Mikael Akerfeldt

Listed on official website in the gear for several albums. Was also used live

“A second-hand black CE24 that I bought from a friend became my primary tool for Opeth,” Mikael Akerfeldt says. “The year after I bought it, I used it to record all of Blackwater Park. That guitar stayed with me for many years, both on tour and in the studio, although it’s now resting because it has massive sentimental value to me.

"Guitar-wise, everything came from PRS. I also played on a newly acquired Gibson Flying V, a ’79 — and a couple of Strats. I have a ’68 Custom Shop acrylic Strat that sounded great and a ’62 Strat I picked up and put the body and the pickups together myself. I left it to a guitar shop that has one of those plec machines, which gave it a really, really nice setup," says Mikael Akerfeldt, in this interivew, with Guitar World.

"I'm a sucker for reverb pedals. I would save my Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail reverb."

From an interview with Guitar World in March 2014"Guitar-wise, everything came from PRS. I also played on a newly acquired Gibson Flying V, a ’79 — and a couple of Strats."

Talking about Opeth's Heritage Album: "[...] we had a bunch of Marshalls. We’re endorsed by Marshall. The amp we ended up using the most was the Yngwie Malmsteen signature model, mainly for the rhythms."

In this video, Mikael Akerfeldt talks about his signature guitar, the PRS SE Mikael Akerfeldt. One of the standout features of it for him is the satin finish on the neck, as opposed to glossy which makes it easier to get stuck. The bridge pickup is an HFS, and the neck pickup is a Vintage Bass. He says, "I play everything from solos to rhythm... I can do pretty much everything on this guitar. It's my favorite guitar of all time."

at 8:51, you can see that Mikael is playing a Jackson RR V

Mikael Akerfeldt is seen using the Laney GH100L guitar amplifier head in live performances and possibly during the recording of "Ghost Reveries," which is noted for featuring several Laney amplifiers. The image sourced from Guitarmessenger provides visual evidence of this usage.

seen used in this performance

at 19:53, this multi-effects pedalboard is seen

About the Opeth's Heritage Album: "Then we also had the Joe Satriani signature head and 1960 cabs."

…I have it set on spring and it’s pretty much on all the time. You could say I am very generous when it comes to reverb! I want lots, unlike Fredrik, who wants more of the dry tone so every note pops out. I’m the opposite – I want the notes to disappear into the reverb.

Mikael Akerfeldt uses a PRS Custom 24 guitar live, as can be seen in the video Opeth - Deliverance - Live at Wacken Open Air 2015.

At 11:34 into this video, Mikael uses this guitar on "the grand conjuration" live.

In an interview with GearGods, Mikael Akerfeldt discusses using the EarthQuaker Devices Grand Orbiter V1 phaser pedal during Opeth's 'Sorceress' tour.

“I got this in Akron, Ohio, and it’s actually made by a company based there called EarthQuaker Devices. It’s a phaser, but with a shitload of sounds within it. At the moment, I only use it for isolated chords to get this underwater effect that makes you sick to your stomach!”

"I have 10 to 45s. I use Austrian strings called Tomastik Plectrum strings. They make violin strings. They're great. Sometimes they also have heavy bottom."

Mentioned in this article

In this video clip, Mikael Akerfeldt can be seen playing with his Gibson Les Paul Standart.

In an interview with Guitar Messenger, Mikael Åkerfeldt mentioned using the Boss GT-8 Guitar Effects Processor during his career.

About the Opeth's Heritage Album: "We also had a Marhsall Bluesbreaker combo that sounded fantastic."

Mikael uses this pedal acording to an interview by Gear Gods

Mikael Åkerfeldt frequently uses PRS guitars during live performances, including the PRS P24 in Antique White. This model is distinguished by its Piezo pickup, which allows it to emulate acoustic guitar tones. A photo on Imgur shows Åkerfeldt with the P24, highlighting his preference for this versatile instrument.

Has been using the PRS P24 electric guitar since the release of "Pale Communion." This is evident in the performance captured at the Rock Hard Festival 2017, as seen on YouTube.

at 16:07, this amp module is seen

Mikael uses this pedal acording to an interview by Gear Gods

What kind of equipment/gear are you using on the road and in the studio? (...) I have a Les paul standard too, 2 strats (1972 + 1975) 2 Martins (00016 + 00024) + my Laney amps GH100L + VC30. (...)

Mikael Akerfeldt plays a PRS Custom 22/12 guitar during Opeth's live performance of "Closure," as seen in a video by Chris Stamou on YouTube.

at 16:07, this amp is seen

In the image from Thefamousbirthdays, Mikael Akerfeldt is seen holding a PRS S2 Starla guitar.

at 0:42, he's seen playing this guitar