“If you can’t play, you’ll find a pedal and you’ll cheat”: Dave Mustaine says guitarists should learn how to play before stocking up their pedalboards

Dave Mustaine of Megadeth plays his signature gold Gibson V onstage at Resurrection Fest Estrella Galicia 2024.

Dave Mustaine has warned guitarists against buying pedals before they have learned their instrument because doing so will encourage them to “cheat” and use effects to sound better than they really are.

Speaking to Guitarist magazine, the Megadeth frontman was discussing his life in gear, admitting that it was only since he hooked up with Gibson for a range of signature guitars that he started thinking about collecting instruments. Most of the time the companies sent the instruments to him, and that was that.