Sweetwater’s Infinite Arc Gear Tour: Coheed and Cambria’s Sonic Arsenal

Claudio Sanchez, the dynamic frontman of Coheed and Cambria, opens the tour with a deep dive into his beloved guitar vault. Packed with his iconic Explorers, the collection features unique gems like the Jackhammer and a newcomers like the Taylor 814E. This acoustic piece is anything but your typical beach bar strummer, matching perfectly with Coheed’s eclectic sets. Claudio’s journey with Explorers is a tale of rock legend admiration, from his first white-on-white model, reminiscent of Hendrix and Hetfield. Each guitar carries a story of discovery and personal connection, with Claudio recounting tales of finding rare models hidden behind towering cabinets.

Diving further into his guitar indulgence, we learn about Evil Instruments – Claudio’s personal imprint. It’s all about paying homage to the classics while adding a dash of innovation. The Jackhammer, Claudio’s Franken-guitar lovechild, blends the sharp contours of an E2 with SG and Explorer horns. His collaboration with Dunnable Guitars brings these visions to life, turning sketches from a plane ride into sonorous reality. These prototypes signal not just a march through musical evolution, but an ongoing tribute to his iconic influences, wrapped in unique designs. Claudio’s passion is infectious, with each guitar whispering tales of rock history.

With a shift to earth-shaking lows, Zach Cooper, Coheed’s bassist, unveils his Yamaha custom rig that’s stripped to essentials. His approach is minimalistic yet powerful, focusing on sound and function—a single volume knob, no bridges, just pure resonant clarity. He even flaunts a skateboard-constructed bass, adding a punk edge to the scene. Zach’s setup includes a pedalboard full of noise mayhem devices, like the Death by Audio Bass Warp, pushing boundaries of traditional sound. His amps, Aguilar DB751s, share the stage, ensuring nothing less than sonic thunder. It’s a masterclass in bass rig construction, where simplicity meets innovation for thunderous resonance.

Sweetwater then steers into the stormy drum world with Josh Eppard at the helm. Armed with Tama kits and an artillery of Zildjian cymbals, Josh crafts the backbone of Coheed’s vast soundscape. His kit isn’t just music—it’s a mechanical beast, wired to withstand the most vigorous of shows. With snare drums kept in check by weights, and heads robust enough to endure his ferocity, it’s all about controlled chaos. Josh jokes about the practicality of tilted cymbals, but it’s clear every piece is meticulously set. His choices reflect a dedication to both heritage and experimentation, creating a percussion setup that’s as visually striking as it is aurally commanding.