Mac McCaughan

In this photo, Mac McCaughan can be seen playing a Gibson Marauder.

In Tape Op interview with Larry Crane, he mentions using Roland VS-1680 while recording Portastatic's "Summer of the Shark" album:

John Plymale is great with that. I mixed Be Still Please, the last Portastatic record, with John as well as Summer of the Shark. John's a master of the EQ in terms of what you're saying. Instead of just panning something to a different place or turning it up or turning it down — just EQ'ing something so that it sits in the right place and you hear it. When I brought in Summer of the Shark and we had to dub all that stuff out of my Roland VS-1680 two tracks at a time, it just took for fucking ever. Those tracks had been recorded onto reel-to-reel 8-track, then dumped into the 16- track. There was a guitar solo that was on a track with some other guitar but the guitar solo was slightly out of tune and there was no way to separate it out — but he EQ'd it so that it didn't sound as out of tune.

Mac is seen plugged into a Fender Twin Reverb, which is unusual considering his main amp is a Fender Tweed Bassman 4x10 while with Superchunk.

Mac McCaughan of Superchunk has been using the Fender '59 Bassman LTD, a powerful yet portable combo guitar amplifier, as shown in a user-uploaded image on Ytimg.

Mac is seen using his notable blue Fender Telecaster throughout the entire KEXP Session.

In the provided photo from Pitchfork, Mac McCaughan can be seen using a Fender Hot Rod DeVille 410 III 60W 4x10 Tube Guitar Combo Amp, potentially as a temporary replacement for his usual '59 Bassman Reissue.

In Tape Op interview with Larry Crane, he mentions buying an Empirical Labs Distressor during recording Portastatic's "Summer of the Shark" album at home:

If I'm working on a Portastatic record and I'm at an impasse or I just finished a song and I don't really know where to go next, I just sit down at the piano or start using something that I'm not necessarily as comfortable with and it leads to something. I recorded Summer of the Shark at home and I needed some gear. I borrowed some stuff and I bought an [Empirical Labs] Distressor. That changed my life. That alone gives you ideas.

In Tape Op interview with Larry Crane, he mentions having an ART Tube MP in his home recording setup:

My home recording setup started with just a 4-track, some generic mic and then getting a [Shure] SM58 and an ART Tube MP. Getting a new piece of gear, whether it's a new keyboard you find at a thrift shop or a new microphone, can spur on new songwriting because all of a sudden stuff sounds different to you and it gives you ideas.

Mac McCaughan is shown with a Gibson Les Paul Junior Double-Cutaway in a photo from Brooklynvegan, indicating it is part of his guitar collection, though it is not frequently used.

On this live picture from 2021, Mac McCaughan is using a JHS PackRat.

On this live picture from 2021, Mac McCaughan's pedalboard includes a Wampler Mini Ego Compressor.

On this live picture from 2021, Mac McCaughan's pedalboard includes an Ibanez TS9 overdrive.

On this live picture, Mac McCaughan's pedalboard includes an Electro-Harmonix Memory Toy.

On this live picture, Mac McCaughan's pedalboard includes a Boss TU-3.

in this instagram post by mike krol you can see mac playing a sunburst p bass

In a picture of his pedalboard taken on September 9, 2025 during a live performance, this pedal can be seen.

In a photo from September 9, 2025, during a live performance, Mac McCaughan is shown using a TC Electronic PolyTune 3 Mini, visible at the corner of his pedalboard. The image can be viewed here.

In a photo taken at a live performance on September 9, 2025, Mac McCaughan can be seen using the Walrus Audio Fundamental Series Tremolo Pedal on his board. Source Image

Seems to have been his main guitar during Superchunk’s early years.