Here is a band I really like. Last year, I was bordering on obsession with these guys. For those of you who aren’t familiar with them, they are a 3 piece band based out of Chicago. I really like instrumental bands such as Mogwai, Explosions in the Sky, Earthless, etc. Russian Circles fall in this category, but they definitely play in the ‘harder’, ‘spacer’ side of things.
The guitarist, Mike Sullivan plays with Les Pauls (double cutaway) and Sunn amps and develops complex loops with excellent sonic texturing. I wanted to take a look at how he pulls this off so after doing some research I have a somewhat recent pedal board layout. These pedals would have been used during their 2010 tour.
Akai E2 Headrush
Electro-Harmonix Nano Holy Grail Reverb
Electro-Harmonix Memory Toy Analog Echo
MXR M-133 Micro Amp
Ibanez TS9 Tubescreamer (Keeley Mod)
Fulltone OCD
Digitech Jamman (older version.. not JML2)
Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man (older version)
Boss TU-2 Tuner
Ernie Ball Volume Pedal
Furman Pedal Board
Additionally, I did some some pedal board shots where Mike was playing a MXR M-101 Phase 90 as well. Please let me know of any errors or additions by commenting below.
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14 years ago
Amazing band, awesome pedal board! Based on hearing the different versions, I’m fairly certain his OCD is a Version 3, and his Keeley Tubescreamer has the Baked Mod (in an interview somewhere he mentioned it had more bass). Mike also used a Fulltone Deja Vibe at one time, but I guess it disappeared with the Carbon Copy.
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13 years ago
I can’t believe I searched Google for “Mike Sullivan Russian Circles pedalboard” and found that some kind soul had written this article, thank you. I love the Internet.
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