Synyster Gates

Brian Elwin Haner, Jr. (July 7, 1981), better known by his stage name Synyster Gates or simply Syn, is an American musician. He is the lead guitarist for the American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold.

Early life

Haner attended Mayfair High School in Lakewood, California and Fountain Valley High School in Fountain Valley, California.
He studied at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood as part of the GIT program, studying jazz guitar. After six or so months of being there, he got a phone call from The Rev asking him if he wanted to join the band as lead guitarist. Haner joined rather than continuing his education and becoming a studio musician. Up until that time he was primarily self-taught by watching music videos and reading books. His father, Brian Haner, Sr., is a songwriter and guitar player.

[edit] Avenged Sevenfold

Haner joined Avenged Sevenfold when he was 18 at the end of 1999, right before the recording of the band's first album, Sounding the Seventh Trumpet. He was featured on the EP "Warmness on the Soul", and on the reissue of the band's first album.
On the Avenged Sevenfold DVD All Excess, Haner claimed that his name was created on a drunken drive through the park with The Rev. He has won numerous awards, including the 2006 Metal Hammer "Young Shredder" award and the 2006 Total Guitar Magazine "Guitarist of the Year."

[edit] Pinkly Smooth

Haner, along with The Rev, played in an avant-garde metal band named Pinkly Smooth. Formed in the summer of 2001 in Huntington Beach, California, the band featured ex-Ballistico members Buck Silverspur on bass and D-Rock on drums. The band has released one album, Unfortunate Snort on Bucktan Records, which features a crossover sound of mostly punk, ska and avant-garde. Former Avenged Sevenfold bassist Justin Meacham played keyboards and piano on the album. There was speculation that Pinkly Smooth was going to produce another record, but due to the death of The Rev, it is highly unlikely that they will produce any more material.

[edit] Featured guest appearances

• Bleeding Through's "Savior, Saint, Salvation," track
• Good Charlotte's "The River" track and music video
• Burn Halo's "Dirty Little Girl" music video
• Burn Halo's "Anejo" track
• He and his father wrote and recorded the theme song to The Jeff Dunham Show.

[edit] Amplifiers & Effects Unit

• Marshall JVM205H (for Nightmare)
• Krank Distortus Maximus^[1]
• Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive
• Boss CS-3 Compresser Sustainer ^[2]
• Boss RV-5 Digital Reverb
• Frantone "The Sweet" Distortion
• Digitech Whammy Pedal
• Dunlop Crybaby from Hell
• Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Fuzz Pedal
• Sustainiac Stealth Pro Sustainer
• Visual Sound H20 Chorus & Echo^[3]
• Ernie Ball Wah Pedal^[4]

• Bogner Uberschall
• Bogner Uberschall Twin Jet
• Mesa Boogie Rectifier
• Marshall JCM 800

• Mesa Boogie 4x12 Cabinets
• Marshall 4x12 Cabinets