John Scofield Gear Guide
John Scofield’s semi-hollow guitars, clean amps, distortion, modulation, filters and live looping effects.
A quick-reference inventory of documented guitars, amplification, effects and recording-era associations. Exact setups vary by song, session and tour.
Guitars
| Gear / reference | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| Ibanez AS-200 | Long-time main semi-hollow electric and signature sound source. | 1980s onward |
| Ibanez JSM100 | Signature semi-hollow based on Scofield’s AS-200 preferences. | Signature era |
| AS-200 with Voodoo ’59 pickups | Documented specification for his workhorse instrument. | Selected rig |
| Hagstrom electric guitar | Early electric before the Ibanez period. | Early career |
| Takamine acoustic guitars | Acoustic instruments listed in his gear inventory. | Various |
| Martin acoustic guitar | Older acoustic instrument in his equipment collection. | Various |
| Fender Stratocaster | Single-coil contrast for clean and cutting sounds. | Selected use |
Amplifiers
| Gear / reference | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| Vox AC30 | Scofield’s equipment list identifies this as a regular amp choice. | Touring |
| Mesa/Boogie Mark I reissue | Alternate amp voice with focused mids and overdrive. | Touring |
| 1964 Fender Deluxe Reverb | Premier Guitar gear profile pairs this amp with an AS-200. | Selected rig |
| Fender Twin Reverb | Clean high-headroom platform used in some period rigs. | Selected use |
Effects
| Gear / reference | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| Pro Co RAT | Primary documented distortion pedal for his gritty fusion tone. | Core effect |
| Ibanez analog chorus | Purple chorus pedal for widening clean and driven notes. | Selected board |
| Boss EQ pedal | Frequency shaping and level adjustment. | Pedalboard |
| DigiTech Whammy / wah | Pitch and filter movement for expressive effects. | Selected board |
| Line 6 delay | Green unit listed in Scofield’s own gear inventory. | Selected board |
| Line 6 filter | Purple filter unit with expression control. | Selected board |
| Boomerang Phrase Sampler | Looping and phrase capture in live improvisation. | Selected board |
| Boss Loop Station | Additional loop-based performance tool. | Selected use |
| Micro Synth | Synth-like filter and envelope textures. | Selected board |
Recordings and rig
| Gear / reference | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| A Go Go | Ibanez semi-hollow, RAT-style drive and tight band interplay. | 1998 |
| Überjam | Effects, loops and filters expand his electric palette. | 2002 |
| EnRoute | Semi-hollow guitar and amp-driven jazz-rock articulation. | 2004 |
| Past Present | Workhorse Ibanez and clean-to-driven dynamics. | 2015 |
| Touring board | Modular effects and looping support improvised arrangements. | Live |