Nels Cline
US rock/jazz guitarist and composer
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Genre
Role
Genre
Nels Cline's Gear
Milkman Sound Milkman Creamer 20-Watt 1x12" Guitar Combo with Jupiter Alnico Speaker
Combo Guitar AmplifiersRed milkman creamer spotted in left corner of photo.
Delay llama xtreme clearly seen next to pedalboard.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/247909154457475000/ (Bottom left in photo, unnumbered black pedal between #12 and #15)
Nels Cline's use of a Demeter TRM-1 Tremulator was listed, photographed, and detailed quite extensively on a now-defunct website/gear journal Cline maintained himself in the 2000s (last viewed around Fall 2008).
If I recall correctly, Nels Cline explained how it was rarely used on his touring pedalboard by the time of Sky Blue Sky, but was still used in the studio. On tour it had been bumped from primary tremolo duty by a Fulltone Deja Vibe.
Now that Cline's old website is gone, the only reference I can find of him using the Tremulator outside of this random pedalboard picture from 2005, is his remaining inclusion in the wikipedia article for the TRM-1 and a few mentions in old messageboard threads, but no direct sources seem to exist anymore.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demeter_TRM-1_Tremulator
EDIT: Found direct source in a March 2005 issue of Guitar Player magazine, featuring Nels Cline on the cover. Nels directly states his use of the Demeter Tremulator on page 54 (highlighted in picture), and is pictured with the Tremulator in the bottom left corner of his pedalboard on page 60.
On December 8, 2022, Nels Cline was photographed playing a Godin A11 Glissentar during a live performance.
Listing in Wilco's Reverb Store: "Here is Nels' Meazzi Hollywood Acoustic Jupiter. It's a super rare model with sliding tone control (almost acts like a low/high pass filter) and a VERY thin neck profile. This guy has experienced a headstock snap but was very professionally fixed. There are a couple body cracks on the front near the lower bout. Tone knob is missing its top. Ultimately this guitar has been ridden hard and put away wet more times than not... been through a few things but is super fun to play and sounds great"
Listing on Wilco's Reverb Store: "This amazing instrument will come with a signed certificate of authenticity showing that yes, this belonged to Nels Cline"
Listing in Wilco's Reverb Store: "1933 Gibson L-50 Archtop Sunburst Acoustic. This inspiring guitar will come with a signed certificate of authenticity showing that yes, this belonged to Nels Cline"
Nels has been recently using the Benson Delay on his board, as evidenced by this post from the official Benson Amps Instagram page.
Can be seen on his pedalboard throughout his Richmond Sessions appearance (see 9:14 for reference).
Nels Cline, the guitarist, is documented using a Mule Mavis during a live performance in a video shared by Mule Resonator Guitars on Instagram, where the caption reads: "Trying to stick that cheat code on NBA Jam. Nels Cline taking his Mavis for a journey. They’re tools, build what you want with 'em. #hesonfire #boomshakalaka Video sent by @tacos_al_trebor."
This is a community-built gear list for Nels Cline.
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Discography