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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 gear and equipment has been seen in Keith Richards Guitar Rig.

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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)

Fender American Original '50S Telecaster Maple Fingerboard Electric Guitar Butterscotch Blonde

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. Removed 6th string, open G (G,D,G,B,D) tuning. Gauges .011,.015,.018,.030,.042. It has replacement tuners and brass bridge and nut is altered for 5 strings. Gibson PAF humbucker in neck position, original Tele pickup in bridge. Used on tracks including "Before They Make Me Run", "Brown Sugar", "Mixed Emotions", and "Honky Tonk Women".

- Natural finish 50's Fender Telecaster

Fender American Professional Telecaster Maple Fingerboard Electric Guitar Butterscotch Blonde

Notes: Keith's second Tele is also from the 1950's. It has a black pickguard, five strings, natural finish. Similar specs/mods to Micawber. Shubb Capo at 4th fret. Tuned in B: B, F#,B, D#,F#. Used live for Tumbling Dice, Happy, Jumping jack Flash.

- Fender Telelcaster sunburst

Fender American Professional Telecaster Rosewood Fingerboard Electric Guitar Sonic Gray

Notes: This guitar is also a 5 string. Sunburst color, with a maple neck, & low frets. PAF's cover is removed.  Capoed at first fret. Used live 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. Used in past live on songs like Bitch, Sad Sad Sad, Sympathy, Satisfaction, and more.

- Fender Stratocaster (57 strat pic below)

Fender Custom Shop 1957 Stratocaster Deluxe Closet Classic Finish With Gold Hardware Electric Guitar Desert Sand

Notes: Keith's main Strat is a '58 known as the Mary Kay. 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. Stock pickups, 5-way selector.

- Fender Classic Series '72 Telecaster Deluxe Electric Guitar

Fender Vintera '70S Telecaster Deluxe Electric Guitar 3-Color Sunburst

- Gibson ES-355 Guitar

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

Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom Electric Guitar Black

- Gibson Les Paul TV

- variety of 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!

Click the next button below for more info on Keith Richard's guitar gear

 

 


 

Keith Richards Guitar Gear continued...

 

CoolClick the gear for more info & specs at Guitar Center and AmazonCool

Amplifiers

- Fender Twin amplifier (twin reverb pic below)

Fender Vintage Reissue '65 Twin Reverb Guitar Amp

Notes: His amp is a 1957 model originally tweed, but recovered in early 60's style brown Tolex. It has 4 6L6 tubes.

- Marshall head

- Fender Bassman 4x10

- Mesa Boogie 4x 12" cabinets

- Mesa Boogie Mark I amp (on album Some Girls)

- Oahu amplifiers


-Fun fact: Keith Richards almost always plays through two amps at once.

 

 

Strings and Effects
- Ernie Ball regular Slinkys .010 gauge

- Zinky Master Blaster clean boost pedal

- Ibanez UE-400 multi-effects

- Fulltone Tube Tape Echo

- MXR  Phase 100

- MXR Phase 90 "Script" version

 - MXR Analog Delay