The guitar Tom Morello preferred over any other: “We’ve been friends for a long time”
There’s a quiet intimacy in the way a musician picks up a guitar. From that first tentative strum, a blanket of silence falls upon them, whether in the middle of a music store or a private corner of a studio. Choosing the right guitar is a deeply personal endeavour. Guitarists aren’t just selecting an instrument; they’re selecting a companion – a voice to amplify their own. From a pristine, vintage Les Paul to a battered pawn shop Fender, every guitarist has their “one”, something that harmonises with their own identity.
When it comes to guitar, Tom Morello is a radical architect. Best known for his work with Rage Against The Machine, Audioslave and his solo project The Nightwatchman, he has also toured alongside musical legends such as Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. With no intention of stopping just yet, he continues to be admired for his unconventional playing. Known for incorporating feedback noise, erratic picking, tapping, and heavy custom-built effects, Morello’s rig is pretty stripped down.
In a 2008 interview with Premier Guitar, Morello was asked what guitar and effect he would bring with him on a desert island if given the chance. Morello didn’t hesitate: “Wow, that’s a very good question. If I had to choose just one guitar and it had to be an electric, I’d have to say the Frankenstein-guitar because we’ve been friends for a long time.”
Among the various guitars that Morello is famous for using, “The Frankenstein” is easily the most favoured, both by himself and his fans. Much like a car, you’ll need a test drive first. A guitar with a too-heavy body or an awkward neck is like having an unresponsive engine. It’ll get you where you’re going, but it’ll fight you every mile, never quite aligning with your intent. The right guitar, on the other hand, feels like it was built for you.
The Frankenstein, or (Frankenstrat?), is a Performance USA Stratocaster and was his main guitar throughout his time with Rage Against the Machine, as well as his solo career. The guitar’s name is inspired by Eddie Van Halen’s nickname for his own strat-style guitar from 1978. Modified several times during the early days of Rage Against The Machine, Morello’s version features cartoonish hippo illustrations, as well as the iconic “Arm the Homeless” slogan scrawled across the body in jagged red ink.
Morello also chose his dream guitar effect, adding: “And if I could only pick one effect pedal… There is quite a variety of sonic flavours. I’d probably choose an echo-style pedal because I think that would sound best since I’d be mournful out there all alone on the desert isle.”
Since high school, Morello has asserted himself as much as an activist as he is as a guitarist. His blend of anti-establishment themes, hard-hitting riffs and turntable and siren-like guitar effects have cemented him as a powerful political force within the music industry. For Morello, “The Frankenstein” is more than just wood, strings and a cool paint job. It’s an extension of his artistry and political voice, one of protest, solidarity and rebellion. In the end, every guitarist knows their “one”, and with Morello’s, you can hear him coming from a mile away.
