Rig Rundown: Madison Cunningham

In this episode of Rig Rundowns, John Bollinger sits down with guitarist Madison Cunningham at Third Man Records in Nashville to explore her unique approach to guitar playing and her eclectic gear setup. Cunningham shares how her fascination with complex, fluid guitar parts began at age 10 after watching a family friend perform a song with intricate rhythmic layering and vocal independence. She describes her creative process as intuitive and ear-driven, rejecting formal music theory in favor of muscle memory and experimentation. Her signature sound is built around a custom-modified Silver Tone classical guitar with a Seymour Duncan rail pickup and a rubber bridge, paired with a vintage Princeton amp and a meticulously crafted pedalboard built by her father. The pedalboard features a mix of analog wonders including a JHS Artificial Blonde tremolo, a Boss Loop Station, a Chroma Console for reverse effects and fuzz, and a Galaxy pedal for ambient feedback textures. Cunningham embraces the unpredictability of live looping and analog gear, viewing technical failure not as a flaw but as a vital part of the performance—'shame is our third bandmate.' Her current tour features a two-piece band with a saxophonist who handles bass, synth, and looping, creating a rich, layered sound with minimal instrumentation. Throughout the conversation, Cunningham emphasizes authenticity, spontaneity, and the joy of discovery over technical perfection.