Philadelphia rockers sit down with the Gibson Gazette to talk gear
Grayscale emerged from the Philadelphia rock scene and released their debut EP in 2015. 10 years later, their fourth studio album, The Hart, has garnered critical acclaim for its blend of emotional lyrical themes with punk and alternative-rock influences. We caught up with Grayscale at their recent show at Marathon Music Works in Nashville, Tennessee, to find out about the Gibson guitars that accompany them when they hit the road.
What are the main Gibson and Epiphone instruments you take on the road and what do you love about them?
“When touring, we bring out Andrew’s Desert Burst Les Paul™ Standard, Dallas’s Sunburst Epiphone ES-335, and Collin’s mahogany 1980s Explorer™. These are some of our favorite instruments we have ever played. We love how versatile these guitars are and how many sounds you can capture with all three. They blend so well together and are so comfortable to play.”
Are your touring guitars relatively interchangeable or do you have guitars with specific tunings for specific songs?
“We do use open tunings for some songs, but the tuning is less important than the tone coming out of the instrument. Some songs have warm bubbly leads that call for a 335 or even the middle pickup position on the Les Paul. Some songs have cutting, bright leads and the Explorer and Les Paul shine through.”
What pedals and amplifiers are you using?
“Right now we’re using Kemper Profilers™ for our live setup. Simpler to travel with and they sound great. We’ve got program changes being sent which allows us to not have to ‘tap dance,‘ for lack of a better term. It’s fantastic to be able to have access to so many amp profiles. We’ve got vintage MESA/Boogies®, old Marshall Plexis, and some wild lead tones using Tom Scholz’s Rockman. That style of amp is truly the future when it comes to live playing.”
Grayscale lead singer Collin Walsh with his 1980s Explorer and lead guitarist Andrew Kyne with his Les Paul Standard
What’s the craziest thing or worst mishap that has ever happened to you on stage?
Andrew: “There are so many funny onstage stories we’ve had over the years. One time I jumped up and completely ripped my pants. It was bad. Luckily I had a 335 on, so I grabbed the strap and lowered the guitar pretty far, and finished the set facing the crowd and not moving.”
What’s the one piece of gear you can’t live without on the road, and why?
Dallas: “My 335. I love the way this guitar feels. It is so comfortable to play. It feels so secure on your body while you’re playing, almost like it’s hugging you. And I love the sound.”
Visit the official Grayscale website for more.
