Gibson Guitars, the musicians who use them…Part 1 From N to Z

Source: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is an alphabetized list of musicians who have made notable use of Gibson Guitar models in live performances or studio recordings. Because of the great popularity of these models, musicians are listed here only if their use of these instruments was especially significant — that is, they are musicians with long careers who have a history of faithful Gibson use, or the particular instrument they used was unique or of historical importance, or their use of the Gibson model contributed significantly to the popularization of that particular instrument.

  • Michael Nesmith (The Monkees) – used a Les Paul Black Beauty.
  • Mike Ness (Social Distortion) – uses a 1975 Les Paul Gold Top Deluxe with pickups
  • Grant Nicholas (Feeder)- uses a Cherry Red Gibson SG.
  • Jimmy Nolen (The J.B.’s) – used various Gibson models.
  • John Norum (Europe) – uses a Les Paul.
  • Krist Novoselic (Nirvana) – used a variety of Gibson basses including an RD and a Ripper.
  • Ted Nugent – uses a Byrdland and a Les Paul. Gibson has developed a Signature Byrdland model.
  • Mike Oldfield – used a L-6S around 1978, various Les Paul models and a SG Junior, which featured on many of his albums in the seventies and eighties.
  • Roy Orbison – used an ES-335. Also used a Les Paul(with a Bigsby tailpiece).
  • Buzz Osborne (The Melvins/Fantômas/Venomous Concept) – used various Les Paul models throughout his career.
  • Ed O’Brien (Radiohead) – uses an ES-330 TD and an ES-335. Also uses a Les Paul.
  • Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin/solo) – uses a 1958 Les Paul Standard (“Number 1″), a 1959 Les Paul Standard (“Number 2″, a gift from Joe Walsh), a 1973 Les Paul Standard, an EDS-1275, a 1977 RD Artist, an ES5 Switchmaster, a Goldtop Premium Les Paul and a 1991 Custom Shop Les Paul (built to be an exact replica of “Number 1″ and re-nicknamed “Number 3″). Page also owned a modified 1960 Les Paul Custom “Black Beauty” with a Bigsby Tailpiece and a 3-pickup configuration. This guitar was stolen in 1970 and never recovered. For acoustics Page used a Hummingbird, a J-200 and an A-2 mandolin. Gibson has released a Jimmy Page Signature Model Les Paul Les Paul replicating the features of “Number 2″.
  • Joe Pass – used a sunburst ES-175; Epiphone currently produces a Joe Pass signature Emperor model.
  • Joe Perry (Aerosmith) – has used many Gibson models over the years, including ES-335’s, Les Pauls, Flying Vs, and Firebirds; has signature Gibson and Epiphone Les Paul models nicknamed Boneyard.
  • Vicki Peterson (The Bangles) – Has played a variety of electric and acoustic guitars in live performances. Among those are Les Pauls.
  • Al Pitrelli (Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Savatage, Megadeth) – uses a Les Paul and an Explorer.
  • Andy Powell (Wishbone Ash) – helped to popularise the Flying V in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
  • John Prine uses a J-200.
  • Mick Ralphs(Bad Company/Mott the Hoople) – used a Les Paul Junior, a Firebird and a Les Paul during his Mott the Hoople tenure. Used a Les Paul Standard and a Flying V during his years with Bad Company. Currently uses Les Paul Custom Shop ‘58 & ‘59 Re-issue models.
  • Randy Rhoads (Quiet Riot/Ozzy Osbourne) – used a Les Paul Custom.
  • Keith Richards (The Rolling Stones) – used Les Pauls, Flying Vs and Firebirds in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Currently uses ES-355s, Les Paul Juniors and a Les Paul Standard. Also uses Hummingbird and J-200.
  • Howard Roberts – used several Gibson models over the course of his career including: an ES-175, an L-10 and a heavily modified ES-150 simply known as “The Black Guitar”.Howard Roberts Fusion III which is a variation of an ES-165. Gibson produces a signature model
  • Brian Robertson (Thin Lizzy) – has used a Les Paul throughout his entire career.
  • Rich Robinson (The Black Crowes) – uses several different Gibson electric models including: a 1968 Les Paul Goldtop, a 1964 ES-335, a Customshop Flametop Les Paul and a Dove.
  • Mick Ronson (David Bowie) – used a Les Paul Custom, with the finish stripped, for his guitar work on Ziggy Stardust and Aladdin Sane, among others.
  • Gary Rossington (Lynyrd Skynyrd) – uses Les Pauls and SGs. Previously had a Signature Model Les Paul and SG released by Gibson.
  • Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi) – used an L-5S, an Explorer and a Flying V.
  • Carlos Santana used an SG onstage at Woodstock. He also played and advertised a L-6S in the 1970s. Sanatana has also used sunburst Les Paul Custom.
  • Michael Schenker (Scorpions/UFO/Michael Schenker Group)- used four different 1970s Flying V models. Number 1 was a modified 1975. Numbers 2 and 3 were 1979 block inlay Flying Vs. And Number 4 was a mid 1970s white Flying V, formerly owned by Leon Lawson. Numbers 1,2 and 3 had Schenker’s trademark “half black/half white” paint scheme.
  • Rudolph Schenker (Scorpions)- uses various Flying V models dating from 1958-2001. He uses 3 1958 original Flying Vs, 3 1967-1969 Flying Vs, 2 1971 Medallions (one was repainted black & white), 1 1975 natural finish Flying V, 3 1983 replicas of the 1958 originals, 4 1980 models and 2 1984 Rudolf Schenker Signature Models. Schenker has over 70 vintage and collectible Flying Vs along with several Custom Shop limited editions including a doubleneck Flying V model.
  • Tom Scholz (Boston}- uses a 1968 Les Paul Goldtop with a DiMarzio SuperDistorion pickup in the bridge
  • Neal Schon (Journey) – uses a heavily modified Les Paul, including a Floyd Rose locking tremolo, custom electronics and sustainer unit.
  • Andy Scott (Sweet) – used an ES-335.
  • Gene Simmons (Kiss) – used a G3.
  • Nikki Sixx (Mötley Crüe) Has used a number of Thunderbird basses throughout his career. Between 2000 and 2003 Gibson manufactured a Sixx signature bass, the ‘Blackbird’.
  • Slash (Guns N’ Roses/Slash’s Snakepit/Velvet Revolver/Slash’s Blues Ball) – uses many different Les Paul models. Has also used an EDS-1275.
  • Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden) – used a Les Paul, an SG and Explorer.
  • Johnny Smith was a Gibson endorsee from 1961 to 1989, during which time Gibson sold the Johnny Smith model. Smith switched to Heritage in 1989. Gibson continues to produce the design as the LeGrande.
  • Robert Smith (The Cure)
  • Bill Spooner (The Tubes) – used a Flying V and Explorer primarily, a Les Paul, SG and a 1957 Melody Maker.
  • Paul Stanley (Kiss) – used a Flying V, an Explorer, a Firebird and an L6-S.
  • Stompin’ Tom Connors – used an SJ200 (purchased from a furniture store for $80) from 1956 to 1972, and still owns to this day.
  • Hubert Sumlin – used a 1956 Les Paul Goldtop for many years. Currently uses various Les Pauls and ES-335s.
  • Bernard Sumner (Joy Division & New Order) – uses an SG and ES-335.
  • John Sykes (Thin Lizzy/Whitesnake/Blue Murder) – uses a 1978 Les Paul Custom. Gibson has released a Custom Shop version of this guitar.
  • Sylvain Sylvain (New York Dolls) – used a Les Paul Standard.
  • Rosetta Tharpe – used 1961 double cutaway Les Paul Custom
  • George Thorogood – uses an ES-125
  • Johnny Thunders – used Les Paul Juniors.
  • Pete Townshend (The Who/solo) – used an SG Special from 1967-1972 and various customized Les Paul models from 1973-1979. Also used an EDS-1275. Has consistently used SJ-200 acoustic guitars. Gibson produced a Townshend Signature Model SG based on the guitar he played on at Woodstock in 1969. It was a limited edition and discontinued in 2003. In 2006 the Gibson Custom Shop started production of 3 different Les Paul Signature Models based on the guitars he played in the late 1970s.
  • Pat Travers (Pat Travers Band) – uses a Les Paul Junior.
  • Derek Trucks (The Allman Brothers Band/The Derek Trucks Band) – uses an SG.
  • Corin Tucker (Sleater-Kinney) – uses an SG
  • Nigel Tufnel (Spinal Tap) – uses a Les Paul in the movie This is Spinal Tap.
  • Eddie Van Halen – used a Les Paul, a Flying V and an Explorer.
  • Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam) – Has used various SG models, including the Pete Townshend signature model, which he can be seen smashing on the cover of the Pearl Jam DVD Live at the Garden.
  • Geordie Walker (Killing Joke) – uses an ES-295. Has also used a Les Paul and an SG.
  • Joe Walsh (Eagles) – uses a Les Paul Standard and used a an EDS-1275 occasionally.
  • Muddy Waters – used a Les Paul Goldtop in his early career.
  • Leslie West – (Mountain) – Demand for the Les Paul Junior greatly increased after guitarists saw one in the hands of Leslie West. Gibson began to reissue the model in the mid 1970s. West also used an SG and a Flying V.
  • Johnny Winter – uses a Firebird. Has also used Les Pauls, SGs, and Flying V’s.
  • Ron Wood (The Rolling Stones) – has a Signature J-200 acoustic. uses a black Les Paul Standard and a custom-built single-pickup L-5S.
  • Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osborne/Black Label Society) – uses a Les Paul Signature “Bull’s Eye”“Buzzsaw” Les Paul model and Signature “Camo” Model with a Maple Neck, Fretboard and Camouflage finish. model. Also uses a Signature
  • Snowy White – (Thin Lizzy/solo) – uses a Les Paul Goldtop
  • Angus Young (AC/DC) – uses an SG. Gibson produces an Angus Young Signature SG model.
  • Neil Young – uses several Gibson acoustic and electric models. Young’s main guitar, “Old Black”, is a 1953 Goldtop Les Paul(painted black) with a Bigsby tailpiece . Young also has 2 other 1953 Goldtops, one which has modifications similar to Old Black, the other a stock original. Also uses a J-200 and a Mastertone GB-3 banjo.
  • Thom Yorke (Radiohead) – uses an ES-125-T and an ES-125. previous used an SG(stolen in 1995).
  • Frank Zappa – used Les Paul Custom and an ES-5 Switchmaster. His trademark guitar for most of the 1970s, a brown SG, was actually a homemade copy sold to him by a fan backstage. All guitars were usually heavily modified by Zappa; to include preamps, balanced outputs for studio work, and later, Fernandes sustainers.