Devin Townsend - Equipment

Equipment

Townsend played ESP six and seven-string guitars from 1994 to 2009 during his endorsement with ESP. In the early days of Strapping Young Lad, he was seen playing an ESP Flying V-style 6-string with a single EMG 81 pickup and a custom graphic designed by Townsend. This was the guitar that was used during the shows in support of Heavy As A Really Heavy Thing, and the shows in support of City. In addition to this guitar, Townsend also utilized an ESP EXP Explorer-style guitar with two EMG 81 pickups. During the late 1990s and the 2000s, he was also seen with two ESP Telecaster models (one white, one black) with EMG 81 pickups, which were used for the majority of his six-string material. Townsend also utilized two ESP Custom Shop Horizon 7-string guitars with a 27" baritone scale and EMG 81-7 pickups, which closely resembled ESP's Stephen Carpenter signature model. He has also been seen with the Stephen Carpenter SC-607 and SC-607B. He was also occasionally seen playing what is believed to be a Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster HSS during Synchestra-era shows (mainly for performing "Deadhead" off Accelerated Evolution). At the time, this was the only guitar Devin Townsend was seen with that did not have EMG pickups.

After returning to public view in 2009, Peavey began endorsing Townsend, who later released a PXD Devin Townsend signature model, essentially a Flying V-style 7-string guitar with an EMG 81-7 pickup and a 7-string EMG SA single coil pickup in the neck position. Peavey also made Townsend a number of custom 7-strings, including one with a single EMG 81-7 pickup that is used for playing most of the material on Ziltoid The Omniscient. Aside from his signature model, Townsend also utilizes two custom 6-string Session models made by Peavey; one with a natural flame-top finish and the DTP logo on the 12th fret, and one in a black finish with a Floyd Rose vibrato unit (for Open C and Open B tuning, respectively).

In 2012, Townsend announced that he was using other guitars besides his Peavey models, including two Sadowsky Telecaster models, a number of Framus semi-hollow body guitars (one with a DTP logo on the 12th fret and a Bigsby vibrato), and his custom Peavey 7-strings. In regard to this, Townsend stated on HeavyBlogIsHeavy.com:

"The Peavey situation was intense and a real eye opener in terms of how things REALLY work in the business side of endorsements, and I can’t say I really enjoyed it, but we got the guitar out and everyone is nice to each other so all good...I really like that V. However, I decided to use other guitars for other stuff as well, a Sadowsky tele set, a Framus hollwbody group of guitars, and the v’s. No one is entirely happy with that decision, but I find it difficult to not be straight up with folks about what I want to play and do and have typically pissed people off as a result... the bottom line though is I like what I like and it is important to the music to be accurate with tones and vibe. The guitars I actually play, I really like...regardless of brand."

Townsend utilized Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier and Stiletto amp heads, Mesa/Boogie 2x12 cabinets, and Marshall 4x12 cabinets from 1994 to 2010, when he switched to a Fractal Audio AxeFx system. During the recording of Synchestra, Townsend also used a Peavey 5150 head and a Marshall 4x12 cabinet. He has been through a number of outboard modules that were mainly used for echo/reverb effects, something that Townsend is known for as a part of his signature sound. Townsend also utilizes D'Addario Strings (.010-.052 and .010-.060) and Planet Waves Custom Series cables.