Gear
Lou Reed:
- NOAHguitARS Shiny-T
- Tele-shaped aluminium body (30mm thick)
- Tele-shaped maple neck, 21 frets
- Inconel bridge
- I-spira/Noah single coil pickups
- Noah mastergrip Knobs
- NOAHguitARS Tear Drop
- aluminium body
- Jacaranda's 22 frets maple neck
- I-spira/Noah single coil pickups
- Noah mastergrip Knobs
- as seen on album The Stone - Issue Three (with Laurie Anderson and John Zorn, 2008) cover.
- Telecaster
- natural finish
- laminated fingerboard, 21 frets
- 2x black-colored humbucking pickup
- Carl Thompson 6-string guitar
- ebony fingerboard ?, 24 frets
- 1x EMG humbucking pickup (in the middle position)
- 3 knobs
- Moog guitar
- double cutaway, set-neck
- ebony fingerboard
- 7 degree angled headstock, 22 fret, 25 1/2" scale
- 2 custom-designed Moog pickups. Piezo saddles in bridge
- used on 2 songs from Kevin Hearn And Thin Buckle album Havana Winter (2009)
In 2008, Pete Cornish built the following gear for Lou.
Steve Hunter:
- Gretsch G5135GL G. Love Signature Electromatic Corvette
- solid mahogany body, double cutaway, Phili-Green finish with competition stripe
- mahogany set-in neck, rosewood fingerboard, 24.6" (625mm) scale, 22 frets
- 2x TV Jones Power Tron pickup
- 3 knobs, 1 toggle switch
- Anchored Adjusto-Matic bridge, Bigsby licensed B50 vibrato tailpiece
- Taylor Guitars - Baby Taylor - Big Baby acoustic guitar
- a 15/16-scale Dreadnought with a solid Sitka spruce top and Sapele-laminate back and sides
- Tropical American mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard, Pearloid dots inlays
- Fishman pickup
- 2x Gretsch G6164 Variety amp
- 40W output power, 2 ohms
- 3x 10" Jensen speaker
- single channel, 2 inputs
- 1x GZ34, 2x 6L6, 4x 12AX7, 2x 12AT7 tubes
- serial numbers: "1" and "2"
- Pete Cornish Stand Alone SS-3 Distortion Pedal (a gift from Lou Reed)
- Pigtronics Attack Sustainor Compressor Pedal
- Pigtronics Custom Made Booster Pedal and Switch
- Goodrich Volume Pedal
- Fulltone OCD 2 Obsessive Compulsive Distortion Pedal
- Roland GR-20 Guitar Synth
Mike Rathke:
- Roger Sadowsky Strat-type
- natural finish
- maple neck, laminated fingerboard (pau ferro or ebony or rosewood ?)
- 2x Joe Barden single-coil sized humbucking pickup (in the neck position and middle position)
+ 1x DiMarzio humbucking pickup (in the bridge position)
- 2 mini-switches, 3-ply white pickguard
- Roger Sadowsky Strat-type
- swamp ash body, '59 burst (3-color sunburst) finish
- maple neck, 22 frets
- 2x Joe Barden single-coil sized humbucking pickup (in the neck position and middle position)
+ 1x DiMarzio humbucking pickup (in the bridge position)
- 2 mini-switches, 3-ply white pickguard
Rob Wasserman:
Lou Reed:
- Carl Thompson 6-string guitar
- ebony fingerboard ?, 24 frets
- 1x EMG humbucking pickup (in the middle position)
- 3 knobs
- Bolin NS Guitar
- flame maple bent top (option) on alder body, single cutaway, gold finish
- maple neck with ebony fingerboard, unique headstock with a hole
- 2x DiMarzio (or EMG ?) humbucking pickup + Piezo bridge pickup system
- designed by Ned Steinberger at NS Design, built by John Bolin at Bolin Guitars
- Rachel Fuller Presents In the Attic, Joe's Pub, NYC, Feb 20, 2007 (w/ Pete Townshend)
- acoustic guitar
In 2007, Pete Cornish built the following gear for Lou.
Steve Hunter:
- Gibson SG Heritage model
- cherry red finish
- crescent inlays
- Gibson SG Heritage model
- Taylor Guitars - Baby Taylor - Big Baby acoustic guitar
- a 15/16-scale Dreadnought with a solid Sitka spruce top and Sapele-laminate back and sides
- Tropical American mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard, Pearloid dots inlays
- Fishman pickup
- Pete Cornish Stand Alone SS-3 distortion pedal (a gift from Lou Reed)
In 2007, Pete Cornish built the following gear for Steve.
Fernando Saunders:
Sources/Links:
- gig shots
- Carl Thompson Guitars
(2 photos)
- Bolin NS Guitar Features
(details and Lou's comments)
Lou Reed:
"I started using Steinberger guitars because they stayed in tune and I could change keys easily.
The latest NS design made by John Bolin addresses some of my other concerns.
While it will not change keys it will stay in tune and deliver magnificent tone.
But there are some other guitars that do that.
It's the ergonomics of the active controls and the flexability this makes possible that truly make this a guitar that can do anything.
From Tele to acoustic to Gibson to heavy metal and a bunch of original stop off points as well this is a guitar that does it all.
I have several I used on a world tour but I do have my favorite and it's his older design which bothers Ned but not me."
- Steve Hunter - Guitars & Gear
- Rachel Fuller Presents: In the Attic With Pete Townshend & Friends DVD
Lou Reed:
- Carl Thompson 6-string guitar
- ebony fingerboard ?, 24 frets
- 1x EMG humbucking pickup (in the middle position)
- 3 knobs
- Kelly Custom Telecaster
- Bolin NS Guitar
- flame maple bent top (option) on alder body, single cutaway, red finish
- maple neck with ebony fingerboard, unique headstock with a hole
- 2x DiMarzio (or EMG ?) humbucking pickup + Piezo bridge pickup system
- designed by Ned Steinberger at NS Design, built by John Bolin at Bolin Guitars
- the opening of the new World Trade Center, w/ Jeff Koons, Jun 12, 2006
- Bolin NS Guitar
- flame maple bent top (option) on alder body, single cutaway, gold finish
- maple neck with ebony fingerboard, unique headstock with a hole
- 2x DiMarzio (or EMG ?) humbucking pickup + Piezo bridge pickup system
- designed by Ned Steinberger at NS Design, built by John Bolin at Bolin Guitars
- Berlin shows, St. Ann's Warehouse, Brooklyn, Dec 2006
- component guitar (called "Beast")
- Schecter Strat-shaped koawood body
- Fender custom made Stratocaster neck, pau ferro/graphite/pau ferro laminated (graphite sheet fixed between the pau ferro neck and the pau ferro fingerboard), 22 frets
- 2x DiMarzio FRED pickup (black-colored humbucking pickup)
- pickguard-less
- Gibson ? acoustic guitar
- flat-top, single cutaway, sunburst finish
- Berlin shows, St. Ann's Warehouse, Brooklyn, Dec 2006
- NOAHguitARS
- aluminium body
- Berlin show (premiere) backstage, St. Ann's Warehouse, Brooklyn, Dec 2006
- Tone King Meteor 40A
- 40W output power (switchable to 20W when lead channel is selected)
- 4x 6V6 output tubes
- two preamp channels
- 1x12" combo
- spring reverb
- tremolo
- built-in bias meter
- individual bias adjustments for each output tube
- cooling fan
- Tone King Continental 2x12
- green and white colored
- 40W output power (switchable to 20W when lead channel is selected)
- 4x 6V6 output tubes
- two preamp channels
- 40W head cabinet with matching 2x12" speaker cabinet
- tube-driven spring reverb
- tremolo
- the opening of the new World Trade Center, w/ Jeff Koons, Jun 12, 2006
- Soldano Reverb-O-Sonic 50-Watt Dual Channel 2x12" Combo
- Berlin shows, St. Ann's Warehouse, Brooklyn, Dec 2006
- Soldano head
- Berlin shows, St. Ann's Warehouse, Brooklyn, Dec 2006
- Pete Cornish Mic Isolator/Guitar Earth Bond Unit
- Electro-Harmonix HOG (Harmonic Octave Generator / Guitar Synthesizer)
- used on the song "Leave Her Johnny" (various artists' album Rogue's Gallery - Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs, & Chanteys, 2006)
In 2006, Pete Cornish built the following gear for Lou.
Mike Rathke:
- Roger Sadowsky Strat-type
- swamp ash body, '59 burst (3-color sunburst) finish
- maple neck, 22 frets
- 2x Joe Barden single-coil sized humbucking pickup (in the neck position and middle position)
+ 1x DiMarzio humbucking pickup (in the bridge position)
- 2 mini-switches, 3-ply white pickguard
- Starr Labs Ztar (MiniZ series ?)
- Tone King Meteor 40A
- 40W output power (switchable to 20W when lead channel is selected)
- 4x 6V6 output tubes
- two preamp channels
- 1x12" combo
- spring reverb
- tremolo
- built-in bias meter
- individual bias adjustments for each output tube
- cooling fan
- 2x (1x12" speaker cabinet) ?
- Soldano Supercharger G.T.O. (all tube overdrive pedal)
Steve Hunter:
- Gibson SG Heritage model
- cherry red finish
- crescent inlays
- Berlin shows, St. Ann's Warehouse, Brooklyn, Dec 2006
- Gibson SG Heritage model
- walnut finish
- dot inlays
- Berlin shows, St. Ann's Warehouse, Brooklyn, Dec 2006
- Taylor Guitars - Baby Taylor - Big Baby acoustic guitar
- a 15/16-scale Dreadnought with a solid Sitka spruce top and Sapele-laminate back and sides
- Tropical American mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard, Pearloid dots inlays
- Fishman pickup
- Berlin shows, St. Ann's Warehouse, Brooklyn, Dec 2006
Fernando Saunders:
- MTD - Michael Tobias Design American Bass MTD535
- KYDD FS (Fernando Saunders) Piccolo Bass
- cello-like sound 30" string length available in 4 and 5 string models
- guitar (Stratocaster)
- Modulus Quantum Bass ?
- 5-string
- 2 pickups
- amber transparent finish ?
- Berlin shows, St. Ann's Warehouse, Brooklyn, Dec 2006
- Windmill J-Bass Fernando Saunders Signature
- 5-string, fretless
- ash body, high gloss finish (3-color sunburst)
- maple neck, ebony fingerboard
- Schaller JB20 tuning pegs
- Jazzbass vintage 5-string bridge
- 2x Le Fay single-coil 5-string pickup
- electronics: passiv, only balance, no volume and no tone
- Berlin shows, St. Ann's Warehouse, Brooklyn, Dec 2006
- 2x Aguilar speaker cabinet (GS 410 or S 410 ?)
Rob Wasserman:
- NS Design CRT Series Traditional Bass CR 4T
- The new "traditional" version of the NS Double Bass, 4 string
- Standard 106 cm acoustic upright scale length
- Polar pickup
- Ampeg cabinet ?
- Aguilar ? speaker cabinet (GS 410 or S 410 ?)
Sources/Links:
- gig shots
- Carl Thompson Guitars
(2 photos)
- Bolin NS Guitar Features
(details and Lou's comments)
Lou Reed:
"I started using Steinberger guitars because they stayed in tune and I could change keys easily.
The latest NS design made by John Bolin addresses some of my other concerns.
While it will not change keys it will stay in tune and deliver magnificent tone.
But there are some other guitars that do that.
It's the ergonomics of the active controls and the flexability this makes possible that truly make this a guitar that can do anything.
From Tele to acoustic to Gibson to heavy metal and a bunch of original stop off points as well this is a guitar that does it all.
I have several I used on a world tour but I do have my favorite and it's his older design which bothers Ned but not me."
- Scripps Howard News Service - Look around; Lou Reed's still out there
Reed appears on other recordings as well,
including Rogue's Gallery,
a double-disc collection of sea chanteys and pirate songs;
on it, Reed contributes an eerie reading of "Leave Her Johnny."
"How do you like the sound I'm singing to?" Reed demands.
It sounds like a low keyboard part.
"It's a guitar," Reed says triumphantly.
"Yeah. It's a thing made by Electro Harmonix, naturally.
One of the young guys turned me onto it.
It's called The Hog. That's what's doing that.
It sounds like some astonishing electric church organ or something.
It's a big, big sound."
- Pete Cornish Products
- Steve Hunter - Guitars & Gear
- Lou Reed's Berlin DVD
- Japanese Guitar Magazine May 2009 issue
Lou Reed:
- Kelly Custom Telecaster
- Telecaster (Kelly or/and Fender Custom Shop ?)
- Carl Thompson 7-string guitar
- ebony fingerboard, 24 frets
- 1x EMG humbucking pickup (in the middle position)
- 3 knobs
- solid body bass ?
- Tone King Meteor 40A
- 40W output power (switchable to 20W when lead channel is selected)
- 4x 6V6 output tubes
- two preamp channels
- 1x12" combo
- spring reverb
- tremolo
- built-in bias meter
- individual bias adjustments for each output tube
- cooling fan
- Tone King Continental 2x12
- 40W output power (switchable to 20W when lead channel is selected)
- 4x 6V6 output tubes
- two preamp channels
- 40W head cabinet with matching 2x12" speaker cabinet
- tube-driven spring reverb
- tremolo
- Soldano Supercharger G.T.O. (all tube overdrive pedal)
- large volume pedal (Ernie Ball ?)
- Pete Cornish effect racks ?
Mike Rathke:
- Roger Sadowsky Strat-type
- natural finish
- maple neck, laminated fingerboard (pau ferro or ebony or rosewood ?)
- 2x Joe Barden single-coil sized humbucking pickup (in the neck position and middle position)
+ 1x DiMarzio humbucking pickup (in the bridge position)
- 2 mini-switches, 3-ply white pickguard
- Roger Sadowsky Strat-type
- swamp ash body, '59 burst (3-color sunburst) finish
- maple neck, 22 frets
- 2x Joe Barden single-coil sized humbucking pickup (in the neck position and middle position)
+ 1x DiMarzio humbucking pickup (in the bridge position)
- 2 mini-switches, 3-ply white pickguard
- Starr Labs Ztar (MiniZ series ?)
- Tone King Meteor 40A
- 40W output power (switchable to 20W when lead channel is selected)
- 4x 6V6 output tubes
- two preamp channels
- 1x12" combo
- spring reverb
- tremolo
- built-in bias meter
- individual bias adjustments for each output tube
- cooling fan
- 2x (1x12" speaker cabinet) ?
- Soldano Supercharger G.T.O. (all tube overdrive pedal)
Fernando Saunders:
- MTD - Michael Tobias Design solid body bass
- KYDD FS (Fernando Saunders) Piccolo Bass
- cello-like sound 30" string length available in 4 and 5 string models
- Windmill J-Bass Fernando Saunders Signature
- 5-string, fretless
- ash body, high gloss finish (3-color sunburst)
- maple neck, ebony fingerboard
- Schaller JB20 tuning pegs
- Jazzbass vintage 5-string bridge
- 2x Le Fay single-coil 5-string pickup
- electronics: passiv, only balance, no volume and no tone
- guitar (Stratocaster)
Sources/Links:
- Matthew offered the following information:
"I was at the Lou Reed show at Crobar in NYC on April 5.
He played through the Tone King Contintental,
and two Tone King cabs (2 x12, I think).
He also used a Soldano Supercharger G.T.O. pedal,
a large volume pedal (Ernie Ball?).
There was a wall of rack gear that I couldn't really figure out.
He played the Kelly silver sparkle telecaster,
as well as a few other tele's that I couldn't identify
but probably his regular arsenal.
He also was playing a new guitar,
which I found out from the tech was a Carl Thompson 7 string guitar.
There are pictures of this guitar at Thompson's website
http://www.ctbasses.com/picview.php?src=louguitar_cari.JPG
Pretty cool looking.
The sound at the show wasn't great,
so I can't tell you much about it's sound."
- Nico offered the following information:
"I saw Lou Reed in Liverpool and Frankfurt.
He played his TK Meteor, and the Continental was there as a backup.
Mike Rathke played his usual Sadowsky guitars also through a Meteor 40A, using a Soldano GTO for overdrive.
Fernando played a MTD bass most of the time, plus his Kydd upright and his Windmill signature bass."
- gig shots
- Carl Thompson Guitars
(3 photos)
Lou Reed:
- Tone King Continental 2x12
- green and white colored
- 40W output power (switchable to 20W when lead channel is selected)
- 4x 6V6 output tubes
- two preamp channels
- 40W head cabinet with matching 2x12" speaker cabinet
- tube-driven spring reverb
- tremolo
- Tone King Meteor 40A
- 40W output power (switchable to 20W when lead channel is selected)
- 4x 6V6 output tubes
- two preamp channels
- 1x12" combo
- spring reverb
- tremolo
- built-in bias meter
- individual bias adjustments for each output tube
- cooling fan
Mike Rathke:
- Roger Sadowsky Strat-type
- natural finish
- maple neck, laminated fingerboard (pau ferro or ebony or rosewood ?)
- 2x Joe Barden single-coil sized humbucking pickup (in the neck position and middle position)
+ 1x DiMarzio humbucking pickup (in the bridge position)
- 2 mini-switches, 3-ply white pickguard
- Roger Sadowsky Strat-type
- swamp ash body, '59 burst (3-color sunburst) finish
- maple neck, 22 frets
- 2x Joe Barden single-coil sized humbucking pickup (in the neck position and middle position)
+ 1x DiMarzio humbucking pickup (in the bridge position)
- 2 mini-switches, 3-ply white pickguard
- Tone King Meteor 40A ?
- 40W output power (switchable to 20W when lead channel is selected)
- 4x 6V6 output tubes
- two preamp channels
- 1x12" combo
- spring reverb
- tremolo
- built-in bias meter
- individual bias adjustments for each output tube
- cooling fan
- 2x (1x12" speaker cabinet)
- Fender amp ?
Fernando Saunders:
- Windmill J-Bass Fernando Saunders Signature
- 5-string, fretless
- ash body, high gloss finish (3-color sunburst)
- maple neck, ebony fingerboard
- Schaller JB20 tuning pegs
- Jazzbass vintage 5-string bridge
- 2x Le Fay single-coil 5-string pickup
- electronics: passiv, only balance, no volume and no tone
- Windmill J-Bass
- a red J-type, fretted, with a maple fretboard
- KYDD FS (Fernando Saunders) Piccolo Bass
- cello-like sound 30" string length available in 4 and 5 string models
- MTD - Michael Tobias Design Saratoga 5 String Bass
- 35" scale 5 string
- 24 medium jumbo frets
- Zero fret 1 7/8" wide, 5 string
- Hipshot bridge, 3/4" (19mm) spacing
- One-piece neck w/satin polyester finish
- Carved basswood body (8mm thick figured maple top)
- Master volume, blend, bass, treble, midrange select
- Bill Bartolini ceramic magnets and steel J style pickups
- Copper foil shielded electronics compartment
- Buzz Feiten Tuning System
- Aguilar DB 750 bass head
- rack mounted, 750 watts
- hybrid (MOSFET output section and an all-tube preamp section)
- Aguilar GS 412 speaker cabinet
- 4x 12" speakers, 1200 watts
- SWR ? speaker cabinet
- combo-type amp
Spanishi Fly - Live In Spain (recorded live in Aug 07, 2004) DVD credits:
Sources/Links:
- Nico offered the following information:
"just wanted to say that Fernando played two Windmill basses
(a sunburst J-type fretless with a rosewood fretboard and a red J-type, fretted, with a maple fretboard)
on the 2004 tour. He also played his usual Kydd upright."
"before that, he played Michael Tobias Design basses.
Lou Reed played a Tone King Meteor 6V6 40 watt amp (not the new Meteor II series)."
- Lou Reed DVD: Spanishi Fly - Live In Spain (2005)
- JB 5-String Fernando Saunders Signature
- gig shots
2003 (The Raven / NYC Man Tour)
Lou Reed:
- Kelly Custom Telecaster
- Kelly Custom Telecaster
- Fender Custom Shop Danny Gatton Telecaster
- swamp ash body, blonde finish
- special shape maple neck, 22 frets
- 2x Joe Barden Danny Gatton Model pickup (single-coil sized humbucking pickup)
- black pickguard
- special Tele bridge and saddles
- used on the Far East Tour (Australia/Japan leg)
- Bolin NS Guitar
- flame maple bent top (option) on alder body, single cutaway, gold finish
- maple neck with ebony fingerboard, unique headstock with a hole
- 2x DiMarzio (or EMG ?) humbucking pickup + Piezo bridge pickup system
- designed by Ned Steinberger at NS Design, built by John Bolin at Bolin Guitars
- Tibet House Benefit Concert, Carnegie Hall, NYC, Feb 28, 2003
- Bolin NS Guitar
- blue finish
- Clive Davis pre-Grammy party, The Regent Wall Street, NYC, Feb 22, 2003 (w/ Rod Stewart)
- Pensa-Suhr Strat-type
(or Schecter Strat-type ?)
- honeyburst finish
- maple neck, laminated fingerboard (pau ferro or ebony ?)
- 2x single-coil pickup (in the neck position and middle position) + 1x humbucking pickup (in the bridge position)
- Ira Allen Chapel, University of Vermont Campus, Burlington, Vermont, Mar 12, 2003 (w/ Fernando Saunders)
- Tone King Continental 2x12
- green and white colored
- 40W output power (switchable to 20W when lead channel is selected)
- 4x 6V6 output tubes
- two preamp channels
- 40W head cabinet with matching 2x12" speaker cabinet
- tube-driven spring reverb
- tremolo
- Tone King Meteor 40A
- 40W output power (switchable to 20W when lead channel is selected)
- 4x 6V6 output tubes
- two preamp channels
- 1x12" combo
- spring reverb
- tremolo
- built-in bias meter
- individual bias adjustments for each output tube
- cooling fan
- Tone King Continental Combo (or Imperial Combo ?)
In 2003, Pete Cornish built the following gear for Lou.
Mike Rathke:
- Roger Sadowsky Strat-type
- swamp ash body, '59 burst (3-color sunburst) finish
- maple neck, 22 frets
- 2x Joe Barden single-coil sized humbucking pickup (in the neck position and middle position)
+ 1x DiMarzio humbucking pickup (in the bridge position)
- 2 mini-switches, 3-ply white pickguard
- Roger Sadowsky Strat-type
- maple neck, laminated fingerboard (pau ferro or ebony or rosewood ?)
- Starr Labs Ztar (MiniZ series ?)
- guitar synth
- Jim Kelley FACS 60W head
- Soldano Surf Box (tube-driven spring reverb, tremelo and vibrato unit)
- power attenuator
- 2x (1x12" speaker cabinet)
Fernando Saunders:
- KYDD FS (Fernando Saunders) Piccolo Bass
- cello-like sound 30" string length available in 4 and 5 string models
- MTD - Michael Tobias Design American Bass MTD535
- Stratocaster
- Roland drums
Animal Serenade (recorded live in Jun 24, 2003) album credits:
Sources/Links:
- Gary Hood (Lou Reed guitar tech) offered the following information:
"i was lou's guitar tech on the raven/nyc man tour.
the tele's he was playing were kelly tele's made by rick kelly of carmine street guitars in nyc.
the silver and blonde were both kelly's.
however, he did start playing his blonde danny gatton fender on the last australia/japan leg of the tour."
- Jonathan Scheerlinck offered the following information:
"I saw Lou tonight in Antwerp, Belgium... GREAT SHOW!!!
He played his new Silver telecaster, couldn't see the name on the headstock,
but I don't think it said Fender...
He also brought, what I think was one of his Danny Gaton's,
which sounded better to my ears,
although he played also the entire set on his silver one.
I was to far away from Mike to see what he was playing in the dark,
Fernando had an upright bass, a guitar of some sort and a regular bass.
Lou had a very cool amp, but I have no idea what it was...
it was an amplifier head with two small cabinet in some greenish colour
and he had a brown combo of the same brand next to it."
- Jose Alberto offered the following information:
"amps were surf box.
he changed guitar but just the color.
they were always tele.
he used one light brown with white "front" (the plastic protection).
but mostly he played the silver one, the brilliant one."
- Ivica Letunic's Photo Gallery
(gig shots - Munich Herkules Saal, May 16, 2003)
- gig shots
- Bolin NS Guitar Features
(details and Lou's comments)
Lou Reed:
"I started using Steinberger guitars because they stayed in tune and I could change keys easily.
The latest NS design made by John Bolin addresses some of my other concerns.
While it will not change keys it will stay in tune and deliver magnificent tone.
But there are some other guitars that do that.
It's the ergonomics of the active controls and the flexability this makes possible that truly make this a guitar that can do anything.
From Tele to acoustic to Gibson to heavy metal and a bunch of original stop off points as well this is a guitar that does it all.
I have several I used on a world tour but I do have my favorite and it's his older design which bothers Ned but not me."
- Pete Cornish Products
Lou Reed:
- Klein Chambered Electric Guitar (called "Chambered Guitar")
- chambered spruce hollow body, brown sunburst finish
- Guatemala-grown rosewood neck
- 2x Joe Barden The Two/Tone pickup (humbucking pickup)
- Steinberger S-trem bridge
- 3-ply tortoise pickguard
- "Pavarotti & Friends 2002", Parco Novi Sad, Modena, Italy, May 28, 2002 (w/ Luciano Pavarotti)
- component guitar
- Schecter Tele-shaped koawood body
- Fender custom made Stratocaster neck, pau ferro/graphite/pau ferro laminated (graphite sheet fixed between the pau ferro neck and the pau ferro fingerboard), 22 frets
- 2x DiMarzio FRED pickup (black-colored humbucking pickup)
- pickguard-less
- "Words and Music - a special evening with Laurie Anderson and Lou Reed", Piazza Castello Estense, Ferrara, Italy, Jul 13, 2002
- "Metal Machine Music" w/ Zeitkratzer, Berlin, Mar 17, 2002
- Bolin NS Guitar
- flame maple bent top (option) on alder body, single cutaway, red finish
- maple neck with ebony fingerboard, unique headstock with a hole
- 2x DiMarzio (or EMG ?) humbucking pickup + Piezo bridge pickup system
- designed by Ned Steinberger at NS Design, built by John Bolin at Bolin Guitars
- Sessions@AOL - private in-studio performance w/ Fernando Saunders and Antony, Nov 22, 2002
- Soldano Reverb-O-Sonic 50-Watt Dual Channel 2x12" Combo
- "Words and Music - a special evening with Laurie Anderson and Lou Reed", Piazza Castello Estense, Ferrara, Italy, Jul 13, 2002
- Sessions@AOL - private in-studio performance w/ Fernando Saunders and Antony, Nov 22, 2002
- "Metal Machine Music" w/ Zeitkratzer, Berlin, Mar 17, 2002
In 2002, Pete Cornish built the following gear for Lou.
Mike Rathke:
Fernando Saunders:
- Modulus Quantum Bass
- 5-string, fretted
- 2 pickups
- green velvet finish ?
- Sessions@AOL - private in-studio performance, Nov 22, 2002
- KYDD FS (Fernando Saunders) Piccolo Bass
- cello-like sound 30" string length available in 4 and 5 string models
- Sessions@AOL - private in-studio performance, Nov 22, 2002
Sources/Links:
- gig shots
- Zeitkratzer DVD: Metal Machine Music (2007)
- Bolin NS Guitar Features
(details and Lou's comments)
Lou Reed:
"I started using Steinberger guitars because they stayed in tune and I could change keys easily.
The latest NS design made by John Bolin addresses some of my other concerns.
While it will not change keys it will stay in tune and deliver magnificent tone.
But there are some other guitars that do that.
It's the ergonomics of the active controls and the flexability this makes possible that truly make this a guitar that can do anything.
From Tele to acoustic to Gibson to heavy metal and a bunch of original stop off points as well this is a guitar that does it all.
I have several I used on a world tour but I do have my favorite and it's his older design which bothers Ned but not me."
- Pete Cornish Products
Lou Reed:
- Fender Custom Shop Danny Gatton Telecaster
- swamp ash body, frost gold finish
- special shape maple neck, 22 frets
- 2x Joe Barden Danny Gatton Model pickup (single-coil sized humbucking pickup)
- white pickguard
- special Tele bridge and saddles
- "Come Together - A Night For John Lennon's Words and Music", Radio City Music Hall, NYC, Oct 02, 2001
Mike Rathke:
- Roger Sadowsky Strat-type
- swamp ash body, '59 burst (3-color sunburst) finish
- maple neck, 22 frets
- 2x Joe Barden single-coil sized humbucking pickup (in the neck position and middle position)
+ 1x DiMarzio humbucking pickup (in the bridge position)
- 2 mini-switches, 3-ply white pickguard
- "Come Together - A Night For John Lennon's Words and Music", Radio City Music Hall, NYC, Oct 02, 2001
Fernando Saunders:
- Modulus Quantum Bass
- 5-string, fretless
- 2 pickups
- sienna transparent finish ?
- "Come Together - A Night For John Lennon's Words and Music", Radio City Music Hall, NYC, Oct 02, 2001
Sources/Links:
- Various Artists video: Come Together - A Night For John Lennon's Words & Music (2002)
2000 (Ecstasy Tour)
Lou Reed:
- Fender Custom Shop Telecaster
- ash body, white blonde finish
- maple neck (with fine grain patterns), 21 frets
- 2x Joe Barden Danny Gatton Model pickup (single-coil sized humbucking pickup)
- custom built by Alan Hamel (serial number: 0548)
- Fender Custom Shop Danny Gatton Telecaster
- swamp ash body, frost gold finish
- special shape maple neck, 22 frets
- 2x Joe Barden Danny Gatton Model pickup (single-coil sized humbucking pickup)
- white pickguard
- special Tele bridge and saddles
- component guitar (called "Beast")
- Schecter Strat-shaped koawood body
- Fender custom made Stratocaster neck, pau ferro/graphite/pau ferro laminated (graphite sheet fixed between the pau ferro neck and the pau ferro fingerboard), 22 frets
- 2x DiMarzio FRED pickup (black-colored humbucking pickup)
- pickguard-less
- component guitar
- Schecter Tele-shaped koawood body
- Fender custom made Stratocaster neck, pau ferro/graphite/pau ferro laminated (graphite sheet fixed between the pau ferro neck and the pau ferro fingerboard), 22 frets
- 2x DiMarzio FRED pickup (black-colored humbucking pickup)
- pickguard-less
- NS Design prototype No.2 ("TransScale Guitar" ?)
- flat-top solid body, single cutaway, natural finish
- long-type neck with built-in capo, 24 frets
- 2x DiMarzio FRED pickup (black-colored humbucking pickup) + Piezo bridge pickup system
- Soldano 100W Super Lead Overdrive SLO-100
- 100W head with 4x12" slant speaker cabinet
- European tour
- MusicMan Valve head with 4x12 speaker cabinet
- Symphony Hall, Birmingham, UK, Sep 01, 2000
In 2000, Pete Cornish built the following gear for Lou.
Route between the guitar and the speakers.
(This chart written by Pete Cornish /
edited by Japanese Guitar Magazine editorial staffer /
appeared in Japanese Guitar Magazine Jan 2001 issue)
[Guitar]
|
[HD GTR Cable]
|
[Lou Tone 2]
|
[Remote Control Footboard] ----------> [Volume Pedal]
| |
+------------ Rack #1 --------------+ |
| [Rack Rooting Unit] | |
| | | send/return
| [Death Pedal/Rat/Soft Sustain 2] | |
| | | |
| [2x Soldano Custom Preamp (5ch)] ------------+
| | |
| [Tremulator] |
+-----------------------------------+
|
+------------ Rack #2 --------------+
| [Roland SDE3000A Chorus] |
| | |
| [Roland SDE3000A Delay] |
| | |
| [Ibanez SDR1000 Reverb] |
| | |
| [Eventide Harmonizer H3000SE] |
+-----------------------------------+
|
+------------ Rack #3 --------------+
| [Linear Boost] |
| | |
| [2x Soldano Power Amp 100W (2ch)] |
+-----------------------------------+
|
[2ch Custom 1x12" Cabinet]
|
[Voltage Stabilizer]
Mike Rathke:
- Roger Sadowsky Strat-type
- swamp ash body, '59 burst (3-color sunburst) finish
- maple neck, 22 frets
- 2x Joe Barden single-coil sized humbucking pickup (in the neck position and middle position)
+ 1x DiMarzio humbucking pickup (in the bridge position)
- 2 mini-switches, 3-ply white pickguard
- Roger Sadowsky Strat-type
- swamp ash body, cherry burst finish (?)
- maple neck, 22 frets
- 3x Joe Barden single-coil sized humbucking pickup
- 1 mini-switch, 3-ply white pickguard
- Roger Sadowsky Electric Nylon String Guitar
- maple bent top on alder body, transparent blue finish
- maple neck, pau ferro fingerboard
- RMC Custom Piezo pickup with Sadowsky Preamp
- Fernandes Strat-type (mid-'80s)
- lake placid blue finish (?)
- maple neck, 21 frets
- 2x Joe Barden single-coil sized humbucking pickup (in the neck position and middle position)
+ 1x DiMarzio humbucking pickup (in the bridge position)
- 2 mini-switches, 1-ply white pickguard
- Soldano 100W Super Lead Overdrive SLO-100
- 100W head with 4x12" slant speaker cabinet
- Jim Kelley FACS 60W head with 4x12" Marshall speaker cabinet
- Soldano Channel Selector
- MXR (?)
- Pete Cornish A/B/C Box (switch box / 3-way selector: Kelly/Soldano/Tuner)
- Pete Cornish Linear Boost
- KORG DTR-1 Digital Tuner
- Soldano Surf Box (tube-driven spring reverb, tremelo and vibrato unit)
- power attenuator
In 2000, Pete Cornish built the following gear for Mike.
Fernando Saunders:
- KYDD FS (Fernando Saunders) Piccolo Bass
- cello-like sound 30" string length available in 4 and 5 string models
- Modulus Quantum Bass
- 6-string, fretless
- 1 pickup
- amber transparent finish ?
- Modulus Quantum Bass
- 5-string, fretless
- 2 pickups
- sienna transparent finish ?
- Modulus Quantum Bass
- 5-string, fretted
- 2 pickups
- green velvet finish ?
Sources/Links:
- Edwin Dekker offered the following information:
"On the 2000 european tour Lou used his Soldano SLO100."
- Mike Andrews offered the following information:
"Saw Lou in Birmingham UK Sept 2000.
The racks as seen in guitar magazine weren't in evidence
and his main amp was a Musicman Valve head and 4 x12 cab,
which looked like he'd painted it all white with house paint!"
- Japanese Guitar Magazine Jan 2001 issue
- Lou Reed DVD: Lou Reed Live At Montreaux 2000 (2005)
- Pete Cornish Products
- Rockpalast Archiv: Lou Reed
(lots of gig shots: Lou with Fender Custom Shop Danny Gatton Tele, Mike with Roger Sadowsky Strat, Fernando with 6-string/5-string Solid Body Basses)
- Hunter Desportes collection
(gig shots: Jul 02, 2000, Roskilde Festival, Denmark)
- Lou Reed / John Cale
(gig shots: Lou with Fender Custom Shop Tele)
- The Rock And Roll Animal Web Page: Lou Reed Backing Bands
(gig shot: Lou with component guitar ?)
1999 (Ecstasy Recording Session)
Lou Reed:
- Fender Custom Shop (Telecaster)
- Pensa-Suhr Strat-type
- Epiphone Professional ('60s)
- semi-hollow body, double cutaway, cherry red finish
- 1x mini-humbucking pickup (in the neck position)
- symmetrical black pickguard
- frequensator tailpiece
- 7 switches and 5 knobs on the pickguard
(the tremelo and reverb controls and the Tonexpression switches control the matching amp)
- NS Design prototype (Steinberger prototype)
- used on the 2 or 3 tracks of this album.
- Gibson acoustic guitar
- old Gibson (around 1935)
- small cutaway
- used on the song "Baton Rouge"
- Carl Thompson 7-string guitar
- ebony fingerboard, 24 frets
- 1x EMG humbucking pickup (in the middle position)
- 3 knobs
- component guitar
- Schecter (?) Strat-shaped body (koawood ?)
- Fender (?) custom made Telecaster neck (pau ferro ?), 21 frets
- 2x Joe Barden (?) single-coil sized humbucking pickup (in the neck position and middle position)
+ 1x DiMarzio (?) humbucking pickup (in the bridge position)
- pickguard-less
- Hal Willner's Harry Smith Project, St. Ann's Center, Brooklyn, NY, Nov 12, 1999
In 1999, Pete Cornish built the following gear for Lou.
Mike Rathke:
- Fernandes Strat-type
- metallic blue finish
- maple neck
- 3x Joe Barden pickup (?)
- 1-ply black pickguard
- Roger Sadowsky Strat-type
- swamp ash body, '59 burst (3-color sunburst) finish
- maple neck, 22 frets
- 2x Joe Barden single-coil sized humbucking pickup (in the neck position and middle position)
+ 1x DiMarzio humbucking pickup (in the bridge position)
- 2 mini-switches, 3-ply white pickguard
- Hal Willner's Harry Smith Project, St. Ann's Center, Brooklyn, NY, Nov 12, 1999
Fernando Saunders:
Lou Reed:
- James Olson acoustic guitar
- with Sunrise pickups (?)
- used on the album Perfect Night Live In London (recorded live in Jul 03, 1997)
- Gibson acoustic guitar
- flat-top, single cutaway, sunburst finish
- Gibson acoustic guitar
- flat-top, non-cutaway, sunburst finish
- Bolin NS Guitar
- flame maple bent top (option) on alder body, single cutaway, red finish
- maple neck with ebony fingerboard, unique headstock with a hole
- 2x DiMarzio (or EMG ?) humbucking pickup + Piezo bridge pickup system
- designed by Ned Steinberger at NS Design, built by John Bolin at Bolin Guitars
- David Bowie 50th birthday concert, Madison Square Garden, NYC, Jan 09, 1997
- Bolin NS Guitar
- Tone King Continental 2x12
- red and white colored
- 40W output power (switchable to 20W when lead channel is selected)
- 4x 6V6 output tubes
- two preamp channels
- 40W head cabinet with matching 2x12" speaker cabinet
- tube-driven spring reverb
- tremolo
- Tone King Continental Combo (or Imperial Combo ?)
- Soldano amp
- Soldano Surf Box (tube-driven spring reverb, tremelo and vibrato unit)
- Pete Cornish 2 Channel FEEDBUCKER (for acoustic set)
- Pete Cornish Acoustic Guitar Pre-amp
- Pendulum Preamp (?)
In 1997, Pete Cornish built the following gear for Lou.
Mike Rathke:
- ? acoustic guitar
- flat-top, non-cutaway, natural finish
- Roger Sadowsky Electric Nylon String Guitar (?)
- Soldano amp
- Soldano Surf Box (tube-driven spring reverb, tremelo and vibrato unit)
Fernando Saunders:
- ? semi-hollow body bass
- thinline archtop body, single cutaway, covered "f" holes, white finish
- Piezo bridge pickup system
- Modulus Quantum Bass
- 5-string, fretless
- 2 pickups
- sienna transparent finish ?
Perfect Night Live In London (recorded live in Jul 03, 1997) album credits:
Sources/Links:
- Japanese Guitar Magazine Jan 2001 issue (Lou Reed and Pete Cornish interview)
- Lou Reed video: Lou Reed - A Rock And Roll Heart (1998)
- Bolin NS Guitar Features
(details and Lou's comments)
Lou Reed:
"I started using Steinberger guitars because they stayed in tune and I could change keys easily.
The latest NS design made by John Bolin addresses some of my other concerns.
While it will not change keys it will stay in tune and deliver magnificent tone.
But there are some other guitars that do that.
It's the ergonomics of the active controls and the flexability this makes possible that truly make this a guitar that can do anything.
From Tele to acoustic to Gibson to heavy metal and a bunch of original stop off points as well this is a guitar that does it all.
I have several I used on a world tour but I do have my favorite and it's his older design which bothers Ned but not me."
- Pete Cornish Products
- The Rock And Roll Animal Web Page: Lou Reed Backing Bands
(gig shot: Lou with NS Guitar)
Lou Reed:
- Bolin NS Guitar
- flame maple bent top (option) on alder body, single cutaway, red finish
- maple neck with ebony fingerboard, unique headstock with a hole
- 2x DiMarzio (or EMG ?) humbucking pickup + Piezo bridge pickup system
- designed by Ned Steinberger at NS Design, built by John Bolin at Bolin Guitars
- Bolin NS Guitar
- Steinberger GL Guitar
- 1-piece composite body and neck, clear red finish
- EMG pickups (?)
- used on the Time Rocker rehearsal
- Fender (Kelly ?) custom made Telecaster
- Epiphone Professional ('60s)
- semi-hollow body, double cutaway, cherry red finish
- 1x mini-humbucking pickup (in the neck position)
- symmetrical black pickguard
- frequensator tailpiece
- 7 switches and 5 knobs on the pickguard
(the tremelo and reverb controls and the Tonexpression switches control the matching amp)
- used on the Set The Twilight Reeling recording session (used on the song "Hang On To Your Emotions" and some other tracks)
- Soldano amp
- Soldano Surf Box (tube-driven spring reverb, tremelo and vibrato unit)
- Fender Vibrolux Reverb Amp (or Vibroverb ?)
- used on the Time Rocker rehearsal
In 1995, Pete Cornish built the following gear for Lou.
Mike Rathke (Set The Twilight Reeling Tour):
Fernando Saunders:
- solid body bass (Modulus ?)
- ? semi-hollow body bass
- thinline archtop body, single cutaway, covered "f" holes, white finish
- Piezo bridge pickup system
- Hartke Systems bass amp
- used on the Set The Twilight Reeling recording session
- Avalon Design U5 Mono Instrument & DI Preamplifier
- used on the Set The Twilight Reeling recording session
- 2x Ampeg speaker cabinet
Set The Twilight Reeling (1996) album credits:
Sources/Links:
- Lou Reed video: Lou Reed - A Rock And Roll Heart (1998)
- rehearsal shots
- Bolin NS Guitar Features
(details and Lou's comments)
Lou Reed:
"I started using Steinberger guitars because they stayed in tune and I could change keys easily.
The latest NS design made by John Bolin addresses some of my other concerns.
While it will not change keys it will stay in tune and deliver magnificent tone.
But there are some other guitars that do that.
It's the ergonomics of the active controls and the flexability this makes possible that truly make this a guitar that can do anything.
From Tele to acoustic to Gibson to heavy metal and a bunch of original stop off points as well this is a guitar that does it all.
I have several I used on a world tour but I do have my favorite and it's his older design which bothers Ned but not me."
- Steinberger GL Series (photo and details)
- The Rock And Roll Animal Web Page: Lou Reed Backing Bands
(gig shot: Lou with NS Guitar)
- Pete Cornish Products
- Japanese Sound & Recording Magazine Jul 1996 issue (Lou Reed interview)
- Japanese Crossbeat magazine Apr 1996 issue (Lou Reed interview)
Lou Reed:
- Klein Chambered Electric Guitar
- chambered spruce hollow body, natural honey yellow finish
- Joe Barden pickups (?)
- live at the Beacon Theater, Mar 28, 1994 (w/ Rob Wasserman ...etc)
In 1994, Pete Cornish built the following gear for Lou.
Mike Rathke:
Rob Wasserman:
1993 (The Velvet Underground Reunion Tour)
Lou Reed:
- Klein Chambered Electric Guitar (called "Chambered Guitar")
- chambered spruce hollow body, brown sunburst finish
- Guatemala-grown rosewood neck
- 2x Joe Barden The Two/Tone pickup (humbucking pickup)
- Steinberger S-trem bridge
- 3-ply tortoise pickguard
- D'Addario XL (nickel round wound) strings: 010-set
- Klein Solid Body Guitar #1
- basswood body, black finish
- Guatemala-grown rosewood neck
- 3x Joe Barden The S-Style Deluxe pickup (single-coil sized humbucking pickup)
- Sadowsky Midrange Boost Control (Preamp ?)
- Steinberger S-trem bridge
- 3-ply black pickguard
- D'Addario XL (nickel round wound) strings: 010-set
- D tuning (all the strings downtuned a whole-tone)
- Klein Solid Body Guitar #2
- basswood body, black finish
- Guatemala-grown rosewood neck
- 3x Joe Barden The S-Style Deluxe pickup (single-coil sized humbucking pickup)
- Sadowsky Midrange Boost Control (Preamp ?)
- Steinberger S-trem bridge
- 3-ply black pickguard
- D'Addario XL (nickel round wound) strings: 010-set
- standard-tuning
- Fender Custom Shop Danny Gatton Telecaster #1
- swamp ash body, honey blonde finish
- special shape maple neck, 22 frets
- 2x Joe Barden Danny Gatton Model pickup (single-coil sized humbucking pickup, customized)
- black pickguard
- special Tele bridge and saddles
- D'Addario XL (nickel round wound) strings: 011-set
- Fender Custom Shop Danny Gatton Telecaster #2
- swamp ash body, honey blonde finish
- special shape maple neck, 22 frets
- 2x Joe Barden Danny Gatton Model pickup (single-coil sized humbucking pickup, customized)
- black pickguard
- special Tele bridge and saddles
- D'Addario XL (nickel round wound) strings: 011-set
- Fender Custom Shop Danny Gatton Telecaster
- swamp ash body, frost gold finish
- special shape maple neck, 22 frets
- 2x Joe Barden Danny Gatton Model pickup (single-coil sized humbucking pickup)
- white pickguard
- special Tele bridge and saddles
- D'Addario XL (nickel round wound) strings: 011-set
- Roger Sadowsky Strat-type
- cherry burst finish ?
- maple neck
- 3x Joe Barden single-coil sized humbucking pickup
- white pickguard
- D'Addario XL (nickel round wound) strings (string gauge: 1st=PL011, 2nd=PL011, 3rd=NW026, 4th=NW026, 5th=NW026, 6th=NW049)
- "Ostrich" tuning (all the strings tuned to D, used on the song "All Tomorrow's Parties")
- D'Addario XL (nickel round wound) strings
- 011-set for Telecaster
- 010-set for Klein
- 1st/2nd - PL011, 3rd/4th/5th - NW026, 6th - NW049 set for Sadowsky
- Teardrop-shaped pick
Sterling Morrison:
- Roger Sadowsky Strat-type
- '60s style, 3-color sunburst finish
- 3x Joe Barden single-coil sized humbucking pickup
- white pickguard
- owner is Lou
- Fender Jaquar
- black finish
- 2x Joe Barden single-coil sized humbucking pickup
- 3-ply tortoise pickguard
- Fender Stratocaster
- 3-color sunburst finish
- rosewood fingerboard
- white pickguard
- Steinberger GL Guitar 12-string
- 1-piece composite body and neck, white finish
- 2x EMG single-coil pickup (in the neck position and middle position) + 1x EMG humbucking pickup (in the bridge position)
- Roger Sadowsky Jazz Bass-type (bass)
- 3-color sunburst finish
- 3-ply tortoise pickguard
- Jim Kelley head w/ a Marshall cabinet
- 4x compact size effect + 1x pedal (Ernie Ball volume pedal)
John Cale:
Sources/Links:
- Ieuan George offered the following information:
"Just to let you know that Sterling Morrison used
a Jim Kelley head w/ a Marshall cab for the VU reunion.
The +1 pedal you have listed for him was an Ernie Ball volume;
I'm not sure what other pedals he had on his board"
- Japanese Guitar Magazine Jan 1994 issue (Lou Reed guitar tech Struan Oglanby interview)
- The Velvet Underground video: Velvet Redux-Live MCMXCIII (1993)
- The Velvet Underground video: Curious... The Velvet Underground In Europe (1994)
- Lou Reed video: Lou Reed - A Rock And Roll Heart (1998)
- gig shots
1992 (Magic And Loss Tour)
Lou Reed:
- Steinberger GM guitar
- curly flamed koa body, double cutaway, body binding, natural oil finish
- 24 frets
- 2x EMG single-coil pickup (in the neck position and middle position) + 1x EMG humbucking pickup (in the bridge position)
- with tremolo
- Custom Shop gold logo
- Roger Sadowsky Strat-type
- '60s style, 3-color sunburst finish
- 3x Joe Barden single-coil sized humbucking pickup
- white pickguard
- Bob Dylan The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration, Madison Square Garden, NYC, Oct 16, 1992
- 2x Pete Cornish Custom Made (?) Speaker Cabinet
- 2x (2x12" Aluminum corn speaker unit + 2x12" Paper corn speaker unit)
In 1992, Pete Cornish started out to build Lou's sound system.
(Guitar Effects Routing System for 1993 VU Reunion Tour)
Mike Rathke:
- Fernandes Strat-type (mid-'80s)
- lake placid blue finish (?)
- maple neck, 21 frets
- 2x Joe Barden single-coil sized humbucking pickup (in the neck position and middle position)
+ 1x DiMarzio humbucking pickup (in the bridge position)
- 2 mini-switches, 1-ply white pickguard
- Roger Sadowsky Strat-type
- black finish
- maple neck, pau ferro fingerboard (?)
- 3x Joe Barden single-coil sized humbucking pickup
- black pickguard
- with MIDI (?)
- Roger Sadowsky Strat-type
- swamp ash body, cherry burst finish (?)
- maple neck, 22 frets
- 3x Joe Barden single-coil sized humbucking pickup
- 1 mini-switch, 3-ply white pickguard
- Steinberger GL Guitar
- 1-piece composite body and neck, white finish
- 2x EMG single-coil pickup (in the neck position and middle position) + 1x EMG humbucking pickup (in the bridge position)
- Fender Stratocaster
- '50s Strat-style reissue model
- fiesta red finish (?)
- maple neck
- speaker cabinet (4x 12" speaker unit)
Rob Wasserman:
- Clevinger
- solid body bass (Modulus ?)
- 6-string, fretless
- 2 pickups
- black stone finish ?
Magic And Loss (1992) album credits:
Lou Reed:
- Steinberger GL Guitar
- 1-piece composite body and neck, clear red finish
- 2x EMG single-coil pickup (in the neck position and middle position) + 1x EMG humbucking pickup (in the bridge position)
- New York Tour Japan leg, NHK Hall, Tokyo, Japan, Jul 27, 1990
- Steinberger GL Guitar
- 1-piece composite body and neck, white finish
- Songs For Drella Performance w/ John Cale, NHK Hall, Tokyo, Japan, Aug 06, 1990
Sources/Links:
- Japanese Music Magazine Sep 1990 issue (Lou Reed interview and gig shots: Lou with red Steinberger GL)
- Japanese Rockin' On magazine Oct 1990 issue (gig shots: Lou with red Steinberger GL and white Steinberger GL)
Lou Reed:
- component guitar
- Schecter (?) Strat-shaped body (koawood ?)
- Fender custom made Stratocaster neck (pau ferro ?), 22 frets
- 2x black-colored humbucking pickup (DiMarzio FRED pickup ?)
- brass hardware
- pickguard-less
- Brooklyn Academy Of Music, NYC, Dec 06, 1989
- component guitar
- Schecter (?) Tele-shaped body (koawood ?)
- Fender custom made Stratocaster maple neck, 21 frets
- 2x black-colored humbucking pickup (DiMarzio FRED pickup ?)
- brass hardware
- pickguard-less
- Brooklyn Academy Of Music, NYC, Dec 06, 1989
- component guitar
- Schecter (?) Tele-shaped body (koawood ?)
- Fender custom made Telecaster maple neck, 21 frets
- 2x black-colored humbucking pickup (DiMarzio FRED pickup ?)
- brass hardware
- pickguard-less
- Brooklyn Academy Of Music, NYC, Dec 06, 1989
- component guitar
- Schecter (?) Strat-shaped body (koawood ?)
- Fender custom made Telecaster maple neck, 21 frets
- 2x Joe Barden (?) single-coil sized humbucking pickup (in the neck position and middle position)
+ 1x DiMarzio (?) humbucking pickup (in the bridge position)
- pickguard-less
- Brooklyn Academy Of Music, NYC, Dec 06, 1989
John Cale:
Songs For Drella (1990) album credits:
Sources/Links:
- Lou Reed / John Cale video: Songs For Drella (1990)
- gig shots
1989 (New York Tour)
Lou Reed:
- Strat-type
- Schecter body (?), red finish (?)
- Fender custom made Stratocaster neck
- 2x Joe Barden single-coil sized pickup (in the neck position and middle position)
+ 1x humbucking pickup (in the bridge position)
- black pickguard
- Strat-type
- Schecter body (?), cherry burst finish (?)
- Fender custom made Stratocaster neck
- 2x Joe Barden single-coil sized pickup (in the neck position and middle position)
+ 1x humbucking pickup (in the bridge position)
- black pickguard
Mike Rathke:
- ESP Strat-type
- white finish (?)
- maple neck
- 2x Joe Barden (?) single-coil sized pickup (in the neck position and middle position)
+ 1x humbucking pickup (in the bridge position)
- white pickguard
- Fernandes Strat-type (mid-'80s)
- lake placid blue finish (?)
- maple neck
- 3x Joe Barden (?) single-coil sized pickups
- white pickguard
- Fender (or Fernandes ?) Stratocaster
- black finish (?)
- maple neck
- Joe Barden pickups (?)
- black pickguard
Rob Wasserman:
1984-1987 (New Sensations Tour - Mistrial Tour)
Lou Reed:
- Schecter Strat-type
- birdseye maple body (?), red finish (?)
- 21 frets
- 1x humbucking pickup (in the bridge position)
- black pickguard and hardware
- as seen on album Mistrial cover.
- Schecter Strat-type
- birdseye maple body (?), cherry burst finish (?)
- 21 frets
- 1x humbucking pickup (in the bridge position)
- black pickguard and hardware
- Schecter Tele-type
- natural oil finish (?)
- 21 frets
- 2x humbucking pickup (with brass cover)
- brass hardware
- Pensa-Suhr (Strat-type ?)
- component guitar
- Schecter (?) Strat-shaped body
- Schecter Tele-shaped neck, 21 frets
- 1x single-coil sized humbucking pickup (in the middle position) + 1x humbucking pickup (in the bridge position)
- 2 knobs, pickup selector
- pickguard-less
Robert Quine (New Sensations Tour):
- Fender Stratocaster
- '60s Strat-style reissue model
- fiesta red finish (?)
- maple neck with rosewood fingerboard
- Fender Stratocaster
- '60s Strat-style reissue model
- 3-color sunburst finish
- maple neck with rosewood fingerboard
Mike Rathke (1987):
Fernando Saunders:
Mistrial (1986) album credits:
1983 (Legendary Hearts Tour)
Lou Reed:
- Fender Stratocaster
- '50s Strat-style reissue model
- lake placid blue finish (?)
- maple neck
- Fender Stratocaster
- '50s Strat-style reissue model
- fiesta red finish (?)
- maple neck
- Schecter Strat-type
- lake placid blue finish (?)
- white pickguard
- brass hardware
Robert Quine:
- Fender (or Fernandes ?) Stratocaster
- '60s Strat-style
- cobalt blue finish (?)
- maple neck with rosewood fingerboard
- Fender Telecaster
- '50s Tele-style reissue model
- white blonde finish
- maple neck
- Fender Stratocaster
- '50s Strat-style reissue model
- 2-color sunburst finish
- maple neck
- Peavey Bandit Amp
- upgraded with Electro-Voice speaker
- used on the albums Legendary Hearts (1983) and Live In Italy (recorded live in Sep 07 and 10, 1983)
Fernando Saunders:
- Fender Precision Bass (fretless)
1981 (The Blue Mask Recording Session)
Lou Reed:
- The Guitarman Custom Made Crystal Guitar
- Strat-shaped plexiglas body
- Telecaster neck (maple with rosewood fingerboard), 21 frets
- 2x DiMarzio (?) pickup (black-colored humbucking pickup)
- brass bridge (Strat-type)
- built by The Guitarman (custom shop in NYC)
- as seen on album The Blue Mask back cover.
Robert Quine:
- Peavey Bandit Amp
- Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man
- MXR Distortion+ (used on the song "The Blue Mask")
- MXR Envelope Filter (used on the song "The Blue Mask")
- MXR Dyna Comp (used on the song "The Blue Mask")
Fernando Saunders:
The Blue Mask (1982) album credits:
- The Guitarman (custom shop in NYC)
Sources/Links:
- album The Blue Mask (1982) back cover
- Robert Quine at the I-94 Bar part two (interview)
Robert Quine:
"Back in 1981, when I played on The Blue Mask album,
I used a Fernandes Strat, the Deluxe Memory Man, and a Peavey "Bandit" amp.
On the song "The Blue Mask",
I added an MXR Distortion+, an MXR Envelope Filter, and an MXR Dynacomp.
Lou Reed used a plexiglass Strat-type guitar with a Legend amplifier."
- Robert Quine will answer your questions
Robert Quine:
"The only amp I ever used on the three Lou Reed albums I was on was a Peavey Bandit,
upgraded with an EV speaker."
1979-1980 (The Bells Tour - Grouwing Up In Public Tour)
Lou Reed:
- The Guitarman Custom Made Crystal Guitar
- original-shaped plexiglas body, double cutaway
- Guitarman original neck (?), rosewood fingerboard, 24 frets,
thunder inlays, headstock is similar to the "National" Guitars, Shaller tuning pegs
- 1x DiMarzio PAF pickup (white-colored humbucking pickup) in the neck position
+ 1x DiMarzio Super Distortion pickup (white-colored humbucking pickup) in the bridge position
+ Hex pickup unit (for ARP Avatar / guitar synthsizer) fixed between the rear pickup and the bridge
- 3 knobs, 4 mini-switches, pickup selector
- DiMarzio brass bridge
- built by The Guitarman (custom shop in NYC)
- The Guitarman Custom Made Crystal Guitar
- original-shaped plexiglas body, double cutaway
- Fender early '60s Telecaster neck (maple with rosewood fingerboard),
"Guitarman" logo on headstock, 21 frets, Shaller tuning pegs
- 1x DiMarzio PAF pickup (white-colored humbucking pickup) in the neck position
+ 1x DiMarzio Super Distortion pickup (white-colored humbucking pickup) in the bridge position
- 3 knobs, 4 mini-switches, pickup selector
- DiMarzio brass bridge
- built by The Guitarman (custom shop in NYC)
Stuart Heinrich:
- Fender Telecaster
- maple neck with rosewood fingerboard
- black pickguard
- Fender Telecaster
- maple neck with rosewood fingerboard
Chuck Hammer:
- Roland Guitar Controller (GS-500 ?)
- Les Paul style mahogany body, maple top
- set-in maple neck with rosewood fingerboard
- tons of knobs
- Roland Guitar Synthesizer (GR-500 ?)
1976-1978 (Rock And Roll Heart Tour - Street Hassle Tour)
Lou Reed:
- Fender 1956 Telecaster
- St. Mark's Church, NYC, Jul 1976
- B.C. Rich Seagull II
- 24 frets
- 2x DiMarzio pickup (white-colored humbucking pickup)
- Baddas bridge
- Gibson Les Paul (?)
- Gibson SG
- Fender Stratocaster ('70s model ?)
- mocha brown or natural finish ?
- maple neck
- white pickguard
- used on the Jul 02, 1976, Ocean Club, NYC, gig with John Cale and David Byrne
- Fender Stratocaster ('70s model ?)
- mocha brown or natural finish ?
- white pickup covers and knobs
- black pickguard
- used on the winter 1976 Rock And Roll Heart Tour
Jeffrey Roth:
Stuart Heinrich:
1975 (World Tour)
Lou Reed:
- Gibson Les Paul Junior
- mahogany slab body, single cutaway, 2-color sunburst finish
- 1x P-90 pickup ("soapbar" with black cover)
- 1-ply black pickguard
- Gibson SG Standard
- Fender Telecaster
- ? acoustic guitar
Doug Yule:
Sources/Links:
- Doug Yule interview (Part 2)
- Japanese Crossbeat magazine Apr 1996 issue (1975 Japan gig shot: Lou with Gibson Les Paul Junior)
- French Best magazine May 1975 issue (gig shot: Lou with Gibson SG Standard)
- gig shots/off-stage shots
Lou Reed:
Metal Machine Music album specifications (excerpt):
- Sony 1/2 track
- Uher 1/4 track
- Pioneer 1/4 track
- 5 piggyback Marshall Tube Amps in series
- Arbitor distortor (Jimi's)
- Marantz Preamps
- Marantz Amps
- Altec Voice of America Monitor Speakers
- Sennheiser Headphones
- Electro-Voice high filter microphones
- Fender Tremolo Unit
- Sunn Tremolo Unit
- Ring Modulator/Octave Relay Jump
- Fender Dual Showman Bass Amp with Reverb Unit (Pre-Columbia) white
Lou Reed reflects on Zeitkratzer: Metal Machine Music, 2007 (excerpt):
- In 1975 I made an all guitar feedback plus melody album
with a two speed Uher analogue tape recorder,
two 4x12 Vox amps and three guitars tune to various open tunings...
For instance all strings tuned to B.
1974 (Sally Can't Dance Tour)
Danny Weis:
- Fender Telecaster
- white blonde finish
- maple neck
- 1x humbucking pickup (in the neck position) + 1x single-coil pickup (in the bridge position)
- black pickguard
Prakash John:
Sources/Links:
- John Holcomb offered the following information:
"I saw one or two shows on the Sally Can't Dance tour,
and I distinctly remember Danny Weis playing a Fender Telecaster,
by the way.
I believe it was a maple board, blonde Tele,
possibly with a humbucking pickup in the neck position....I think."
- Sally Rides Again
(Prakash John with Rickenbacker Bass)
- Lou Reed video: Lou Reed - A Rock And Roll Heart (1998)
- gig shots
1973 (Berlin Tour)
Dick Wagner:
- Gibson Melody Maker (mid-'60s D model ?)
- mahogany slab body, symmetrical double cutaway with rounded horns, horns point away from neck, cherry red finish
- 2x mini-humbucking pickup (with metal cover and white plastic mounting ring)
- 4 knobs, toggle switch and output jack mounted on the black pickguard
- 100W Marshall half-stack
- Maestro Echoplex (tape delay)
- MXR Phase 90
Steve Hunter:
- Gibson 1959 Les Paul TV Junior
- mahogany slab body, symmetrical rounded double cutaway, "TV" Beige finish
- 1x P-90 pickup ("soapbar" with black cover)
- Fender 1960 Stratocaster
- 100W Hiwatt Hundred Amps
- Maestro Echoplex (tape delay)
- MXR Phase 100
Prakash John:
Sources/Links:
- Edwin Dekker offered the following information:
"I would like to add a small correction about the gear
Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner have used during the 73 tour.
According to an interview from vintage guitar:
http://www.vguitar.com/artists/details.asp?ID=27
Dick Wagner:
I was playing a Les Paul TV Special, which has since been stolen.
I used a 100-watt Marshall half-stack.
A guy named Red Rhodes did some work on it.
I was also playing through an old Echoplex and a MXR phaser.
Steve Hunter:
I was using a early-'70s, 100-watt Hiwatt Hundred amps.
They had a certain kind of edge to them that was different from a Marshall.
I had an Echoplex and the MXR Phase 100.
My guitar was a '59 Les Paul TV Special with just a P-90 pickup in the back.
I also used a '60 Strat at the end of Rock And Roll."
(note by Shiroh: They seem to have misunderstood about their own guitars.
Actually Dick's one is mid-1960s Melody Maker, and Steve's one is Les Paul Junior.)
- Japanese Music Life magazine Nov 1973 issue
(Berlin Tour gig shot. also available on
Japanese mook Shinko Music Flashback Series - Glamrock Jun 2005 issue)
- gig shots
Lou Reed:
- Epiphone Riviera
- with Bigsby vibrato
- as seen on album American Poet cover and booklet.
- ? acoustic guitar
- flat-top, non-cutaway, natural finish
- as seen on 1972 Bataclan gig with John Cale and Nico
- Fender Telecaster (Custom Telecaster ?)
- Sunn Coliseum Amp
- 2 cabinets with 4x12" speakers
Steve Howe (Lou Reed Recording Session):
- Fender Telecaster ('50s ?) ?
- ash body, white blonde finish
- maple neck, Shaller tuning pegs
- customized with Gibson pickup (humbucking pickup) in the neck position
- Gibson ES-345TDSV (late '60s or '70s ?) ?
- stereo electronics
- customized with ES-350T tailpiece
Mick Ronson (Transformer Recording Session):
Vinnie Laporta (The Tots, 1972-1973 tours):
- Sunn Coliseum Amp
- 2 cabinets with 4x12" speakers
Ed Reynolds (The Tots, 1972-1973 tours):
- Fender Telecaster
- white blonde finish ?
- maple neck
- white pickguard
- Fender Stratocaster
- white finish ?
- maple neck
- white pickguard
- Sunn Coliseum Amp
- 2 cabinets with 4x12" speakers
Bobby Resigno (The Tots, 1972-1973 tours):
- Fender Jazz Bass ?
- 3-color sunburst finish ?
- rosewood fingerboard
- tortoise pickguard ?
Sources/Links:
- Linda Laporta offered the following information:
"Please note that the Gibson 335 you mention was not used by Lou Reed,
but was the guitar used by Vinnie Laporta (note spelling) of the Tots.
The amplifier that was used was a Sunn Coliseum Amp
(Coliseum series - two cabinets with 4x12 speakers)
used by Lou, Vinnie and Ed Reynolds.
I get this info first hand since Vinnie Laporta is my husband.."
- The Rock And Roll Animal Web Page: Lou Reed Backing Bands
(gig shots)
- album Transformer (1972) and Berlin (1973) covers
- album American Poet (2001) cover and booklet
- Mick Ronson Website: Equipment
Lou Reed:
- Kent No.532 Copa model
- Japanese brand "Guyatone" export model
- co-using with Sterling
- used on the rehearsal scene appeared in Andy Warhol's movie Up-Tight, on EPI shows
- Gretsch 1964 Country Gentleman
- double cutaway body
- later customized with Fender Stratocaster pickups (taken off from Sterling's Stratocaster) + preamp + speed controller + tremolo controller, stereo electronics
- Gretsch 6136 White Falcon
- double cutaway body
- live at La Cave, late April, 1968
- Gibson ES-335TD
- Gibson ES-345TD
- stereo electronics
- since 3rd album
- Gibson ES-335-12
- 12-string
- since 3rd album
- Fender Electric XII
- 12-string solid body
- since 3rd album
- Epiphone Riviera
- 2x mini-humbucking pickup
- with Bigsby vibrato
- Max's Kansas City era
- ? acoustic guitar
- flat-top, non-cutaway, natural finish
- Fender Deluxe Amp
- used on the rehearsal scene appeared in Andy Warhol's movie Up-Tight
- Silvertone 1484 Amp
- Vox AC100 The Super Beatle Amp
- customized with mid-range booster
- used on the 1st and 2nd albums
- Acoustic amp
- Sunn amp
- Vox Tone Bender Fuzz
Sterling Morrison:
- Gibson 1961 SG/Les Paul Standard
- SG-style double cutaway body
- with Sideway vibrato
- Kent No.532 Copa model
- Japanese brand "Guyatone" export model
- co-using with Lou
- Vox The Phantom VI
- Gretsch 1963 Tennessean
- Fender Stratocaster
- Gibson ES-335TD
- Fender Electric XII
- 12-string solid body
- since 3rd album
John Cale:
- Fender Precision Bass
- ash body, 3-color sunburst finish
- maple neck, rosewood fingerboard
- tortoise pickguard
- Vox The Phantom IV Bass
Doug Yule:
- Gibson EB-0 Bass
- Gibson EB-2 Bass
- ES-335-style semi-hollow body
- Gibson ES-335TD (guitar)
- Gibson SG (guitar, post-Lou VU era)
- Gibson Les Paul (guitar, post-Lou VU era)
Sources/Links:
- An anonymous contributor offered the following information:
"The amp that Sterling Morrison used
during the Velvet era was a Silvertone 1484.
I don't even think that Silvertone made an amp named 2143.
I've got a Silvertone 1484 myself, so I'm pretty sure."
- Japanese Guitar Magazine Jan 1994 issue
- Jonathan Richman interview appeared in VU book up-tight: The Velvet Underground Story
- Lou Reed video: Lou Reed - A Rock And Roll Heart (1998)
- The Velvet Underground video: Curious... The Velvet Underground In Europe (1994)
- The Velvet Underground Web Page
- A Tribute To Sterling Morrison
- Doug Yule interview (Part 1)
- Antique Vintage Guitars collector info
(details for vintage guitars)
Lou Reed:
- Gretsch Corvette 6185 (or 6187 ?) ('50s)
- hollow body, non-cutaway
- 1x DeArmond pickup in the neck position
- 2 knobs
- The Shades (The Jades) era - L.A. And The Eldorados era
© Lou Reed Guitar Archive 1997-2010
http://ww21.tiki.ne.jp/~wildside/
by Shiroh KOUCHI (wildside@mx21.tiki.ne.jp)
