Top 5Seen using
Fractal Audio
Axe-Fx IIISeen in Rig Rundown: Failure's Ken Andrews [2019] (Premier Guitar), April 2019
Photo: Brian Hayden Safdie (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY 2.0
Independent research by truerecs. Not affiliated with, endorsed or verified by Ken Andrews. Every item links to its public source.
23 items · Last checked What guitar does Ken Andrews play?
Ken Andrews uses a 2019 Gibson Explorer, a 1976 Gibson Les Paul Standard, a 1967 Fender Jazzmaster and the Fractal Axe-Fx platform, plus EarthQuaker Rainbow Machine and Chase Bliss Mood pedals, per Guitar World in 2026. He has been seen using an Axe-Fx III and Alexander pedals.
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Top 5
Where to start with Ken Andrews's gear.
01
02
Top 5Seen using
Fractal Audio
Axe-Fx IISeen in Rig Rundown: Failure's Ken Andrews (Premier Guitar), July 2014
03
Top 5Uses
Fender
Twin Reverb“there's a sweetness to that tone that you can't really get with any other guitars.”
Said in Failure's Ken Andrews on Location Lost (Guitar World), June 2026
04
Top 5Uses
EarthQuaker Devices
Rainbow MachineSaid in Failure's Ken Andrews on Location Lost (Guitar World), June 2026
05
Top 5Uses
Chase Bliss
MOOD“The Mood Pedal by Chase Bliss, we used that a lot on this record and the last record”
Said in Failure's Ken Andrews on Location Lost (Guitar World), June 2026
What guitars Ken Andrews uses: a sourced gear guide
Independent research by truerecs: every item links to the public source it comes from.
Guitars and basses
Gibson
Gibson Explorer (2019)
SponsoredUses
Gibson
Gibson Explorer (2019)“For humbucker sounds I'm really into this 2019 Explorer that Gibson gave me.”
Said in Failure's Ken Andrews on Location Lost (Guitar World), June 2026
No store page for this one.
Gibson
Les Paul Standard (1976)“That guitar has such a distinctive sound on the neck pickup.”
Said in Failure's Ken Andrews on Location Lost (Guitar World), June 2026
No store page for this one.
Seen in Rig Rundown: Failure's Ken Andrews (Premier Guitar), July 2014
No store page for this one.
Fender
Fender Jazzmaster (1967)“For single-coil stuff I gravitate towards my '67 Jazzmaster.”
Said in Failure's Ken Andrews on Location Lost (Guitar World), June 2026
No store page for this one.
Said in Failure's Ken Andrews on Location Lost (Guitar World), June 2026
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Said in Failure's Ken Andrews on Location Lost (Guitar World), June 2026
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Seen in Rig Rundown: Failure's Ken Andrews (Premier Guitar), July 2014
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Electrical Guitar Company
LP-style guitar with aluminum neckSeen in Rig Rundown: Failure's Ken Andrews (Premier Guitar), July 2014
No store page for this one.
Amps and modelers
Seen using
Fractal Audio
Axe-Fx IIISeen in Rig Rundown: Failure's Ken Andrews [2019] (Premier Guitar), April 2019
“that's my playground when it comes to creating guitar sounds and effects.”
Said in Failure's Ken Andrews on Location Lost (Guitar World), June 2026
No store page for this one.
Seen using
Fractal Audio
Axe-Fx IISeen in Rig Rundown: Failure's Ken Andrews (Premier Guitar), July 2014
Uses
Fender
Twin Reverb“there's a sweetness to that tone that you can't really get with any other guitars.”
Said in Failure's Ken Andrews on Location Lost (Guitar World), June 2026
Seen in Rig Rundown: Failure's Ken Andrews (Premier Guitar), July 2014
No store page for this one.
Pedals and control
Uses
EarthQuaker Devices
Rainbow MachineSaid in Failure's Ken Andrews on Location Lost (Guitar World), June 2026
Uses
Chase Bliss
MOOD“The Mood Pedal by Chase Bliss, we used that a lot on this record and the last record”
Said in Failure's Ken Andrews on Location Lost (Guitar World), June 2026
Alexander Pedals
Alexander Pedals F.13 FlangerSeen in Rig Rundown: Failure's Ken Andrews [2019] (Premier Guitar), April 2019
Alexander Pedals
Alexander Pedals Space RaceSeen in Rig Rundown: Failure's Ken Andrews [2019] (Premier Guitar), April 2019
No store page for this one.
Seen using
DigiTech
FreqOutSeen in Rig Rundown: Failure's Ken Andrews [2019] (Premier Guitar), April 2019
No store page for this one.
Fractal Audio
MFC-101 MIDI foot controllerSeen in Rig Rundown: Failure's Ken Andrews (Premier Guitar), July 2014
BOSS
FS-6 footswitches (a pair)
Seen using
Seen in Rig Rundown: Failure's Ken Andrews (Premier Guitar), July 2014
No store page for this one.
BOSS
FV-500L volume pedal
Seen using
Line 6
Line 6 Relay G90 wireless
Seen using
Seen in Rig Rundown: Failure's Ken Andrews (Premier Guitar), July 2014
No store page for this one.
Studio
Avid
Pro Tools (Wild Type Droid sessions)
Has said they use
Said in Failure's Ken Andrews on Location Lost (Guitar World), June 2026
No store page for this one.
Questions
About Ken Andrews's gear.
What guitar does Ken Andrews play?
He uses a 2019 Gibson Explorer that Gibson gave him, his 1976 Les Paul Standard and a 1967 Fender Jazzmaster, per Guitar World in 2026, plus a Guild acoustic on The Rising Skyline.
What amp does Ken Andrews use?
He told Guitar World in 2026 that Failure has been on the Fractal Axe-Fx platform for about 10 years; he was seen with an Axe-Fx III in 2019 and an Axe-Fx II in 2014.
What pedals does Ken Andrews use?
He has used an EarthQuaker Devices Rainbow Machine and a Chase Bliss Mood, which he said have no real match in the Fractal, and was seen in 2019 with Alexander F.13 and Space Race pedals and a DigiTech FreqOut.
What bass does Ken Andrews play?
He has used Justin Meldal-Johnsen's signature Fender Mustang bass on The Rising Skyline and was seen in 2014 with a 2013 Fender Precision Bass fitted with a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound.
What DAW does Ken Andrews use?
He has said Failure's improvised sessions for Wild Type Droid were tracked to Pro Tools.
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Named in this guide
KA
Ken Andrews
About this guide · Last checked
Ken Andrews is the singer, guitarist and producer of Los Angeles alt-rock band Failure. This guide covers his guitars, Fractal rig and pedals from Premier Guitar's 2014 and 2019 Rig Rundowns and a 2026 Guitar World interview; social links point to Failure's official accounts.
truerecs put this guide together from public videos, interviews and posts. Each item says how we know and links to the source. Ken Andrews didn't write it or choose anything on it. How we source gear guides.
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