5 Things That Made John McGeoch’s Guitar Style on Juju Unconventional

He played a Gibson SG McGeoch used a Gibson SG for the Juju recordings, a guitar known for its sharp, cutting tone rather than the warmer Les Pauls many post-punk guitarists favored.

He favored angular, arpeggiated patterns Instead of power chords or bluesy riffs, McGeoch built songs around jagged, repeating arpeggios that created a tense, hypnotic atmosphere.

He used chorus and flanger effects heavily His clean, modulated sound came from heavy use of chorus and flanger pedals, giving his parts a shimmering, disorienting quality that stood out from the dry, minimalist post-punk norm.

He avoided traditional soloing McGeoch rarely played conventional guitar solos. His lead lines were often short, melodic, and woven into the song’s structure rather than standing apart as showy breaks.

He treated the guitar as a textural instrument His approach prioritized mood and texture over virtuosity, using the guitar to build layers of sound that supported the vocals and rhythm section rather than dominating them.