“When I was younger, I wanted the most expensive stuff… But there’s more character in the player than the equipment”: Loathe’s Erik Bickerstaffe on conjuring impossibly heavy riffs with a Gretsch baritone, Behringer multi-FX and some serious down-tuning

Loathe's Erik Bickerstaffe.

Few modern guitar players have left bruises as heavy as Loathe’s Erik Bickerstaffe. Since bursting onto the scene in 2016, he has almost single-handedly caused the price of Squier Vintage Modified Baritone Jazzmasters to triple in price on the second-hand market by conjuring earth-shattering sounds from his.

Today he continues to champion cheap budget gear despite the band’s success. “When I was younger, I wanted the most expensive stuff, because of the idea that you get what you pay for,” he says.