Bassist and vocalist switch to Peavey for follow up to The Fallout
Peavey
Posted 2003-10-22
Platinum-selling rock band Default planned to record its second album in a secluded beach house---a 10,000-square-foot mansion with all manner of rock star amenities---but somewhere along the way, fate intervened and the band ended up in the same studio where it cut its successful debut, The Fallout. "It was a blessing in disguise, 'cause we're a bunch of jackals," joked bassist Dave Benedict. "We have a foosball table in the studio now, and it's brutal to get us away from even that!"
While Default may not have spent the summer in a haze of jet skis and carte blanche, the band did make it out with a strong sophomore album, Elocation, due November 25. "We all got in a room and started jamming," said Benedict. "We just wrote what came to us; we weren't thinking about any kind of format." Added vocalist Dallas Smith, "We went a little heavier and a little lighter. The songs are more diverse (than those on the last record)."
The creative synergy that comes from working together in the same room helped the band shed any pressures of following up the multi-format hit "Wasting My Time." The band worked with familiar faces, including producer Rick Parashar, who produced several songs on The Fallout. "The first time we went into (Parashar's studio), we looked at his wall and were really intimidated and blown away," said Benedict. "We were like, 'Man, we've owned all these records!' (But) we all get along with him really well, and it's a very comfortable situation in the studio with him." Parashar produced landmark albums by Pearl Jam, Blind Melon, Nickelback and, most recently, 3 Doors Down.
Both Benedict and occasional rhythm guitarist Smith began using Peavey gear on Elocation and are fully outfitted for Default's fall tour. "When I got my Peavey rig set up and hit the first note, my tour manager and I looked at each other and said, 'We're switching.' The tone was so nice and warm; our jaws just both hit the floor. And the Pro 500*, it just looks mean! It's got the bite to back up the bark." Benedict uses an assortment of Peavey gear, from Pro Series* bass heads and cabinets to GPS® power amps and a KOSMOS® low frequency and stereo image enhancer.
Although vocalist Smith has played guitar for "six or seven years," he will don one for the first time with Default when the band begins a headlining tour in November. Smith will play an EVH® Wolfgang® guitar through a Triple XXX® amplifier on songs from both albums. "I just plug right in," he said. "I don't have to do anything to it, and it sounds really good! It was exactly what I was looking for."
Visit Peavey.com during November to read Default's entire Artist of the Month interview and for more information on previewing Elocation in the Default Listening Party!
Peavey Electronics Corporation is one of the largest manufacturers of musical instruments and professional sound equipment in the world. Peavey holds more than 130 patents and produces more than 2,000 products, which are distributed throughout the United States and to 136 other countries. To find out more about Peavey Electronics and its artists, visit www.peavey.com.
