Jake Cinninger

Infobox musical artist
Name = Jake Cinninger


Img_capt = Cinninger performing with Umphrey's McGee at the Lincoln Park Zoo on Earth Day 2007.
Img_size = 200
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Jacob Alan Cinninger
Alias =
Born = Birth date and age|1975|12|16|mf=y
Died =
Origin = South Bend, Indiana, United States
Instrument = Guitar
Vocals
Genre = Progressive rock, jam band
Country
Occupation = Musician
Songwriter
Years_active = 1997 - Present
Label = Monkey Fuzz Records
Associated_acts = Umphrey's McGee, Ali Baba's Tahini, Visions, Bad Hair Tuesday, North Indiana All Stars
URL =
Current_members =
Past_members =

Jacob Alan Cinninger (born December 16, 1975) is an American musician, one of two lead guitarists for Chicago-based jamband Umphrey's McGee. His style is a fusion of speed and soul, and resembles artists as varied as Eddie Van Halen to Jeff Beck.

History

Hailing from Niles, Michigan, Jake took classical guitar lessons from Gerry Zubko at Mendoza's Music, located in Roseland, South Bend. Jake started out playing in many different bands ranging in styles from jazz fusion to country. In 1997 Jake started his own band Ali Baba's Tahini and regularly played shows alongside of another local band, Umphrey's Mcgee. Jake was very music savvy from a young age, he gained all his music knowledge outside of any school. Eventually, Jake left Ali Baba's Tahini to pursue a career as a professional musician as a full-time member of Umphrey's McGee in 2000.

Since joining the band, he has, along with founder Brendan Bayliss, become one of the group's main singers and songwriters.

In 2001, Cinninger released a self-titled solo album released on the Monkey Fuzz Records label. Several of its tracks developed into Umphrey's McGee songs, such as "Blue Echo," "Utopian Sky" which became "Utopian Fir," and "Aster Heights" which grew to become "Roulette."

In 2004, five years after their initial split, Cinninger reformed Ali Baba's Tahini to record an album in the North Carolina mountains.

Jake uses a G&L S500, G&L ASAT, a G&L S500 delux, a Babicz Identity Series Jumbo Cutaway Acoustic, and most recently a white Hagstrom Swede. He also uses an early 80's Marshall JCM 800, endorses Marshall Vintage Modern amps, and also uses Fuchs Audio Technology, and with Umphrey's McGee endorses Moog synthesizers, Morley effects pedals, and BBE Sound effects.

Jake also incorporates an unusual type of tremolo arm on his G&L guitar. The arm itself is a small piece of metal or plastic which is conformed to a specific shape. It is used as a palm rest to actuate the vibrato. This device is called the "blade" and was custom made.

The "Jake Blade" is now available on the Umphrey's Mcgee website in the merchandise section.

Guitar Gear

Jakes pedal board in 2006, copyright Brett Saul

Keely Compressor>Morley Bad Horsie Wah> Boss SD-1> MXR 2 band Distortion>BBE Fuzz Face>Moogafooger Analog Delay>MD2>Blue pedal????>Boss Phase Shifter> Boss chromatic tuner

""'In a January 2008 guitar Player magazine he told them that he was using this set up:""'

Guitars: Three G&L s-500's, circa '85 Kramer American, babicz acoustics [A Moog Prototype has been added in 2008]

Amps: Fuchs OD-50 and Marshall Vintage mondern heads, Fuchs 2x12 cabinets loaded with Electro-Voice speakers

Strings: D'Addario .0105-.048

FX: Morley Bad Horsie wah;Clark Gainster, Banzi Cold Fusion (Clean boost mode), and Tonebone Classic overdrive pedals;BBE Fuzz;Boss Phaser and Ptich Shifter; Guyatone and Moogerfooger delay pedals; Source Audio Hot Hand Motion Controlled Wah Filters

Accessories: Pedal-Racks True Bypass Strip pedal switcher, HBE Bytchn Swytchn A/B/Camp switcher, Mogami (instrument), George L(pedalboard), and Monster (speaker) Cables.

Discography

*"Jake Cinninger" (2001 )