Alex Turner

In this photo, Alex Turner can be seen playing a Fender Stratocaster in a black finish. It has been determined to be a Made In Mexico Strat, due to the 21 frets and 6 screw bridge.

Used to record "Do I Wanna Know?" and for each live performance of it. Alex Turner has been seen using the Vox Starstream in many notable performances, such as Austin City Limits 2013 and Live at the Red Bull Sound Space at KROQ, the latter seen in this 2013 video. It was also used for a live performance "Crying Lightning" on March 5, 2018 at The Hollywood Forever Cemetery and for some live performances of "Cornerstone" in 2022 (https://youtu.be/O4biHn4ZpGk). The story of the Starstream's acquisition and initial use on AM was given by producer James Ford in this August 1, 2013 NME interview.

What was your favourite moment recording the album?

It was actually when ‘Do I Wanna Know?’ came together, I just remember thinking, ‘This sums up what we’re trying to do’. It felt kind of heavy – and heavy in mood as well. It had a weight to it that I really like. I remember when that came together being really excited, and seeing the picture crystallise in front of me a little bit of where we going. It was one of the first ones we got done, and it was that thing of it coming together – I could see the end call from that point onwards.

That riff was written on Alex’s 12-string Vox guitar, right?

Yeah. I remember when we bought it, I’ve got a picture of Alex playing it when we did the previous album [‘Suck It And See’]. He found it at the end of that record, and we never really used it on it. But I remember it quite distinctly, because it’s got these effects built into the guitar and I think he actually bought it as a bit of a joke. But I think it actually turned into a bit of an inspirational instrument! A lot of the riffs were written on that particular guitar.

Tom Rowley also plays the guitar for "one for the road"

In this photo Alex Turner can be seen playing his custom Warmoth Jazzmaster. Which he seemed to start using with just the bridge pickup to emulate his old Fender Bronco.

In the photo above, Alex Turner can be seen using a Fender Standard Stratocaster in an Olympic white finish.

This is Turner's USA strat, due to it having 22 frets, whereas his Mexican strat (the black strat) has 21 frets.

The black Fender '78 Bronco Electric Guitar is used by Arctic Monkeys guitarist Alex Turner during this live performance.

Arctic Monkey's lead guitarist Alex Turner uses this beautiful Gibson J-45 Standard Acoustic-Electric Guitar in his live acoustic for Spin Magazine.

Alex Turner plays a 1962 Gretsch G6128T Duo Jet for live and recording sessions with Arctic Monkeys. Alex primarily uses the guitar live for the song “R U Mine?” as he recorded the song with the Gretsch to get a more gritty tone. The guitar was a gift from former girlfriend Arielle Vandenberg in 2011-2012, around the time he recorded the song, often dedicating the song to her at live shows. He has also used the guitar live for songs such as “Arabella” and “Mad Sounds” on a rare occasion. It is unknown what other songs he has recorded with the Duo Jet, it can be safe to say it was used during the “AM” recording sessions and the recording of the “R U Mine?” single in 2012.

Pictured is Alex Turner during the First show of Arctic Monkey’s “AM” tour at the Ventura Theater in May 2013 playing the vintage Gretsch.

Alex Turner is seen using a Fender Telecaster in several photos, including in a user-uploaded image above. He also plays this guitar during Arctic Monkeys' cover of "Reptilia," which can be found online.

Turner was seen using the Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster onstage at a concert with singer/songwriter Alexandra Savior.

Alex Turner uses an Ovation Viper Electric Guitar built by the Ovation Guitar Company when playing with both Arctic Monkeys and The Last Shadow Puppets, the Viper was seen being played during the “Humbug” tour and the Puppet’s “Everything You’ve Come To Expect” tour. When playing the Viper during the “Humbug” tour, Alex switched between this and one of his Jazzmasters, either his Fender or Custom Warmoth, replacing his Fender Bronco that he used during the bands second tour.

When Alex is playing the guitar with the Puppets, he has the guitar tuned so it's a whole step down in D Tuning, also called One Step Lower, Whole Step Down, Full Step or D Standard. Each string is lowered by a whole tone or two semitones, resulting in D-G-C-F-A-D. For "Aviation” and "Element of Surprise,” the guitar is used open so it’s in D. Turner uses a capo on the 2nd fret for when the band covers The Beatles "I Want You(She’s So Heavy)" so he can play the chords like the guitar is in standard tuning.

The Ovation Viper is an electric guitar made by Ovation Guitar Company from 1977 to the early 1980s. The Viper sports two single coil pickups, a single volume knob, a single tone knob and a three-way selector switch, very much like a Fender Telecaster. Ovation made their own pickups and they designed these to have a higher output than a regular single coil. They were also well-shielded and had very little hum when plugged in.

Pictured is Alex Turner during The Last Shadow Puppets show at T In The Park in 2016 seen playing his vintage Ovation Viper.

Turner can be seen playing a Woolworth Top 20 in this photo.

Alex Turner played a Fender Mexican Standard Stratocaster, specifically an Olympic White model, during the "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not" era, as evidenced by a user-uploaded photo.

Alex Turner can be seen using a Musicmaster in the Arabella music video at 3:32. The pickup has been moved closer to the bridge, likely to resemble his stolen Fender Bronco.

Alex was seen playing the guitar live when opening for The Black Keys at Madison Square Garden on March 22, 2012. A recording of the performance is available here. Photos from the performance, including of Alex with the Musicmaster, can be found here

The guitar has been most likely gifted to Alexandra Savior, as the two worked together, and she can be seen playing it in her latest live performances, i.e. here.

Turner can be seen playing a Gretsch Spectra Sonic Baritone in this photo. Alex Turner has used a Gretsch Spectra Sonic Baritone electric guitar during various performances with both Arctic Monkeys and The Last Shadow Puppets. His first appearance with this model was during the Favourite Worst Nightmare era, when he used it to play the song "If You Were There, Beware". The guitar continued to be featured in the Suck It and See era, adding depth to the band's evolving sound.

Notably, Turner used the Spectra Sonic Baritone for "One Point Perspective" during the Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino tour. At that point, he began using a white version of the guitar — previously, he had used a black one. Its lower tuning and rich tone perfectly matched the atmospheric nature of the track.

With The Last Shadow Puppets, Turner used the Gretsch Spectra Sonic Baritone for "Pattern" and "Miracle Aligner," enhancing the songs' dramatic feel. In these performances, the guitar provided a deep, resonant foundation that complemented the band’s orchestral arrangements.

Turner can be seen playing an Epiphone Wiltshire in a photo in this NME article. Photo is captioned, "Alex Turner performs with The Rascals, Astoria, London, February 7, 2008. Pic: Andy Willsher"

Alex Turner can be seen playing his Gibson J-200 Standard Acoustic-Electric during this acoustic performance of “Do I Wanna Know” off of their 5th studio LP AM in mid 2014. The guitar has been seen with Arctic Monkeys since acoustic sessions off of their second album.

Jamie Cook, the rhythm guitarist from Arctic Monkeys, has the exact same guitar as him and Alex played them guitar during an acoustic session in 2007. Alex seems to favor Gibson acoustic guitars, as he is almost seen exclusively playing them with a few exceptions.

In this picture from Glastonbury 2008, you can see Alex playing this Telecaster during The Last Shadow Puppets performance

In this video, Alex is using the 1968 Fender Villager. The band is playing a new version of their Suck it and See album track, The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala (2011). It's the first time I've seen him use it, but I've heard this version of the song many times, so I guess it's the instrument he's been using all the way.

Alex Turner uses a Gretsch G6122-12 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman 12-String Hollowbody as a backup guitar for performances of "Do I Wanna Know?" when not playing his Vox 12-String, as shown in a user-uploaded photo.

At minute 0:16 you can see Alex Turner playing a Fender Johnny Marr Jaguar.

In the official video for "Bad Habits" by The Last Shadow Puppets, Alex Turner is seen playing an ESP E-II ST 2 guitar. However, in an interview, he mentioned that he does not own the guitar; it was used during a spontaneous performance at a bar, utilizing the house band's instruments.

Appears at 0:09 in the video.

I'm not sure if it's a 1964 one but that's around the era of that kind of pick guard. Also back then they just called natural finish J-45's J-50's. They're essentially the same guitar but the J-45 is sunburst.

Alex Turner can be seen playing a Martin GT-75 Electric Guitar in the video of for Meeting Place.

In this video Alex plays "Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?" with this guitar in 2.27..

Turner can be seen in this photo playing a Martin GT-70 guitar.

At 3:45 of this video, Turner can be seen playing a Gibson Vintage LG-2 3/4.

This is Miles Kane's Gibson. Alex can be seen playing the ES in the album notes for The Last Shadow Puppets - Everything You've Come to Expect. Alex also used it sporadically on the first Last Shadow Puppets tour.

In this photo from the official The Last Shadow Puppets' Facebook profile, you can see Alex playing this guitar. The photo was posted with the quote "Tokyo" due to the rehearsal for their gig at Shinkiba Studio Coast tonight, 27th April 2016.

In this photo in the booklet for the Last Shadow Puppets album "Everything You've Come to Expect," Turner can be seen playing a Martin D-12-20.

Alex Turner is seen playing his Epiphone Coronet pictured during this live performance on The Late Show. Turner debut this new guitar during recording and live performances for songs off of Arctic Monkeys 7th LP “The Car” and can be heard on songs such as Body Paint and Mr.Schwartz.

The Coronet features many attributes Turner seems geared toward in his guitars such as a lone bridge pickup, reminiscent of his old Fender Bronco and pickups similar to his often used Jazzmaster. The guitar was first seen being used by Turner during their live show in Brooklyn, New York City, at Kings Theatre.

The Epiphone Coronet was first introduced in 1958 and was one of their most popular and successful guitars during that era. That being said, it can be concluded that Alex’s model is a vintage model rather than a reissue, due to the headstocks being different than the modern version. Mostly all of Turners amplifiers are vintage and quite a few of his guitars and other gear are too.