Keith Richards is one of the most iconic guitar slingers of all time. Many novice guitar players have tried to emulate Keef’s tone over the years, adopting his set-up as their own. While, of course, part of Richards’ signature sound is unparalleled talent, as any great guitarist knows: having the right gear makes all the difference.
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Below, we’ve detailed the guitars and amps Richards has used throughout the Rolling Stones’ more-than 60-year career. Check out Richards’ go-to tool kit, below.
1. Fender Telecaster
First up is one of the most iconic guitars in rock history: the Fender Telecaster. Once dismissed as a “toilet seat with strings,” the Telecaster has become one of the most widely used, versatile electric guitars ever made. Legions of rock n’ rollers have played the Telecaster throughout the years. Richards acquired his in 1971 and nicknamed it “Micawber” after a character in Charles Dicken’s novel, David Copperfield. Richards added a few modifications to his Telecaster, including a lap steel pick-up and only using five bridge saddles. The Telecaster is one of Richard’s go-to in the Stones’ live shows. The guitar’s twangy tone can be heard in Stones’ classics like “Brown Sugar” and “Honky Tonk Women.”
2. Gibson Les Paul Junior
Switching manufacturers, Richards has also been known to use a Gibson Les Paul Junior from time to time. Richards nicknamed his Les Paul “Tumbling Dice,” after the dice decal he had near the control nobs at one point. Like his Telecaster, “Dice” has been a staple in Richards’ guitar rotation for years. He notably used it during the recording of “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.” Richards is just one of my guitar slingers that has adopted the Les Paul over the years. This list also includes John Mayer, Eddie Van Halen, and Billie Joe Armstrong.
3. Gibson Hummingbird
While the Stones have no shortage of electrified anthems, Richards has been known to lean toward the acoustic side of things every once in a while. His acoustic guitar of choice? A Gibson Hummingbird. You can see Richards flesh out the jangly guitar line in “Sympathy For The Devil” on his Hummingbird in the clip below.
4. Fender Champ / Fender Harvard Amp
While the type of guitar a musician chooses to play can impact the resulting sound of the song, pairing the right amp with said guitar is also a pivotal choice. For Richards, that amp is a tweed Fender Champ with an eight-inch speaker alongside a tweed Fender Harvard and a 12-inch speaker nicknamed “One Love.”
“The Harvard adds a little bottom end and clarity,” Richards’ tech Pierre de Beauport once explained. “And Keith is always plugged into Input 2 on the Champ, not Input 1. We turn the Champ up to about 4, no higher—to where it’s just starting to break up.”
5. Mesa Boogie Mark I
While the above amp combo is Richards’ go-to, he also makes use of a Mesa Boogie Mark I. Richards used this amp in the late ’70s up to the ’90s, giving him a louder and more distorted sound than its Fender counterpart. Other musicians that have used the Mesa Boogie Mark I include Johnny Marr, Pete Townshend, Don Felder, and more.
Photo by Dimitri Hakke/Redferns
