Nancy Wilson's Gear

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"This is her '63 Telecaster that she uses in a center position," Nancy's guitar tech says, at 24:42 in this rig rundown video.

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She using this guitar for performing live Crazy On You back in 1977.

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Nancy Wilson talks about designing her signature model guitar with Gibson. "When I designed the body shape of the guitar for Gibson years ago, I didn't bring it out on the road since I only had one prototype. I recently rediscovered it when I was going through the vault searching for guitars to take into the studio for the Fanatic album. When we cranked it up in the studio it was something to behold. It's definitely a heavy duty screamer. A gem of a Gibson."

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In video Alone she is using some Kramer Baretta guitar but in black.

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In this photo, Wilson is visible playing the Epiphone Masterbilt EF-500RA acoustic guitar.

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In this photo, Nancy is seen playing the Takamine TAN15C, which is capoed up at 5th fret.

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Nancy's signature Martin guitar is shown in this rig rundown, at 25:15.

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"Our main amp is the Budda Superdrive 80," Wilson's guitar tech says, at 36:05 in this video.

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“I’m really enjoying my new Dark Side and Monterey guitar pedals. A great friend and talented producer Sue Pelino referred me to them and I’m looking forward to adding them to my live stage rig.”

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In this user-uploaded photo, Nancy Wilson is seen playing a Gibson Korina Flying V Electric Guitar during a live performance.

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"We've used the Tonemaster for a long time. It's really loud...I've actually taken two of the outside tubes out and made it a 50W instead of a 100W," Nancy's guitar tech says, at 36:20 in this video.

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Nancy Wilson is known to use the Trace Elliot TA 200 amplifier as part of her acoustic setup. A former employee who worked with the Wilson sisters in the 1990s recalls Nancy using two TA 200s during that time. This usage is also mentioned on the Trace Elliot Twitter account.

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“I’m really enjoying my new Dark Side and Monterey guitar pedals. A great friend and talented producer Sue Pelino referred me to them and I’m looking forward to adding them to my live stage rig.”

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In this photo (date and place unknown), Wilson can be seen playing the Epiphone Les Paul Ultra III.

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Nancy Wilson frequently plays the Fender American Performer Telecaster Hum, particularly during her tours. The guitar is noted for its Lake Placid Blue finish, as seen in the user-uploaded photo.

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Nancy uses a Martin DCPA1, as mentioned at 25:56 of this rig rundown.

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"It was given to me by Elvis Costello when I worked with him...it's a great sounding guitar. She uses it a lot," says Nancy's guitar tech, at 27:53 in this Premier Guitar rig rundown.

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At 27:58, Nancy's guitar tech shows her 1968 SG, which she uses for "Barracuda."

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Nancy's guitar tech mentions that her guitar signal goes into a Tube Screamer after her Whirlwind A/B Selector, in this rig rundown, at 35:25.

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In the 1980s, Nancy Wilson of Heart endorsed Washburn guitars, specifically playing a Washburn Eagle 2nd series from 1982-86. Despite appearing to have custom Hamers, these were actually high-end, made-in-Japan Washburns.

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The single-pickup 1968 Gibson SG, equipped with Bigsby, is used by Wilson for Barracuda, from at least 2002, as seen here. Also, at the back of the guitar there is US Marine Corps sticker, which is a hommage to father of Ann and Nancy Wilson, who served at the US Marine Corps.

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"I don’t use a lot of pedals, but my go-to’s are an MXR Custom Audio Electronics Boost/Line Driver, a Way Huge Swollen Pickle Jumbo Fuzz, an Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail reverb, and a ToadWorks Howard Leese Signature Barracuda flanger."

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An Explorer model guitar with flame top, possibly a prototype guitar manufactured in the late 1970s by a custom luthier, no logo or serial number. Nancy Wilson played the guitar on stage as well as in the studio for the Bebe Le Strange and Passionworks recordings. Accompanied by two photographs of Wilson with the guitar, both signed "[heart] Nancy Wilson," and a hardshell case.

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"I use these in all the acoustics...they really make a difference," Nancy's guitar tech says, about her FU Floyd Rose Upgrades bridge pins, at 26:13 in this rig rundown.

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Wilson's Whirlwind Selector A/B Box is mentioned in this rig rundown, at 35:20.

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Nancy's SG comes equipped with this Bigsby B5, which can be seen at 28:28 of this "Rig Rundown" with Premier Guitar.

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The 1961 Gibson Les Paul Junior was used on "Fanatic", as said in her Vintage Guitar interview. She says : "I used most – my ’61 Les Paul Junior, and a guitar I designed for Gibson just before Heart went on the blocks for awhile in the early ’90s."

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"I might trot out the Paul Reed Smith 12-string with the dragon inlays. I’m going to see of that will work on some of the new songs.".- for Guitar World interivew. Apparently, she probably thinks about this guitar, which she owns from at least 2001, when she was photographed by Vintage Guitar.

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"In the July 2013 issue of Premier Guitar magazine, Nancy, described as a “Goddess of Rhythm,” talks about the journey and her gear. EHX is proud that Nancy uses a Holy Grail reverb and Small Stone phase shifter."

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She using this guitar to perform live Barracuda.

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This is a community-built gear list for Nancy Wilson.

  • Find relevant music gear like Guitars, Amplifiers, Effects Pedals, and other instruments and add it to Nancy Wilson.
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