The Stooges – Raw Power (50th Anniversary Legacy Edition) album cover

The Stooges – Raw Power (50th Anniversary Legacy Edition)

Album 1973

The music gear and equipment used by the artists, producers, engineers, and more involved in the making of the 1973 album Raw Power (50th Anniversary Legacy Edition).

Music from Raw Power (50th Anniversary Legacy Edition)

Gear Used On Raw Power (50th Anniversary Legacy Edition)

Explore the instruments, equipment, software, and production tools used in the making of The Stooges – Raw Power (50th Anniversary Legacy Edition) (1973). Click more on each item to see exactly how it was used.

Amplifiers used by James Williamson on Raw Power (50th Anniversary Legacy Edition)

Combo Guitar Amplifiers

Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp

Avg price: $917.19

In this article on the making of the Stooges' album Raw Power, Williamson's gear at the time of recording is explained as such: "Armed with a 1969 Gibson Les Paul Custom driving a Vox AC30, as well as a Martin D-28 acoustic—the latter two of which he borrowed from the studio—Williamson dove headfirst into the recording process. Although he hadn’t previously tried the Vox-and-Paul combo, he was delighted after plugging in. 'That driving sound on the record is a combination of the way I play and the sound I was able to get with the combination of that instrument and that amp. It’s definitely a good sound.'"

Guitars used by James Williamson on Raw Power (50th Anniversary Legacy Edition)

Solid Body Electric Guitars

Gibson Les Paul Custom Electric Guitar

Avg price: $5,496.40

In this article on the making of the Stooges' album Raw Power, Williamson's gear at the time of recording is explained as such: "Armed with a 1969 Gibson Les Paul Custom driving a Vox AC30, as well as a Martin D-28 acoustic—the latter two of which he borrowed from the studio—Williamson dove headfirst into the recording process. Although he hadn’t previously tried the Vox-and-Paul combo, he was delighted after plugging in. 'That driving sound on the record is a combination of the way I play and the sound I was able to get with the combination of that instrument and that amp. It’s definitely a good sound.'"

In the Vintage Guitar interview, Williamson also explains how he named this guitar "Leopard Lady" and that this particular guitar was used on every record until "Sickkk" sessions.

Steel-string Acoustic Guitars

Martin D-28

Avg price: $3,051.67

In this article, on the making of the Stooges' album Raw Power, Williamson's gear at the time of recording is detailed as such: "Armed with a 1969 Gibson Les Paul Custom driving a Vox AC30, as well as a Martin D-28 acoustic—the latter two of which he borrowed from the studio—Williamson dove headfirst into the recording process."

In the Vintage Guitar interview, he mentions that he keeps this particular guitar in Nashville tuning. Also, the Martin D-28 used during "Raw Power" was borrowed, and the 1967 Martin D-28 was used on the record with Deniz Tek.

Steel-string Acoustic Guitars

Gibson B-25

Avg price: $1,299.00

Initially, the band ran into problems with management over the direction of the music. “We tried a bunch of different demos, but management didn’t like them so we kept writing new material,” Williamson says. “I would sit in my room, working out riffs and things on my Gibson B-25 acoustic guitar, and ended up with a whole bunch of stuff. Eventually, the management got sort of consumed with breaking David Bowie in the U.S., and they quit paying attention to us. It was great, because we were then able to go into the studio on our own, without a producer or anything, and make Raw Power.”

In the Vintage Guitar interview, Williamson also states that he used this guitar for "Raw Power" and "Kill City" sessions, and that guitar is now being exhibited at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Bass Guitars used by Ron Asheton on Raw Power (50th Anniversary Legacy Edition)

Electric Basses

Gibson EB-3

Avg price: $1,317.50

Primary basses included a Gibson EB-3, on which he recorded Raw Power, and an Epiphone with three pickups, “Which was stolen at the airport,” said Asheton. “I could get that really tinny sound on ‘Raw Power,’ that trebly, abrasive, tinny sound