilst being articulate. The sound has be pissed off but also dynamic enough so that every section can breathe a little. It’s a fine line to balance that out. When the album was sent to Lewis Johns at The Ranch Production House he worked more on the tones and refined what we were looking for. We went for a Peavey JSX head through a Mesa Boogie. The JSX is a little less dryer on the gain and paired with a classic Mesa it sounded massive.
When you only can choose one guitar, which one will you take?
Tough one. It’ll be my Telecaster. That thing could survive a nuclear bombardment.
Who am I interviewing?
Hi, this is Hayden.
When you start guitar playing and do you remember your first guitar?
I started playing when I was 15 or 16, using with my mum’s Yamaha acoustic, and spent a couple of years teaching myself before I finally got an Ibanez RG for my 18 birthday. I don’t remember the exact model, but it had a Floyd Rose, with really sharp saddles on the bridge, so I broke strings a lot. It ended up being pretty unreliable, so I stopped using it when I started playing shows.
What are your influences and which guitar players are your faves?
My original influence is Slash, I pretty much learnt how to play exclusively from the Guns n Roses catalogue, moving on toVai, Satriani, Malmsteen, all the typical shred stuff. When I started playing more metal, my main influences were SikTh, Animals as Leaders, and other guys like that, I really liked the more unusual approach to playing.
How many guitars do you own and what are your favorite models?
At the moment I really only have two guitars, and up until recently I only had one. I’ve used an Ibanex RGT6EXFX for more than a decade now, it’s an absolute workhorse, and has only failed me maybe once in all that time. About a month ago I got myself a Solar AB2.6 with an Evertune bridge, which is a game changer. It’s been amazing to play and record at home, and I can’t wait to start using it live. Not having to tune up mid set is a dream!
What do you think makes the perfect guitar and amp?
With amps, for me, versatility is a big thing. I like to be able to make any kind of sound I want without limitation so I’ve used amp modellers for years now, and recently upgraded to the Quad Cortex. It’s incredible in it’s capabilities, and I’m loving it so far. With guitars, I need it to be reliable more than anything, with a comfortable neck and a great sound. I use Bareknuckle pickups, which have an amazing sound, really responsive and clean.
How do you feel about the question of modeler or tube amp?
I don’t think it needs to be a fight! They both have their uses. Modellers are really useful to streamline a set up, whilst giving plenty of sound options. Tube amps always sound awesome, and are perfeWhen you only can choose one guitar, which one will you take?ct if they suit the style.
Which guitars and amps were used on the new album or for recordings?
I recorded all my parts with the workhorse Ibanez, which went through a Peavey JSX, and a Mesa cab.
When you only can choose one guitar, which one will you take?
It’s got to be the Solar. The combination of the Evertune, a really nice neck, and super low weight has made it my new first choice.
Who am I interviewing?
James (Bass)
When you start bass playing and do you remember your first bass?
I started playing when I was 14 or 15 years old, I managed to convince my Dad to that it wouldn’t be another phase and I’d stick to it by agreeing to have lessons as well. My first bass was a Cort P Bass with a sunburst finish, superb starter bass and I fell in love with the instrument straight away!!
What are your influences and which bass players are your favs?
My main influences over the years have been players like Flea (RHCP), Les Claypool, Ryan Martine (Mudvayne), Alex Webster (Cannibal Corpse), Danny Hauser (Veil of Maya), Nolly, Rex Brown, Marcus Miller and Victor Wooten. My favourite of all time has to be Victor Wooten, I’ve learnt so much about playing the bass from his interviews, how to guides and just watching him play in general, he had a huge impact on my appreciation for pushing my playing style
How many basses do you own and what are your favorite models?
At the moment I own 4 basses:
2 Dingwall NG2 five strings
1 MTD Super 5 Kingston
1 Sire Jazz V7
I love my Dingwalls but the MTD is an absolute beast, I had a few MTD Kingston models and they’ve all been amazing to play and tone wise have a huge range depending on what your trying to get out of them.
What do you think makes the perfect bass and amp?
I personally don’t like amps that colour a basses natural sound too much, you buy a bass for its sound and tonal options so why ruin it with an amp that changes it so much? I’m a huge Mark Bass fan, their cabs are incredible and the tech they use to create tiny light weight power heads is perfect for gigging – that’s something I think is a priority for me when looking at amps, light weight, powerful and doesn’t colour your natural bass sound too much.
Which basses and amps were used on the new album or for recordings?
For the album I used my Dingwall NG2 with Payson strings. We tune to drop B and I set my bass up with a lower G# so the Dingwall is very reliable with with those tunings when recording and it’s very comfy to play for long periods of time. For amps we used the Parallex plugin from Neural DSP for the recording then Lewis Johns did some extra spice when producing the tracks.
When you only can choose one bass, which one will you take?
If it’s out of my own collection then it’s the MTD super 5, monster sound and looks amazing!! It’s matte black with broad maple neck! If I’m choosing any bass then I would go for a Dingwall Z3, superb electronics and expertly built! This is my dream bass at the moment, one day I’ll put an order in for a custom Z3!
Photo credits are;
JWA Creations
Scott Moore Photography
Gaz Davies Media
The rest weren’t pro shot so no credits needed
