Guthrie Govan is a guitarist best known to effects-minded players as a member of The Aristocrats, and his touring rig is one of the most deliberately small in instrumental rock. His pedalboard is a tea tray the same size as his carry-on luggage, and he says that at times he opts for the pedal that's smallest, rather than the one that's his favorite1.
His stated approach is blunt:
"not to be awesome. It's to be portable."
Effects with The Aristocrats
Premier Guitar's 2023 rig rundown of The Aristocrats covered the pedals Govan was using on gigs that year. For dirt he uses a Suhr Koko Boost, with a volume boost on the left and a midrange boost on the right1. Tuning comes from a TC Electronic PolyTune1.
The time-based effects sit in the loop of his switching system: a TC Electronic Flashback delay that is always on, set to an Echoplex-style TonePrint, and a TC Electronic Hall of Fame reverb used for the tune "Flatlands"1.
His modulation and expression pedals:
| Pedal | Type | Role on the board |
|---|---|---|
| Providence Anadime Chorus | Chorus | Chorus1 |
| Guyatone WR3 Wah Rocker | Filter | He says "It makes me sound like a duck, which I enjoy"1 |
| Dunlop Jerry Cantrell Signature Cry Baby | Wah | Wah1 |
| Volume pedal | Volume | Swells and level control1 |
His board is run through a GigRig G2 switching system; MusicRadar names Govan among the artists using GigRig switchers, alongside Radiohead, Noel Gallagher, Graham Coxon and Devin Townsend2.
Chorus and other pedals over the years
Amps and endorsements
Questions
What chorus pedal does Guthrie Govan use?
With The Aristocrats he uses a Providence Anadime Chorus. Analog Man also says he has used their chorus pedal for years, pointing to a 2010 Premier Guitar interview with him. So his chorus choice has shifted over time, with the Anadime on his board in the 2023 rig rundown.
What boost does Guthrie Govan use for overdrive?
He uses a Suhr Koko Boost for dirt. The pedal has two footswitchable sides: a volume boost on the left and a midrange boost on the right. It sits on his Aristocrats board as his gain-stage tool rather than a full overdrive pedal.
What reverb pedal does Guthrie Govan use?
He uses a TC Electronic Hall of Fame reverb, placed in the loop of his switching system. He sets it up for the Aristocrats tune "Flatlands", so it serves one specific song purpose on his board rather than acting as an always-on effect.
Why is Guthrie Govan's pedalboard so small?
Because it is built for flying. His board is a tea tray the same size as his carry-on luggage, and he says his pedalboard philosophy is, "not to be awesome. It's to be portable." He sometimes picks the smallest pedal rather than his favorite to keep the rig travel-friendly.
Has Guthrie Govan used a TC Electronic Ditto looper?
Yes. In April 2014 Guitar World published a video of Guthrie Govan creating a funky loop and jamming over it with the TC Electronic Ditto X2 Looper. It was a demo appearance rather than part of his touring pedalboard.
Sources (2)
- Rig Rundown, Premier Guitar, 2011-11-21
- The GigRig raises the bar on effects pedal switching systems with the G3, MusicRadar, 2020-10-16
