Paul Kossoff Gear Guide
Paul Kossoff’s Les Pauls, Marshall stacks, minimal effects and expressive vibrato with Free and Back Street Crawler.
A quick-reference inventory of guitars, amplification, effects and recording-period associations. Exact equipment varies by song, session, venue and tour.
Guitars
| Gear / reference | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard | Late-1950s flametop Les Paul and principal Free-era guitar. | 1960s–70s |
| Gibson Les Paul Custom | Alternative Les Paul with a different pickup and hardware response. | Selected use |
| Gibson Les Paul Deluxe | Mini-humbucker Les Paul in later stage and studio accounts. | Selected use |
| Gibson SG | Additional guitar appearing in performance histories. | Selected period |
| Gibson acoustic guitar | Acoustic parts and songwriting texture in selected recordings. | Studio |
| Les Paul volume and tone controls | Subtle knob changes create a range of clean-to-singing lead tones. | Core approach |
Amplifiers
| Gear / reference | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| Marshall block-logo head | Used with a homemade cabinet as Free developed its early sound. | Early Free |
| Marshall Super Lead | High-powered Marshall amp associated with later large-stage tone. | Selected tours |
| Marshall 4x12 cabinet | Speaker cabinet for projection and amp-driven sustain. | Live |
| Marshall 2x12 / homemade cabinets | Cabinet configurations varied by gig and venue. | Tour dependent |
| Amp volume and natural sustain | Long notes come from guitar, amp level and vibrato rather than heavy processing. | Core tone |
Effects and technique
| Gear / reference | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| Minimal pedal chain | Kossoff’s central tone is typically guitar straight into a cranked amplifier. | Free era |
| Wah pedal | Wah appears in some live and period equipment references; not a constant effect. | Selected use |
| Reverb | Room and amp ambience varies by performance. | Selected use |
| Guitar volume control | Cleans up the amp and balances rhythm against lead. | Across songs |
| Wide vibrato | Strong left-hand vibrato adds sustain and vocal phrasing. | Signature technique |
| Pick attack and muting | Articulation and note separation are central to the sound. | Core technique |
Song and era references
| Gear / reference | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| All Right Now | Les Paul into Marshall for a warm, sustained rock tone. | Fire and Water |
| Mr. Big | Long-form lead phrasing and amp sustain. | Fire and Water |
| The Hunter | Les Paul and Marshall-driven blues-rock sound. | Tons of Sobs |
| Fire and Water | Main Les Paul/Marshall period reference. | 1970 |
| Back Street Crawler | Later guitar setup and a more expansive stage sound. | 1973 |