Cage the Elephant Rig Rundown Gear Tour with Brad Shultz, Daniel Tichenor & Nick Bockrath [2024]
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/cage-the-elephant
Subscribe to PG’s Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Cage the Elephant was formed nearly 20 years ago in Bowling Green by vocalist Matt Shultz, guitarists Brad Shultz and Lincoln Parish, drummer Jared Champion, and bassist Daniel Tichenor. That core lineup has only changed once, with Nick Bockrath replacing Parish onstage in 2013 and officially in 2017. CTE’s earliest albums—2008’s Cage the Elephant and 2011’s Thank You, Happy Birthday—captured their punk-rock pandemonium that turned venues into hurricanes. Cage’s mayhem cloaked melodies, like a Trojan horse creating early-career earworms and sing-alongs out of hits “In One Ear,” “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked,” “Shake Me Down,” and “Aberdeen.”
2013’s Melophobia brandished a trio of mellower, melodious singles: “Come A Little Closer,” “Take It or Leave It,” and “Cigarette Daydreams.” Then, 2015’s Tell Me I’m Pretty saw the band enter Easy Eye Sound to work with Dan Auerbach, sending the band’s sonics back to the ’60s with an emphasis on direct, pointed performances and console-driven fuzz. Their last two albums, 2019’s Social Cues and 2024’s Neon Pill, partnered them with producer John Hill, who helped wrap their memorable hooks in a smokier, after-hours backdrop that incorporated ’80s sheen with drum machines, shifting synth textures, and sleek production that pulses with flow and emotion.
The constant glue that holds these albums together (aside from the members’ cohesive creativity) is the constant application—in varied amounts—of garage rock, psychedelia, and a little bit of danger. Even their softest, smoothest work portrays these gripping vibes. And while the velvet packaging of their songs have them sounding more Abbey Road than Albini—earning the group back-to-back Grammys for Best Rock Album for Tell Me I’m Pretty and Social Cues—the Shultz brothers still bring their signature piss-and-vinegar performances to the stage, where the front row will likely play host to both throughout any given setlist.
Before the band’s Bonnaroo set on Saturday June 15, Cage the Elephant invited PG’s video team to their rehearsals inside East Nashville’s Steel Mill space to cover the gear they’d be touring with in support of their sixth album, Neon Pill. On guitar, lap steel, and pedal steel, Nick Bockrath starts off the Rundown going through his sizzling setup that includes custom guitars, a bountiful pedalboard, and a special instrument from a deceased friend and Nashville legend. Then, tech Mason Osman details how Brad Shultz transformed his rig to mimic his preferred recording setup that relies on studio tube preamps and compressors for a direct, broiling sound. Lastly, tech Bailey Griffith shows a simplified-but-tsunami-sounding bass setup that includes two Fender 4-strings and 300W tube heads that kick like a mule.
(Thumbnail photos by Neil Krug.)
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/cage-the-elephant
Subscribe to PG’s Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube
Win Guitar Gear: https://bit.ly/GiveawaysPG
Don’t Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
Merch & Magazines: https://shop.premierguitar.com
PG’s Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierguitar
PG’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/premierguitar/
PG’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/premierguitar
PG’s Threads: https://threads.net/@premierguitar
PG’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@premierguitar
[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
0:00 – D’Addario Strings
0:15 – Nick Bockrath Intro
1:58 – Chris Kies Intro
2:17 – Neon Pill & Working with John Hill Again
6:00 – Nick Bockrath’s Harper Guitars Marilyn
11:20 – Nick Bockrath’s 1990s Gibson Les Paul Deluxe
15:23 – Nick Bockrath’s 1970s Gibson SG Custom
18:08 – Nick Bockrath on Performing with a Broken Knee
19:59 – Nick Bockrath’s Russ Pahl Partscaster Tele
24:10 – Nick Bockrath’s Vintage Gibson BR-6 lap steel
25:45 – D’Addario & the Rig Rundown
26:17 – Nick Bockrath’s GFI Ultra pedal-steel
29:56 – Nick Bockrath’s Pedalboard
43:24 – Brad Shultz’s Guitars
47:17 – Brad Shultz’s Rack Gear (Preamps & Compressors)
48:41 – Brad Shultz’s Pedalboard
51:31 – Daniel Tichenor’s Bass Rig
57:18 – D’Addario Strings & Joe Glaser
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2024
#guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #cagetheelephant #guitarplayer #guitargear
#Cage #Elephant #Rig #Rundown #Gear #Tour #Brad #Shultz #Daniel #Tichenor #Nick #Bockrath
Originally posted by UC5J-hZ4wNf7OlkzIn49LHoQ at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l51SSxxqURw
Shop Cage the Elephant's Gear:
Gibson Les Paul Deluxe Goldtop – https://sweetwater.sjv.io/vN7r5e
Gibson Custom 1963 Les Paul SG Custom Reissue – https://sweetwater.sjv.io/NkrV1K
Supro 1933R Royale 2×12 Combos – https://sweetwater.sjv.io/y275J2
Boss DD-8 Digital Delay – https://sweetwater.sjv.io/KjDAax
EarthQuaker Devices Disaster Transport – https://sweetwater.sjv.io/LXQGAZ
Boss TR-2 Tremolo – https://sweetwater.sjv.io/9gQOYW
Electro-Harmonix Mel9 – https://sweetwater.sjv.io/6eK2WK
Lehle 3at1 SGoS Instrument Switcher – https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Qyn3Ez
Gibson J-45 Standard – https://sweetwater.sjv.io/PyY7WX
JHS Colour Box V2 Preamp Pedal – https://sweetwater.sjv.io/MmeQkM
EarthQuaker Devices Tone Job – https://sweetwater.sjv.io/75gPBY
MXR M107 Phase 100 Phaser Pedal – https://sweetwater.sjv.io/DK2r9n
MXR Reverb – https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Qy5gZA
Boss AW-3 Dynamic Wah – https://sweetwater.sjv.io/rQ7xkR
Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor – https://sweetwater.sjv.io/JzDdK2
Boss TU-3 Chromatic Tuner – https://sweetwater.sjv.io/jryA4M
Radial Engineering BigShot ABY – https://sweetwater.sjv.io/EKxXzD
Voodoo Labs PX-8 Switcher – https://sweetwater.sjv.io/5gV32L
Fender Player Mustang Bass – https://sweetwater.sjv.io/AWbDx1
Fender Engager Boost – https://sweetwater.sjv.io/VmGWz3
Fender Super Bassman 300W Head – https://sweetwater.sjv.io/vNd203
Fender Bassman 810 Neo Cabinet – https://sweetwater.sjv.io/baEe4x
Ernie Ball Power Slinkys (.011–.048) – https://sweetwater.sjv.io/6eJK3r
Ernie Ball 2004 Earthwood 80/20 Bronze Strings (.011–.052) – https://sweetwater.sjv.io/21A3bO
La Bella RX-S4D Rx Stainless Roundwound Bass Strings (.045–.105) – https://sweetwater.sjv.io/XY7VbG
La Bella 760FS Deep Talkin' Bass Flatwound Strings (.045–.105) – https://sweetwater.sjv.io/3eG36B
????
What’s the name of the song that nick plays in the intro?
LP sounds better than all.
Ayo man, i love see nick playing he deserves more time to show what he have to show
The DI rig is pretty cool! At home I find myself not using an amp either..usually run into a Great River Neve Style and an always on style bluesbreaker or something. It sounds like the best solid state amp you could use…super clean and direct to console loves loves fuzz. With two guitar players the dynamic makes sense. Really cool to see that over some amp sim situation. I love to mix real amps and do the DI Neve thing to blend. It just has a full range EQ spectrum sound, with lots of headroom. Gives off a high fidelity studio vibe, but pushing them on gain side can get fun while dialing back a DI master volume! When recording fuzz, this is probably my preferred way for sure.
The other guitar board is cool to see…lots of always on space echo/verb dwell. I love that sound, but not using two amps always good to have an A/B kill switch for getting back to core sounds…less tapping.
Was also surprised to see the GigRig stuff run very practical for cleaner signal chain. Didn’t seem like it was being used for a lot of presets or anything.
Simple but inspiring! Also reminds me of the Tama Impala using the old Boss digital 4 tracks with built in drum machine. I had one of those in 2000, and would have never thought on a pedal board. But it was a great sampler, sounds and decent drum beats in there…wish I still had it.
I need to know the name of the song from intro
get Ty Segall on here please
I did a great Tremoverb video not long ago. Cool he loves them too. My 1st amp still killer. Fellow Kentucky boy here…????
brad gave me that silvertone in spokane!
Battletapes for life! ❤
CAGE
@ 40:36 = Better Call Saul…
have to say, the opening of Nick playing, got me so inspired i picked up my guitar and lost an hour of playing. awesome. ok, i'm back to listen to his rig run down. thanks guys and Nick.
yea! can't wait Jul 7th in L.A.. !!
That's extremely tear ur head off bright!!
Just loctite the trem arm screw in there man.
Kevin Parker has been running his preamp into a PA for years ! Love that console tone !!
Please do Kings of Leon!!
Love the new album.
I must check out this band…every one of his sounds is like nail over a blackboard…. like a Tarantino Nightmare……
With my Bigsby 66 Casino I always use 011s… nothing else really stays in tune and warbles as well……I also use 011s on my main stage DGT…that also sounds “better” with that gauge…..i.e Bigsby and 011s are proprietary
LOVED seeing Bailey on here! Great explanations man!
Nice intro e cool video
What’s the song he’s playing during the intro?
First of all, why aren’t these fucking clowns not out here showing us their shit! Who do they think they are? fucking Led Zeppelin. We need a rig, rundown with Royal Blood. Props to the guy nick for showing his rig.
Too bad no sound rundown for Bradleys & Daniels rigs. Thanks Nick for doing amazing Rig Rundown love your vibe, gear, and guitars. ❤
Pedal Project! Growly right?
Nothing Here !
Definitely cool seeing a new one with them, the first one is still one of my favourites to go back and rewatch so this was awesome
My boy Bailey <3
0:16 – That guitar, just…wow!
Wasn't Dave Grohl's ankle injury a swedish occurrence as well?
You're in good company!
Hell yeah! nie shirt! Go Panthers! https://youtu.be/cTi5y9IhSs8?si=-BskvBJ-3NsXWEk4 CC is English!
This was a cool one, loved Cage’s self titled album. Nick has some great taste in guitars!
I’m not a red guitar guy, but that Harper is damn tasty!