Greg Ginn Equipment FAQ

Guitars

1. Ampeg Dan Armstrong - This was Gregs main guitar from '78 untill in was stolen on 4/16/86. He felt its Lucite body imparted greater density to the low end of his sound. He modified the guitar by replacing the wood bridge and wiring it to bypass the volume and tone controls, and he replaced the bridge pickup with DiMarzio Super Distortion and Seymour Duncan JB humbuckers (he would rust out his pickups so quick that he was always going them).

2. Ibanez GRX40 - This was the guitar he used after his Dan Armstrong was stolen. I dont know if this is guitar was an "Ibanez GRX40" but its something that looks like it. Its on page 244 in "Get In The Van". Can anyone help here?

3. Ibanez Flying V - Says he used it with a Sound City amp in Guitar World magazine.

Amps

1. Roland preamp - Greg said it has a fat tone and, at the time, was one of the few solid states available.

2. Yamaha preamp - He like the warmth of this preamp. Started using it in '85.

3. Peavey P.A. head - Greg said its awful for vocals but he tried it with a guitar and it had great distortion.

4. Sound City amp - He hated it and said it was the last time he ever used a tube amp.

5. Cabinets - I seen pictures with him using Roland, a 4x12 Marshall (I think), and some unknown ones. He also had two custom cabs made for him. They were made of heavy hardwood and loaded with EV speakers.

Effects

I dont think he used any.... maybe just an overdrive pedal? If you know any he used e-mail me please.

Miscellaneous

1. Greg doesnt like tube amps because they round off the attack and he wants a fast attack and the only way to get that is by using trasistor amps.

2. If you want Gregs sound just get a solid state amp and overdrive the heck out of it.