System of a Down's Daron Malakian

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The metal giants return to the stage with a show powered by gold-and-black axes and pure tube power.

Except for two new singles in 2020, alt-metal icons System of a Down haven’t released new music in 20 years. But luckily for their fans, System—vocalist Serj Tankian, guitarist/vocalist Daron Malakian, bassist Shavo Odadjian, and drummer John Dolmayan—took their catalog of era-defining, genre-changing hard-rock haymakers on tour this year across South and North America.

PG’s Chris Kies connected with Malakian onstage at Soldier Field in Chicago ahead of System’s second show at the football stadium. Malakian and his tech, Patrick Lachman, explained how some color-coded Gibson, Ibanez, and Friedman gear give Malakian the fire he needs to burn through the band’s legendary set.

0:00 - Mark Tremonti & D'Addario

0:15 - Daron Malakian Guitar Solo Intro

1:28 - Subscribe to Rig Rundowns!

1:38 - Chris Kies Intro

1:53 - Daron Malakian Running Into SOAD Cover Band in Chicago

5:08 - History of Stolen Guitars

6:46 - What Does Daron Malakian Need From His Guitar?

9:36 - Songwriting Tools

10:17 - Unexpected Guitar Influences

12:29 - Pride in Writing 'Addicted to the Violence' Album

17:11 - Musical Phases & Abstract Songwriting

19:12 - Freedom in Creating Your Own Art

20:31 - Gibson Flying V to Honor Albert King's Lucy

21:29 - Daron Malakian Large Triangle Guitar Picks & Playing Style

23:55 - Daron Malakian Guitar Solo 2

24:53 - D'Addario Players Circle Rewards

25:54 - Guitar Tech Patrick Lachman

26:21 - Gibson SGs

27:28 - Daron Malakian Strings & SOAD Tunings

28:20 - When Do Guitar Changes Happen?

28:57 - Ibanez Iceman

29:42 - Gibson Flying V (Honoring Albert King Lucy)

30:10 - Gibson ES-355

31:36 - Ibanez Iceman (Gold Binding)

32:09 - Setting Up Guitars for Daron Malakian

33:24 - Rack Gear

35:07 - Friedman BE-100 & BE-100 Deluxe Amps

36:29 - Speaker Cabinets & Speakers

37:30 - EQ'ing Daron Malakian's Amps

38:31 - Daron Malakian Pedalboard

39:04 - MXR Smart Gate Pro

39:47 - Orbel Babayan Controlling Daron's Effects

40:45 - Daron Malakian Guitar Solo 3

41:58 - Joe Glaser & D'Addario

Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/system-of-a-down

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