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 LÜT (Mads Ystmark -guitar & Marius James Platt – bass)
Who am I interviewing?
My name is Mads, a northern norwegian rock and roller that is currently following the dream with his three best friends playing in LÜT!
When you start guitar playing and do you remember your first guitar?
I started playing in 2007 in 5th grade with a Washburn X series! (stratocaster-ish body in pearl blue with the guitar down on the knees after a couple of years.)
What are your influences and which guitar players are your faves?
My biggest influences is Angus Young and Billy Joe Armstrong. So iconic.
How many guitars do you own and what are your favorite models?
I own 6 guitars at the moment, but have probably owned 30+ over the years. My all time favorite is the Fender Jazzmaster TVL Model and Tokai Loverock Les Paul Junior Double Cut
What do you think makes the perfect guitar and amp?
Just that they are versatile and can play really loud – while sound good live which is most important for me!
How do you feel about the question of modeler or tube amp?
Tube is life, life is good!
Which guitars and amps were used on the new album or for recordings?
I mainly played a Greco Les Paul Custom, Ibanez Les Paul Custom, Fender Telecaster, Fender Jazzmaster TVL, Greco ES345 and Fender Stratocaster. We experiment a lot with different sounds and guitars in the studio. For amps we used a Roland jazz-chorus, Orange OR50, Vox AC30 CC2, Fender Super-reverb and a Marshall Lead100.
When you only can choose one guitar, which one will you take?
The mighty Fender Jazzmaster! My guitar companion in LÜT swears to a Fender Telecaster, so Fender, if you are reading this: No need to sponsor us, we already have all of your gear!
Who am I interviewing?
Marius the bassist in LÜT! The drummer, destined to play bass instead!
When you start bass playing and do you remember your first bass?
I started playing bass in 8th grade when joining the band that eventually became LÜT. Believe I was 13 years of age at the time, but I came from a background of playing drums and guitar to all of Metallica’s songs growing up. I started out with a cheap Squier Precision bass in black and white. An amazing starter for me. Thanks mom and dad!
What are your influences and which bass players are your favs?
I can mention Michael Shuman in QOTSA as the favorite bass player, but for me – Metallica is THE alone on an island band haha.
How many basses do you own and what are your favorite models?
I actually just own 2 basses, one is the trustworthy Fender Jazz bass that goes with us on tour and studio. The other one is the same precision bass I started with. It actually got stolen after a show in 2015 or 2016, and then I got a hunch on a bass advertised in the same town 7 years later with a paint job, removed serial numbers and exact same spec and feeling with a shady dude selling it. I know in my heart it’s the ONE! But pretty cooked I actually paid him money to get my bass back ahhaha!
What do you think makes the perfect bass and amp?
Frankly I love my setup – Fender and Orange in sweet harmony. If I were to change something I would go with Ampeg SVT for top. Nothing beats a classic. Recently I have changed my cabinets to Ampeg, because I think they sound very cool with the terror amp.
Which basses and amps were used on the new album or for recordings?
The same setup we go on tour with combined with a small guitar amp for the overdrive stuff. As my fotball coach used to say: KISS – “Keep it simple stupid”
When you only can choose one bass, which one will you take?
This question is clearly made for a bassist with more than one really good bass haha! So the answer is as always: Fender Jazz bass!
