Synyster Gates

Synyster Gates

Synyster Gates, [born Brian Elwin Haner, Jr. on July 7, 1981] also known as "Syn", is an American musician. He is the lead guitarist for Avenged Sevenfold.

Synyster Gates obtained his first guitar around the age of ten. His father, Brian Haner Sr. looked down on his music at first because he thought it would interfere with the rest of his contemporary life. However, Synyster Gates ignored his father's warnings, and despite his doubts, his father encouraged his playing later on; and with his help, Synyster Gates was able to play Stairway to Heaven. He could also learn a song by ear at the age of twelve.

Synyster Gates attended Ocean View High School in Huntington Beach, California and Mayfair High School in Lakewood, California as a teenager, and then the Musicians Institute in Hollywood as part of the GIT program, studying jazz guitar. His father Brian Haner Sr., is a musician and is often called Avenged Sevenfold's official acoustic guitar player for his appearances on their albums, such as the acoustic solo on City of Evil 's "Sidewinder" and "M.I.A.".

Gates joined Avenged Sevenfold (A7X) 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. He also plays piano for the band on songs such as "Beast and the Harlot" and "Sidewinder," though a former member of the band, bassist Justin Meacham played the piano on Warmness on the Soul.

In the Avenged Sevenfold DVD All Excess, Gates stated that his name was thought of on a drunken drive through the park with The Rev. His exact words were, "I am Synyster Gates, and I am awesome!".

Gates won the "Young Shredder" award of the year in the Metal Hammer awards in 2005 and the "Guitarist of the Year" Award for Total Guitar magazine in 2006.

Synyster Gates was also a member of the "Goblin Metal" side-project Pinkly Smooth with The Rev. Pinkly Smooth was disbanded because Gates and The Rev wished to focus full-time on Avenged Sevenfold, although when asked recently, they both revealed there is a new side project being planned, featuring the two playing classic Pinkly Smooth tunes. Synyster's right tattoo sleeve is based on images from the songs he and The Rev wrote for Pinkly Smooth when they were 17 years of age.

Featured Guest appearances

Year	Song	Artist(s)	Album
2008	"Dirty Little Girl"	Burn Halo[1]	In Production
2007	"The River (Good Charlotte song)" (featuring M. Shadows and Synyster Gates)	Good Charlotte	Good Morning Revival

Equipment

Guitars

Syn is currently endorsed by Schecter Guitar Research, and uses the Hellraiser Avenger, the Synyster Custom Shop Avenger and the C-1 FR guitars.

Most, if not all, of Syn's guitars are custom made. Syn uses Seymour Duncan SH-8 Invader pickups in his guitars.

He owns many different variations of his Signature "Schecter Synyster Custom" models which include black with red pinstripes, the American Flag, the German Flag,the Rebel Flag, and the Confederate Flag. He also has a new model that will not be released to the public that is all white with gold stripes in gold hardware and can be seen in the "Afterlife" music video. An e-mail question was sent to Gregg Burns at Schecter of US sales asking, "Is schecter going to release the white synyster gates guitar that he uses in the afterlife music video to the public?" Gregg Burns responded to the e-mail by saying, "We have no plans for it right now, but maybe in the future. It was a Custom Shop piece we did for the band." In the past Syn has used the Gibson Les Paul, the Parker Fly, and the Ibanez RG Prestige.

Amplifiers

• Bogner Uberschall and caveman (main)
• Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier
• Marshall various low-watt combos

Speaker Cabinets

• Marshall 4x12" cab
• Bogner Uberkab 4x12" (main)
• Mesa/Boogie 4x12" Triple Recto Cabinet

Effects Units

• Boss TU-2 Chromatic Tuner
• Boss CS-3 Compressor
• Visual Sound H20 Chorus/Echo
• Frantone "The Sweet" Distortion
• Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive
• Boss BF-3 Flanger
• Boss PH-3 Phase Shifter
• Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor
• Seymour Duncan SFX-01 Pickup Booster
• Voodoo Lab PEDAL POWER 2
• Voodoo Lab GCX Audio Switcher
• Jim Dunlop Crybaby From Hell Wah Pedal

Accessories

• Ernie Ball 'skinny top, heavy bottom
• Jim Dunlop Gator Grip 2.0mm picks in custom black with a "Deathbat" logo printed
• Voodoo Labs GCX Guitar Audio Switcher rack unit
• Voodoo Labs DMC Ground Control Polo pro
• Rebel Straps Skull Bottle Opener Strap
• Rebel Straps Skull Pick Box Strap
• White Get'm Get'm Sergeant Stripes Guitar Strap
• Black Schaller Strap Locks
• Red schaller strap locks

Miscellaneous

• Synyster Gates had his 1st tattoo done at 15, a number 1 on his right thumb which was hidden from his parents for only a month or so.

• He is usually seen wearing a Fedora.

• He has stated that his favorite guitar player and influence is the late Dimebag Darrell.