We met up with lead guitarist Jacob Binzer from D-A-D during his sound check in Aarhus, DK (Aug. ’21). Jacob kindly showed us his rig and demonstrated some of the settings he uses, when playing live with D-A-D. One of his signature settings is his famous “Spaghetti Western sound”, which has been an essential part of D-A-D’s sound since the late ’80’s. This specific sound was made famous by the song “Sleeping My day Away”, where it is the theme sound of the song.

The gear used

Jacob is an avid Caveman Audio user and has multiple custom made products from Steen Skrydstrup. The SC1 System Controller is used  to control his entire system – and Jacob uses a mix between preset and direct-access controls when performing. All the pedals are interfaced via the MR10 Loop System to ensure maximum performance.

All amps are connected to the Amplifier Interface, custom built by Steen Skrydstrup.
The Amplifier Interface switches between his amps, and provides a Line Level signal to the TC Electronic G-Force from each amp. The effects signal is then sent to the stereo power amp.
The system is a WET-DRY-WET system.
Dry sound in the center cabinet, and the stereo effects in the two outer cabinets.
The live sound is a mixture of the 3 cabinets.

“My guitar needs to have the clearest signal chain possible. I want to go from my guitar and out of the cabinet without losing tone. The shorter a signal path you can have, the more core sound you get. The more “body” you will have in your sound. That’s my philosophy”.
– Jacob Binzer, Lead guitarist of D-A-D

D-A-D Live Concert

Jacob’s trusted guitars

The main guitar that Jacob uses at the moment is the Gibson Les Paul, Murphy Lab ’59. His back up guitar is a Gibson Les Paul Classic from 2000.

Pedals & effects used live

These are the effects that Jacob uses when playing live with D-A-D:
Boss CS2 Compressor
MXR Micro Amp
Boss Metal Zone
TC Electronic Spark Booster
Tube Screamer TS-808
Electro-Harmonix, Pitch Fork Pitch Shifter
Voodoo Lab Proctavia
Dunlup CryBaby
Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus (Power adapter)
TC Electronic G-Force

The Metal Zone is used only for the song “Reconstrucdead”, which have a very distinctive punchy riff sound.
The Tube Screamer TS808, the Boss CS2 Compressor and the MXR Micro Amp is used only for the clean amp sound.
The TC Electronic Spark Booster is only used on one preset as a “Gain down” for the Friedman amp.
The Pitchfork is used as a Whammy pedal and the G-Force is only used for delays.
The Voodoo Lab Proctavia is used for the riff sound for the song “Monster Philosophy”

Jacob’s signature “Spaghetti western” sound, from the song “Sleeping My Day Away” is made by going into the CS2 compressor, to the MXR Micro Amp and then adding delay from the TC Electronic G-Force.
To be able to make the sound, you need a single coil guitar and add compression, boost and delay.
The delay effect can be replaced by reverb, but it has a tendency not to work that well in a live situation. Then make sure to make a hi cut and low cut, so you have a mid range sound. The rest is up to you and your fingers.

Jacob Binzer’s Gear

We met up with guitarist Niklas Schneidermann from Magtens Korridorer in the band's rehearsal room in Copenhagen (September ’21). He kindly showed us his rig and demonstrated some of the settings he uses, when playing live with Magtens Korridorer. Niklas' main piece of gear is his 3 channel tube amp, that he uses for three different types of overdrive sounds.

The amplifier & cabinet

Niklas is an avid Caveman Audio user and has multiple custom-made products from Steen Skrydstrup. Niklas has been playing the VOX AC50 amp for many years. Three years ago he decided to shift to the Skrydstrup TD50 Triple Drive amp. Last year Niklas tried going back to the Vox amp, but quickly realized that after playing the Skrydstrup amp, there was no turning back. - It simply sounds better!

Niklas is getting his dirt sounds from the amp, which has three levels of overdrive. Channel 1 ranges from fat and warm clean tones to gentle overdrive, Channel 2 goes from fast overdrive tones to high-gain bliss, and finally, Channel 3 takes you from a punchy-power-chord type of sound to screaming high-gain lead tones.

The Skrydstrup TD50 Triple Drive is now called Caveman Audio X3 - 3 Channel amp. The name is new, but the amp is the same. The guitar cabinet used is a Caveman Audio 412-V30 Cab.

“For the past three years, I have needed to have my Skrydstrup amplifier with me, because it just sounds fantastic - even when I play it!”

-Niklas Schneidermann (Magtens Korridorer)

Niklas’ favorite guitars

Niklas uses a variety of guitars, but mainly uses three types, when playing live with Magtens Korridorer.

His main guitar is the Fender Custom Shop Esquire Telecaster, which has an old beat up look. He also has a spare Fender Custom Shop Esquire Telecaster, this one with fancy gold paint.

Niklas’ latest edition to the guitars, is the Fender Jazzmaster Firemist gold ’65 that he purchased last year.

Also added to the guitars that will be going out on tour shortly, is the Fender Custom Shop LTD 60 Strat Relic in shell pink finish and a rare Vox Mandoguitar from the 60’s.

"Back to basics - just with great sound”

-Niklas Schneidermann (Magtens Korridorer)

Pedals & effects used live

The switching is controlled by the SC1 Midi Foot Controller from Caveman Audio. Niklas appreciates the noiseless switching he gets when using the SC1 controller, opposed to a regular pedalboard. Niklas likes to keep his setup simple and does not have a lot of pedals. These are the pedals that he uses live:

Caveman Audio TRM1 Opto Tremolo

2x Caveman Audio BOS1 Boost 28 booster pedals

Boss DD-5 Digital Delay

Strymon El Capistan Tape Echo

“The great thing about the SC1 Midi Foot Controller, opposed to using a regular pedalboard, is that you can get the sounds from all your favorite stompboxes without all the noise and the hiss”

-Niklas Schneidermann (Magtens Korridorer)

Custom-built products

Niklas is using a Skrydstrup custom-built interface in his rig. When playing live he also uses a Skrydstrup Input Selector as well as a Skrydstrup Acoustic Preamp, to make sure his acoustic guitar sounds right when playing live.

Niklas Schneidermann's Gear