Omar Rodríguez-López
Omar Alfredo Rodríguez-López (born September 1, 1975) is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer, writer, actor and film director who was born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. He was the composer, guitarist and producer for the progressive rock group The Mars Volta, the guitarist for the alternative rock group Bosnian Rainbows, guitarist for Antemasque, the former bassist and guitarist for the dub reggae band De Facto and the post-hardcore outfit At the Drive-In, respectively. He has also embarked on a solo career, both in studio and in concert, frequently described as experimental, avant-garde and/or progressive. He has collaborated with numerous artists spanning from John Frusciante to El-P.
Guitar
Squier Supersonic
Used during his tenure with At the Drive-In. His particular model is from the late 90’s and likely made in Korea. The neck pickup and toggle switch were removed.
Gibson SG II
Used to record De-Loused in the Comatorium
Fender Telecaster
Although not used live Omar has acknowledged use of telecasters when recording music.
Ibanez AX120
Used frequently in the early days of The Mars Volta. Also used in ANTEMASQUE
Ibanez ORM-1
Ibanez signature model
2004 Ibanez Cadet
Used off and on during the Bedlam tour.
Supro Super
Using during Bosnian Rainbows. His version had a short scale neck.
Supro Custom
Based off the Supro Super. Was made for him during the Bosnian Rainbows tour.
1974 Fender Mustang
Used during ANTEMASQUE because “The album rejected everything else.”
Ernie Ball Music Man St. Vincent Signature
Used during the At the Drive-In tours from 2016-2018
Ernie Ball Music Man Albert Lee HH
Guitar during At the Drive-In reunion tours from 2016-2018
Ernie Ball Mariposa
Omar’s signature guitar since reforming The Mars Volta in 2022
Bass
Unknown bass
There is one photo of the bass Omar used when he first joined At the Drive-In that you can see in this gig. The bass is yellow and the body has a black and white checkerboard pattern.
Fender Jazz Bass
Fender Mustang Bass
Used when playing bass with Le Butcherettes
Keys/Synths
Virus T1
Used during the ORLG trio shows and Bosnian Rainbows
Effects
Line 6 DL4 Delay Modeler
Used on multiple boards throughout his career
Line 6 MM4 Modulation Modeler
Line 6 FM4 Filter Modeler
DigiTech WH-4 Whammy (4th Gen)
Boss SL-20 Slicer
EarthQuaker Devices Rainbow Machine
Line 6 M9 Stompbox Modeler
Started using during the 2011 The Mars Volta tour
Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi
Used during early The Mars Volta shows.
MXR M101 Phase 90
On his 2011 board
Boss DD-5 Digital Delay
Empress Fuzz
Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer
MXR M133 Micro Amp
Used on the 2011 pedalboard
Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail Nano
Moog Moogerfooger MF-102 Ring Modulator
Used on multiple boards throughout his career.
Boss VB-2 Vibrato
On his 2009 pedalboard
Strymon TimeLine
Used during the 2016-2018 At the Drive-In pedalboard
Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man (Big Box)
Electro-Harmonix EH-7700 Polychorus
On his early The Mars Volta board
Death By Audio Echo Dream 2
On his 2015 ANTEMASQUE tour board
George Dennis Phaser
On his 2009 pedalboard
Dunlop JD-4S Rotovibe
On his 2009 pedalboard
Ibanez Tone-Lok DE7 Stereo Delay/Echo
On his 2009 pedalboard
Electro-Harmonix Frequency Analyzer XO
Electro-Harmonix Memory Boy
On his 2011 pedalboard
Boss HR-2 Harmonist
On his 2011 pedalboard
Catalinbread Callisto
A/DA Flanger
On his early The Mars Volta pedalboard
Moog Minifooger MF Chorus
Used on his 2015 ANTEMASQUE board
Electro-Harmonix EH-4800 Small Stone
On his 2009 board
Empress Superdelay Digital Delay Pedal
Electro-Harmonix XO Deluxe Memory Man
Used until 2011
DigiTech Whammy WH-1
On earlier boards
Dunlop Cry Baby 105Q Bass Wah
On his early The Mars Volta pedalboard
DigiTech X-Series Synth Wah
On his early The Mars Volta pedaloard
JHS Warble Tron
On his 2015 ANTEMASQUE pedalboard
Boss PN-2 Tremolo/Pan
On his 2009 pedalboard
Ibanez WH10 Wah
On his 2011 pedalboard
Ibanez Tone-Lok TC7 Tri-Mode Chorus
On his 2011 pedalboard
Catalinbread Semaphore Tremolo
On his 2014 ANTEMASQUE board
Blackout Effectors Whetstone Analog Phaser
Wampler Faux Spring Reverb
On his 2015 ANTEMASQUE pedalboard
Boss SYB-3 Bass Synthesizer
On his 2009 The Mars Volta pedalboard
Ibanez SB7 Bass Synthesizer
On his 2009 The Mars Volta pedalboard
Ibanez DML20 Modulation Delay III
On his 2009 The Mars Volta pedalboard
Boss TU-2 Chromatic Tuner
Catalinbread Semaphore
Dunlop Cry Baby GCB-95
On his 2015 ANTEMASQUE pedalboard
Guyatone MD3 Micro Digital Delay
On his 2009 The Mars Volta pedalboard
DOD Analog Delay 680
Seen in “If This Ever Gets Weird.”
Bixonic EXP-2001 Expandora II
Used with At the Drive-In in 2001
Pro Co RAT
Univox U-915 Uni-Vibe
Toasted Project FuzzFace
Boss BF-2 Flanger
Xotic Effects Robotalk
MXR M102 Dyna Comp
MXR M-132 Super Comp
banez Tone-Lok PM7 Phase Modulator Pedal
Amplifiers
Orange OR-120
Used during At the Drive-In shows before the 2001 break-up.
Ampeg SVT-CL Classic
Used during the early days of The Mars Volta
Orange AD140 HTC
Used live until about 2011.
Orange Crush Pro 4x12" Closed Back Speaker Cabinet
Used live until about 2011
Orange Amplifiers Rockerverb RK50C MKII 50W 2x12 Tube Guitar Combo Amp
Marshall Super Lead 100-Watt Head
Used during the reunion At the Drive-In shows.
Roland RE-201 Space Echo
Used during early The Mars Volta shows.
Accessories
Dunlop Tortex Standard 0.60mm Guitar Picks
Mentioned during 2012
Ernie Ball Medium Gauge Nickel Wound Guitar Strings
Per one of his rig rundown videos “I use Ernie Ball strings gauged .013 to .056 with a wound third.”
