Gear Review: Dog Fashion Disco Lead Guitarist Jasan Stepp on His Original Budda Super Overdrive 80

Rockville, Maryland-based Avant-garde/alternative metal group, Dog Fashion Disco, formally disbanded in 2007 and, after scattered reunions, returned to form in 2013. Armed with a brand new album, the band would release their 13-song album titled, Sweet Nothings, on July 22, 2014. The disc runs just shy of an hour in length and is packed to the brim with DFD’s signature metal. Recently we were able to chat with lead guitarist Jasan Stepp about some of the gear he used when writing and recording this new release.

What one piece of gear do you use to obtain your signature sound?
Stepp: I have the original Budda Super Overdrive 80 that was given to me by my friend Jeff Bober who designed and built Budda amps. I’ve played it at every DFD and Polkadot Cadaver show since 2003.

What about it makes it so important to you?
Stepp: It’s one of a kind, it was a gift, and it sounds fantastic.

How was this gear used during the recording of your latest album?
Stepp: It was used together with my Engl Powerball as the primary distorted tone on about 1/2 of the new DFD album, Sweet Nothings.

How do you recreate your album (guitar/vocal/bass) tones in your live set?
Stepp: I play both the Budda and Engl together in stereo on stage. I use an RJM RG16 midi controller to control the amp functions and pedals.

What are the major pros and cons?
Stepp: The rig sounds fantastic, but it’s pretty large and a tad cumbersome.

Do you have a backup for this gear, if so, what?
Stepp: Playing with 2 heads means that I always have a backup. I can survive a show by essentially splitting my rig in half and using either the Budda or Engl on their own.

How long have you had it, how do you use it, would you ever change it?
Stepp: I’ve been collecting the pieces of my rig for years, but I’m honestly really considering going with an Axe FX and an Engl power amp for my live rig. The older I get the less I feel like carrying this giant rig around.

Give us your best “gear goes wrong” story.
Stepp: Thankfully I’ve never really had any major disasters with my stuff. I’m really hard on my gear, but I do my best to maintain it so doesn’t take a shit when I need it to work!

Any final thoughts or comments on the gear?
Stepp: Just a big thanks to Jeff Bober at Budda and East amps and Mike Berger at Engl for hooking me up with some really killer gear.

Check out the song “Envy the Vultures”