Gear Review: Falconer Guitarist Jimmy Hedlund on His Gibson Explorer Pro and Marshall JVM410H

Swedish folk power metal quintet, Falconer, released their acclaimed new recording, Black Moon Rising, on June 10th, 2014 via Metal Blade Records. The new album, the band’s eighth to date, contains 11 original songs led by the soaring opener and lead single, “Locust Swarm.” Rather than bore you with other facts, we managed to score some time with guitarist Jimmy Hedlund who, in discussing some of his gear, helped us to better understand how the album came together.

What one piece of gear do you use to obtain your signature sound?
Hedlund: I have a very simple rig: My main axe is a Gibson Explorer Pro in trans amber loaded with a set of Bare Knuckle Nailbomb-pickups. I also have a second guitar that’s identical to my main axe beside it’s black and loaded with a set of Seymour Duncan Black Winter-pickups. My amp is a Marshall JVM410H and an old Marshall JCM 800 cab loaded with Celestion G12-65, really love the midrange in those speakers! An Ibanez DE7 for delay and a crappy old Dunlop Crybaby wah. Dunlop Ultex JazzIII picks. Line6 Relay G30 wireless.

What about it makes it so important to you?
Hedlund: It’s a really basic setup, just plug and play. I’m too dumb for having a lot of gear, I just wanna play, haha!

How was this gear used during the recording of your latest album?
Hedlund: Just guitar->amp->cab.

How do you recreate your album (guitar/vocal/bass) tones in your live set?
Hedlund: Use the same gear.

Do you have a backup for this gear, if so, what?
Hedlund: I always bring my Line6 PodHD300, which I normally play through at home, as a backup to the Marshall, and of course I bring a second guitar as well.

How long have you had it, how do you use it, would you ever change it?
Hedlund: I’ve had my main axe (the Explorer in trans amber) for 10 years now, used it both in the studio and live. She looks pretty beat up and ugly, but I will never sell her! The JVM I’ve had for about 4 years I think, still going strong with the stock tubes in it. I actually played the Kemper profiling amp some time ago and got quite blown away by the sound and feel of it. We’ll see what happens in the future, I might get one of those.

Give us your best “gear goes wrong” story.
Hedlund: Hmm, it might have been when we played at a festival in Germany, Night of power, I think. My wireless system decided to quit working in the middle of the set. And no, it was not the batteries fault. 😉 I later sold that terrible system.

Check out the song “Locust Swarm”