UberProAudio had a chance to chat with Emery’s guitar player and founding member Matt Carter about the bands new album “We Do What We Want”, touring, and of course all about the guitar and equipment he uses in his guitar rig. Keep reading for 5 Quick Questions with Emery’s Matt Carter!
UberProAudio: Tell us about the new Emery album, “We Do What We Want”. How does the new album compare to past Emery records?
Matt: This album differs in 3 ways that I can name off the top of my head; One, Obviously it’s heavier that the previous ones. There is more screaming, double bass, more breakdowns and a bit flashier guitar parts. More fun so to speak. This was an intentional decision that we made that has a lot to do with the second difference in this and the previous records. Without Devin (who left the band before this record) as a writer, Toby and I were the only writers. He and I work well together and writing this way is what we are good at. So the writing is a bit more focused in one direction than past records. The third reason is that I produced and recorded the record. I spent a long time with each track and was able to achieve exactly the vision that we had for each song. There is a lot of personal taste, and finally, we do what we want - and that’s just what this record is.
UberProAudio: Our readers would love to know exactly what gear you are using in your live guitar rig. What Guitars/Amps/Effects/Strings/Picks did you take out on tour with you?
Matt: On tour right now I use 3 guitars, a Gibson SG, a First Act Custom, and a Fender Tele. Two amps, a 5150, or Mesa Dual Rectifier and for a contrasting sound a Marshall JCM 800. Both of these go through Orange 4x12 cabs. I’ve slimmed all my pedals down at this point to a Line 6 M13 pedal. I can get it to do almost anything that needs doing. My strings are Dean Markley, I play custom gauges that are very heavy on the 2 low strings so that they stay in tune. I like 1mm Jim Dunlop nylon picks.
UberProAudio: Did your studio rig for the new album differ at all from your live rig? If so, what different gear was used in the studio?
Matt: Well in the studio, I have a Mesa Boogie Tremoverb that I love, but it stays at the studio, as well as a VHT Pittbull, and also a Marshall JMP. So additionally I use those on some tracks, but pretty much each song gets its own treatment, whatever works for that song is what I use. There is no predetermined rig.
UberProAudio: Which pieces of guitar gear in your rig do you prize the most? Do you have any new gear on your wish list?
Matt: My favorite gear is my old Marshall heads, my JCM 800 is from '81 and my JMP is from '79. I really really want to get an old broken in acoustic guitar next. Probably a Martin from the 70's or 80's.
UberProAudio: Emery has a new album and a tour. What else is on the horizon for the band that we all should know about?
Matt: The next thing we plan to do after we fully support this record is an acoustic record, or at least a non-distortion record, and explore our softer side without the self imposed pressure to "be heavy". It'll be fun to stretch ourselves this way and really fun to do a tour where we can sit down and play softly, haha.
Checkout what Emery is up to at http://www.myspace.com/emery
