Thurston Moore
Sonic Youth / Solo
The noise architect of Sonic Youth. Pioneering the use of cheap guitars, drumsticks, and unconventional tunings, he deconstructed rock music to create a new vocabulary of feedback-drenched soundscapes and art-punk dissonance.
SIGNATURE TONE
Dissonant, chiming, and explosive. Defined by open/unconventional tunings on a Jazzmaster, played aggressively near the bridge, often dissolving into feedback-drenched noise.
SIGNAL CHAINS BY ERA
Explore how the rig evolved over time
Early Sonic Youth (1981-1987)
No wave chaos. Cheap pawn shop guitars modified with drumsticks and screwdrivers, played through whatever amps were available.
Daydream Nation Era (1988-1992)
Art rock masterpiece. A more refined but still chaotic sound, relying heavily on the Jazzmaster/Peavey combination.
The Best Day / Solo Era (2010-Present)
Mature experimentation. Focusing on 12-string electrics and more traditional song structures while retaining the avant-garde edge.