The Gear Madison Artists Can’t Live Without
When it comes to making music, we all know talent is only part of the overall equation (even if it is a big part of it). There are also a lot of accessories and gear involved in the process, everything from the instruments themselves to sound processors, control boards, microphones and amps. Gear is essential to making music, recording it and performing it for crowds, both large and small.
We asked a few of Madison Records’ artists to share the gear they can’t live without in their own careers. From sentimental to practical, their answers show the importance of investing in good quality gear.
For the Love of the Guitar
It should come as no surprise that the guitarists of the bands rank their musical instrument as their favorite piece of gear. After all, there’s a special relationship between an artist and his instrument.
“I think my favorite piece of gear has to be my 1969 Gibson Country Western, which I named Brenda after my grandmother,” says Carson Fleishman of The Future Babes. “It looks classy and has a big sound.” He willingly admits there are both pros and cons to this particular guitar, which has a tiny neck and a clear coat worn down from years of abuse, but nothing can beat the sound that comes out of it. “It wins every time I shoot it out against other acoustics, and has helped me write most of my songs since I bought it,” Carson says.
For Matt Forrester Vassy of Forrest Isn’t Dead, it’s a Kiesel S6X. “This guitar has been my road dog for a few years not and throughout the entire process of recording our new album,” he says. Matt was looking for a top-quality guitar, but one he wouldn’t be afraid to take on tour and the harsher aspects of the road life. “I found what I was looking for in this guitar,” Matt says. “Kiesel takes pride in every guitar they make and sacrifice absolutely nothing in terms of quality and attention to detail.”
Even musicians who aren’t the guitarist in the band have a love affair with the guitar. Tanner Hendon, drummer for Like Machines, called up his Gibson guitar when asked what was one piece of gear he couldn’t do without. “Even though I’ve mostly been a drummer through my career, I’ve always had much more of a romance with guitars,” Tanner says. “There’s just something inspiring to me about a guitar, and the character it holds. The soul of the other people that have played it comes through, and the scrapes and scratches all help tell its story.” Tanner keeps his 1978 Gibson 335 with him as a sort of “home base” when created music. “I just like to have it around, even if I’m creating a synth pop track with no guitar at all, my Gibson helps me figure out chord progressions, harmonies, etc.”
Gear for the Road
Getting out in front of fans is the lifeblood of musicians, and the gear to get you there is an important part of overall success.
Forrest Kleindienst, of Forrest Isn’t Dead, admittedly doesn’t use a lot of gear while performing on stage, but when it comes to performing live, he relies on his TC-Helicon vocal processor. “It really helps our sound on stage be closer to what fans are used to in our recorded music,” Forrest says. For recording and producing, Forrest added, “As far as recording goes I’m an avid user of Arturia analog labs and the Arturia keyboard. Would highly recommend them to all producers!”
Ian Klin, of the Future Babes, has found his keyboard cases to be one of the best investments of his career. “There’s a lot of pressure on musicians to invest in expensive instruments and other gear, but I think it’s equally important to think about the ways to protect your investment and keep it in the best possible condition,” Ian says. He bought his first hard keyboard case before going on tour for the first time. “It was an intimidating purchase at the time, but I felt like making the purchase was a positive sign of good things to come. It has survived rain, snow, and a litany of pot holes in parking lots, and kept my keyboard in pristine condition for each show.”