#distortron

I was thinking about building one of these myself, then I saw this used on Reverb.com for $99 and free shipping. I was hard to beat. The effort to build it woul been worth $99.

Undead Apes are a pop punk band from Brisbane. Simon used to play in a killer band called Sekiden who I saw about a billion times when I was in University. He knows his shit more than most and spoke to Sasquatch Nation right here on the internet.

Sasquatch Nation: Firstly, what's your live setup with Undead Apes these days? Last I saw you had something like an Epiphone Crestwood through a JCM800? Simon from Undead Apes: Yeah I'm using an old Epiphone Crestwood ET-275 that I picked up of Ebay in pretty bad shape but cheap and changed out the wiring harness and put in a “filtertron” style humbucker in the bridge [Filtertrons are dual coil humbuckers developed by Gretch, I think - Sasquatch]. The JCM 800 is the “uncool” reverb model (2205) but I've found if you wind the gain back a bit it still has a pretty classic sound in there.

A bunch of Simon's stuff, including said JCM800 and Crestwood, along with his Bassman Export 50w and a Russian Green Muff (not green anymore). The black box is a Tym Cube of Silence, which is a great invention. SN: How's the rig working out for you? Anything you'd like to change? SfUA: I love it.  It's super stable which is important to me I guess? That said I'm always looking for small things to tweak!

SN: You're quite a gear nerd, how much of an obsession is it? SfUA: Well I kinda fell into it. I would op-shop and trawl pawnbrokers and just find these old weird stompboxes, drum machines and synths and they were all old and cheap. This pre dates the internet at home and ebay so it was a bit easier to find bargains. I don't really buy so much vintage stuff now as it's gone a bit mental price wise but there is so much great boutique and reissue analog stuff coming out you'd be a nut to only buy vintage IMHO. At least twice a week I have to remind myself to stop reading about guitars and go downstairs and play the guitar!! (lame as it sounds) SN: What's the main gear differences between Undead Apes and your old Sekiden rig? Why the changes? SfUA: Well the big one is no pedals live! Sekiden was mostly Russian Green Muff into various valve heads and Undead Apes is just guitar to Marshall. I guess I wanted a clearer, more “classic” sound and the Marshall helps to achieve that. Sekiden was very synthetic and the guitar was holding down a bit of the bass territory so the Big Muff was key to that wall of square waves I guess.  SN: You've doing quite a bit of touring over the years, what has this taught you about gear? SfUA: KEEP IT SIMPLE.  Think about trouble shooting your rig in the dark half drunk (and then lugging it out). SN: What's your favourite piece of gear, or something you can't live without? SfUA: Jeez that's tough!!  I'd have to say my Ibanez (481 rickenbacker style) guitar but I guess that's a mostly sentimental selection [I have always loved that guitar, read all about it over at Guitarnerd - Sasquatch].  But really you can make music on anything (sorry to be pragmatic and boring). At least twice a week I have to remind myself to stop reading about guitars and go downstairs and play the guitar.

Simon on the right with his old Ibanez Ric copy, image from Before Hollywood.

SN: Ok you have to choose between guitar and synths - which is it? SfUA: Guitar every day of the week.  It's just really immediate and physical and great for anger management! SN: What was your most recent acquisition? Why did you go for it? SfUA: I picked up a Zvex Distotron. I went for It because it's kind of tough to borrow specific Marshalls when you tour interstate so I was really looking for something that could get that sound no matter what amp you get presented with (third show in I got loaned a 20 watt squier practice amp so not even the Zvex could fix that!!!!). SN: What are you on the lookout for at the moment? SfUA: Nothing really but I'm always browsing like a dork! I've been thinking about getting a 12 string electric because I really dig those sounds on the “Exploding Hearts - Guitar Romantic” album.  I assume a 12 string would be a nightmare live however! SN: How's the pawn shop/cash converters scene in Brisbane at the moment? SfUA: Played out like anywhere else in the world I guess!

<a href="http://undeadapes.bandcamp.com/album/killed-by-deaf-vinyl-download" data-mce-href="http://undeadapes.bandcamp.com/album/killed-by-deaf-vinyl-download">Killed By Deaf (vinyl + download) by Undead Apes</a>