If you’ve ever wondered how touring musicians dial in their tone for a high-energy country-rock show, Kish Moody just dropped a full gear breakdown that you don’t want to miss. As he preps for an upcoming show with the Pamela Hopkins Band at Boer Live in Louisiana, Kish walks us through his rig, his reasoning, and a few killer tone demos—all recorded direct with zero board EQ.
⚙️ The Core Setup
This is a gig that demands a compact, consistent setup—electric drums, in-ear monitors, and direct-to-board signals. Kish is bringing his Mesa Boogie Mark V and plans to run it direct, skipping the cab on stage entirely (although he’s bringing one just in case). With a 112 cabinet and cab simulation XLR out, this rig keeps things clean and controllable for smaller venues where volume and space are at a premium.
🎚️ Settings & Sound
Kish takes us channel by channel through his Mesa Boogie, favoring the Fat Channel for a warm, slightly driven clean tone. Here’s how he sets it:
- EQ: Dialed in around the sevens
- Bass: Pulled back to avoid muddiness
- Presence: Cranked for clarity in in-ear mixes
- Studio Gear: PreSonus StudioLive 3, Studio One DAW (no EQ applied)
He runs this straight into the board with no coloring—what you hear is pure Mesa tone.
🎛️ Pedalboard Simplicity
Kish favors a minimalist pedalboard with a few well-loved staples:
- Tube Screamer 40th Anniversary (Red, with a unique mod that adds subtle compression)
- Classic Delay Pedal (his go-to for clean ambiance)
- Tuner (of course)
This setup lets him focus on the feel and keep things consistent when switching guitars or tones mid-set.
🎸 Guitar Lineup
Two standout guitars make an appearance:
- 1984 Gibson Les Paul Custom – for smooth, slightly dirty clean tones
- Custom Parts-Caster Tele (Pink Paisley) – a rare Series 10 body paired with a Squier Vibe neck for extra playability and punch. Perfect for country licks with enough grit to lean into rock territory when needed.
🎶 Sound Check Highlights
In the video, Kish demos:
- Clean tone chords used for “diamond” show intros
- Country licks and tasteful overdrive for Pamela Hopkins originals
- Straight-up distortion tones showing the Tele can hold its own in a rock set
All of it is uncolored by board EQ or studio trickery—just real-deal guitar tone.
đź“ş Watch the Full Video
👉 Click here to watch the full rig rundown on YouTube
(Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe if you enjoy this kind of content.)
🎤 Catch Kish Live
Come see the full rig in action with the Pamela Hopkins Band this weekend at Boer Live in Louisiana. It’s going to be a night of killer vocals, country grooves, and seriously dialed-in tone.
đź”— Want More?
- Listen to Kish’s original music at kishmoody.com
- Get merch & updates
- Join the email list for exclusive behind-the-scenes content
🛠️ Got questions about the gear or tone? Drop a comment on the YouTube video or shoot a message through the contact form—Kish reads them all!