Mick Thomson
Background information
Birth name Mickael Gordon Thomson
Height:6'2"
Also known as #7, Log
Born November 3, 1973 (1973-11-03) (age 35)
Des Moines, Iowa
Genres Alternative metal, nu metal, death metal
Occupations Musician, songwriter
Instruments Guitar
Years active 1996–present
Labels Roadrunner, Nuclear Blast
Associated acts Slipknot, Body Pit
Notable instruments
Ibanez MTM1 and MTM2 Signature Models
B.C. Rich Warlock
Mickael Gordon Thomson born November 3, 1973, or known as Mick, Log or by his number #7, is an American musician, best known as being one of the guitarists for Slipknot.
Thomson was born in Des Moines, Iowa. In his youth, he performed in bands such as Body Pit. Thomson joined Slipknot in 1996, replacing the band's guitarist, Craig Jones, who then begun to assume his role as their sampler. He employs alternate picking, drop tuning, and 6 string sweep arpeggios into his guitar technique.
Thomson expresses his pseudonym as #7 more than most members of Slipknot. For example, as well as being credited with the number in the liner notes of albums he has recorded, he also has the word "seven" tattooed on his left arm, and features the number "7" on the designs of at least three guitar models he has used. Outside Slipknot, Thomson has taught guitar lessons at Ye Olde Guitar Shoppe, a local music shop in Des Moines, and has appeared on Malevolent Creation's album Doomsday X. He also made a guest appearance in the music video for Lupara's "No Pity on the Ants".
According to Slipknot vocalist Corey Taylor, Thomson is an avid writer of poetry, loves cats, and has a fascination with serial killers. On the topic of the latter, Thomson himself has stated, "If I were a famous killer, I'd take some of the finer points of quite a few of them- Albert Fish and Ed Gein spring to mind. But I'm not a violent person by nature. Don't fuck with me, and you'll be fine."
Mick has a number of tattoos on his body: he has the word "嫌惡" on his right arm (which means "detest" and "disgust" in Mandarin and "HATE" in Japanese), the word "Seven" on his left forearm, a "demon attempting to rape an angel" on his shoulder (actually artwork from Immolation's first album Dawn of Possession), on his other shoulder a morbid angel tattoo by paul booth, an inverted cross on his upper back, "Slipknot" going down his right calf, and the Zodiac sign for Scorpio on his left calf. Mick is 6'2" and 242 pounds, being the 2nd tallest member of Slipknot, behind fellow guitarist Jim Root, and the heaviest.
Masks
During Slipknot's demo tape era, Thomson wore a hockey mask that had six circular holes in the mouth area which was colored green. In Slipknot and Iowa, Thomson wore a leather mask that looked a lot like metal and had slits in the mouth area to make it look happy. In Vol. 3, Thomson wore a silver mask that had the same lines, but they were longer then shorter to make it angry. Thomson's recent mask (for All Hope Is Gone) is truely metallic and had the same face.
Equipment
Guitars
It has been suggested that this section be split into a new article entitled List of guitars used by Mick Thomson. (Discuss)
Thomson was sponsored by B.C. Rich until late 2004, and designed a signature model with this company based on their Warlock model. He has since made a switch to Ibanez, with whom he designed his own Ibanez MTM1 and MTM2 Signature Models.
* The MTM1 features mahogany body, 5-piece Wizard II thru-neck, fixed Edge bridge, jumbo frets, custom "seven" inlay, black hardware, reversed headstock, and active Seymour Duncan Blackout humbuckers. It is available in black or blood red finishes. The MTM1 originally featured EMG 81/60 pickups, but Mick recently made the switch to the Seymour Duncan Black Out pickups because he favored their tone.
* The MTM2 is a more affordable version of the MTM1. It features Ibanez V7 and V8 pickups instead of Seymour Duncan pickups, and has no inlays. It is only available in black.
Thomson has also debuted his Ovation signature acoustic/electric guitar, labeled the MT37. The MT37 features textured black finish, Thomson's signature seven inlay, custom ultra-thin neck, deep contour body with spruce top and rounded bowl back, OP Pro preamp, and Ovation's High Output pickup.
Ibanez is currently Thomson's guitar of choice. Ibanez is currently producing the Mick Thomson Signature MTM1 and MTM2 models. Thomson also uses several other custom guitars from Ibanez. Mick's main Ibanez guitars are as follows:
* Ibanez MTM1 - Black with white binding
* Ibanez MTM1 - Red with black binding
* Ibanez MTM1 - White with black binding
* Ibanez MTM Prototype - Black with white binding (features a standard headstock, instead of the reversed headstock of the MTM1)
* Ibanez MTM Custom - Green with black pickguard & black binding; features and EMG single coil between the Blackout humbuckers
* Ibanez Tele Custom - Telecaster-style body; vintage sunburst with passive Seymour Duncan pickups (JB in bridge and Classic Stack in neck)
* Ibanez S-Series Custom - Black with white binding (same specs as MTM1) (seen in the video for "The Nameless")
* Ibanez S-Series Custom - Grey with black binding (same specs as MTM1) (seen at certain points in Voliminal dvd)
Thomson is also currently endorsing and using his Ovation MT37 signature edition acoustic/electric.
Thomson was Sponsored for a long period by B.C.Rich guitars, and played several custom shop guitars from them, including the ones used as basis for the B.C.Rich Mick Thomson Signature Warlock model. Thomson's key B.C.Rich guitars are as follows:
* B.C. Rich Warlock- black with white binding (All of Mick's BC Rich guitars featured EMG humbuckers, and HATE inlay on fretboard)
* B.C. Rich Warlock - Red with black binding
* B.C. Rich Warlock - Transparent black quilted top with no binding (tuned to Drop-A; seen on Disasterpieces dvd)
* B.C. Rich Bich - Black with white binding, and arched top
* B.C. Rich V - Black with white binding (as seen in Guitar One magazine)
* B.C. Rich Beast - Mentioned in August 2001 issue of Guitar World
* B.C. Rich Assassin - Mentioned in issue of Guitar One
Around the time of Slipknot's debut album, and before his endorsements with B.C.Rich and Ibanez, Thomson used various guitars in the studio and on tour with the band. A few of the key guitars used during this period are as follows:
* Jackson Archtop Soloist - Transparent green with flamed top (HATE decal on headstock) (main touring guitar)
* Ibanez RG Series - Silver with humbucker-single coil-single coil design (HATE decal on headstock) (main touring guitar)
* Ibanez RG Series - Transparent wine red with flamed top (HATE decal on headstock) (As seen in Guitar One magazine)
* Jackson King V- black - Reportedly used in studio & seen in Mick's photo from 1997 Dotfest
* Jackson rr 24 pro - Black and white
Effects
* Ibanez Tube Screamer
* BOSS Effects processor
* BOSS Super Overdive
* Dunlop Jimi Hendrix Octave Fuzz
* Electro Harmonix Bas Balls
* Sony wireless system
Amplification
Thomson is currently using the Rivera KR-7 amp model and its matching speaker cabinet. The KR-7 is Thomson's signature model amplifier and features his trademark seven logo. It was based on the Rivera Knucklehead Reverb amps that Thomson had previously been using, but the KR-7 was fine-tuned by Thomson and Paul Rivera to capture the punchy midrange and enhanced low-end frequencies that suited Thomson's aggressive, detuned playing style.
Other amplification used by Mick include:
* VHT Pitbull
* Marshall JMP-1 preamp
* Mesa power amp
* Carvin speaker cabinet
* Line 6 Spider II'
With Slipknot
* 1999: Slipknot
* 2001: Iowa
* 2004: Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)
* 2008: All Hope Is Gone
Other appearances
* 2007: Doomsday X (Malevolent Creation)
Filmography
* 1999: Welcome to Our Neighborhood
* 2002: Disasterpieces
* 2002: Rollerball
* 2006: Voliminal: Inside the Nine
* 2008: Nine: The Making of "All Hope Is Gone"
