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Guitar World

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Phil Weller

“How many times have you gone to see a band, watched them set up full stacks and massive pedalboards, and then they just suck?” Why Converge’s Kurt Ballou uses digital amp modelers live (even if he disappoints gearheads)

Kurt Ballou Converge

Portrait of American musician and producer Kurt Ballou, guitarist with heavy metal group Converge, photographed backstage at ArcTanGent Festival in Compton Martin, England, on August 18, 2017.

As Converge’s in-house gear nerd and owner of God City Studios, Kurt Ballou knows his gear. As such, he never settles for second best, and he’s adopted digital gear into his live rig for one main reason.

Converge have had a busy 2026, having released two studio albums in just four months. While appearing on Chris Garza’s podcast recently, Ballou has underscored why amp modelers have usurped tube amps for touring.

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