Borland used Ibanez seven-string guitars exclusively from
1997 until 1999. However, he stated that he played a 6-string guitar on the
entire Three Dollar Bill, Ya’ll record. Shortly after embarking on a tour with
Korn, Ibanez got a hold of Borland and gave him a number of seven-string
Universe guitars, essentially for free, which he continued to use extensively.
During the touring in support of Significant Other, Borland used two custom Ibanez RG seven-strings with the electronic setup of an Ibanez AX7521 (two volume knobs and two tone knobs rather than one volume and one tone). Nothing is certain about the type of pickups that he used, however, he did use EMG pickups at one point, stating in an interview with Guitar Center that he was moving from "passive to active pickups". Borland also endorsed the rare Ibanez RG7 CST guitar, which is made from superior/high-quality materials and is also equipped with an L.R. Baggs designed piezo system on a locking tremolo.
Additionally, Borland used a vintage Ibanez Musician MC150PW, which was modified to be fitted with 4-strings, which he used on songs such as "Nookie", "Full Nelson", and "The One". This guitar can be seen in the music video for "Nookie." Ibanez then made him a custom baritone 4-string AX that would be used to replace the Musician. This was eventually replaced by a custom-made Master Guitars "Cremona" 4-string, which he uses to this day.
During the touring in support of Significant Other, Borland used two custom Ibanez RG seven-strings with the electronic setup of an Ibanez AX7521 (two volume knobs and two tone knobs rather than one volume and one tone). Nothing is certain about the type of pickups that he used, however, he did use EMG pickups at one point, stating in an interview with Guitar Center that he was moving from "passive to active pickups". Borland also endorsed the rare Ibanez RG7 CST guitar, which is made from superior/high-quality materials and is also equipped with an L.R. Baggs designed piezo system on a locking tremolo.
Additionally, Borland used a vintage Ibanez Musician MC150PW, which was modified to be fitted with 4-strings, which he used on songs such as "Nookie", "Full Nelson", and "The One". This guitar can be seen in the music video for "Nookie." Ibanez then made him a custom baritone 4-string AX that would be used to replace the Musician. This was eventually replaced by a custom-made Master Guitars "Cremona" 4-string, which he uses to this day.
During the recording for Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog
Flavored Water, Borland switched to 6-string guitars. The entire album was
recorded using a Master Guitars Cremona semi-hollow body guitar, which is
visible in the video for My Generation. However, Borland did not tour with this
guitar and instead used Paul Reed Smith guitars, one of which is a Standard 24
in a Platinum Metallic finish, a Custom 24 in a Black Slate finish, and a
4-string baritone. After the tour, they were not seen again. In a recent
Facebook photo posted by Fred Durst, Borland is shown playing the Cremona again
in 2012 for studio purposes.
In 2005, Yamaha approached Borland about a new signature
guitar, which was almost 100% designed by Borland. The model CV820WB was
released that same year. It is a semi-hollow body guitar with a large body and
new Yamaha high-output split field humbuckers, made exclusively for that
guitar. It also comes with the new Yamaha Quick Change finger-clamp locking
tremolo system, which rids the user of having to cut the ball ends off of the
strings, which is very unusual for a locking tremolo. This was Borland's main
guitar for the recording of Black Light Burns' Cruel Melody and the touring
behind it, as well as most of the touring Limp Bizkit did before the recording
of Gold Cobra. Despite its innovative characteristics, it wasn't a popular
guitar, per se, and was discontinued in mid-2011, when Borland switched to
Jackson Guitars, more or less beginning with the recording of Gold Cobra.
Borland was endorsed by Jackson shortly before the release
of Gold Cobra, and owned several Rhoads guitars, which he used on Limp Bizkit
shows.
2011 saw Wes play a custom white Warrior model with black bevels, and a Gun Metal Grey Warrior, along with a white Randy Rhoads guitar. He does not currently have a signature model with Jackson. Additionally, Borland also uses a Fender Bass VI, tuned to one octave below E standard tuning. He uses this on "The Story" on The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1), and again on "90.2.10", "Walking Away", and "Back Porch" on the Gold Cobra record.
2011 saw Wes play a custom white Warrior model with black bevels, and a Gun Metal Grey Warrior, along with a white Randy Rhoads guitar. He does not currently have a signature model with Jackson. Additionally, Borland also uses a Fender Bass VI, tuned to one octave below E standard tuning. He uses this on "The Story" on The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1), and again on "90.2.10", "Walking Away", and "Back Porch" on the Gold Cobra record.
Other guitars Borland has been seen with before are a 1976
Fender Starcaster a stock ESP LTD V-401DX (used on the Limp Bizkit reunion tour
for playing songs on Results May Vary) and Mayones Regius Pro 6, Legend and
Setius GTM 6 Baritone guitars.
Borland tunes his guitars to C# standard tuning (C# F# B E
G# C#) and to Drop B tuning (B F# B E G# C#). He also tunes his 4-string
baritone guitars to a variant of this tuning with a low F# string, which is a
bass string (F# F# B E). During the late 1990s when Borland played 7-string
guitars, he played them like one would play a 6-string guitar by tuning the
highest string to C# as well, while maintaining standard C# tuning all the way
to the seventh string. This technique was later used by Stephen Carpenter of
Deftones so he could play the songs he originally recorded on a six-string
without losing the feel of a seven-string, as Limp Bizkit and the Deftones had
toured together in the mid 90's.
Borland uses Ernie Ball .011-.052 gauge nickel-wound
strings, where the G string is wound. For Limp Bizkit's first three albums,
Borland used Mesa-Boogie Dual and Triple Rectifier amps. In 2000, Borland would
use the Mesa Boogie heads in conjunction with a Diezel VH4. In the Mid 2000's,
on the recording of Cruel Melody and The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1),
Borland's main amp was the Diezel VH4. Starting with the 2008 recording of The
Moment You Realize You're Going to Fall Borland played mainly Orange Amps
(specifically the Thunderverb 100 models) since touring in support of Cruel
Melody began and has continued to use them since then, also on Gold Cobra.
Currently, Borland plays EVH Amps and cabinets for his heavier tones. The
mainstay of Borland's amp setup has been a Roland JC-120 combo amplifier to
generate his particularly exceptional clean tones.
Guitars
- Yamaha CV820 WB 6 string - Wes Borland signature model
guitar
- Jackson WR1 USA Warrior Bolted Steel
- Jackson Rhoads V guitars
- Yamaha SA503 TVL
- Mayones Regius PRO 6 and baritone Regius 6 model guitars
- Fender Starcaster 1976
- Hagstrom III
- Fender Jazz Bass (black)
- Yamaha bass
- Ibanez AX Custom 4-string baritone
- Ibanez AXR 7-string
- Ibanez AX-7221 7-string
- Ibanez AX-7521
- Ibanez R6-1
- Ibanez RG7621
- Ibanez Sabre 7-string
- PRS CE 24
- Cremona 4 string
- Cremona 6 string
- Jackson RX10D Rhoads
- Rickenbacker 360
- Ibanez RG7CST (as seen in a youtube demo video of Wes)
- Seymour Duncan Invaders
Amps
- EVH 5150 III amplifier heads
- Orange Amplifiers
- Orange 2x12 and 4x12 cabinets
- Diezel VH4 Heads
- 60’s Sears Silvertone
- Selmer Zodiac Twin 50
- Marshall cabs
- Marshall head
- Mesa Boogie Dual or Triple Rectifiers
- Mesa Boogie 4x12 Cabinets
- Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus Guitar Amplifier
Effects
- BOSS RV-3 Delay and Reverb
- BOSS EQ pedal
- BOSS Noise Gate
- BOSS Super Phaser
- Boss Digital Delay
- Digitech XP300 Space Station
- DOD Electronics Buzz Box
- DOD Electronics FX-25B Envelope Filter
- Electro Harmonix Q-Tron
- Fulltone Deja-Vibe pedal
- Furman Power Conditioner
- iZotope Trash
- Korg DTR-1 Tuner
- MXR Phase 90
- Rocktron Hush Unit
- Echoplex
- Moogerfooger
- Whirlwind A/B Selector
- Ibanez TS9
- Taurus Silverline stompboxes
Sam Rivers
Rivers was originally endorsed by Ibanez, and one of his
basses was a customized BTB 5-string, but currently uses custom made Warwick
basses, with LEDs in the fretboard. Rivers has also been seen using Warwick
Basses since 2005 and uses Ampeg and Warwick amps.
Basses
Ibanez BTB 5-String
Warwick Pro basses
Wal basses
John Otto