Kaki King Gear Guide
Kaki King’s Ovation Adamas guitars, Hamer semi-hollows, Gibson ES-345, looping, delay and percussive acoustic techniques.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ovation Adamas 1581-KK | Signature acoustic-electric guitar; handles low tunings clearly and has a balanced response. | Solo and touring |
| Ovation acoustic guitars | Longtime workhorse instruments used on recordings and live performances. | Career-wide |
| Hamer Newport semi-hollow | Electric guitar family King has described using for its versatility. | Junior era |
| 1965 Gibson ES-345 | Semi-hollow guitar with electronics distinct from her Hamer guitars. | Selected electric work |
| Gretsch Electromatic lap steel | Adds sliding, sustained tones to the arrangement. | Selected recording |
| Joe Veillette Gryphon | High-strung 12-string guitar design used for a bright, unusual register. | Later work |
Amplifiers
| Gear / reference | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| 15-inch speaker studio amp | A studio amplifier with a 15-inch speaker appeared in a published gear rundown. | Selected studio |
| Acoustic guitar amplification | Ovation’s amplified tone supports aggressive percussive playing while retaining clarity. | Live |
| Electric guitar amps | Amplification changes with the Hamer, Gibson and acoustic-electric instrument choices. | Junior era |
Effects and signal chain
| Gear / reference | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| Boss DD-3 Digital Delay | Delay used for electric-guitar repeats and atmospheric layers. | Electric sets |
| Fulltone OCD overdrive | Adds drive for electric guitar parts. | Selected rig |
| Tremolo pedal | Supa-Trem provides rhythmic modulation. | Selected rig |
| Octave pedal | Adds a lower or higher voice to selected electric passages. | Selected rig |
| Volume pedal | Used to create swells with chords and sustained notes. | Electric sets |
| Looper pedal | Captures spontaneous layers during solo performances. | Live |
| Percussive tapping and slaps | Right-hand technique turns the guitar body and strings into rhythmic elements. | Core technique |
Song and era references
| Gear / reference | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| Playing with Pink Noise | Ovation acoustic sound and percussive two-handed technique. | Everybody Loves You |
| Doing the Wrong Thing | Layered acoustic patterns and tapping. | Legs to Make Us Longer |
| The Surface Changes | Electric guitar, delays and dynamic swells broaden the sound. | Junior |
| The Neck Is a Bridge to the Body | Custom guitar performance integrates projection and live visuals. | Performance work |