Roland Cubes, plastic pedalboards and nothing but Boss: Robert Smith’s 2024 guitar rig flies in the face of modern guitar culture – and sounds all the more majestic for it
In 2024, guitar rigs are governed by a strict set of commandments: thine pedalboard must be tidily wired and full of beautiful artwork; thou shalt use tube amps (or at least an expensive amp modeler); and that electric guitar better be in a vintage finish – ideally relic’d.
So what a joy it is to see the Cure icon Robert Smith proudly flying in the face of all these rules with a setup that is almost defiantly lo-fi.
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Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master’s degree in journalism from Cardiff University, and over a decade’s experience writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as 20 years of recording and live experience in original and function bands. During his career, he has interviewed the likes of John Frusciante, Chris Cornell, Tom Morello, Matt Bellamy, Kirk Hammett, Jerry Cantrell, Joe Satriani, Tom DeLonge, Ed O’Brien, Polyphia, Tosin Abasi, Yvette Young and many more. In his free time, you’ll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.
