Keith Richards Gear Guide
A quick-reference list of Keith Richards's guitars, amplifiers and effects, organized by gear category and musical period.
Telecasters and five-string open-G tuning became defining parts of Richards's rhythm sound. He has used many other guitars and amps across the Stones' long recording history.
Quick overview
| Category | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| Fender Telecaster “Micawber” | Butterscotch Telecaster customized for five-string open-G tuning, with the low string removed. | Signature guitar |
| Fender Twin Reverb | Clean, loud combo used in various eras. | Main amplifier reference |
| Fuzz Tone / Maestro FZ-1 | Early fuzz color associated with “(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction.” | Recognizable effect |
Guitars
| Gear / reference | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| Fender Telecaster “Micawber” | Butterscotch Telecaster customized for five-string open-G tuning, with the low string removed. | “Brown Sugar,” “Start Me Up” and open-G material |
| Fender Telecaster “Malcolm” | Another open-G Telecaster with a distinctive pickup configuration. | Rolling Stones sessions and tours |
| Fender Telecaster “Sonny” | A black Telecaster used in the Stones guitar collection. | Stage and studio use |
| Fender Esquire | Single-pickup instrument associated with the open-G approach. | Selected sessions |
| Gibson Les Paul Junior | Single-cut model used for rawer tones. | Earlier Stones era |
| Gibson ES-355 | Semi-hollow electric used on selected tracks and performances. | Studio and touring |
| Five-string open G | Tuning D-G-D-G-B with the low sixth string removed. | Signature rhythm arrangement |
Amplifiers
| Gear / reference | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| Fender Twin Reverb | Clean, loud combo used in various eras. | Studio and stage |
| Ampeg amplifiers | Ampeg combos and stacks appear in Stones histories. | Selected albums and tours |
| Mesa/Boogie Mark I | Used for additional drive and sustain in some setups. | Later periods |
| Vintage Fender combos | Different Fender amps provide clean and driven tones. | Recording dependent |
| Stage amp racks | Multiple amps and cabinets provide redundancy on tours. | Modern touring |
| Recording consoles and direct paths | Studio sound may include processing beyond the visible guitar rig. | Track-specific |
Effects and tools
| Gear / reference | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| Fuzz Tone / Maestro FZ-1 | Early fuzz color associated with “(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction.” | 1965 recording |
| Wah pedal | Filter sweep used on selected songs. | Performance-specific |
| Overdrive / distortion | Adds sustain and grit to selected lead or rhythm sounds. | Varies by period |
| Delay / echo | Adds repeats and ambience in live and studio settings. | Track dependent |
| Capo | Moves open chord shapes to different keys while retaining the tuning. | Common songwriting tool |
| Open-G tuning | Five-string setup leaves out the low sixth string, simplifying movable chord shapes. | Signature riff writing |
Era and song guide
| Gear / reference | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| Early Stones (1960s) | Gibson and Fender guitars with fuzz and vintage amps. | “Satisfaction,” “Get Off of My Cloud” |
| “Jumpin' Jack Flash” | Open-G Telecaster-associated riff approach. | Recording and live setups differ |
| “Brown Sugar” | Open-G Telecaster and five-string arrangement. | Signature riff |
| “Tumbling Dice” | Open-G rhythm guitar with interlocking band parts. | Studio layering |
| “Start Me Up” | Open-G Telecaster association. | Recorded and live details vary |
| “Honky Tonk Women” | Open tuning / Telecaster-era rhythm character. | Multiple guitars and studio arrangement |
| Later tours | Telecasters, open G, multiple backup guitars and modern amp systems. | Rig varies by tour |