We’re a curious bunch here at Silent Radio and decided it was time to start scratching that itch, so we asked Magick Mountain what their favourite pieces of music making equipment are. This is what they told us:
TOM HUDSON – BASS
What is it?
I think it’s been named ‘Weapons Control’ but I just call it my ‘fuzz box’. It’s a custom built bass fuzz, overdrive and boost pedal that comes in one solid block. Custom made by the South Yorkshire genius and all round good guy, Tom from Cog Effects. I was getting sick of trying out endless pedal combinations and amp tones until I thought it might be best to take things into my own hands and get something made that suited and worked with my way of playing & was also something light and minimal to carry around with me to gigs, practice and recordings.
How long have you had it?
I think I started the conversation with Tom a while ago (as he’d come to a few of my other band PABH’s Sheffield shows) but have had the pedal in my grubby hands for just over 2 years now. I don’t think I could play a gig, practice or record without it now!
How does it help shape your sound?
The main idea behind getting this pedal made was to give myself a dirty driven sound that I would use for my main sound, with the option to give that driven sound an extra boost for certain parts in songs. On top of this though, is the real secret weapon to Magick Mountain’s sound – FUZZ! And a shit-ton of it. The third element to the pedal is a re-worked Tarkin Fuzz. It’s has a gnarly as hell square wave fuzz sound to it but gives you the option to dial in the clean tone of the bass so you still get that bassy bottom and and clarity to go alongside the fuzz. A lot of fuzz pedals when used on bass tend to lose the bottom end and ‘crap out’ a little bit so this helps me create that fuzzy wall of sound but still fill that bassy bottom end pocket that locks everything together and gives you that tight rumble on the diaphragm!
Do you use it live?
Yes! All the time, haven’t played a gig without it since. As we sometimes play some small DIY shows where you literally have to sling your gear on stage and ‘GO!’ I sometimes haven’t got a lot of control over what bass amp / gear I can run stuff through so this pedal is my right hand man in the live arena to help dial in a tone that I can work with without breaking into a sweat.
Do you use it in the studio?
Yes, definitely. It’s all over our upcoming debut album. In fact it’s on everything apart from the track ‘Dream Chaser’ as that’s mainly an acoustic, floaty, psychedelic folk song with limited warm bass on it.
What can we hear it used on?
As well as our upcoming album ‘Weird Feelings’, it is always raging away on the live recording of ‘The Shitty Beatles’ that we released a couple of months ago as part of the ‘Come Stay With Me’ compilation.
Is there anything you dislike about it or would like to change?
The only thing I had a small freak-out with was the fact that it didn’t have any writing on it for any of the control knobs, just some crazy symbols. It took a little bit of figuring out and Tom ended up sending me a little visual guide and description to help me figure the pedal out. I’ve had to keep it on my phone just in case the pre-gig nerves send my brain into a frenzy and I forget what everything means. Or…. if in doubt just turn everything up, right?
If the worst happened and it broke down, could you replace it?
Luckily, it hasn’t broken! I doubt it ever will…. I’ve heard that Tom used components from the unperished core of the Death Star to create it, so I think I’m in safe hands. If it did ever get vaporised though I’d just have to hit COG up for another one OR buy a COG Knightfall 66 and Grand Tarkin pedal and gaffa tape them all together to create pretty much the same unit.
Anything else you’d like to tell the world about it?
Go and check out www.cogeffects.co.uk/ for their awesome effects pedals and maybe if you’re lucky Tom would be up for working on some sort of custom collaboration with you! He’s made some sweet custom pedals for some other noisy bands like Prophets of Rage, Drenge, Royal Blood, Rob from Pulled Apart By Horses, Ant from Castrovalva, Like Rome, Wet Nuns, 65 Days Of Static, Dweezil Zappa and loads more!
Any honourable mentions of other items that didn’t make the top spot?
Before getting this custom jobby of a pedal I used a Death By Audio – Fuzz War pedal which sounded equally as ferocious but I now prefer to use that for guitar! Also, I was originally going to talk about my prized possession 90’s Fender Mustang bass but as Lins has mentioned her guitar I thought I’d delve deeper into the ‘secret of my sound’ (said in Matt Berry’s voice)
LINS WILSON – GUITAR
What is it?
My 2001 USA Gibson SG standard. It’s the best guitar I’ve ever played.
How long have you had it?
I’ve had it 14 years, it’s been a big part of my life as a musician! – I was 21 and desperate for a decent guitar, having only played whatever I could get a hold of up until then. My band Mother Vulpine were starting to do more, so Matt and Tom in the band coordinated with my friends and family to get this guitar as a 21st birthday present which was amazing, and they had my initials ‘LAW’ engraved on the headstock. I’d been obsessed with getting an SG since I fell in love with AC/DC aged 15, I’d always be checking them out in guitar shops dreaming about having my own.
How does it help shape your sound?
It’s a pretty beefy sounding guitar, and I’ve always loved more bass-y tones I think partly down to having grown up playing cello as well as guitar. It really holds it’s own put through a load of unruly fuzz where other guitars just don’t seem to cut through. It plays so well and with it being based on 60s models, the neck is a lot slinkier than other guitars so I feel free to play how I play.
Do you use it live?
Yeh, I’ve only ever not played this guitar live when I’ve played live sessions for other bands – so playing teles or jags, that sort of thing. The SG even though weighty is pretty slinky and great for live, it perfectly suits the sound I’m going for as a guitarist, particularly for Magick Mountain. It’s definitely got a few war wounds, but that goes with the territory and I kind of like that there are visual reminders that we’ve had adventures, that it’s not just been hung on a studio wall.
Do you use it in the studio?
Yeh it works really well in the studio, and not just technically/sound wise. It’s important for me that I feel totally comfortable playing when recording, and cheesy as it sounds, this guitar is kinda like an extension of me. When I’ve tried others there’s like a slight disconnect, like I’m more self-conscious or something.
What can we hear it used on?
It was used on the whole of the Magick Mountain record, including the singles we’ve released. I think the only time I didn’t use it was using an alternative guitar with a tremelo arm to do some of the spacey bends. We didn’t do very many overdubs at all though as we decided we wanted to keep the sound of the record feeling more like a live 3 piece.
Is there anything you dislike about it or would like to change?
Only that I once cleaned it using the wrong sort of cloth and it scratched off some of the lacquer which I’m still upset about! I think once you find something you stick with it’s hard to find fault. I guess maybe adding a Bigsby to it would be pretty cool though and means I’d never have to use another guitar ha.
If the worst happened and it broke down, could you replace it?
Never mention the idea of that to me ever again! Even though I’m sure there are other SGs out there from the same time it just wouldn’t be the same – it has so much history and personal meaning for me. All the shows I’ve done with it…is it weird if I say I actually love my guitar?? I’ve thought many times about how it’s the one thing I’d grab in my house if there was a fire.
Anything else you’d like to tell the world about it?
For our 2nd ever Magick Mountain show we supported Meatbodies at the Brudenell Social Club where my guitar got it’s own starring role after Chad (Meatbodies frontman) broke his bottom string and asked down the mic if anyone had a guitar, Tom (our bassist) elbowed me and was like, Lins go give him your guitar…it was ace watching the rest of the set with them using my guitar, and we nerded out over SGs after the show.
Any honourable mentions of other items that didn’t make the top spot?
I do love my fuzz pedal, a Way Huge ‘Swollen Pickle’. It’s not for everyone but just the combo of that with my guitar and a fender amp just hits a fuzz sweet spot. I’ve tried the exact set up with other guitars and it just isn’t the same!
NESTOR MATTHEWS – DRUMS
What is it?
‘Cyril Snare’ is a 14” x 5.5” ‘70s Ludwig Acrolite snare drum with a ’60s die cast low-profile Premier top hoop on it. It came to me via plane from storage in the U.S. and the original top hoop split in two as soon as I touched it, having been too cold for too long. The Premier hoop was all I had lying around at the time but it somehow makes the notoriously pingy ring of the Acrolite’s aluminium shell sound like a thunderclap so it’s stayed on ever since. I also quite like that part of Cyril is from half way round the world and another part is from just down the road, courtesy of Premier here in the U.K.
How long have you had it?
Ages. 15 years or so. I bought the Acrolite to replace an inappropriately huge steel snare drum that was accidentally stolen by a hire company who started packing down a festival stage as I was playing on it. I’ve long since forgiven them though, otherwise I’d never have found Cyril.
How does it help shape your sound?
Cyril has a whip-crack volume that belies his size so I never struggle to be heard, much to the dismay of many a sound engineer.
Do you use it live?
Oh yes, I’d be a fool not to.
Do you use it in the studio?
I’ll be the first to admit that Cyril isn’t always the subtlest of choices, but he’s never let me down when I’ve needed him in the studio.
What can we hear it used on?
Seeing as he’s been with me so long Cyril crops up all over the place, but I know for sure he features prominently on the forthcoming Magick Mountain album where he was well and truly in his element.
Is there anything you dislike about it or would like to change?
Cyril is 50 years old now so needs a fair bit more attention than most other snare drums but for as long as he looks after me, I’ll keep looking after him.
If the worst happened and it broke down, could you replace it?
Technically, Cyril Snare broke the moment I pulled him out of his packaging! We’ve had a few little hiccups since then too, broken lugs and bent tension rods, but if something bigger ever went awry then I suppose it would just be another opportunity to evolve him, to experiment with new parts and pieces, Frankenstein-style.
Anything else you’d like to tell the world about it?
Somewhere along the way, I may have dropped Cyril which might have resulted in his serial number being scratched almost beyond recognition. It’s kind of appropriate though really, because he’s now truly one of a kind.
Any honourable mentions of other items that didn’t make the top spot?
I’ve got an utterly ruined 24” ride cymbal that’s definitely more hole than metal but it sounds so good that I just can’t bring myself to part with it.
Magick Mountain’s debut album ‘Weird Feelings’ is due to be released on October 23rd. The first two singles ‘King Cobra’ and ‘Infinity X2’ are out now.
Watch the video for ‘Infinity X2’ below and listen out for all the equipment mentioned above.
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