Interview mit Sebastian Ramstedt von Necrophobic

When did you start playing guitar?
I was 9 years old and we got the opportunity to learn an instrument of choice at school.

What made you want to learn guitar back then?
I think I just jumped on the opportunity. I had no real rolemodels by then. When I started I played acoustic classic guitar and did not make the connection that I one day could play electric guitar. I think I saw singer/songwriters on TV sitting on a stool. That was what I imagined my self to do until I discovered Heavy Metal a year later. Then everything changed.

Have you already learned (had to learn) another instrument before?
No guitar was my first.

Do you remember which model was your first guitar?
I borrowed my dads acoustic first. But at 12 I bought a cheap Les Paul copy by the brand Harmony. It was in yellow sunburst just like Ace Frehles famous LP. I also had a Marshall 12 watt combo. The day I learned how to distort the guitar was life changing.

How many guitars do you own?
Maybe 15-20. I buy and sell all the time.

Do the instruments have different uses for you, so do you have different ones for different bands or occasions, like studio, live gigs and holidays?
Yeah, I have a Jackson SL2H tuned in E standard for practising. My main recording guitar is a Jackson RR1. Then I have a Charvel/Jackson dinky mutt tuned in Eb which I use when I need to learned something tuned down. For live I use cheaper guitars. I have a Jackson King V Pro as back up but my main instruments live I put together my self. I build mutts on a Charvel desolation star DST-3 body. I put Japanese Jackson necks on them and then better electronics hardware and pickups.

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What do you attach particular importance to from a technical point of view, what criteria must an instrument meet for you to be satisfied with it?
It must look cool, feel good, stay in tune and I should not think of it while playing it. A good guitar lets me do my job and I don’t have to get passed bad layout of the pots or such.

You often hear about musicians who seem to have a special connection to their instrument. Do you feel the same way? Do you have a favourite instrument?
Absolutely. The Star mutts I build becomes a part of me. I would never sell or trade them. I do them exactly after my need and I even paint them myself. So they become really special.

Did you make special modifications to it, or is it a custom model anyway? Can you tell us the technical details here?
I custom the shit out of my guitars. There is no such thing as a produced model that I could just take down from the wall of a store. I have tons of changes. Pickups, layout, tremolo and esthetics. I always tell my self that I will leave the instrument be but then a week later I have started to take the poor thing apart. It does not matter if it is an expensive instrument or not. I would probably change a guitar even if I custum ordered it. I just always want to try new things and looks.

Is there a model, such as the instrument of a great role model, that you would like to play one day?
It would be fun to order a masterbuilt Jackson STAR from the custom shop. Problem is it is so damn expensive that I would never dare to play the instrument. I would worry to ding it up. If I could dream big I would love to own Chris Holmes Harley star that he used in the 80’s.

Which type of guitar picks do you use – and why this type?
I have been using Jazz III’s since the 90’s. Then I swiched to Gravity Stelth guitar pics a couple of years ago but now I am back on the larger sized Jazz III.

Amps are often leased for tours – is that okay with you or do you have your own amp with you? Which model do you play?
I prefere the Peavey 6505 or the 5150. Usually the venues have no problem providing one of those. So I never travel with an amp.

Besides the instrument and the amplifier, sound effects play an important role in the sound. Do you rely on single pedal mines, a multi-effect board or a combination?
No I have a small pedal board. I have used multi effects but when they fuck up everything fucks up. Its better to have the board in pieces so that you can take off the sick part if needed.

Let’s go into detail: Please explain the elements of your effect loop. Which devices do you use, in which order and why?
First I have a Fortin Zuul noice gate. Then Boss tuner, MXR 5150 overdrive and last a Mooer Reecho. Depending on what amp is there to use for the night I use the MXR as an overdrive to boost the amp or as a stand alone distortion pedal. Now I use this chain into the input jacket. Mayby I should use the delay in the loop but I try to do it as simple as possible as we often play festivals and the changeover is in seconds.

Mind game: You are only allowed to take one single (!) effect on stage – which one do you choose? Which effect pedal makes up your sound?
The MXR 5150 overdrive for sure!

Do you have an effect that you use in a completely different way than originally intended, or that you have perhaps even (re)built yourself?
No I am not much of an effects guy.

Do you use a noise gate – why (not)?
Yes on the rhythms but I always turn it off while soloing. So far I have not found a gate that is truly transparent and do not affect the sound. I use a lot of small variations in the pick angle to build the licks with different subtile squeeles. All gates I tried destroys that. Especially when you do not pick hard.

Is your effect board „ready“ or in constant change?
Always ready! I have sometimes added a whaha!

Finally, do you have a tip for beginning musicians?
Do not rely on effect. Learn to use your right hand right. Your left hand pinky and learn to do a proper set-up on your guitars. In that way you can make a cheap guitar feel like a very expensive one.

Publiziert am 18. November 2020 von Moritz Grütz und Uta A. (Gastredakteurin)