Michael Paget

Michael Paget (born 12 September 1978), also known as Padge, is a Welsh musician, singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is the lead guitarist and backing vocalist for the Welsh heavy metal band Bullet for My Valentine.

Paget has been with Bullet for My Valentine since their formation in 1998. He plays alongside Matt Tuck (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Jamie Mathias (bass, backing vocals) and Michael Thomas (drums).

He has released five albums with Bullet for My Valentine: 2005's The Poison, 2008's Scream Aim Fire, 2010's Fever, 2013's Temper Temper and 2015's Venom. They have also released the Bullet for My Valentine and Hand of Blood EP's, both in 2004.

He was about 17 years old when he got his first guitar—a 3/4 size classical guitar. He couldn't even tune the guitar for a month. His cousin came to his house and helped him tune the guitar. Then he started to learn some chords from the little booklet that came with the guitar. The first song he ever learned on guitar was "Polly" by Nirvana, off the band's 1991 album Nevermind. He used to play drums when he studied music at Bridgend College, where he met the members who would form Jeff Killed John, later to be known as Bullet For My Valentine.

Guitars

Michael Paget used to play many guitars and was endorsed by ESP Guitars in 2008. He has a signature ESP guitar, as well as two signature ESP LTD guitars. His preference is his ESP Michael Paget V.

• ESP Michael Paget V CTM Signature guitars
• ESP LTD MP-600 Michael Paget Signature guitars
• ESP LTD MP-200 Michael Paget Signature guitars
• ESP LTD EC-1000 VB
• ESP Ninja Michael Amott Signature
• ESP Eclipse one in vintage blbk The Other in Trans Cherry
• ESP Explorer black used at Brixton
• Gibson Flying V white used at Brixton
• Gibson Explorer used during the 2005 Download fest
• Jackson RR5 PRO in BLBK
• Aria Pro II (one of his first guitars)
• ESP SV guitar
• Epiphone Zakk Wylde Les Paul Custom Bullseye (as stated by the band in a Guitar Edge Interview)
• ESP Dave Mustaine Seymour Duncans Taken out Replaced by EMG 81 & EMG 60
• LTD AJ-1 Andy James Signature. Used at the studio for recording of Venom.

Heads and cabinets

Padge has used a wide range of different amplifiers:

• Peavey 6505 amp heads
• Peavey 6505 120W Guitar Amp Head
• Peavey JSX120 heads
• Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifiers
• Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier 150W Tube Guitar Amp Head Black
• Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus Amp
• Mesa 300-watt 4×12 cabinets
• Mesa Boogie Rectifier 240W 4×12 Standard Guitar Speaker Cabinet Black Straight
• Kemper Profiler

Effects

• Dunlop SW-95 Slash wah
• Dunlop Sw-95 Crybaby Slash Wah Pedal
• Zakk Wylde overdrive (Methods of Mayhem tour)
• Ibanez TS9 tube screamer
• Sound Sculpture ABCadabra midi a/b switcher
• Boss NS-2 noise suppressor
• Ebtech hum eliminator
• Roland mini foot controller operated by tech offstage
• Line 6 POD X3 Pro Rack unit
• TC Electronic g-system rack unit

Accessories

• Boss TU2 chromatic tuner
• Furman power conditioner
• Sennheiser ew300 wireless unit
• Ernie Ball 2215 Slinky Top Heavy Bottom with a .056 replacing the .052
• Rotosound Blues but he swaps the .052 with a .056
• Dunlop Nylon .73mm/.88mm picks

• "Michael Paget Guitar Gear Rig and Equipment"". 

Bullet for My Valentine

• Jeff Killed John (2003)
• Bullet for My Valentine EP (2004)
• Hand of Blood (2004)
• The Poison (2005)
• Hand of Blood – Live at Brixton EP (2006)
• Rare Cuts EP (2007)
• Scream Aim Fire (2008)
• Fever (2010)
• Temper Temper (2013)
• Venom (2015)