Synyster Gates

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Synyster Gates

Synyster Gates in Pittsburgh, PA.
Background information
Birth name Brian Elwin Haner, Jr.
Also known as Synyster Gates
Born July 7, 1981 (1981-07-07) (age 28)
Huntington Beach, California, United States
Genres heavy metal, hard rock, thrash metal, metalcore
Occupations Musician, songwriter, guitarist, vocalist
Instruments Guitar, piano, vocals
Years active 2000–Present
Labels Good Life Recordings, Hopeless, Warner Bros.
Associated acts Avenged Sevenfold, Pinkly Smooth, Good Charlotte, Burn Halo
Notable instruments
Schecter Synyster Custom

Brian Elwin Haner, Jr. (born July 7, 1981), better known by his stage name Synyster Gates or simply Syn or "Gates", is an American musician. He is the lead guitarist for the American rock band Avenged Sevenfold.

Guitar World magazine has ranked him as one of the top 50 fastest guitar players of all-time[1].

Contents

[edit] Avenged Sevenfold

Brian joined Avenged Sevenfold when he was 18 at the end of 1999, right before the recording of the band's first album, Sounding the Seventh Trumpet. He was featured on their EP, "Warmness on the Soul", and on the reissue of their first album.

In the Avenged Sevenfold DVD All Excess, to emphasize the seemingly random placing of names, Brian stated that his name was thought of on a drunken drive through the park with The Rev. Also, his band members claim that he originally thought that he was too good to play for the band. He corrects them by saying he said no such thing.

He has won numerous awards, including the "Young Shredder" award of the year in the Metal Hammer awards in 2006 and the "Guitarist of the Year" Award for Total Guitar Magazine in 2006.

[edit] Pinkly Smooth

Brian along with the band's drummer The Rev formerly played in an avant-garde metal band named Pinkly Smooth. They both however quit the band as they wished to concentrate full time on Avenged Sevenfold.

[edit] Featured guest appearances

[edit] Personal life

Brian has a younger half-sister named McKenna, brother named Brent, stepbrother Johnny, his step mom is Suzy Haner and his biological mom's name is Jan Gera. His father, Brian Haner Sr., is a musician and comedian known as "Guitar Guy" or "Papa Gates" and is currently on tour with Jeff Dunham.

Brian cites Django Reinhardt, Dimebag Darrell, Eddie Van Halen, Slash and John Petrucci as his favorite guitarists and major influences. In June 2008, when Guitar World magazine interviewed Brian, reader Shawn Butterfield asked "You're one hell of a guitarist. But who do you really look up to?" to which he responded "Definitely Slash, the Ozzy guitar dudes, Eddie Van Halen, Alexi Laiho from Children of Bodom, Jimi Hendrix of course, Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin a lot man!".

[edit] Guitars

Brian is endorsed by Schecter Guitars as is Zacky Vengeance. Currently, his signature model is available in two different versions. The "Schecter Synyster Custom" which has the exact specifications of the guitar that he plays live (excluding the sustainiac pick-up fitted models) and the more affordable "Schecter Synyster Standard" which offers lower quality pickups and tremolo system. Before the production of his signature model, he played guitars of various brands.

Here is a list of some of the guitars he used before the production of his signature model:

Brian has different variations of his signature model. The "First Synyster Custom" that he played lacks the gothic "SYN" inlay and the "Deathbat" on the 12th fret, instead the "Deathbat" is located on the headstock. His other customs models that are not available to the public follow suits. Currently he plays the model which is available to the public that has the gothic "SYN" inlay and the "Deathbat" on the 12th fret. He also plays a white with gold stripes "Synyster Custom" usually during performances of "Dear God". This guitar is available to the public, but production was limited to only 100 models. Recently, one or two of his signature model that he uses live has a custom "Sustainiac Stealth Pro" sustainer humbucker pick-up fitted for its neck position which he would usually activate during his solo performance. It also can be heard during the solo of the band's cover of 'Paranoid' by Black Sabbath.

Here is a list of the different variations of his signature guitar:

  • Schecter Synyster Custom (Black with Silver Pin Stripes)
  • Schecter Synyster Custom (White with Gold Pin Stripes) - First Release: Only 100 made / Second Release: Limited Numbers
  • Schecter Synyster Standard (Black with Silver Pin Stripes) - Affordable version of "Synyster Custom"
  • Schecter Synyster Custom (White with Red Pin Stripes) - Only 1 was made

The following guitars were made exclusively for Brian and are not available to the public. Much like the "First Synyster Custom", they lack the gothic "SYN" inlay and the "Deathbat" on the 12th fret with the exception of the Tune-O-Matic Bridge "Synyster Custom".

  • First Synyster Custom - As seen in the 2006 Graspop Metal Meeting
  • Rebel Flag Synyster Custom - As seen in the "Making of Avenged Sevenfold" video
  • American Flag Synyster Custom - As seen in the "Making of Avenged Sevenfold" video
  • German Flag Synyster Custom - Briefly seen in the "All Excess" video
  • Black with Red Stripes Synyster Custom - As seen in the "Beast and the Harlot" music video
  • Red with Black Stripes Synyster Custom - The rarest of all his guitars, never seen in public
  • Tune-O-Matic Bridge Synyster Custom - As seen in the "Almost Easy" part of the "Making of Avenged Sevenfold" video

[edit] Amplifiers & effects units

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.guitarworld.com/article/50_fastest_guitarists_of_all_time?page=0,0
  2. ^ http://www.uberproaudio.com/content/view/188/38/
  3. ^ http://www.guitarworld.com/article/dear_guitar_hero_avenged_sevenfold
  4. ^ http://www.visualsound.net/index.php/profiles/avenged_sevenfold
  5. ^ http://www.ernieball.com/artist/23-Avenged-Sevenfold

http://www.uberproaudio.com/content/view/188/38/

v • d • e
Avenged Sevenfold
M. Shadows • Synyster Gates • Zacky Vengeance • Johnny Christ • The Rev
Justin Meacham • Dameon Ash
Studio albums
EPs
DVDs
Singles
Tribute Albums
Record labels
Related articles
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