rivers cuomo Suzy Shinn and Rivers Cuomo on the Guitars, Amps, and Pedals Behind 'Van Weezer' Any whammy-bar guitar would do. But for 'Van Weezer,' producer Suzy Shinn explains why Rivers Cuomo's amp had to be a Mesa/Boogie Mark I. Rivers Cuomo on the Biological Need to Shred, Heavy Metal, and Why Singing Your Solos First Makes For Good Phrasing Rivers Cuomo lets the shred-obsessed kid inside him break free on 'Van Weezer,' a record that's half Blue Album, half '80s metal. Get The Pick NewsletterAll the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors MOST READ1Gary Clark Jr. never asked to be a guitar savior 2Best Travel Guitars 2024: Top Portable Instruments From Lowden, Furch, Martin and more3“‘Those old Beatle bashers?’”: Paul McCartney talks Vox amps, and his love of dirty tones4“I was 17 years old and found it in this local paper. It said, ‘Gretsch guitar, 100 bucks.’ I called the guy up and asked, ‘Is it like Eddie Cochran’s?’ He was like, ‘Who?’”: How Brian Setzer forged his trademark twanging tone 5“We’re the birthplace of blues, country and rock and roll music, and the guitar is at the core of all of it”: The America at the Crossroads exhibit charts the guitar’s history with instruments owned by Bo Diddley, Muddy Waters, B.B. King, and more