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 Gabe Mangold (Dead Icarus/ Enterprise Earth).
When you start guitar playing and do you remember your first guitar?
I started when I was 13 in a guitar lab in 8th grade. My first guitar was a really shitty Paul Stanley K-mart brand guitar. My first real guitar was an ESP LTD Kirk Hammet KH-202.
What are your influences and which guitar players are your faves?
There are always too many to name, but a few constant staples are Dimebag Darrell, Paul Gilbert, Alex Skolnick, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Marty Friedman, and Frederik Thordendal.
How many guitars do you own and what are your favorite models?
I have 6 total. I’m fortunate to work with Aristides Guitars which are also my favorite guitars on planet earth. I love my 070sr and 080s!
What do you think makes the perfect guitar and amp?
The perfect guitar and amp is what sounds the best in a given player’s hands for the application at hand. For me for metal, that’s usually one of Aristides and a 5150iii. For me for blues or rock, it’s gonna be my Suhr Modern through a JCM800.
How do you feel about the question of modeler or tube amp?
It totally depends on the player and application. Modelers have become so damn good and convenient these days that it’s almost impossible not to use them. I’ve only used my Quad Cortex for any tones in the studio since I got it in 2021. However, there will always be something special about a real amp pushing sound through a cabinet. There’s no algorithm with a real amp, it’s always different and authentic. All of that being said, my live setup is my Quad Cortex with the modeler sound going to FOH and with the signal also going to a power amp and cab on stage. Modelers are amazing, but I still wanna look and feel rock n roll.
Which guitars and amps were used on the new album or for recordings?
I used my Aristides 070sr for all of the rhythms and most of the leads. I have an old Strictly7 Cobra that I used for some of the leads where a floyd was needed. For amps, it was once again my Quad Cortex. Rhythms were a 5150iii EL34 Red Channel with a Fortin 33 boost in front and going into an Orange 412. Leads were a 6505, Cleans were a Fender Twin.
When you only can choose one guitar, which one will you take?
My acoustic! I love metal and electric guitars but my desert island rig will always be my acoustic 6 string.
Photo credits: The first 4 are Rickelle Tavares. Last one is James Jardee
