Thurston Moore

According to Sonic Youth's official website, Thurston Moore use ProCo Turbo Rat. The pedal was also mentioned in the Premier Guitar's 2017 interview.

I always used RATs and then I graduated to Turbo RATs, which are rugged and dependable. They sound big—they have a good sound. I have a few different outlying pedals like a phase shifter and a chorus pedal, but I rarely go near them. When I play improvised music—like completely free and improvised devoted music—I’ll use more of an array of pedals, usually.

"I usually use a Peavey Road Master... I used that a lot through the last 10-plus years of Sonic Youth," says Thurston Moore, in this article.

A photo of Thurston Moore's pedalboard shows he uses a Sovtek Civil War Big Muff distortion pedal (this photo's time period is undetermined).

In this photo, Thurston Moore can be seen playing a Fender Jaguar.

In this photo, Thurston Moore can be seen playing Fender Jazzmaster. This website says, about it, "Used by Thurston: 1999-2009 1999 -- CGDGBB (Free City Rhymes, Renegade Princess) 2000 -- CGDGBB (Free City Rhymes, Renegade Princess, Sunday, Hoarfrost, Ineffable Me) 2001 -- CGDGBB (Free City Rhymes, Hoarfrost) + CGDGCD (Sympathy for the Strawberry, The Empty Page, Disconnection Notice, Karen Revisited, Rain on Tin) 2002 -- CGDGCD (The Empty Page, Disconnection Notice, Karen Revisited, Rain on Tin, Plastic Sun, Radical Adults Lick Godhead Style) 2003 -- CGDGCD (The Empty Page, Disconnection Notice, Karen Revisited, Rain on Tin, Plastic Sun, Radical Adults Lick Godhead Style, Mariah Carey..., Peace Attack) 2004 -- CGDGCD (The Empty Page, Disconnection Notice, Karen Revisited, Rain on Tin, Mariah Carey..., Unmade Bed, Dripping Dream, Stones, New Hampshire, Peace Attack) 2005 -- CGDGCD (The Empty Page, Disconnection Notice, Karen Revisited, Rain on Tin, Mariah Carey..., Unmade Bed, Dripping Dream, Stones, New Hampshire, Peace Attack) & also DD#A#D#GG for new early 'Ripped' sets 2006 -- CGDGCD (Reena, What a Waste, Turquoise Boy, Lights Out, The Neutral, Stones, Sunday) 2007 -- CGDGCD (Reena, What a Waste, Turquoise Boy, Lights Out, The Neutral, Stones, The Empty Page) 2008 -- CGDGCD (Reena) 2009 -- CGDGCD (What We Know, Malibu Gas Station, Thunderclap) NOTES:

New Jazzmaster used as a replacement after the gear theft in July 1999. Black body 2 soapbars Rosewood fretboard Tortoise shell pickguard 1 toggle switch 1 knob (tone removed) Switches removed Trem bar Listed as "BLACK" or "BL.JZ" on 2000 set lists. Listed as "black jazz" on 2002 set lists. Absolutely covered in stickers Gauges for CGDGCD: .052 .042 .026 .017 .014 .014"

Also, Eric Baecht, guitar tech for Thurston Moore, said:

"The black Jazzmaster is a '61 and has been around since about '99 and is Thurston's main axe for Sonic and side projects. It goes where he goes, and is subject to all manner of abuse (files, knitting needles, etc.) so if I haven't seen it for a while, it's often a bit "broken." When we start a Sonic tour, I usually need to give it some special attention to get it show- worthy again."

In Premier Guitar's 2017 interview, Moore briefly discusses the 1961 Jazzmaster.

Yeah, being born in ’58, I was born the year Jazzmaster was born. Sometimes I get the guitars mixed up. I was talking to the Sonic Youth guitar techs who really look at the guitars. I think the history is, the gold Jazzmaster is a guitar that was given to me via Patti Smith after Sonic Youth got its equipment notoriously ripped off in California [in 1999]. The Patti Smith Group had their equipment ripped off at some point in the ’70s, so she was very understanding of the grief we were going through. She was doing a show in Northampton, Massachusetts, with her group and staying at our house. She said, “I know what it’s like. I want you to have one of our guitars.” I said, “You don’t have to do that.” She told her guitar tech, “Go get that guitar.” It was that gold Jazzmaster, and I was like, “This is really sweet.” I held onto it for a long time. I remember telling Tom Verlaine that she gifted me this guitar. He’s like, “I can’t believe she gave you that gold Jazzmaster.”

An image of Thurston's Deluxe Reverb reissue can be seen on the Sonic Youth Gear Guide. It appears he used a similar setup to that of his Twin Reverb in previous years.

It can be seen beside his Peavey/Marshall stack in this live show.

On the second page of the article, Thurston says he used a 2x12" Deville for recording.

At 0:59 in this live performance of "Antenna", there is a clear shot of Thurston using his signature green Fender Jazzmaster with black pickguard and white pickups.

In this photo, Thurston Moore can be seen playing a Fender Mustang. On this website, it is said:

"Used by Thurston: 1988 1988 -- GABDEG?? NOTES:

A sunburst Mustang almost identical to Lee's that Thurston apparently used for a while in 1988. He can be seen using it at a photograph from the Roxy in November 1988, and it's on display (with the other sunburst Mustang) in the "Put Blood in the Music" documentary. I suspect it may have been in GABDEG... Sunburst body 2 black single coils Rosewood fretboard Pearl pickguard"

In this photo, Thurston Moore can be seen with a Gibson Marauder. On this site, about this Marauder, it is said:

"Used by Lee/Thurston: 1985-1986 1985 -- F#F#F#F#EB (?? - Lee) & EG#EG#EG# (Expressway - THURSTON) 1986 -- EG#EG#EG# (Expressway - THURSTON) NOTES:

I'd originally thought this was just Thurston's 'Expressway' guitar, but apparently Lee used it on the April '85 tour of Europe, and probably traded it over to Thurston around the time 'Expressway' was written in June. It was stolen just before the 11/22/86 show in NYC. In September 2006, the original 'Expressway' guitar mysteriously reappeared in the hands of a Sonic tech -- completely stripped and beaten up. Yellow body Humbucker in neck, slanted single coil in bridge Rosewood fretboard 1 toggle switch 2 knobs"

Thurston Moore consistently used the MXR Blue Box (Script Logo) fuzz pedal throughout most of his career with Sonic Youth. This is evidenced by a photo from Sonicyouth's collection.

Lot 41 in the 2020 Cafe OTO COVID-19 Fundraiser Auction. This March 19, 2020 video was recorded to promote the auction.

Hi, my name is Thurston Moore and I am offering this Sovtek Big Muff pedal that was made in probably the 1990s... 1980s, 1990s, to Cafe OTO for their auction for getting some new equipment into the space. This pedal I used for about ten years in Sonic Youth and I think 2004 to 2014 is when I purchased it, uh, somewhere. Went through a few of these through the years and they would just like, I would just... they would just die. I would just kill them on tour. This one went through the wars, as you can see it's really, like, went through the wars. It might even still work. I haven't used it in quite some time. It is an objet d'art as they say [laughs] somewhere. I've inscribed it. It's a conversation piece and it's yours if you would like to bid on it.

This page of Sonic Youth's website says, about Thurston Moore's Epiphone Gensis:

"Used by Thurston: 1990 1990 -- CCEBGD (Cross the Breeze) NOTES:

This guitar was played live in early 1990 by Thurston, and was later used by Lee in the "Dirty Boots" video. I'm told it was a deluxe version of the Genesis line. Black mahogany body w/ white trim 2 humbuckers Rosewood fretboard 2 knobs Gold hardware"

Two are visible in this March 5, 2020 Instagram post.

On this photo uploaded to Moore's Facebook page one can see an EHX Metal Muff. The pedal was also mentioned in the Premier Guitar's 2017 interview.

Extensively documented on Sonic Youth's official website.

1997

• Mu-Tron Wah/Vol
• Sovtek Big Muff
• Proco Turbo Rat
• Dunlop Hendrix Octave Fuzz
• MXR Blue Box
• MXR Phase 90

1998

• Sovtek Big Muff
• Proco Turbo Rat
• MXR Blue Box (Dunlop)
• MXR Phase 90
• Dunlop Hendrix Octave Fuzz
• Mu-Tron Wah/Vol
• Mu-Tron Octave Divider (not in tour rig)
  

Thanks to the now defunct original SY supersite evol.org, I can provide you with some photographs of SY's effects gear from the '98 "A Thousand Leaves" tour, specifically the 5/21/98 Portland, OR gig. Many thanks to Michael McCullough for taking these.

• Sovtek Big Muff & Turbo Rat
• Turbo Rat
• Phase 90 & Blue Box
• Mu-Tron Wah/Vol, Big Muff, Turbo Rat & Hendrix Octave Fuzz

1999

• Sovtek Big Muff
• ProCo Turbo Rat
• MXR Phase 90
• MXR Blue Box
• Dunlop Jimi Hendrix Octave Fuzz

2000

• No pedals for "nyc ghosts & flowers" LP
• Tour effects very similar to '98

2002

• Mu-Tron Wah-Vol
• Electro-Harmonix Big Muff
• ProCo Turbo Rat
• Dunlop Jimi Hendrix Octave Fuzz
• MXR Phase 90
• MXR Blue Box

Here are photographs of Thurston's entire effects rig I took before soundcheck at the August 30th, 2002 Murray Street tour show in Portland, Oregon at the Crystal Ballroom (some are fairly large so you may want to open them in a new window):

• Mutron Wah/Vol (w/ $295 price tag!), E-H Big Muff, Turbo Rat, Octave Fuzz
• MXR Phase 90 + Blue Box

2003

• Mu-Tron Wah-Vol
• Sovtek Big Muff
• ProCo Turbo Rat
• Dunlop Jimi Hendrix Octave Fuzz
• MXR Phase 90
• MXR Blue Box

2004

• Mu-Tron Wah-Vol
• Electro-Harmonix Big Muff
• ProCo Turbo Rat
• Dunlop Jimi Hendrix Octave Fuzz
• MXR Phase 90
• MXR Blue Box

2005

• Mu-Tron Wah-Vol
• Electro-Harmonix Big Muff
• ProCo Turbo Rat
• Dunlop Jimi Hendrix Octave Fuzz
• MXR Phase 90
• MXR Blue Box

2006

Photographs taken by me July 14th, 2006 @ the Fillmore in San Francisco, CA.

• Mutron Wah-Vol
• Sovtek Big Muff *Turbo Rat
• Dunlop Jimi Hendrix Octave Fuzz
• MXR Phase 90

• MXR Blue Box

• Thurston's pedals

• Wah/Vol, Muff, Rat

• Octave Fuzz, Phase 90, Blue Box

• Thurston's pedals

• Thurston's pedals from other side

• Wah/Vol

• Big Muff

• Rat

• Octave Fuzz/Phase 90

• Blue Box

2007

Picture of Thurston's effects taken at July 21st, 2007 Santa Monica gig. Same old setup!

2008

• Sitori Sonics 'Harem Fuzz'
• MXR Phase 90
• Dunlop Jimi Hendrix Octave Fuzz
• Crowther 'Hot Cake' overdrive
• Electro-Harmonix/Sovtek Big Muff
• Mutron Wah-Vol

PIX: Phase 90, Harem Fuzz / Hot Cake, Octave Fuzz / Wah-Vol, Big Muff / Phase 90, Harem Fuzz

These pix are from July 28th, 2009 -- earlier in the tour he was using the standard six he's been using for the past decade, but it appears the band picked up some Sitori Sonics boxes when they swung thru Alabama in early July.

On this photo uploaded to Moore's Facebook page one can see a TC Electronic HoF Mini. The pedal was also mentioned in the Premier Guitar's 2017 interview.

According to the Sonic Youth website it is said:

Used by Thurston: 1983 198? -- ? (?) 1983 -- ? (Burning Spear) NOTES:

One of Thurston's earliest guitars, check out the picture of him with a non-SY band, playing it in standard tuning. It was later mounted on the wall above the toilet in Lee's Tribeca loft circa 1991. Featured on the cover of the August 1991 Guitar Player. This guitar is touring with the Sensational Fix exhibit. Sunburst body 2 single coils Rosewood fretboard All knobs removed Nail for strap button White pickguard partially coloured blue Drumstick duct taped in place for bridge Tons of X crosses scratched in body

over his marshall cabinet, he has many picks. the mayority of them are dunlop nylon picks.

Thurston Moore showcases the EarthQuaker Devices Tentacle on his Instagram, highlighting it among his "Geetar Pedz" collection.

Thurston Moore is seen discussing his "Geetar Pedz!!!!" on Instagram, suggesting his use of the JHS Crayon overdrive pedal.

On The Sonic Youth Gear Guide website it states that in 1995 Thurston began using a Mu-Tron Wah/Vol and that he used it up until the bands split.

Over his marshall cabinet, he has many picks. two of them are tortex triangle picks

Thurston is playing a white three single coil stratocaster in this picture, the neck pickup appears to be swapped for an SD cool rail pickup

Thurston Moore showcases the TC Electronic MojoMojo Overdrive in an Instagram post, referring to it as part of his "Geetar Pedz" collection.

Thurston can clearly be seen playing the amp throughout this show.

According to http://www.sonicyouth.com/mustang/eq/thurston.html Thurston sometimes used a Twin Reverb live in 2002 and in 2006. That website says he used it in 2006 to mic a tape recorder, which seems to explain the set up shown in the picture here. Obviously, it is a "black face" Twin Reverb, but Fender introduced the '65 reissue (RI) "black face" in 1991 for sale in 1992. So, it could be a '65 RI since apparently he did not use it before 2002 and then used it, according to the aforementioned website, because he didn't want to ship his regular rig across country, before ultimately just using it for sound effects in 2006.

Thurston Moore uses a MXR Fuzz Unit for Sonic Youth. (http://www.sonicyouth.com/mustang/eq/thurston.html).

According to the Sonic Youth website it is said:

Used by Thurston: 1999-2001 1999 -- F#F#F#F#EB (She is Not Alone) 2000 -- GABDEG (Teenage Riot, Small Flowers Crack Concrete) 2001 -- GABDEG (Teenage Riot, Small Flowers Crack Concrete) NOTES:

Purchased directly after their gear theft, in Austin, July '99. Black body 2 pickups Rosewood fretboard 3 knobs Listed as "GABDEG" or "DEARMOND" on 2000 set lists.

On this photo of Thurston Moore's pedalboard we can see MXR Octave Fuzz. According to this page (http://www.sonicyouth.com/mustang/eq/thurston.html) he used it from 1998 to 2009. The pedal was also mentioned in the Premier Guitar's 2017 interview.