Synyster Gates

Synyster Gates
Gates in 2011
Background information
Birth name	Brian Elwin Haner, Jr.
Also known as	Synyster Gates, Syn
Born	(1981-07-07) July 7, 1981 Huntington Beach, California, United States
Genres	Heavy metal, hard rock
Instrument(s)	Guitar, vocals, piano
Labels	Good Life Recordings, Hopeless, Warner Bros., Bucktan
Website	www.avengedsevenfold.com

Brian Elwin Haner, Jr. (born July 7, 1981), better known by his stage name Synyster Gates or simply Syn, is an American musician, best known for being the lead guitarist of the band Avenged Sevenfold. He has appeared with many different styles of his custom Schecter guitars, however he tends to use his black with silver pinstripes.

Early life

He studied at the Musicians Institute in Los Angeles, California, as part of the Guitar Institute of Music program, studying jazz and classical guitar. After a year or so of being there, he got a call from The Rev asking him if he wanted to "join his band", as lead guitarist. Haner joined rather than continuing his education to become a studio producer. Up until that time he was primarily self-taught by watching videos and reading books. His father, Brian Haner/Brian Haner, Sr., also known as "Guitar Guy," is a songwriter, guitarist and comedian. Gates is of Spanish and German ancestry.

Avenged Sevenfold

Synsyter Gates, live with Avenged Sevenfold

Synyster Gates performing live with Zacky Vengance in 2010.

Brian joined Avenged Sevenfold together with his best friend, The Rev, when they were 18 in 1999, right after the recording of the band's first album, Sounding the Seventh Trumpet. He was featured on the EP Warmness on the Soul which contains select songs from the first album as well as Synyster's new version of "To End The Rapture". His name on Avenged Sevenfold's debut album was "Synyster Gates".

On the Avenged Sevenfold DVD All Excess, Syn claimed that his name was created on a drunken drive through the park with The Rev.

Synyster Gates has won eight awards. He won the Dimebag Darrell "young shredder award" in the 2006 "Golden God Awards" run by Metal Hammer. In 2006, Brian Elwin Haner junior was named guitarist of the year by Total Guitar Magazine. Gates was voted Sexiest Male in the 2008 Kerrang Readers Poll. In 2010, Guitar World Listed Synyster Gates as one of the 30 greatest shredders of all time. They described him as being able to perform finger-twisting licks, acrobatic sweeps, devilish chromatics and towering dual-harmonies. Synyster was chosen as one of Guitar Hero's 50 fastest guitarists. On Guitar World's 2010 Readers Poll, Synyster Gates was chosen Snappiest Dresser and the Best Metal Guitarist. Rock One Magazine's 2010 Readers Poll voted Gates the #3 best musician in the industry. On April 20, 2011, Haner won the Revolver Golden God award for Best Guitarist along with band mate, Zacky Vengeance. Avenged Sevenfold picked up numerous other awards and delivered the headlining performance of the night.

In the Avenged Sevenfold Special Edition of Revolver magazine that was released the same day as the Nightmare album, Synyster Gates stated that he originally started out writing the song "So Far Away" in honor of his grandfather. However, the song is now primarily about Syn' former band mate, The Rev, who died in December 2009.

Pinkly Smooth

Haner, along with The Rev, played in a heavy metal band named Pinkly Smooth. Formed in the summer of 2001 in Huntington Beach, California, the band featured ex-Ballistico members Buck Silverspur on bass and D-Rock on drums. The band has released one album, Unfortunate Snort on Bucktan Records, which features a crossover sound of mostly punk, ska and Progressive metal. Former Avenged Sevenfold bassist Justin Sane played keyboards and piano on the album. There was speculation that Pinkly Smooth was going to produce another record, but due to the death of The Rev, it is highly unlikely that they will produce any more material. However, Brian has said that he would consider remastering the tracks from Unfortunate Snort and re-releasing the album.

Featured guest appearances

• Bleeding Through's "Savior, Saint, Salvation," track (with M. Shadows).
• Good Charlotte's "The River" track and music video (with M. Shadows).
• Burn Halo's "Dirty Little Girl" track and music video.
• Burn Halo's "Anejo" track.
• Brian Haner's "Blow-Up Doll" music video.
• The Jeff Dunham Show intro song (with his father).
• AxeWound's "Vultures" from their debut album of the same name.
• MGK's"Save Me" from the album Lace Up (with M. Shadows).

Equipment

Guitars

Synyster Gates uses mainly Schecter Guitars. Schecter Guitar Research has been sponsoring him and he has signature Avenger models. He has also been seen using ESP guitars when Avenged Sevenfold was recording Waking the Fallen and City of Evil.

• Schecter Synyster Gates Signature Special model with Seymour Duncan SH-8 Invaders and Sustainiac neck pickup sustainer
• Schecter Synyster Gates Signature Custom models with Seymour Duncan SH-8 Invaders and Sustainiac neck pickup sustainer
• Schecters custom models with Rebel flag, American flag, German flag, Black with Red Stripes, Red with Black Stripes, White with Gold Stripes, White with Black Stripes, one featuring Jack Nicholson's Joker art and color scheme, and one with Tune-O-Matic Bridge.
• Schecter Synyster Gates Custom with "REV" inlays on fret board instead of "SYN" featured on the So Far Away music video
• Schecter Synyster Gates Custom Prototype

* Schecter Synyster Custom

• Schecter Synyster Deluxe Prototype
• Schecter Synyster Special
• Schecter Synyster Deluxe
• Schecter Avenger
• Schecter C-1 Classic - Transparent Blue
• Schecter Custom C-1 FR
• Schecter Blackjack PT
• Schecter Omen-6 FR Prototype
• Schecter Hellraiser C-1 FR
• Schecter PT Fastback
• Schecter S-1 loaded with Seymour Duncan JBs
• Schecter Banshee
• Gibson Les Paul in arctic white, this was used in the video for Unholy Confessions
• Parker Fly
• Ibanez - S Prestige
• Fender - Squier Stratocaster
• Epiphone Rockbass

Amplifiers and effects unit

Effects unit

• Krank Distortus Maximus
• Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive
• Boss CS-3 Compresser Sustainer(2)
• Boss RV-5 Digital Reverb
• Boss BF-3 Flanger
• Boss PH-3 Phase Shifter
• Boss GT-8 Guitar Multi Effects Processor
• Boss GT-10 Guitar Multi Effects Processor
• Frantone "The Sweet" Distortion
• DigiTech Whammy Pedal
• Budda Custom Wah
• MXR Custom Audio Electronics MC-401 Boost Pedal
• MXR Carbon Copy Delay
• MXR Custom Comp
• Visual Sound H20 Chorus & Echo
• Sustainiac Stealth Pro Sustainer pickup

*Dunlop Crybaby RackWah

*Crybaby control pedal for the RackWah

*Fractal Axe-FX 2 guitar processor

*Fractal MFC-101 pedalboard

Note : The Bold font represents the current used effects unit.(2013)

Amplifiers

• Bogner Uberschall
• Bogner Uberschall Twin Jet
• Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier
• Mesa Boogie 4x12 Cabinets
• Marshall JVM 205h
• Marshall 1960 4x12 Cabinets

*Schecter Hellwin USA 100 head

*Schecter Hellwin USA 4x12 cabinet

Note : The Bold font represents the current used amplifier.(2013)

Other Equipment

• Audio-Tehnica 5000 wireless system
• Ernie Ball strings, gauged .010-.052. ('skinny top, heavy bottom' strings)
• Dunlop Gator Grip 2.0mm picks
• Black Dunlop Gator Grip 2.0mm picks
• Rebel Straps Skull Bottle Opener Strap (the rebel lighter strap is pictured below)
• Rebel Straps Skull Pick Box Strap
• White Get'm Get'm Sergeant Stripes Guitar Strap
• Black Schaller Strap Locks
• Levy's Boot Leather Guitar Strap With Metal Bullet

References

• "Avenged Sevenfold - Synyster Gates Guitar Gear Rig and Equipment".

http://www.schecterguitars.com/Amplification/Synyster-Gates-Signature-Design.aspx