Ghost Pipe | How to Get a Massive Sound From a Two-Piece Band
Ghost Pipe came to Barnhouse in 2024 through our Emerging Artist Program, and from the moment I heard their application, I knew they were something special.
A father-son rock duo from Duncan, BC, their sound stands apart from what we typically hear on the island. They draw inspiration from bands like Queens of the Stone Age, Kyuss, and other stoner rock pioneers from the ‘90s California desert scene.
Steven Ebbesen (guitar/vocals) and Edgar “Eddie” Ebbesen (drums/bass) have a natural chemistry that can only come from years of playing together. They don’t need to speak much when they perform, just a glance and they’re locked in.
That energy translated directly into the recording process, where we captured the majority of their album live off the floor with minimal overdubs. Eddie, a talented multi-instrumentalist, layered in most of the bass parts under Steven’s gritty guitar work and commanding vocals.
When it came time to film their performance of “Ding Dong Ditch” for our Live @Barnhouse series, we knew it had to be raw, intense, and full of the energy that defines Ghost Pipe’s sound.
Recording the Guitars: A Blend of Amps and Tunings
Steven has been playing the same vintage Fender Telecaster since high school, and it was the backbone of his tone throughout the album. But what really shaped the sound were the unconventional choices in tunings, amps, and pedals.
Guitar Tuning: The main tuning used was standard E, but with the low E string dropped to B, creating a deep, grungy tone reminiscent of late ‘90s stoner rock.
Guitar Amps: We recorded each performance through four different amps at once. This allowed us to create a huge, wide sound by panning different amps across the stereo field:
Supro Combo Amp (Late ‘60s) → Royer 121 Ribbon Mic (dark, rich low end)
Fender Twin → Neumann U 47 (bright and punchy)
Vintage Fender Champ → AKG 414 (raw and gritty)
Another Fender Amp → Shure SM57 (classic midrange bite)
A key takeaway from this session was how smaller guitar amps can sometimes sound bigger than larger ones in the studio.
Because smaller amps can be cranked louder without overwhelming the room, they generate more natural overdrive and harmonic richness, which translates incredibly well through a microphone. This approach gave Steven’s guitar tone monstrous depth.
Beyond the amps, Steven’s pedalboard was just as unique. His custom fuzz pedal (built to resemble a Big Muff but with his own modifications) and a one-of-a-kind echo/reverb unit designed by a friend played huge roles in shaping Ghost Pipe’s atmospheric, yet crushingly heavy sound.
Capturing Eddie’s Explosive Drumming
Eddie’s drumming is critical to Ghost Pipe’s sound. We wanted to capture his playing in a way that felt tight and punchy while still leaving room for the natural energy of our live room to seep in.
Close-miked every drum: Kick, snare, and toms each had their own dedicated mics for a tight, immediate sound.
Overhead setup: Stereo pair + a mono center mic to get a balanced image of the kit.
Baffling around the kit helped control excessive reflections and kept the close mics sounding dry.
Room Mics: A stereo pair of Royer 121 ribbon mics were placed behind the baffles to capture the room’s natural reverb, creating a darker, more controlled ambiance.
One interesting approach we took was adjusting room mic placement based on the tempo of each song:
For faster songs, we placed the room mics closer to the kit, reducing the amount of natural reverb and keeping the drums tight and immediate.
For slower songs, we moved the room mics farther away, allowing more of the room sound to sneak in between each hit.
This technique helped shape the feel of each track, making the drums sound more expansive when the tempo allowed for it.
Ghost Pipe Performs “Ding Dong Ditch” | Live @Barnhouse
When it was time to film Ding Dong Ditch, we knew it was going to be something special. The performance was nothing short of explosive:
Channeling the raw energy of bands like The White Stripes and Death From Above 1979, Ghost Pipe reinforces the idea that a two-piece band can sound just as huge as a full lineup.
The session captured exactly what makes Ghost Pipe great: unrelenting energy, tight musicianship, and a deep connection between two players who know each other inside and out.
Final Thoughts
Ghost Pipe’s time at Barnhouse Sound was a perfect example of why we love working with artists who push the boundaries of their genre. From unorthodox recording techniques to custom guitar pedals and high-energy, off-the-floor recording, we were all able to bring something unique to every session.
Ghost Pipe is a band you need to hear.
Support them here:
Instagram: @ghost_pipe_band
Spotify: Ghost Pipe on Spotify
Bandcamp: Ghost Pipe on Bandcamp
We’ll be releasing videos of more artists Live @Barnhouse soon. Subscribe to our channel at https://www.youtube.com/@BarnhouseRecordingStudio.