Misha Mansoor, guitarist of Periphery, discusses the unusual tunings he explores, praises his friends' musical brilliance, and expresses his interest in finding a teacher to enhance his guitar skills further.
Gear Up with Misha Mansoor: Modernizing Metal Guitar for the Digital Age
Misha Mansoor is one of those badass dudes who revolutionized 21st-century metal guitar playin'. But don't think he's cool with the responsibility people lay on him! He's just another man combinin' forces with his Periphery guitar buddies, Jake Bowen and Mark Holcomb, to push the boundaries of prog metal.
They're blurring the lines 'tween art and noise, twistin' it round fresh rhythms, and recontextualizin' electric guitar tones for the digital era. It ain't about labels, whether you dig the whole 'djent' scene or not - we all know what it sounds like.
With Periphery, Mansoor's foreverseekin' even more esoteric tunings, snatchin' up extended-range instruments to encroach upon the bass guitar's territory. Three axes wieldin' like this can leave an audience sheerly overwhelmed with just the sheer quantity of guitar. But to pull off this avalanche of sound, some tight mixing and lock-down are essential.
One of the secrets to Mansoor's arsenal is the EverTune F6 bridge, which adorns his custom Jackson guitars, the Juggernaut. This tricked-out, high-performance axe has just been spruced up in Deep Blue and is available in Blue Sparkle and Red Crystal versions, complete with a six-saddle hardtail bridge. This little beaut is why we're havin' this chat!
The EverTune ain't just a mechanical marvel on the same level as a Floyd Rose double-locking vibrato. While its influence on our sonic landscape ain't quite the same as the Floyd Rose, it just might go gangbusters as a common choice one day!
"We've been usin' EverTunes in the studio ever since Juggernaut," Mansoor explains. "The last 10 years or so. To tell you the honest truth, there's slight feel and tone taxes you pay with an EverTune bridge - similar to a Floyd Rose. At the end of the day, a classic hardtail bridge is gonna sound the best."
But it ain't always about the bridge. Sometimes it's about pickin' the right guitar for the part. If rock-solid intonation matters more, EverTune's got your back. If tone's the priority, grab the good ol' hardtail. Sometimes they compare 'em side-by-side to see if one sounds better.
"Are we gonna see those eight-string custom shop baritones enter production?" we asked Mansoor. With a coy grin, he clammed up! "No comment! [Laughs] I ain't supposed to know or talk about that!"
While speaking of gear, we wondered about his double dip into vintage-style offset guitars. Mansoor shrugged unapologetically. "I love guitars, plain and simple. I'm a gear junkie, lookin' for that perfect piece o' gear that amplifies my sound and doesn't hinder it. Vintage or modern, if it's good, it's good!"
These vintage-flavored offsets were cruisin' the waves of his vibrant creative process. Besides soundin' cool as hell, they provided an interesting contrast to his characteristic sound. "I'm all about exploring new tunings, changin' the scales, findin' just the right gear that resonates with the song, and then watchin' how it evolves," he confessed.
One of the more bizarre tunings Mansoor's experimentin' with brings bass guitar waaay down to Bb. It's so low that the bass plays an unison line with the guitar on the TV. Yeah, that's right - Bb on a guitar! That's wacky! But with a 30-inch scale, it ain't as crazy as it sounds.
"It allows me to dig deeper into the guitar without compromisin' my left-hand muscle memory," he shared. "Sure, it calls for a shift in my settings, but it's a challenge that excites me and leads me to new possibilities."
Now and then, a little gain can go a long way. It don't matter if it's a teeny-tiny bit o' distortion or a wall of noise - it all depends on the context. Mansoor brought up friend and Periphery collaborator Mike Dawes, who blew his mind with an acoustic guitar. "Good gear is good, no matter the style - if it fits the song, it's the right choice."
Enrichment Data:
Misha Mansoor's Jackson Juggernaut Guitars Key Features
- EverTune F6 Bridge: Provides consistent tuning under heavy playing conditions
- Ultra-Thin Body and Carved Horns: Improves upper fret access with a comfortable design
- Caramelized Maple Neck: Thin profile for easy playability across the 24 frets
- Stainless Steel- Equipped Ebony Fingerboard: Smooth, fast playin' surface with excellent visibility
- Jackson Locking Tuners: Secure tuning and unique aesthetic
- Push-Pull Tone Controls and 5-Way Switch: Wide range of tonal options for progressive metal styles
[1] https://www.jackson guitar.com/product/MJPEGSS-ET6/Juggernaut-ET6-SS-6-string-Electric-Guitar[2] https://guitar.com/news/periphery-s-misha-mansoor-reveals-the-secret-to-his-low-tunings[3] https://thegearpage.net/base-tunings/580964-misha-mansoors-periphery-jugs-aka-the-juggernaut-et-sp-guitars/[4] https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/progressive-guitar-tune-low-misha-mansoors-periphery-made-it-trendy
Misha Mansoor, in his pursuit of education-and-self-development, often experiments with unique tunings on his Jackson Juggernaut guitars, such as tuning down the bass guitar to Bb. This unconventional approach to learning and music pushes the boundaries of his craft and encourages innovation, leading to constant evolution in his sound.
Despite his preference for cutting-edge equipment like the EverTune F6 bridge, Misha Mansoor appreciates the value of both vintage and modern gear, believing that it's essential to choose the right instrument for the part, regardless of whether it's a high-tech electric guitar or a classic offset. This approach to entertainment and music allows for a diverse range of sounds and tones, contributing to the overall enrichment of his compositions and performances.
