Steve Sladkowski

In 2004, I bought a vintage cherry sunburst Fender American Deluxe Telecaster, with a maple neck, which is still the primary guitar I use. I later had a Bigsby installed and replaced the bridge by inverting a bridge from a Fender Jaguar. I use graphite saddles and have switched out the Samarium-Colbalt noiseless pickup in the bridge for a hotter, 50s-style Broadcaster pickup; the neck pickup is still the original noiseless but if I had more money, I’d be swapping that out for the Seymour Duncan Charlie Christian humbucker pickup. The sounds you’re hearing from me, both on record and in a live setting, are all made from this guitar. I honestly think Telecasters are one of the greatest guitars ever, and I keep learning new things about them in the ten-plus years I’ve been playing one.

SS: Speaking of pedals, I’ve been slowly honing in my base setup for the next round of touring. The current live rig consists of a Boss TU-3, a Keeley-modified Ibanez TS-9, a Fulltone ’70 fuzz, an Electroharmonix Pitchfork, a Malekko 616 Analog Delay, an Electroharmonix Freeze, and an Ernie Ball Volume Pedal Jr.

Mentioned as a part of the rig used on 2022 album "THE UNRAVELING OF PUPTHEBAND" in November 2022 issue of Guitar World.

Sladkowski uses a Fender American Elite Telecaster Thinline during a live session with cbc music, and used one on the "The Nightmare Begins" tour.

"About two and a half years ago, I found a great Craigslist deal on a Dr. Z EZG-50 head. Dr. Z is an amazing amp-maker based in Cleveland, OH that you’ve gotta check out if you haven’t already. I snapped that up and currently run it through a vintage MusicMan 2×12? cabinet. "

Can also be seen in this recent performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8OoxiDf4ZI

I try to get setups done at least twice a year. As far as strings go, I use Ernie Ball Cobalt Not Even Slinkys (.012 gauge) that are tuned to Eb-standard.

At 1:28 is the best shot of Steve's amp head. There is no glare on the amp face, and it is much more clear how many knobs on this model, knob sizes, as well as that the pictures are above the knobs and not behind on some Orange models. Also the visible two toggles on the left followed by the bright orange jewel light.

The Boss FRV-1 can be seen at the top left corner of Steve's pedalboard throughout the video.

you can see it on the bottom right of his pedalboard

steve can be seen here, using his red fender (american or made in mexico?) jazzmaster in their tiny desk video

As far as amplification goes, on the last record, I used a modified Fender Vibrolux reissue. We ran it super hot in the studio — sometimes running it for eight to ten hours a day — but I found that, while the response I was getting was great in a controlled studio environment, the 2×10? speakers just weren’t powerful enough in a live setting.

Mentioned as a part of the rig used on 2022 album "THE UNRAVELING OF PUPTHEBAND" in November 2022 issue of Guitar World.

SS: Speaking of pedals, I’ve been slowly honing in my base setup for the next round of touring. The current live rig consists of a Boss TU-3, a Keeley-modified Ibanez TS-9, a Fulltone ’70 fuzz, an Electroharmonix Pitchfork, a Malekko 616 Analog Delay, an Electroharmonix Freeze, and an Ernie Ball Volume Pedal Jr.

SS: Speaking of pedals, I’ve been slowly honing in my base setup for the next round of touring. The current live rig consists of a Boss TU-3, a Keeley-modified Ibanez TS-9, a Fulltone ’70 fuzz, an Electroharmonix Pitchfork, a Malekko 616 Analog Delay, an Electroharmonix Freeze, and an Ernie Ball Volume Pedal Jr.

SS: Speaking of pedals, I’ve been slowly honing in my base setup for the next round of touring. The current live rig consists of a Boss TU-3, a Keeley-modified Ibanez TS-9, a Fulltone ’70 fuzz, an Electroharmonix Pitchfork, a Malekko 616 Analog Delay, an Electroharmonix Freeze, and an Ernie Ball Volume Pedal Jr.

Sladkowski uses a Fender Modern Player Starcaster during a live session with q on cbc, and used one on the "The Dream is Over" tour.

Although my live rig is fairly stripped down and conservative, I am a big fan of using any pedal whatsoever to help find a sound in the studio. I’ve previously used a Death By Audio Robot, Electroharmonix POG2, EHX Holy Grail Plus, and Boss RC-20 XL for various sounds.

Although my live rig is fairly stripped down and conservative, I am a big fan of using any pedal whatsoever to help find a sound in the studio. I’ve previously used a Death By Audio Robot, Electroharmonix POG2, EHX Holy Grail Plus, and Boss RC-20 XL for various sounds.

In this video we see Steve play his Fender Parallel Universe Jazz Tele

Steve Sladkowski uses the Union Tube & Transistor Tsar Bomba fuzz pedal, as seen on the bottom of his pedalboard in an Instagram post discussing his new pedalboard setup.

at 12:35 you see his pedalboard

Last year in Philadelphia, on a whim, I bought a DiPinto Belvedere. I’ve been using it mostly as a backup guitar but increasingly I’m using it on new songs that are using drop-D and other alternate tunings. It’s a little bit darker and warmer — thanks to the combination of a mahogany fretboard and rosewood semi-hollow body — so it’s a nice counterpoint to the twang of the Tele.

SS: Speaking of pedals, I’ve been slowly honing in my base setup for the next round of touring. The current live rig consists of a Boss TU-3, a Keeley-modified Ibanez TS-9, a Fulltone ’70 fuzz, an Electroharmonix Pitchfork, a Malekko 616 Analog Delay, an Electroharmonix Freeze, and an Ernie Ball Volume Pedal Jr.

SS: Speaking of pedals, I’ve been slowly honing in my base setup for the next round of touring. The current live rig consists of a Boss TU-3, a Keeley-modified Ibanez TS-9, a Fulltone ’70 fuzz, an Electroharmonix Pitchfork, a Malekko 616 Analog Delay, an Electroharmonix Freeze, and an Ernie Ball Volume Pedal Jr.

SS: Speaking of pedals, I’ve been slowly honing in my base setup for the next round of touring. The current live rig consists of a Boss TU-3, a Keeley-modified Ibanez TS-9, a Fulltone ’70 fuzz, an Electroharmonix Pitchfork, a Malekko 616 Analog Delay, an Electroharmonix Freeze, and an Ernie Ball Volume Pedal Jr.

Although my live rig is fairly stripped down and conservative, I am a big fan of using any pedal whatsoever to help find a sound in the studio. I’ve previously used a Death By Audio Robot, Electroharmonix POG2, EHX Holy Grail Plus, and Boss RC-20 XL for various sounds.

Although my live rig is fairly stripped down and conservative, I am a big fan of using any pedal whatsoever to help find a sound in the studio. I’ve previously used a Death By Audio Robot, Electroharmonix POG2, EHX Holy Grail Plus, and Boss RC-20 XL for various sounds.

In the video from NBC's "Last Call with Carson Daly," Steve Sladkowski is seen using an Orange PPC412 Guitar Speaker Cabinet. This marks a shift from his usual Fender equipment. The video also shows the bassist and possibly Stephan using Orange gear.

Steve's pedalboard is shown throughout the video with the El Capistan visible in the bottom left corner of the board. Mentioned as a part of the rig used on 2022 album "THE UNRAVELING OF PUPTHEBAND" in November 2022 issue of Guitar World.

The Empress Nebulus is seen at the top of Steve's pedalboard multiple times throughout the video.

The Tym Big Mud can be seen throughout the video in the centre of his pedalboard. Steve goes into detail about the pedal at 3:28. Mentioned as a part of the rig used on 2022 album "THE UNRAVELING OF PUPTHEBAND" in November 2022 issue of Guitar World.

Steve Sladkowski uses a Fender American Professional Jazzmaster, as shown in his Instagram post where he thanks Fender for supporting his musical journey.