Tame Impala’s frontman, Kevin Parker, has been seen playing Fender Jazzmasters and Jaguar guitars onstage and in the studio. He is known to be a fan of classic guitars, often playing vintage gear such as Gibson ES-335s and Hofner Violins. He also uses more modern instruments such as Music Man Stingray basses and PRS Custom 24 guitars. Parker typically records with vintage amps such as Marshall stacks and Ampeg combos. In addition to this gear, he is known to use various effects pedals including wah wahs, delays, distortions and phasers from brands like Electro Harmonix and MXR.
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Kevin Parker’s Love for Vintage Guitars
Kevin Parker, the main man behind Tame Impala, has a strong affinity for vintage guitars. His preferred guitar model is the Fender Stratocaster which he uses to great effect on his recordings and live shows. He also loves the warm tones of classic electric archtop guitars such as Gibson’s ES-335 and Les Paul models. Onstage Parker can be seen playing an array of vintage instruments ranging from Gretsch Country Gentleman to a Fender Telecaster. He frequently turns to reissued versions of vintage guitars when looking for new sounds or effects in the studio.
In addition to these iconic models, Kevin Parker often reaches into the past for unusual tonal textures with rarer vintage guitars like the Burns Jazz Split Single and Hagstrom Swede among others. In this respect, it seems that whenever he looks for inspiration he always returns to his beloved 1960s-era classics – from pristine examples to those that show clear signs of age and wear – in order to get just the right tone for each track or performance.
Parker’s love affair with these gorgeous old instruments does not appear likely to end anytime soon – but perhaps it is no surprise given how well suited they are for creating his signature blend of psychedelic rock ‘n’ roll that resonates deeply with fans around the world.
Fender Stratocasters: Tame Impala’s Staple Guitar
Since their debut album in 2010, Tame Impala has been bringing its distinct dreamy sound to the world of rock music. An essential part of this sound lies in the guitars used by bandleader Kevin Parker. His primary electric guitar is a Fender Stratocaster, which he uses for most lead and rhythm parts on studio recordings. He favors the vintage series guitars made between 1954-1959 due to their unique tone achieved through aging woods, electronics, and pickups that make them stand out from more modern iterations. This warm tone gives his leads and solos an airy yet melodic flavor that would not be possible with other models.
The Stratocaster’s design also allows it to easily transition between genres; its versatility makes it a great choice for any style of rock music. It produces deep tones when distorted, but can just as easily pull off jangly surf-rock riffs or bluesy soloing licks when played clean. Its single-coil pickups can also produce classic ’60s sounds such as tremolo vibrato or shimmering psychedelic effects, something Parker uses often within Tame Impala songs like “Elephant” or “It Is Not Meant To Be”.
For live performances, Parker opts for higher output versions of his favorite Stratocasters – usually either American Professional or American Elite series models – to bring the same feel and tone onto big stages without having to crank up amps too loud during shows. This combination of vintage specifications blended with modern hardware makes them extremely reliable onstage while still allowing him to replicate many iconic sounds from some of his biggest influences like George Harrison and Neil Young.
Gibson SGs: A Versatile Choice for Tame Impala’s Sound
Tame Impala is renowned for its unique sound, a blend of psychedelic and indie rock. At the heart of their sound lies the Gibson SG, which has become synonymous with TAME Impala’s style. The distinctive look and playability of this classic instrument make it an ideal choice for their needs.
The Gibson SG is one of the most popular guitars among professional musicians. Its versatility allows players to produce a wide variety of sounds, from thick distorted tones to melodic clean sounds. It’s also easy to customize with aftermarket parts, making it perfect for artists like TAME Impala who want to create their own signature sound.
The iconic double-cutaway shape and lightweight mahogany body make it comfortable to play standing up or sitting down, while the fast neck profile makes playing complex chords and solos easier than ever before. On top of that, its distinctively bright tone cuts through any mix without getting muddy or lost in the mix – something that’s essential when creating dense multi-layered recordings like those on TAME Impala’s albums. All these features combine into an outstanding guitar that can be used in any genre and offers near-endless possibilities for creativity – perfect for TAME Impala’s musical vision.
Rickenbacker 360s and Other Unique Axes Used by the Band
When it comes to Tame Impala’s sound, the signature tones of a Rickenbacker 360 stand out as particularly iconic. This guitar is most notably featured in their track “The Less I Know The Better” and has become an integral part of their catalogue.
Beyond the trademark Rickenbacker 360s, Tame Impala also makes use of several other unique axes. On certain tracks they have been known to opt for Fender Jazzmasters or Telecasters instead to add a bit more warmth and clarity to their tunes. Their vast array of vintage gear includes models from Gibson, Epiphone and Gretsch, allowing them to access a range of different timbres for creating textures within their arrangements. In addition to this selection of instruments, members of the band can often be seen with effects pedals such as delay units, reverb machines and chorus processors at live shows; these are used on stage to recreate many nuances from album versions faithfully.
Tame Impala’s usage of diverse guitars provides an incredible depth and breadth in terms of sonic possibilities within their songs; creating vibrant melodies that captivate listeners around the world. Through mixing modern technology with classic pieces they have managed to create some truly timeless music over the years.
The Importance of Effects Pedals in Achieving Tame Impala’s Signature Tone
As they create their dreamy psychedelic music, the Australian rock band Tame Impala have become renowned for their distinct sound. While some of this is down to frontman Kevin Parker’s mastery on guitar and bass, it wouldn’t be possible without one crucial component: effects pedals.
A wide range of pedals are used by Tame Impala to achieve their unique sounds, from delays and reverbs that create an ethereal atmosphere to distortion boxes to make their leads soar. This means they can get far more versatility out of a single instrument than most bands would be able to with just its natural sound alone. For example, the heavy chorus heard in ‘Elephant’ is achieved with a combination of different fuzz and overdrive pedals – something no other band has been able to replicate quite as successfully since.
One especially vital pedal for them is the envelope filter pedal. By allowing them to automate filtering on certain notes or chords, it can provide additional texture and depth where normal EQ could not do justice alone – contributing heavily towards songs such as ‘Let It Happen’ being so successful in creating an intense atmosphere while still sounding completely unique compared to any other band at the time.
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