Gear Review: Arsonists Get All The Girls guitarist Jaeson Bardoni on his Framus Cobra Head

Guitarist Jaeson Bardoni has been super-busy touring in support of the latest Arsonists Get All The Girls album Motherland. Recently I hung out with him in Oshawa, Ontario and asked about his Framus Cobra Head. Read on to find out why Jaeson loves this piece of gear and how it helps create the band’s sound.

What one piece of equipment do you use to obtain your signature sound?
Jaeson: It’s kind of hard to narrow it down to one piece, but personally the sound comes from your guitars or whatever head you use. But definitely our guitar head. The one I use is a Framus Cobra Head. I love the distortion on it, as it has a lot of mid range. We use it on Motherland and it has one of my favourite recordings sound wise that we’ve done. We didn’t really set it through any effects in the studio and it sounds exactly how it did in the studio when I play it live.

What about it makes it so important to you?
Jaeson: There’s three channels, each one has its own EQ and different volumes. It’s just easier to sculpture sound. I grew up using 5150’s and I still love those heads. I use one as a backup head still to this day, but it’s hard to shape your sound with only one channel, like two channels with one EQ. This one has different channels like different EQ’s so it’s easier to run it. Also it seemed like it has a little bit more balls to me and midrange crunch for me. Little bit more tighter low end comes to a better sound in my opinion.

Well you’re going to need it since I hear you’re playing by yourself on this tour.
Jaeson: Yeah, well I’m using two heads.

What are the major pros and cons?
Jaeson: Pros, I love how it sounds. My only con, like I said I am use to using a Peavey head. Right now Arthur, the other head I’m running since I’m running two heads for the live show since it’s only me on this tour. This head is 100 watts and the other is 120 so I’m still trying to find that ratio for the volume. Can’t turn this one on 3 and the other on 3 because the Framus will be a lot quieter. So I’m still trying to find where it levels out. That’s the only con but that’s not a manufacturer defect.

How long have you used this piece of equipment and would you ever change it?
Jaeson: Almost a year now. I love this head, I really have no complaints about it. Only other piece of equipment I would use is one I could never possibly afford in my lifetime. I can also never justify spending more than a grand on a piece of equipment or more than two grand on a piece of equipment. That’s like rent for me for where I live. But definitely this head was worth it, it’s awesome and I love using it.

Any final thoughts or comments on the gear?
Jaeson: It’s weird that this interview is about one piece of equipment, but everyone has different sounds. Some people swear Peavey is the best thing or some swear Marshall is the best. It’s all based on preference and what kind of sound you have in mind. I love this head, it’s probably my favourite head I’ve ever played. I recommend trying it out and if you don’t like it oh well.

Check out the song: “Avdotya”