It’s Women’s History Month and we wanted to talk to some of our favorites about their gear and tone setup(s). If you are not familiar with Guitar Girl Magazine’s “Tone Talk” series, this is where we dive into what makes the tone of different musicians’ setups unique to them. We unpack their likes and dislikes and what makes their setup perfect for them.
If you like what you read, check out Kelsey’s Tone Talk on our IG page where they walks through some of her favorite gear.
Kelsey Marchman is the manger, lead guitarist, and backing vocalist for the cinematic hard rock band Thousand Frames hailing from Denver, Colorado. She has been playing guitar for 17 years and I still love everything about being a guitarist. She has recently started her own solo project and is working on new music every day.
What is your definition of tone, and how has it changed over the years?
My definition of tone is what I would call a signature sound. When I started playing guitar, I did not really understand what tone was. All I knew was that I wanted to always have the most distorted tone. As I matured and listened closely to more music, I started paying attention to tones that I liked. The two tones that I modeled my tone from was Pete Loeffler from Chevelle and Mark Tremonti of Alter Bridge. I wanted a blend of the two tones, and I feel like I am finally there.
Which guitars, amps, and pedals are you currently using and why?
I have three main guitars that I use for my current set up. The guitars I use are an Eastwood RD Artist series, Epiphone SG, and a Squier Deryck Whibley Telecaster. All three of these guitars allow for the heavy sound that I like. My amp is a Bugera G-20 Infinium with matching cab. Nothing beats the sound of a tube amp! For my pedals, I like to keep it simple so I’m more focused on the showmanship on stage. I have a Digitech Drop Tune Pedal for when I’m feeling lazy and don’t want to bring multiple guitars to a show. In addition, I have a Joyo Atmosphere Reverb and Delay, Behringer VD400 Delay, Maxon OD808 Overdrive, and a Morley Mark Tremonti Wah pedal.
What about strings?
My band plays in low tunings so I like to use Cleartone Heavy Series.
Are there certain recording techniques you prefer in the studio?
I don’t have any specific ones that I have to do but I do enjoy using Guitar Rig for hard rock and metal tones.
How do you keep your sound consistent onstage?
With the help of in-ear monitors or a good upfront monitor on stage, I able to keep my sound consistent.
What does your practice consist of?
I’ll be honest, I’m not the best with practicing. However, I do like to do some chromatic scales up and down the fretboard for my left hand and for my right hand, I like to do wrist exercises to warm up my picking hand.
What is your advice for young women who hope to work in the music industry?
As cliché as it sounds, don’t give up. You will encounter sexism from ignorant people. Don’t let it throw you off course. The trials are worth it because the benefits are plentiful in the end.
Follow Kelsey Marchman on IG @guitargoddess77
Check out Kelsey’s Tone Talk here