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Independent research by truerecs. Not affiliated with, endorsed or verified by Unknown Mortal Orchestra. Every item links to its public source.
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What gear does Unknown Mortal Orchestra use?

Ruban Nielson built Unknown Mortal Orchestra's sound on a short scale Fender Jag-Stang, and Premier Guitar's 2023 Rig Rundown shows him playing through a Benson Nathan Junior. His board in that rundown starts with an Effectrode PC-2A and includes a Strymon Deco, two JAM RetroVibes, a JAM Fuzz Phrase LTD and a Benson Germanium Boost.

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What gear Unknown Mortal Orchestra uses: a sourced gear guide

Independent research by truerecs: every item links to the public source it comes from.

Ruban Nielson's guitars

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Ruban Nielson's amps

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Ruban Nielson's pedalboard

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Keys and synths

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Records

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Questions

About Unknown Mortal Orchestra's gear.

What guitar does Ruban Nielson play?

His main guitar for most of Unknown Mortal Orchestra's run has been a red Fender Jag-Stang tuned a half step down. Mixdown notes he played a Fender Johnny Marr Jaguar at Coachella in 2016.

What amps does Unknown Mortal Orchestra use?

In 2015 Ruban Nielson told Premier Guitar he had a Fender Hot Rod DeVille and an Orange AD30 head. In the 2023 Rig Rundown he runs a stereo setup with a Benson Nathan Junior, both amps miked with Shure SM7Bs.

What pedals are on Ruban Nielson's board?

Premier Guitar's 2023 Rig Rundown lists an Effectrode PC-2A, a Strymon Deco into two JAM RetroVibes, a JAM Fuzz Phrase LTD, a Benson Germanium Boost, a Gamechanger Audio Plus, a Boss DD-3, a Danelectro Back Talk and an Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail, plus homemade clones.

What compressor does Ruban Nielson use?

In 2015 he used an Analog Man Bi-CompROSSor at the end of his chain. By the 2023 Rig Rundown it had been replaced by an Effectrode PC-2A tube compressor at the front of the board.

What records influenced Unknown Mortal Orchestra?

Ruban Nielson told Premier Guitar that Michael Jackson's Off the Wall was important to his earlier record, and that Multi-Love was shaped by Bowie's run from Young Americans to Scary Monsters.

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Unknown Mortal Orchestra
About this guide · Last checked

Unknown Mortal Orchestra is the Portland band led by New Zealand born singer and guitarist Ruban Nielson, behind Multi-Love, Sex & Food and V. This guide covers Ruban Nielson's guitars, amps, pedals and keys from Premier Guitar's Rig Rundown, his 2015 Premier Guitar interview and Mixdown's gear rundown, plus the records he has named.

truerecs put this guide together from public videos, interviews and posts. Each item says how we know and links to the source. Unknown Mortal Orchestra didn't write it or choose anything on it. How we source gear guides.

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