Rig Rundown - Monster Magnet
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Published 2018-11-20
Article & photos: bit.ly/MonsterMagnetRR
PG’s Chris Kies visits Nashville’s Basement East to spend some quality time with Monster Magnet guitarist Phil Caivano who shows off the Gibsons, Marshalls, and custom dirtboxes he and cofounder Dave Wyndorf use to take flight.
This 2003 Gibson Les Paul Custom ’54 Oxblood reissue is Phil Caivano’s main squeeze. The band typically uses two tunings, and this is the first choice for songs that are tuned a half-step down. The original Burstbucker pickups became microphonic so he upgraded with a set of Wolfetone Marshallheads. This guitar uses either Ernie Ball .011–.048 strings or Dunlop .011–.050 strings.
Phil Caivano’s go-to 6-string for songs that require him to tune down to C standard is this 1970s “sandwich-bodied” Gibson Les Paul Standard. It still has the original ’bucker in the neck, but he swapped the bridge model for a DiMarzio PAF Pro. Since it’s tuned lower, and Phil likes to keep the guitars feeling similar, he goes with Dunlop .013–.060 strings to mimic the tension in the other guitars.
No one can accuse Monster Magnet cofounder and Space Lord No. 1, Dave Wyndorf, of being a gear snob as he uses this Epiphone SG Special as his favored live guitar.
Continue reading: bit.ly/MonsterMagnetRR
All Comments (21)
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More than 2 years later, this is still one of the best Rig Rundowns. Badass rock tone and Phil is the coolest, most affable dude.
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Phil has 6 pedals that all do about the same thing. I love it.
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Always blows my mind how humble these rock stars are when they start talking about what they love.
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I could listen to Phil talk gear all day. One of the best!
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Phil seems like literally one of the coolest dudes ever. Great gear and tone..
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Phil is such a cool dude!
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You guys never ask about the Guitar Straps they use. A lot of them are crafted by special makers. Straps are unique unto themselves.
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"Heavy riffin" "Easy spliffin"
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I love seeing musicians who are willing to let other people play/handle their gear. When Phil asked Chris to play the Les Paul he immediately became a super cool guy in my book
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I'm pretty lucky to be German, Monster Magnet play a lot live around here. I think I'll see them in Esch-sur-Alzette.
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I had the pleasure of watching Phil up close at 2 shows this year. I LOVE his playing !! Got to say hello to him in Baltimore after the show 3 weeks ago. I love being down front between him and Dave. Been Diggin` Monster Magnet since `95 and still Love `Em !
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It's very interesting to find out that his equipment was used in Monster Magnet before he was actually in the band
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"I don't know what this does 'cause I' brain dead"...stomps on pedal. Super Ninja classic tone going on. Awesome vid. Thanks!
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I had some pedals of mine modded and luckily I live near the people I wanted to work on them. The day I dropped them off I had to try so hard to not geek out when I realized Phil was the other guy hanging out at the shop, he and I walked around looking at all the cool stuff they had there. It was such an awesome day !!!
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Great Rig Rundown. Just saw them last month in Seattle and they absolutely crushed it. One of my favorite bands and just all around good dudes. Great interviewer as well, as it was obvious he's a big fan too.
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Les Paul + Marshall = \m/\m/
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Awesome. Great rundown. That's how it's done. Chris Kies is the man. Best interviewer
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I saw them in Sacramento at the aftershock festival a couple days before this rundown was uploaded and I must agree when they it was loud I was on Phil’s side of the stage and holy shit even during sound check all you heard and felt was their guitars
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Pure rock and roll tone. Always cool.
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Straight into that Marshall sounds so god damn good.
