Mick Thomson reminisced about the gear he used during the recording of Slipknot’s debut album, highlighting the value of affordable second-hand Ibanez RG 550s and 560s he used in early live performances.
Thomson, along with his bandmates, made heavy metal history with the 1999 release of Slipknot’s self-titled debut album. Despite his influential riffs, the guitarist admitted in a recent interview with Guitar World that, 25 years later, he feels his sound on that album wasn’t exactly top-notch. Nevertheless, he remains proud of his contributions to the groundbreaking LP.
When discussing his recording approach, Thomson shared, “It was funny because I get in there and Ross [Robinson, producer] has a Marshall, I think it was a [JCM]800, that was on the Sepultura record [‘Roots’], and I’m thinking, ‘Monster tone.’ But I plugged in and it just didn’t feel like I wanted it to feel. So I ended up using my Rocktron Piranha [preamp].”
He continued, detailing his setup: “My Rocktron Piranha with a dbx 31-band graphic EQ in the effects loop, into a [Mesa] Boogie 295 [power amplifier], into my Carvin cabinet with the 100-watt Eminence-made Carvin speakers that sound so goddamn good.” He admitted, “It’s not a great guitar tone. It’s whatever. But it was mine. It was what I had at the time. It felt right. Would I love to go back and change it? Sure. But it was what it was. It’s very organic and raw and sh*tty. [Laughs]”
Regarding his “main” guitar, Thomson explained, “My Jackson King V. Three-piece Eastern hard rock maple body, with swamp ash sides. Ebony ‘board. EMG 81s. And I fixed the bridge. I put a screw in it, and then I let the sustain block just pull into that when you pull the string. So it had better sustain and was a little bit bigger-sounding than stock.”
Despite his fondness for the Jackson, he chose not to use it during live performances for fear of damage during Slipknot’s chaotic shows. Instead, he opted for a more affordable Ibanez model, which he still regards as a fantastic deal. “I wasn’t playing that guitar live because it was a Custom Shop order and it took me a year to get it, and years of payments on a loan just to buy it. I didn’t want to get it hurt. So I started playing Ibanez [RG] 550s and 560s because I could pick ‘em up at pawn shops for 150 bucks,” he revealed.
He added, “I’d get one of those, put EMGs in it, do a fret job and set it up, shim the bridge, and now I’ve got a monster guitar. That’s why I was always telling people, ‘Man, these fucking Ibanezes are just the sh*t. You cannot do better. You can go spend a thousand dollars on a new guitar or spend $150 on this used Ibanez.’”
Thomson concluded by discussing the hazards of live performances: “That was what I played live early on. Because onstage I would take Clown damage or Sid damage… sht used to be nuts. I mean, Clown used to use, like, metal bars and sht. We were very unsafe. You break the headstock off a $200 fucking used Ibanez, it’s one thing, but a Custom Shop Jackson King V is another.”
Related Topics
- Kaskade and Wilkinson Collaborate with Paige Cavell on Mesmerizing New Single “Shine On”
- KIT Plugins Introduces KIT Drums-Connor Denis
- Millenium MPS-1000 Monitor E-Drum Kit Revolutionizes Practice with Built-in Bass Drum Speaker
