Converge
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Kurt Ballou takes tone very seriously. He\\u2019s been on the leading edge of aggressive guitar sounds since 1990, and Converge\\u2019s fourth album, 2001\\u2019s Jane Doe, is still seen as a game-changing release, with its ferocious performances and masterful production. His sonic temple, God City Studio, is the destination for artists looking to make their rawest, heaviest, brutalist work. Ballou has even developed a gear brand (God City Instruments) that includes guitars, pedals, and pickups, all in the pursuit of turning ideas into art.
During our conversation before Converge\\u2019s sold-out performance at Nashville\\u2019s Basement East on May 22nd, Ballou dove into his Line 6 Helix spice rack and shared how 30 plus years as a guitarist and in-demand producer have informed his guitar-design philosophy. Plus, he detailed why his goal is to get to a place where \\u201cgear doesn\\u2019t matter.\\u201d And then, longtime bassist Nate Newton joined the fun by showing off his \\u201cRiffblaster\\u201d setup and how a special P-Bass helps him honor a dear friend.
Brought to you by D\\u2019Addario String Finder.