Based in Nashville but with origins in Ohio, Ligion play rock music. Label it or market it however you want, but ultimately that is what it is. And that is a compliment, not a slight. The music isn't loaded with samples (live or studio) and effects are not layered on with a trowel. The band is a five piece and has played with the likes of Nickelback, Velvet Revolver, Puddle of Mudd and Three Days Grace. Guitarist/Vocalist, June, talked to Gearwire about his guitars, amps and recording External Affairs, the band's first CD on Maple Jam/Bellum Records.

"I use a lot of Epiphone stuff. They have been very kind to us over the last couple of years," says June.

The specific guitar he uses is a black Sheraton II. June says the guitar is versatile and works well in a rock 'n roll outfit. And he doesn't just use the Sheraton because of an Epiphone sponsorship -- he really likes the guitar and feels that, given the amps he uses, he gets a unique sound from it.

The Sheraton II is an archtop with two humbucker pickups. The black model has gold hardware and the body is laminated maple. The neck is also maple with a rosewood fingerboard. They are one of those "great-guitar-for-the-price" [you can find one for around $600] instruments but they are also more than that. June says when you combine them with the right amp they can be dirty or clean and move from one sound to another effortlessly.

"Live, I use a Mesa Single Rectifiers through a Fender 4x12," says June. "I've had an old Carvin 4x12 that held up pretty well for years, but its time had passed. When the band first formed, I used Mesa cabs but was really looking for something not Marshall or Mesa. I stumbled on the Fender 4x12 in a used shop in Nashville. I'm not even sure what it is."

To try and find out they went to the Fender site with the serial number, onto message boards and other places. They still have no idea.

The amp guitar combo works well for Ligion's style.

"It is a unique tone, playing through a semi-hollow body," says June. "With the Sheraton through the Mesa you get both a lead and a clear sound that is great. I like to toggle between pick ups. I looked for a guitar tone that had elements from the Stones to some of My Chemical Romance."

But ultimately he was looking for something more signature -- something that when you hear it you know it is him playing. He says the band is always looking forward musically but they also look back -- using older gear to create new sounding music.

"As a guitar player I want my own unique tone," he says. "Using gear outside what is usually used in our style of music gets that"

Another thing about his playing is that he has never gone too crazy with effects. He uses a Wah and some other Boss effects here and there but [especially live] he tries to keep it straight up.

"I like to keep it simple," he says.

The Sheraton II is not is only guitar. He also uses a '93 (or thereabout) Telecaster.

"It is a tobacco burst with a lipstick single coil," says June. "It is kind of my old beater guitar. I am a fan of the Telecaster sound. It feels like my third arm."

When using two very different guitars live there are issues playing live, however.

"There are some hoops to jump through live. For the Telecaster have to increase the gain and boost the low end," he says. "

But June adds that with a great guitar tech, he rarely has problems, and the added versatility is worth any hassle.

"That Tele sound pushed through tubes has real grit but its not an over-saturated sound," he says.

More with June from Ligion about recording soon.