Rig Rundown: My Chemical Romance

After their Covid-delayed, smash-success reunion tour a few years back, My Chemical Romance plotted the Long Live the Black Parade North American stadium tour this past summer. PG’s Chris Kies joined the run at Soldier Field in Chicago, and before the show, he rendezvoused with techs James Bowman, Josh Schreibeis, and Joe Saucedo—who handle Frank Iero, Ray Toro and Mikey Way’s rigs, respectively—for a look at the axes, amps, and effects the heavy-hitting emo titans are using these days.Brought to you by D’Addario. Dose of CastedosaAfter Iero got this Castedosa Marianna Semi Hollow, it became the show starter for this summer’s tour. This, and all other guitars, are tuned down a half step with Ernie Ball Paradigm strings (.011–.052).Bury Me in WhiteIero favors Ernie Ball StingRays like this one, in matte “Stormtrooper” white. The only mod on this guitar is the addition of Luminlay dots on the side of the neck.One and DoneThis 1992 Gibson Les Paul gets played only for the title track off the band’s 2006 record, The Black Parade.Under PressureThis tiny, light Abernethy Guitars electric takes Bowman forever to string. If anyone has tips, send them his way.Purple ReignAfter using Marshall Super Lead heads with the Dookie mod on the previous tour, Iero found these slick purple heads and brought them to Dave Friedman to match the Dookie specs and add some EQ tweaks. These two, a main and backup, are responsible for the bulk of Iero’s sounds.A Fender Twin Reverb onstage is responsible for “small-amp sounds,” while a Twin Reverb Tone Master underneath it sends a clean DI signal for the mix in Iero’s in-ear monitors. Welcome to the Rack ParadeIero’s backstage rack includes three main racks of effects, all powered by Strymon Zumas.The first carries a Mesa Boogie 5-Band Graphic EQ, Amaze by Analogman Prince of Tone, Bowman Audio Endeavors Bowman Overdrive, JHS Hard Drive, and Hayashi Craft Trick Gain.Drawer two is about modulation, and includes a Boss TR-2, MXR Phase 100, Boss DM-2W, EarthQuaker Devices Ghost Echo, EHX Micro POG, and EHX Holy Grail.The last drawer bears a Jackson Audio Twin Twelve, EHX Deluxe Memory Man, Ibanez Tube Screamer Overdrive Pro, and Bowman Audio Bellyacher. Toro’s TopToro plays this 1978 Les Paul to start the show, including tracks “The End.,” “Dead!,” and “House of Wolves.” He runs.011–.052-gauge strings on all his guitars.Second FiddleThis sunburst Les Paul has been outpaced by the black ’78, but it still comes out for “Welcome to the Black Parade” and “Famous Last Words.” Super 6This 2005 Fender Custom Shop Telecaster sees action on six tunes in the band’s set. Ray Toro’s AmpsA head combo of a Marshall JMP and Metropoulos Amplification Metro (both running into Fryette PS-100s) comprise Toro’s main tones, while an Amplified Nation Wonderland Overdrive 1x12 combo is used for solo sounds, and a Fender Deluxe Reverb handles cleans. Toro’s signal is pumped through two 4x12 cabs—one Marshall, one Bad Cat.Ray’s Really Rockin’ Rack RigA Shure Axient wireless system sends his guitar’s signal to this system backstage, where it hits a Radial JX44 and a pair of RJM Effect Gizmos.One drawer holds an MXR Duke of Tone, MXR Custom Badass ’78 Distortion, Boss GE-7, Boss CH-1, Kernom Moho, Kernom Ridge, and Wampler Gearbox. In the next are two Boss GE-7s, two Bowman Overdrives, a Death by Audio Fuzz War, a Source Audio EQ2, a Bowman Bellyacher, and a Keeley Compressor Mini.The third shelf is home to an EHX POG2, 1981 Inventions DRV, Chase Bliss Preamp MK II, Boss TR-2, MXR Carbon Copy, Keeley Loomer, and MXR EVH Phase 90.A fourth level hosts a Strymon TimeLine, Strymon BigSky, and Source Audio EQ2.Out onstage at his feet, Toro keeps a pedalboard with a TC Electronic PolyTune, a custom RJM Mastermind PBC/6X, Ibanez TS808, Bowman Audio Bowman Overdrive, EHX Micro POG, Boss TR-2, MXR Carbon Copy, and Strymon BigSky. Strymon Zumas keep everything chugging along.Comeback KidThis silver-sparkle Fender Jazz bass was built for the band’s reunion tour, intended to mimic Way’s earlier signature model. It’s since been treated to more affordable Mexico-made production runs. Way runs Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinky strings (.045–.105) and plays with Clayton triangle picks.Red!This eye-catcher was made by Fender’s Brian Thrasher, and is equipped with pickups from the Adam Clayton signature bass. Way relies heavily on this one, then switches to an identical one for down tunings.Dodger ThatWay secured permission from Major League Baseball and the Los Angeles Dodgers to use the team’s exact hue of blue on this custom instrument. Mikey Way’s AmpWay runs through a Fender Super Bassman head into matching 8x10 cabs, with a DI signal also running to front of house.Mikey Way’s EffectsWay keeps things simple. Along with an Origin Effects DCX Bass and Cali76 set to push his Super Bassman, his setup includes a pair of Aguilar Agros, an MXR Sub Octave Bass Fuzz, and a Malekko B:assmaster.Ernie Ball StingRayErnie Ball Paradigm StringsGibson Les PaulFender Twin ReverbFender Twin Reverb Tone MasterStrymon ZumaJHS Hard DriveBoss TR-2MXR Phase 100Boss DM-2wEarthQuaker Devices Ghost EchoElectro-Harmonix Micro POGEHX Holy GrailJackson Audio 1484 Twin Twelve PedalElectro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man Analog Delay / Chorus / Vibrato PedalIbanez Tube Screamer Overdrive ProFender Custom Shop TelecasterAmplified Nation Wonderland OverdriveFender Deluxe ReverbMarshall 4x12 CabsShure Axient Wireless SystemRadial JX 44MXR Duke of ToneMXR Custom Badass ’78 DistortionBoss GE-7Boss CH-1Wampler GearboxSource Audio EQ2Keeley Compressor MiniElectro-Harmonix POG2Boss TR-2MXR Carbon CopyMXR EVH Phase 90Strymon TimelineStrymon bigSkyTC Electronic PolyTuneIbanez TS808EHX Micro POGMXR Carbon CopyFender Jazz BassErnie Ball Hybrid Slinky Strings (.045-.105)Clayton Triangle PicksFender Super BassmanFender 8x10 CabsOrigin Effects DCX BassOrigin Cali76Aguilar AgroMXR Sub Octave Bass Fuzz