READ THIS TAME IMPALA GEAR GUIDE TO SEE WHAT GUITARS AND EFFECTS KEVIN PARKER USES TO CREATE THEIR GLISTENING PSYCH-POP SOUND.
WELCOME TO THIS TAME IMPALA GEAR GUIDE
Tame Impala have brought psychedelic-pop to the mainstream since they arrived with 2012's 'Lonerism'. But what does Kevin Parker use to bring together such glossy and immersive sounds? Alongside a lot of hard work in the studio - he's a self-confessed gear geek. We take a look at some of Kevin Parker's equipment in this Tame Impala gear guide, spanning mics, synths, pedals, guitars and more. Check out some of the beautiful sonic sounds they're capable of whacking out here:
WHAT GUITARS DOES KEVIN PARKER USE?
We'll start by taking a look at what guitars Kevin Parker uses. While guitars have become less prevalent throughout the progression of Tame Impala's career - they still add a vital flavour to the sound and glue stunningly with the synths. He's even likened them to adding a human touch into a composition.
As you might imagine - Kevin Parker has an impeccable taste in guitars and is often seen using a vintage Rickenbacker. Elsewhere he has used customised Stratocaster and a J Mascis signature Squier Jazzmaster. Take a look at some variants of these iconic models below. If you're after a specific model then don't hesitate to get in touch with us at PMT as we can always order stock in depending on your needs
Budget-friendly
Mid level
Professional
WHAT EFFECTS PEDALS DOES TAME IMPALA'S KEVIN PARKER USE?
Anyone with a knowledge of Tame Impala will be aware that Kevin Parker uses a ridiculous amount of effects and pedals. In fact, we could probably do a Tame Impala pedal blog in its own right. Here we're going to highlight some of the more accessible and less obscure pedals Kevin uses.
Electro Harmonix Holy Grail Reverb Pedal
Electro Harmonix Nano Holy Grail Reverb Guitar Effects Pedal
A huge part of Tame Impala's sound is the reverb and phaser sound. The Electro Harmonix Holy Grail has played a massive role in shaping the Perth band's sound especially in their formative years. If you're wanting to follow their lead and inject a trippy, psychedelic feel to your guitar lines then this pedal is a must.
Electro Harmonix Nano Small Stone Analog Phase Shifter
Another prime example of this would be the ever-reliable Electro Harmonix Nano Small Stone. This will offer up more swirling psychedelic tones which will add colour and flavour to players of any genre. This EHX Nano Small Stone offers powerful other-dimensional phase shifter in a compact pedal - ideal for the road.
If you want the Tame impala sound, especially the 'Innerspeaker' sound - this is the MAIN pedal you need.
Cry Baby Wah Pedal First up we'll take a look at the iconic Cry Baby Wah! This offers up a vintage wah sound which has been used across countless styles and genres. It's no surprise that Tame Impala favour this unmistakable sound. Below we've highlighted the Mini Cry Baby Wah! A great small and cost-effective way of picking up this classic pedal.
Boss BD-2 Blues Driver Next up we've highlighted the Boss BD-2 Blues Driver. This is a take on the Boss BD-2 which is a staple on the pedalboard of Kevin Parker. This pedal has been created and fine-tuned to bring out unbelievable tone and touch response. Taking the vintage vibe of the original blues driver and bringing it into the modern-day with analogue circuitry - this pedal is a must!
Boss VE-20 Vocal Performer Kevin Parker has also been seen using the Boss VE-20 Vocal Performer. We'd always go out of our way to recommend this pedal to vocalists across the board. It's been carefully designed for singers, featuring some of the finest vocal-effects technology in the world today - including looping, layering and more.
Electro Harmonix Pulsar The Electro Harmonix Pulsar offers your guitar sound a vintage tremolo effect. If you're looking to capture that sense of depth and rhythm that Tame Impala have then this pedal is seriously worthy of your attention. This pedal features a switch which enables you to tailor and sculpt your stereo tremolo - great if you want to go for something unique and original with your guitar sound while keeping a vintage vibe.
Electro Harmonix POG 2
Another pedal from Electro Harmonix that Kevin Parker has been seen using is the POG 2 Guitar Effects Pedal. This is one for those serious about their sound - capable of delivering those lush, smooth swells that we've come to love from Tame Impala. If you'd like to purchase one of these pedals then don't hesitate to contact your nearest PMT store or the team online who can assist in ordering one for you.
WHAT VOCAL MICROPHONES DOES KEVIN PARKER USE?
Kevin Parker is as obsessed with vocal effects and microphones as this is a huge part of the Tame Impala sound. If you're wondering what microphones Tame Impala use then the answer is many! In the live environment, Kevin Parker has been seen using a Sennheiser MD 421 Dynamic Microphone. We have plenty of Sennheiser products available from microphones through to headphones and other essentials - a trusted name for live and studio purposes at a variety of price points. The Sennheiser MD 421 Dynamic Microphone can be ordered for you, just contact ou
WHAT MICROPHONES DOES KEVIN PARKER USE FOR GEAR?
Kevin Parker has mentioned he uses the Shure SM57 Dynamic Microphone for recording kicks, snares, and his guitar amps. We can vouch for him here at PMT that these are great trustworthy mics from the legendary Shure brand - take a closer look at the SM57 below and shop all Shure equipment here.
Shure SM58 Dynamic Microphone While we're on Shure - we think it's worth highlighting the reliable and robust Shure SM58 Dynamic Microphone - an industry-standard option that's a best-seller here at PMT! If you're looking to follow the lead fo Tame Impala and get killer sound in the studio and live then this mic is an affordable starting point.
WHAT DRUMS DO TAME IMPALA USE?
Tame Impala use acoustic kits but with triggers and electronic tweaks. Kevin Parker has been seen in the studio with a 1966 Ludwig kit. This is a company with heritage and expertise onside and we can't recommend their kits enough here at PMT. We have a range of Ludwig kits available to suit a variety of budgets and needs. Take a look at the stunning The Ludwig Legacy Mahogany Van Buren below.
We mentioned electronic elements in the drum department and a focal point of that would be the Roland SPD-SX Digital Sampling Pad. This offers up the filtered drum sound in the live environment on some of your favourite Tame Impala tracks like 'Let It Happen'. Take a look at this super effective option for live performance and studio below.
WHAT SYNTHS AND KEYBOARDS DO TAME IMPALA USE?
Next up we'll take a look at what synths and keyboards Tame Impala use. This will be a question lots of people reading this Tame Impala gear guide will have as these instruments form huge part of their sound. As you might expect - there's a wealth of familiar equipment from names like Roland, Moog and Korg.
MOOG SUB PHATTY
Kevin Parker has been seen using a Moog Sub Phatty while making their celebrated album 'Currents'. This is one of Moog's most versatile synths so far and is a joy to behold. Considering the amount of functionality and programmability on offer here - this is actually surprisingly affordable. The Moog Sub Phatty is best friend to producers, sound designers producers and electronic musicians across the world.
KORG KRONOS
Elsewhere Kevin Parker has used Korg keyboards similar to the Korg Kronos 2 61 Key Workstation. This is another versatile beast that you should take seriously. It's easy to see why professionals like Tame Impala have taken to this keyboard - the possibilities are endless with a huge sound selection, 9 sound engines, a 16 track MIDI sequencer and 16 onboard effect processors.
TAME IMPALA GEAR GUIDE - IN SUMMARY
To summarise our Tame Impala Gear Guide - Kevin Parker is an obsessive when it comes to gear but this pays massively when it comes to output. There's no way we could fit all of his equipment into this one blog but hopefully we've sent you on the right path! Fingers-crossed you'll be creating luscious, rhythmic beats like Kevin Parker in no-time! If you require more information or help on any of the guitars, synths, mics or anything else you've seen in this gear guide then visit PMT Online or contact us and speak to a friendly expert.
