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 Jonas (guitar) and Fredrik (bass) from the Band „Knivad“.
Who am I interviewing?
Jonas, guitars in Knivad
When you start guitar playing and do you remember your first guitar?
I started playing quite late, around 15 I think. I hung out with friends who had been at it for a few years and they provided the basics. At that time my brain was so full of influences that it was impossible not to sit with the guitar for hours just trying to get it right.
I think I had a white Stratocaster-looking model first, but saved up for a Epiphone SG pretty quick.
What are your influences and which guitar players are your faves?
Growing up it was the death/thrash/black metal scene from the early 90’s. Living in a small town in the north of Sweden cool music didn’t come easy. This was a great era of searching for music, buying records for money I barely had and just hoping it was going to be as awesome as the cover promised. Sometimes it was. Today I can’t really define my influences. I can get an idea by hearing something on the radio or I wake up with a tune or idea I must try to make into a song. 90% of it should have stayed in my head as annoying tinnitus.
How many guitars do you own and what are your favorite models?
The one I use for recording is a ESP LTD Sparrowhawk. Hidden in the dungeons is a Les Paul model and a few acoustic guitars. Among them a Levin that I got from my grandfather which I am very fond of.
What do you think makes the perfect guitar and amp?
As long as the cable is plugged in to the guitar I have never really been looking at where it’s leading. Luckily we have a drummer in the band that is a bit more concerned about the sound.
How do you feel about the question of modeler or tube amp?
I don’t have that much of an opinion about modeler or tube amps.
Which guitars and amps were used on the new album or for recordings?
ESP sparrowhawk. And someone responsibly made sure the other end of the cable was connected into a Jcm 800 through some distortion pedals I don’t remember. We recorded a total of four rhythm guitars for each song so there is also a mesa boogie dual rectifier in there. Not sure what was actually used later in the mix.
When you only can choose one guitar, which one will you take?
Would go for a Gibson SG because of nostalgia and it’s an absolute beauty.
Who am I interviewing?
My name is Fredrik and I am the bass player of Knivad.
When you start bass playing and do you remember your first bass?
I started playing in my early teens, in various punk bands. Were I grew up there were public practice spaces/band rooms, so my first bass was one that was available to borrow for band rehearsals.
What are your influences and which bass players are your favs?
I don’t have any.
How many basses do you own and what are your favorite models?
I don’t own a bass. For this recording I borrowed my brother’s Ibanez. We’re spread all over Sweden from north to the south, so due to logistics we never rehearse. When we have enough ideas to make an album or a few songs we meet up in a studio.
What do you think makes the perfect bass and amp?
For our first Knivad-recording we used Peavey 5150 guitar head through a bass amp, this is still my favorite sound.
Which basses and amps were used on the new album or for recordings?
We used an Ampeg stack that was in the studio.
When you only can choose one bass, which one will you take?
The one that’s in the room.
