Back in the early 90s I was really getting into some older Peter Gabriel Genesis. It was an interesting exploration from the standard early 90s alternative movement to explore some classic prog-rock. I was lovin’ it. But 1993 was the year I discovered King Crimson – and went nuts. I never heard guitar like Robert Fripp guitar and how the arrangement of the songs blew my mind. Tony Levin was the bass player for Peter Gabriel‘s solo albums, as well as the King Crimson albums I listened to in that period, and his bass lines were monstrous.
I absolutely loved his style of being very complex… and extremely simple. Whatever was appropriate, he nailed it. His innovations were very cool as well. He often played a Chapman Stick on Crimson, and again, that was something new for me. Levin also created “Funk Fingers” which is a technique where he attaches two small sticks to his fingers. So, we’ve established he’s an innovative bad-ass and one hell of a musician!
I was super excited yesterday to see a recent photo of his pedal board, and I wanted to break that down!
Here is the breakdown of pedals:
Digitech Hardwire Delay DL-8
Electro-Harmonix Stereo Memory Man w/Hazarai
Analog Man Big Muff Pi Clone
Darkglass b3k
Ernie Ball Volume Pedal
EBS Octa-Bass
Possible mini expression knob pedal?
Whirlwind Bass Ten EQ
Analog Man Bi-CompROSSor
Possible Buffer/Line Booster?
Retrospec Squeezebox Prototype
Peterson StroboStomp Tuner
Radial BigShot I/O True Bypass Selector Switch
Please let me know if I missed anything or if anything is incorrect. I was not sure about the buffer or the expression knob, so if you know what those are, please comment below. Also comment if you’re familiar with Tony Levin’s work! Love to hear your thoughts!
-
12 years ago
I find the picture of Tony Levin’s pedalboard slightly amusing because I remember reading that he said that at one time he had so many pedals, they he did an experiment: He played his bass with every pedal switched on and listened to the sound coming out of his speakers. Then he unplugged the bass and listened to the sound and it was pretty much the same.
Reply -
11 years ago
Tony is amazing. Great tone. Never over-plays.
Reply
Love his work with Liquid Tension Experiment. -
10 years ago
Hy, does this pedalboard refers to Tony’s chapman stick gig gearing ? Or bass … what was he playing that night ? I am gearing up a touchstyle guitar and looking for infos on and about it. Then I am nuts for the Crims too !
Reply
Cheers
And, Italy. -
-
-