As a versatile and sought-after guitarist, Shane Theriot’s sound is instantly recognizable across various genres. From blues and rock to country and beyond, his tone is shaped by a carefully curated collection of guitars, amplifiers, and effects. Let’s delve into the essential gear that contributes to Shane Theriot’s signature guitar sound.
Guitars: A Palette of Tones
Shane Theriot’s guitar choices are diverse, reflecting the wide range of musical contexts he navigates. He isn’t tied to a single instrument, preferring to select the right guitar for each musical situation or project. As he states, “I use different guitars depending on the music, application or project. Sometimes I’m just in a different mood and want to play a different instrument.”
While the specifics might vary, his collection includes notable models like a 1959 Gibson 330, a vintage gem he frequently uses for recording, highlighting its unique sonic character. To explore more of his guitar collection, you can find a detailed overview in this article from Vintage Guitar magazine. This demonstrates his appreciation for both vintage instruments and the distinct tones they offer.
Shane Theriot with Seymour Duncan Pickups
Strings and Slides: The Foundation of Feel
String choice is crucial for any guitarist, and Shane Theriot is no exception. He relies on D’addario Strings, a brand known for its quality and consistency. For electric guitars, he typically opts for heavier gauges, favoring 10-48 or even 11-52 sets. This preference for thicker strings likely contributes to a fuller tone and allows for more robust bending and vibrato, essential elements of his playing style. On acoustic guitars, he steps up to 12-52 gauge strings, providing a richer and more resonant acoustic sound.
Beyond strings, slides are another key element in a guitarist’s toolkit, and Shane recommends Rocky Mtn. Slides. He points to his friend Doc, the craftsman behind these handmade slides, suggesting a personal connection and trust in the quality and sound they deliver.
Amplifiers: Shaping the Core Tone
Shane Theriot’s amplifier selection is extensive and varied, reflecting his need for diverse tones across different musical landscapes. He owns “tons” of amps, and his choices lean towards vintage Fender models, prized for their classic tones and responsiveness. His collection includes:
- Vintage Fender Amps: A 1965 Vibrolux, 1966 Vibrochamp, 70’s Champ, and a ’67 Twin Reverb. These classic Fender amps are known for their clean headroom, warm overdrive, and distinctive reverb and tremolo circuits, providing a foundation for a wide range of styles.
- Marshall and Soldano High-Gain: For higher gain needs, he utilizes a 71 Marshall Superlead, a Soldano SLO 100, and a Soldano Hot Rod 25. These amplifiers deliver powerful overdrive and distortion, suitable for rock and heavier genres.
- Boutique and Modern Options: His amp arsenal also includes a Fuchs ODS, a Dr. Z Maz 18MK2, and a Tungsten Crema Wheat Tweed, showcasing an appreciation for boutique amplifiers and their unique tonal characteristics. He even highlights a 90’s Fender Blues Deluxe with a Celestion Vintage 30 speaker as “one of the best sounding amps I have!”, proving that great tone can be found in unexpected places.
This diverse amplifier collection allows Shane to dial in the perfect tone for any musical situation, from clean and shimmering to overdriven and roaring.
Effects Pedals: Enhancing and Sculpting Sound
While Shane Theriot often prefers amplifier overdrive, he also utilizes a range of effects pedals to further shape his guitar sound. He states, “Mostly though I prefer using the amplifiers overdrive channel to a pedal so that’s what I do 90% of the time.” However, when pedals are needed, he has a carefully chosen selection:
- Overdrive/Distortion: The King of Tone by Analog Man is his current go-to for overdrive and distortion. This boutique pedal is highly regarded for its transparent and amp-like overdrive.
- Delay: For delay, he uses Free the Tone pedals, specifically the Flight Time Digital Delay and Future Factory Delay, along with their SOV2 overdrive. His introduction to Free the Tone came through Larry Carlton’s guitar tech in Japan, emphasizing the high quality and reputation of Yuki Hayashi’s creations. He also uses a Keeley modded Boss DD3 or an EHX Memory Man for darker, more vintage-sounding delay textures. Interestingly, he also mentions that a “stock Tube Screamer” can still get the job done, highlighting the enduring value of classic pedals.
- Boost: The Xotic RC Booster is another pedal in his arsenal, likely used for clean boosts or subtle tone shaping.
Shane’s pedal choices reflect a blend of boutique and classic, with a focus on quality and versatility. He is also open to experimentation, noting, “As with many players I’m constantly rotating and trying out new things. So many great pedals out there at the moment.” He mentions Keeley, Greenchild, and classic Boss pedals as other brands he appreciates, indicating a broad knowledge and appreciation for the pedal market.
In conclusion, Shane Theriot’s guitar sound is a product of thoughtful gear choices, ranging from vintage guitars and amplifiers to carefully selected strings and effects pedals. His approach is practical and tone-focused, prioritizing the right tools for each musical context. By exploring his gear, guitarists can gain valuable insights into crafting versatile and expressive tones.
