Siouxsie and the Banshees guitarist John McKay’s Hagström Viking, Les Paul, Fender Twin and sparse flanger use.
A period-by-period quick reference to guitars, amplification, effects and songs. Equipment can vary between recordings, tours and years.
Guitars
Gear / reference
Details
Era / use
Hagström Viking
McKay’s first electric guitar and a model he later returned to.
Early career / later years
Gibson Les Paul
Bought after the Viking; McKay still owns one but has noted its weight.
Banshees period
Electric guitar and two-string melody approach
McKay described developing a personal way to find melodies using two strings.
Signature style
Alternate guitar setup
His 1970s sound relied more on note choice and touch than elaborate tunings.
Banshees period
Amplifiers
Gear / reference
Details
Era / use
Fender Twin Reverb
Reported amplifier associated with the early Banshees period.
1977–79
Loud clean amplifier platform
A powerful clean amp lets a single modulation pedal remain clear.
The Scream era
Amplifier volume and room response
Stage volume and venue conditions affected the band’s guitar sound.
Live
Effects and signal chain
Gear / reference
Details
Era / use
MXR Flanger
McKay said this was the only pedal he used on the debut recording period.
The Scream sessions
Bell Electrolabs Flanger
A flanger he tried but could not afford at the time.
Early period
Minimal pedal chain
McKay rejected the idea that he used one effect on everything; the flanger was used selectively.
1978–79
Picking and string choice
Distinctive two-string lines and attack define many parts.
Core technique
Song and era references
Gear / reference
Details
Era / use
Hong Kong Garden
The intro and riff grew from McKay’s early two-string melody approach.
1978
The Staircase (Mystery)
Sparse, angular guitar writing and selective modulation.
The Scream
Jigsaw Feeling
Direct guitar tone and sharply separated note attacks.
The Scream
Overground
The guitar part shows the band’s stark, uncluttered arrangement.
The Scream
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