Gear Database The iconic instruments and equipment that shaped music history.
guitars 1958-1960
1959 Les Paul Standard Gibson
The holy grail of electric guitars, featuring PAF humbuckers and a flame maple top.
Jimmy Page Slash +2
guitars 1954-present
Stratocaster Fender
The most copied electric guitar design ever, featuring three single-coil pickups and a tremolo system.
Jimi Hendrix Eric Clapton +2
guitars 1958-present
ES-335 Gibson
The first commercial semi-hollow electric guitar, offering warmth with feedback resistance.
B.B. King Chuck Berry +2
guitars 1950-present
Telecaster Fender
The first commercially successful solid-body electric guitar, known for its twangy tone.
Keith Richards Bruce Springsteen +2
amps 1962-1966
Marshall JTM45 Marshall
The first Marshall amplifier, based on the Fender Bassman but with a British voice.
Eric Clapton Pete Townshend +1
amps 1959-present
Vox AC30 Vox
Chiming, jangly British tone with distinctive top boost circuit.
The Beatles Queen +2
amps 1963-present
Twin Reverb Fender
Clean, powerful American tone with legendary spring reverb.
Keith Richards Jerry Garcia +1
microphones 1947-1965
U47 Neumann
Large-diaphragm tube condenser microphone, the gold standard for vocals.
Frank Sinatra The Beatles +1
microphones 1965-present
SM57 Shure
Indestructible dynamic microphone, the industry standard for snare drums and guitar cabs.
Every major recording artist US Presidents (speeches)
microphones 1966-present
SM58 Shure
The world's most popular live vocal microphone with built-in pop filter.
Every touring musician
drums 1919-present
Ludwig Black Beauty Ludwig
Brass-shell snare drum with legendary crack and sensitivity.
John Bonham Questlove +1
drums 1963-present
Supraphonic 400 Ludwig
Aluminum-shell snare with bright, cutting tone.
Ringo Starr Neil Peart +1
keyboards 1954-1974
Hammond B-3 Hammond
Tonewheel organ with drawbars, the sound of soul, jazz, and rock.
Jimmy Smith Booker T. Jones +2
keyboards 1969-1984
Rhodes Mark I Fender Rhodes
Electric piano with bell-like tones from struck tines.
Herbie Hancock Stevie Wonder +2
keyboards 1970-1981
Minimoog Model D Moog
The first portable synthesizer, with fat analog oscillators.
Keith Emerson Rick Wakeman +2
effects 1979-present
Tube Screamer TS808 Ibanez
Overdrive pedal that shaped the sound of blues and rock guitar.
Stevie Ray Vaughan John Mayer +1
effects 1969-present
Big Muff Pi Electro-Harmonix
Fuzz/distortion pedal with massive sustain and harmonic richness.
David Gilmour Billy Corgan +1
effects 1966-present
Cry Baby Wah Dunlop
Expression pedal that creates a vocal-like sweep effect.
Jimi Hendrix Eric Clapton +2
