Stephen Malkmus

[fishlog]

I saw Stephen Malkmus this past spring and was able to snap a shot of his effects. He had a Diamond J Drive, a Zvex Fuzz Factory and a T-rex Replica. Obviously on his albums he uses quiet a bit more. Any ideas on what? Fuzz? Wah? The guy has got one of the best tones out there today!

[dsj]

Don't know what else he uses, but any chance you could post the pic you took of his board?

Thanks.

[fishlog]

Not the best pics as it was taken with my phone

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr24/fishlog/SMpedal.jpg
Replica is on the right as your looking at the pic, Diamond drive (center) Fuzz factory, and way over on the left is a Boss tuner.
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr24/fishlog/steveM.jpg

[LowWatt]

back in the Pavement days I'm pretty sure he was using a Hot Cake much of the time.

[Medication]

He's big on the Big Cheese, Line 6 DL4, as well as the Hot Cake as stated.

[pir8matt]

As to his great recorded tones, it's worth noting that he eschews hard-drive based recording setups in favor of analog. Take from that what you will.

[soli528]

At least for tracking- I believe he mixed that whole Face the Truth album on ProTools.

[hour9]

Malkmus Rocks!!
Did you see what his amp setup was?

I'd also be interested in knowing what effect he uses on "Baltimore" to get the flange-like sound with the expression pedal.

[fishlog]

Amp Set was a Orange Head, could not make out what kind it was, plus I am pretty unfamiliar with Orange, and a Marshall 4x12 cab with the wheat colored grill cloth. He had two guitars. One was of course the O-white Jazzmaster and a Les Paul Gold top, I can't remember if it had p90's in it now or just HBs.

[mtlin]

I love Malkmus. He always has great guitar tones and cool parts.

[NewarkWilder]

i like pavement.

there might be a clue supporting this to keen eyes ;)

[TerrorTwilight]

Malkmus Rocks!!
Did you see what his amp setup was?

I know he uses Orange heads. He's used those since the latter days of pavement. Earlier than that, he used all types of Fender combos. I once saw a pic where he and Spiral Stairs had huge Marshall stacks behind them, but they probably belonged to another band :o

[greenlander]

I saw him and the Jicks recently at an in-store in San Francisco. He was playing through a Fender Twin Reverb that he mentioned was either borrowed or rented, I forget which. All he had for pedals were a tuner and the Fuzz Factory and he used his Jazzmaster. Sounded great.

They played a show the next day and he had his usual Orange head/Marshall cabinet set-up and more pedals. He gets a great clean sound from the Orange with that Jazzmaster. The Jicks are a fantastic band, especially now with Janet Weiss drumming.

[TerrorTwilight]

I saw him and the Jicks recently at an in-store in San Francisco. He was playing through a Fender Twin Reverb that he mentioned was either borrowed or rented, I forget which. All he had for pedals were a tuner and the Fuzz Factory and he used his Jazzmaster. Sounded great.

They played a show the next day and he had his usual Orange head/Marshall cabinet set-up and more pedals. He gets a great clean sound from the Orange with that Jazzmaster. The Jicks are a fantastic band, especially now with Janet Weiss drumming.

He's back to using the Jazzmaster now? All the recent pics and times I've seen him he's either used a strat or an sg.

Also, if your screen name is referencing the Pavement tune, i love it. It's one of my favorites.:AOK

[Pale Rider]

Pics I've seen have him rockin' an Orange AD 30 single channel head-

[LowWatt]

Wow. We have a pavement song and album contributing to this thread.

[soli528]

2 songs ;)

[dsj]

Not the best pics as it was taken with my phone



Thanks, fishlog.

[greenlander]

He's back to using the Jazzmaster now? All the recent pics and times I've seen him he's either used a strat or an sg.

Also, if your screen name is referencing the Pavement tune, i love it. It's one of my favorites.:AOK

Yeah, it's a great song. That whole Watery, Domestic era was such a peak for them (with Gary still on drums).

As for Malk, he's been using the Jazzmaster pretty much every time I've seen him since the Jicks started (probably 6 or 7 times). Occasionally he'll switch to the Gold Top LP for a song. I haven't seen the black Strat since Pavement days, but I think he still uses it for recording (I saw a studio pic and it was there with his other equipment). I don't think he's used an SG since the Crooked Rain/Wowee Zowee tours. At least I've never seen any recent photos of him using one.

[pepperco]

Absolutely loving Real Emotional Trash :dude

It has been my "go to" eliptical machine soundtrack
for several weeks. What an interesting out there
hooky CD.

[dsj]

Frontwards and Grounded were two huge songs in developing my ideas on "tone".

[TerrorTwilight]

Yeah, it's a great song. That whole Watery, Domestic era was such a peak for them (with Gary still on drums).

I agree. I think that peak extended into the scrapped second album they did with Gary. I prefer those songs to the versions on Crooked Rain Crooked Rain, and the unreleased ones like "All My Friends" are just plain great. I wonder why they didn't use that one :confused:

[enocaster]

I agree. I think that peak extended into the scrapped second album they did with Gary. I prefer those songs to the versions on Crooked Rain Crooked Rain, and the unreleased ones like "All My Friends" are just plain great. I wonder why they didn't use that one :confused:
:eek: Never heard of these! Are they on the deluxe version of CRCR, or is it bootleg only? Some search engine material please…

[LowWatt]

:eek: Never heard of these! Are they on the deluxe version of CRCR, or is it bootleg only? Some search engine material please…

On the deluxe double disc.

[TerrorTwilight]

:eek: Never heard of these! Are they on the deluxe version of CRCR, or is it bootleg only? Some search engine material please…

It's on the newer deluxe reissue. It's obviously unfinished stuff, doesn't have the polish that Slanted and Enchanted had (:rolleyes:), but it's pretty amazing. Hands Off The Bayou and All My Friends are highly reccomended.

[soli528]

I saw an interview with spiral a couple years ago where he talked about reissuing the albums at their 10 yr. anniversary. I'm still looking for Brighten the Corners with all the extras. He also implied that if there were a reunion it would be 10yrs. after the breakup... Late '09?

[TerrorTwilight]

From Wikipedia: "Matador Records will reissue the album as part of their series of 2-disc Pavement deluxe editions on November 18, 2008"

I hope it will include "For Sale: The Preston School Of Industry" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0ofAp0dK40

Edit: It does! http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/145856-pavement-brighten-the-corners-reissue-info-unveiled

[soli528]

Thank U!

[LowWatt]

It's on the newer deluxe reissue. It's obviously unfinished stuff, doesn't have the polish that Slanted and Enchanted had (:rolleyes:), but it's pretty amazing. Hands Off The Bayou and All My Friends are highly reccomended.
Really like Soiled Little Filly off of that one.

[king-albert]

I'm seen Malk a few times. Every time I've seen him he uses (as mentioned before) a white JM and a LP Goldtop. I don't think he's used the Black Strat for years.

For his fuzz tones he usually uses a Lovetone Big Cheese. But when I saw him a few weeks ago he didn't have it in his setup. I think he was using a Fuzz Factory.

He was running an Orange Thunderverb 50 through that trusty old beatup Marshall cab.

Delxue Brighten the Corners comes out soon. If you got in on the pre-order you get a vinyl copy too!

[gold_soundz]

I suppose I should chip in! :)

Pedals used in pavement days in addition to those mentionned above:

Proco Rat
Digitech Whammy
Mutron C200 wah (Used a fair bit live)
Lovetone Meatball

This one is caveated with a 'maybe'...Lovetone flanger on date with Ikea.

Tremolo and reverb from fender amps.

He has great guitar tones. I especially like the gold top / orange clean tones.

[soli528]

Thanks for the heads up King Albert. It looks like the LP is actually a live concert from '98, not a vinyl copy of BtC.

[king-albert]

Thanks for the heads up King Albert. It looks like the LP is actually a live concert from '98, not a vinyl copy of BtC.

Sweet. Can't wait to get it!

[takeittothemall]

from wikipedia:

Typically, he uses an Orange Thunderverb 50 Head through a Marshall 4x12 cabinet when playing live, though he has been noted to use various Fender amps, mostly vintage silverface and blackface combos (notably a Fender Twin), over the years. Stephen has also been seen using a single channel Orange AD30. Malkmus's other confirmed (though not constant) gear includes: Vextor Fuzz Factory, Diamond J-Drive, Line 6 DL4, T-REX Replica Delay, Lovetone Big Cheese, Lovetone Meatball, Boss TU-2 Tuner, Crowther Audio Hot Cake, Proco Rat.

[greenlander]

Dang, I remember this old thread.

Funny, now that Pavement are back touring, in most of the photos I've seen he's playing the black Strat again.

[fishlog]

Wow back from the dead surprised to see this thread pop up again!!!

I was going to get tickets to see Pavement for next fall in Boston, but its a long ride and couldn't get anyone to go with me!

[enocaster]

I'll go. You're in Pittsfield, right?

[soli528]

Dang, I remember this old thread.

Funny, now that Pavement are back touring, in most of the photos I've seen he's playing the black Strat again.
Have they already started back up? First date I see is in May. I can't believe I didn't get tix to the ATL show in September... off to ebay I suppose.

EDIT: okay just found this site: http://www.windowfruit.com/pavement2010/

Nice, lots of vids of recent stuff too. Everyone looks pretty much the same, but what have they been feeding Spiral?

[fishlog]

Yes Pittsfield, but I didn't score any tickets when I had the chance not sure how easy they are to get anymore.

[mild]

I caught the first show of their reunion tour down here with the 3D's in support. I've gotta say, if you're at all remotely interested in them you should go along. They're sounding tight as hell.

To the thread - Malk was using the Black Strat and the JM all night and sounded superb. He was playing into an Orange head through a 4x12 - and he'd re-arranged the "Orange" to say "Anger". I had to have a little lol...

[soli528]

I've seen him play that same Orange amp with the Jicks, but I thought it said "Badger"!

[~Naylor38~]

Great songwriter , but (don't kill me here) as far as tones .... eh....
....btw "did you see the drummers'.....killer double bass, roto tom, sample triggering system ?"

[mild]

I've seen him play that same Orange amp with the Jicks, but I thought it said "Badger"!

Heh! Definitely not a Badger... ;)

Perhaps someone can tell us what it is from this:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_d9jG5HfdmrE/S4cI-LxH8MI/AAAAAAAAANE/q6jFoodJlFY/s1600/IMG_1878.JPG

[Cornocopius]

Looks like he's just covered up the "o" and the "r" and added an extra "r" to make
ANGER
Whatcha reckon?
(OR)ANGEr

[apoxacilin]

the orange is a custom shop retro 50.

[goodhonk]

http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/reverb/jicks3.jpg

[mrsongbird]

I've been listening to a TON of SM lately, and I have to ask you cats how he is getting the clean tones on "Church on White." Is there some slight chorus going on there or are my ears tricking me?

Mirror Traffic is one of last year's best albums for sure.

[fishlog]

Can't believe this thread is still going!

I agree though Mirror Traffic is great, I think its even better than Real Emotional Trash which for some reason got a lot more spot light (not that that is a bad thing).

Always surprised people don't talk about this guy more. He has some killer chops and killer guitar tones and is certainly a change up from the same old same old.

[takeittothemall]

i just saw him the other night with the jicks here in phoenix. same jazzmaster. same strat. same orange head into marshall cab. only pedals were the diamond j-drive, the t-rex delay and the tu-2 tuner.

[your name here]

Man, I'd like to see them again... Haven't gotten to since the Pig Lib days. :-(