Keith Richards is a man's man. He's best known for playing guitar in the band The Rolling Stones (ever heard of them?) and even cooler, for being a pirate (see the movie Pirates of the Caribbean 3). Keith has a gigantic collection of guitars and gear - actually over 1000 guitars. We will focus on some of his main axes and guitar equipment. Without further adue, let's look at what Keith Richards Guitar Gear rig and Equipment looks like.

Keith Richards on the telecaster

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Fun fact: In Guitar World Keith Richards joked that no matter what make of guitar, he can make them sound the same.

Guitars

- Fender '52 Telecaster - Butterscotch Blonde (this is like Keith's main axe)

Notes: Micawber is the name of Keith's butterscotch Fender Telecaster. It's an early 50's (probably a '52) butterscotch blonde color model with a black pickguard & a stock 3 way switch. The sixth string is removed, it's always tuned to open G (G,D,G,B,D) low to high with no capo. Gauges .011,.015,.018,.030,.042. It has replacement tuners and a brass replacement bridge with individual saddles, and the nut is cut to accomodate 5 strings. The strings are not evenly spaced across the fingerboard, but the first string is moved a bit to keep it from going over the edge. It has a Gibson PAF humbucker in neck position, original Tele pickup in the bridge position. It is warm & thick sounding & can be heard on such live tracks as "Before They Make Me Run", "Brown Sugar", "Mixed Emotions", and "Honky Tonk Women".

- Natural finish 50's Fender Telecaster

Notes: Keith's second Tele is also from the 1950's. It has a black pickguard, five strings, natural finish so that you can see the wood grain of the body. The pickups & modifications are the same as Micawber and this Tele stays capoed at the 4th fret. Keith uses Shubb capoes. Tuned in B: B, F#,B, D#,F#. This Tele is a little louder and somewhat brighter than Micawber and can be heard onstage for Tumbling Dice, Happy, Jumping jack Flash.

- Fender telelcaster sunburst

Notes: This guitar is also a 5 string. It is sunburst, with a maple neck,& low frets. The PAF's cover is removed exposing the bobbins. This Tele has a brass unit, while the other 2 Teles have chrome or nickel plated bridges with individual saddles. Capoed at the first fret it can be seen onstage for You Can't Always Get What You Want.


- Music Man Silhouette guitar

Notes: Keith Richard's uses the Music Man guitars for standard tuning songs and has one in black and one in white one. Both are non-tremolo with through-body stringing, the white one has Schaller pickups, the black one DiMarzios, both in humbucker/single coil arrangement. Keith says the Silhouettes have the best truss rod in the world as far as ease of use and function. Keith used this guitar on previous tours for songs like Bitch, Sad Sad Sad, Sympathy, Satisfaction, and more.

- Fender Stratocaster

Notes: Keith's main Stratocaster is a '58 known as the Mary Kay. It was previously owned by Ron Wood. It has an all maple neck & fingerboard with a one piece ash body, see through blond finish & all gold hardware. The pickups are stock, but a 3 way selector switch has been changed to a 5 way.

- Fender Classic Series '72 Telecaster Deluxe Electric Guitar

- Gibson ES-335 Guitar

- Gibson Les Paul Custom (he used these a lot in the 60's and 70's)

- Gibson Les Paul TV

- Gibson acoustic guitars

- Gibson Les Paul Standard

- Ampeg Dan Armstrong

- Tom Anderson Trans Black, Cobra

- 1949 Martin D-18 and 1954 Martin D-18

And many many more guitars!

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