Guided by Voices Members, Gear & Sound

Genre

Rock Alternative rock Post-hardcore Indie rock Power pop Art rock Indie pop Noise pop Dream pop Freak folk Anti-folk Alternative pop Indie Lo-fi dance rock gbvfi modern power pop garage psych ohio indie lo-fi indie

Members

Select a Guided by Voices band member to check out the music gear they use live and in the studio.

Doug Gillard

Roles:

Guitarist

Groups:

Nada Surf The Oranges Band Cobra Verde Death of Samantha Approval of Mice

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Tobin Sprout

Roles:

Guitarist Composer Music Producer

Groups:

Academy of Crowsfeet Meat Kingdom Group Airport 5 8th Dwarf Ghost Fart Arthur Psycho and the Trippy Warts

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Mitch Mitchell

Roles:

Guitarist

Groups:

Academy of Crowsfeet Magic Toe Bozo's Octopuss Ax Bore Co. Acid Ranch Ghost Fart Arthur Psycho and the Trippy Warts

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Robert Pollard

Roles:

Singer Guitarist

Groups:

Anacrusis A A Bottom Academy of Crowsfeet Arthur Psycho and the Trippy Warts Ghost Fart Approval of Mice Acid Ranch 8th Dwarf Antler Bore Co. Airport 5 Ax Brainbow Bozo's Octopuss Magic Toe Go Back Snowball Meat Kingdom Group Robert Pollard and His Soft Rock Renegades Mars Classroom Boston Spaceships

Needs more gear

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Bobby Bare, Jr.

Roles:

Composer

Groups:

Silver Jews Bare Jr.

Needs more gear

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Greg Demos

Roles:

Bassist

Groups:

Robert Pollard and His Soft Rock Renegades Approval of Mice

Needs more gear

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Jim MacPherson

Roles:

Drummer

Groups:

The Breeders The Amps Robert Pollard and His Soft Rock Renegades Approval of Mice

No gear added

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Kevin Fennell

Roles:

Drummer

Groups:

A A Bottom Meat Kingdom Group Go Back Snowball Magic Toe Bozo's Octopuss Ax Bore Co. Ghost Fart Arthur Psycho and the Trippy Warts

No gear added

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Kevin March

Roles:

Composer Music Producer

Groups:

Shudder to Think The Dambuilders

No gear added

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James Greer
No gear added

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Bruce Smith

Roles:

Drummer

Groups:

Public Image Ltd The Pop Group Singers & Players The Slits New Age Steppers Rip Rig + Panic Float Up CP African Head Charge Playgroup Love Inc.

No gear added

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John Petkovic

Roles:

Singer Guitarist

Groups:

Sweet Apple Cobra Verde Death of Samantha

No gear added

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Jim Pollard

Roles:

Bassist

Groups:

Academy of Crowsfeet Magic Toe Bozo's Octopuss Ax Bore Co. Antler Acid Ranch Ghost Fart

No gear added

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Dave Swanson

Roles:

Drummer

Groups:

Cobra Verde Death of Samantha

No gear added

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Tim Tobias

Roles:

Guitarist Bassist

No gear added

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About

Guided by Voices is a pioneering American rock band known for their prolific output and eclectic musical style that blends elements of indie rock, lo-fi, power pop, and garage psych. Hailing from Dayton, Ohio, the band was formed in the early 1980s by Robert Pollard, a former schoolteacher who serves as the primary songwriter and vocalist. Over the years, the lineup has seen various changes, but key figures have included Tobin Sprout (guitar, vocals) and Doug Gillard (guitar). Guided by Voices gained a cult following with their raw, unpolished recordings and hook-laden melodies, resonating with fans of both classic rock and indie music.

How to Sound Like Guided by Voices

Guided by Voices' sound is characterized by its lo-fi aesthetic and infectious melodic hooks, creating a vibe that is both nostalgic and refreshingly unrefined. Their recordings often feature trebly guitar tones and a mix of clean and distorted textures, achieved in part through the use of gear like the Fender Telecaster and 1972 Gibson Les Paul Standard. Effects such as the Electro-Harmonix Canyon Delay & Looper and Boss TR-2 Tremolo contribute to their dynamic and layered guitar sound. Vocals are often delivered with a sense of spontaneity and raw emotion, complemented by driving rhythms that maintain an energetic, almost frenetic pace. This combination of elements gives Guided by Voices a distinctive and enduring appeal that continues to inspire musicians and fans alike.

Discography

Forever Since Breakfast

1986

Devil Between My Toes

1987

Sandbox

1987

Self-Inflicted Aerial Nostalgia

1989

Same Place The Fly Got Smashed

1990

Propeller

1992

Vampire On Titus

1993

Bee Thousand

1994

Get Out Of My Stations

1994

Clown Prince of the Menthol Trailer

1994

Fast Japanese Spin Cycle

1994

King Shit And The Golden Boys

1995

Alien Lanes

1995

Tonics and Twisted Chasers

1996

Under The Bushes Under The Stars

1996

Mag Earwhig!

1997

Do The Collapse

1999

Suitcase - Failed Experiments and Trashed Aircraft

2000

Selective Service

2001

Isolation Drills

2001

The Pipe Dreams of Instant Prince Whippet

2002

Universal Truths and Cycles

2002

Earthquake Glue

2003

Half Smiles of the Decomposed

2004

Suitcase 2

2005

Live From Austin, TX

2007

Suitcase 3: Up We Go Now

2009

Let's Go Eat The Factory

2012

Class Clown Spots A UFO

2012

The Bears for Lunch

2012

English Little League

2013

Motivational Jumpsuit

2014

Cool Planet

2014

Suitcase 4: Captain Kangaroo Won the War

2016

Please Be Honest

2016

August by Cake

2017

How Do You Spell Heaven

2017

Space Gun

2018

Zeppelin over China

2019

Warp and Woof

2019

Sweating the Plague

2019

Surrender Your Poppy Field

2020

Mirrored Aztec

2020

Styles We Paid For

2020

Earth Man Blues

2021

It's Not Them. It Couldn't Be Them. It Is Them!

2021

Crystal Nuns Cathedral

2022

Tremblers and Goggles by Rank

2022

Scalping the Guru

2022

La La Land

2023

Welshpool Frillies

2023

Nowhere To Go But Up

2023

Strut Of Kings

2024

Universe Room

2025

Thick Rich And Delicious

2025

Get the Guided by Voices Sound

Want to sound like Guided by Voices? This gear comes straight from the setups of the band's members, based on proven sources. Dive into each artist's page for more detail and inspiration.