Martin Barre Gear Guide
Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre’s Les Paul Junior, Stratocasters, Hiwatt and Soldano amplifiers, and album-era gear.
A period-by-period quick reference to guitars, amplification, effects and songs. Gear can vary by recording, tour and year.
Guitars
| Gear / reference | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| 1958 Gibson Les Paul Junior | Bought in 1971 and used on Aqualung recordings; inspired by Leslie West. | Aqualung |
| 1958 Fender Stratocaster | Used for brighter parts and slide textures. | Early Jethro Tull |
| Gibson 1961 ES-335TDC | Semi-hollow guitar seen in later performances and studio work. | Later periods |
| PRS guitars | Current instruments for touring and solo work. | Modern live |
| Hamer Chaparral | A versatile electric guitar in his collection. | Selected use |
| Acoustic guitars | Used for acoustic arrangements and studio overdubs. | Album dependent |
Amplifiers
| Gear / reference | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| Hiwatt heads | High-headroom British amplification used with the early Les Paul Junior/Strat setup. | Early 1970s |
| Hiwatt cabinets | Speaker cabinets matched to the high-volume valve heads. | Classic period |
| Soldano Decatone | Later three-channel amplifier used for a broader range of touring sounds. | Modern touring |
| Soldano amplifiers | Current tour rigs include Soldano amplification. | Recent |
| Amp-driven distortion | Barre has described a direct guitar-to-amp approach for classic recordings. | Aqualung era |
Effects and signal chain
| Gear / reference | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| Minimal early pedal chain | Classic parts were often guitar straight into the amplifier. | Early albums |
| Slide guitar | Slide technique and Stratocaster tone add a vocal-like line. | Selected tracks |
| Overdrive | Used selectively on later rigs for extra sustain and gain. | Later touring |
| Delay and reverb | Studio and stage ambience vary by arrangement. | Song dependent |
| Volume and picking dynamics | Touch and amp response supply much of the tonal change. | Career-wide |
Song and era references
| Gear / reference | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| Aqualung | Les Paul Junior and direct Hiwatt amplification on the title track’s famous solo. | 1971 |
| Cross-Eyed Mary | Hard-edged electric tone and tightly arranged riffing. | Aqualung |
| Locomotive Breath | Overdriven guitar lines punctuate the piano-led arrangement. | Aqualung |
| Thick as a Brick | Changing guitar colors and extended instrumental sections. | 1972 |
| Minstrel in the Gallery | Layered acoustic and electric guitar passages. | 1975 |