Bruce Kulick

"I am pleased to announce my new Asylum guitar - ESP / LTD Multi-Swirl M-1! This limited edition includes a replica of the original guitar that I played on the Asylum tour and which can be seen in the "Who Wants to Be Lonely" music video"

Bruce used this model whole "Revenge" tour (it was one of his most used models). Also used in a studio (songs "Paralyzed", "Seduction of the Innocent", "I Confess", "In the Mirror" and "I Walk Alone" by Kiss).

Bruce used this Guitar for the album Crazy Nights by KISS in the 80's.

"They all sounded killer and the amps used were my old Marshall 900 head and a dual reverb model as well as the Egnater Rebel 20 Watt head. We actually had the Egnater on a very low wattage setting, and it still sounded huge!"

[V.G.]: How are your guitars typically set up? Do you set up guitars based on what each is used for?

[B.K.]: I usually use S.I.T. .010-.046 gauge strings. Some guitars behave better tuned down a half-step; the only two tunings on my record are standard and down a half-step. I didn’t fool with open tunings. “Fate” is standard tuning with dropped D, and so is “No Friend Of Mine,” the song with Corabi. Gene’s and Nick’s songs are a half-step down, as are most of the songs where I use a Floyd Rose. Les Pauls can be tuned to anything, and the PRS guitars also behave in any key.

You have to use guitars that behave in the studio, because time is money. If they don’t play well at home, don’t take them to the studio.

I used .012s on the Martin and the Gibson Dove [Acoustics]. The Gibson LG-1 probably has a custom set of .011s because I use that guitar for riffs.

[V.G.]: What type of picks do you prefer?

[B.K.]: They’re .73-mm gray nylon Dunlops with the grip. They’re kind of like the old Hercos. I don’t use anything else for guitar. For bass, I may use something a little heavier, or play with my fingers.

In this video Bruce talks about his black ESP Explorer from "Revenge" & "KISS Alive III" times

Used in the song "Seduction of the Innocent" (Kiss) 2:20

A popular picture of Bruce Kulick with Charvel Model 2

Bruce has been using these since the mid to late 80's. His choice on gauge depends on the guitar. 9's or 10's. You can google various endorsement ads out there. There's plenty...it's because of him many use this brand as they really do stay in tune nicely with tremolo systems.

"Tuesday Time Capsule #7 "BK Shirtless with Meat Loaf" My memorial tribute video that I shared Friday for my brother Bob, featured some great photos of us playing live in 1977-78. Here's me, shirtless at a warm outdoor concert playing a Koa BC Rich Mockingbird. @RealMeatLoaf"

Seen on Bruce’s recent simplified board. Used by him during all of his Kiss and solo career. Also at home practice.

In this photo (source), the MXR Distortion + is visible.

"It was played through the Marshall Vintage Modern head that I just got from the good people at Marshall Amplification. Jeremy and I plugged in a vintage Electro Harmonix Memory Man pedal for some nice chorus effect with the guitar."

In this photo (source), the Coron Phaser 50 pedal can be seen.

In this photo (source), the Boss PH-2 phaser pedal can be seen.

In a YouTube video titled "Bruce's Post-Earthquake Message To Chile," Bruce Kulick is seen using an ESP LTD Phoenix 200 Electric Guitar while sending his positive thoughts and well wishes to his fans in Chile following a recent earthquake.

Bruce Kulick mostly played this guitar during the Animalize Tour in Kiss. It was also stolen with the purple custom Charvel. The guitar had a single EMG 81 pickup (As seen up close in the photo) and Original Floyd Rose finished in black. Bruce said of this guitar on his official website brucekulick.com “My first tour with KISS “Animalize” started in 1984, continuing into 1985. One of the most featured guitars I performed with was a Blue Charvel made in San Dimas, CA. All Charvel guitars from this era were made to order. They had all the features to be a perfect fit for KISS in 1984. I found a blue San Dimas Charvel, used, right in the window of Sam Ash in NYC about a month before heading to Europe with the band.

In the new age of “Whammy Bar Super Strat” guitars, the Blue Charvel was amazing. It had an EMG pickup, a black Floyd Rose, a split coil switch, and featured a rosewood fingerboard, with a flame maple neck. The body, was a gorgeous blue finish. The logo on the headstock had gold lettering, and I believe it was built in 1983. Sadly it was stolen from the KISS warehouse in NYC around 1988.“

"Ovation MTV KISS UNPLUGGED. Here's my Ovation Elite model 1868, that you have seen me play recently for some of the acoustic “at home” songs with my wife Lisa. This is the same model as the MTV Unplugged one I used, but not the actual guitar. Similar year. I explain how Ovations were my guitar of choice for the iconic MTV show. I loved that performance, even if it was my last with KISS. What did you think??? #mtv #mtvunplugged #kissunplugged #ovationguitars #kisstory #kiss #kissguitarist

"October’s KISS Guitar of the Month, is a beautiful white metal flake finish Custom M-1 ESP. It was first used for the HITS Tour, without the tortoise shell pick guard. By the time of the Revenge Tour, the guard was added. It features a chrome Floyd Rose, Duncan pickup, Rosewood fingerboard, and the large style “hockey stick” headstock from that era. Listen to the biting tone in my video, as heard on stage and in the studio (used on the song Unholy, Revenge LP) and featured as well on KISS Alive III. In many ways, its related my Banana M-1 from ESP as well. An excellent guitar that screams KISSTORY"

"They all sounded killer and the amps used were my old Marshall 900 head and a dual reverb model as well as the Egnater Rebel 20 Watt head. We actually had the Egnater on a very low wattage setting, and it still sounded huge!"

In an interview with Vintage Guitar magazine, Bruce Kulick discusses his use of the Gibson Moderne.

"I used a Gibson 1995 Cherry SG, and a 1980's BC Rich Koa Mockingbird and then my Gibson LP Jr from Kiss Revenge Tour was used as well as the Explorer that I did the clean Domino guitar parts on Revenge."

"We plugged into my '66 Fender Bassman head, and used my trusty Marshall 4 X 12 cabinet."

"I used a Mexican Red Fender Strat with a maple neck that has a boost built in, called a Powerhouse Stratocaster, I found this guitar in Colorado on tour with Grand Funk. Played it through a Fender Vibro-king amp that was at George's Shut Up And Play studio. No pedals, just the bass pickup of the red stratocaster and a lot of finger plucking! We were very happy with the results and the song is finally hitting the high mark that I am striving for."

In the photo titled "pedals24.jpg" on Bruce Kulick's blog, a Ross R-50 Distortion pedal is visible, indicating its inclusion in his gear collection.

"Back in the studio to work on a bass track for BK 3 with a brand new ESP Vintage P4 bass in creme! This axe is awesome! Even dragged my little Fender home bass amp in the studio to see what could happen, and it rocked. So, progress is being made. More updates soon."

In this photo (source), the Boss DM-2 analog delay is visible in the board.

Bruce Kulick playing a LTD Viper White in a concert in KISS Kruise VII (as seen in video uploaded).

Bruce Kulick currently uses S.I.T. S1150 Medium Light Power Wound Nickel Strings (11-50) on his guitars, as evidenced by a user-uploaded photo on Bp.

A picture of Bruce Kulick with woodtop B.C.Rich Eagle. Also used this model in "Animalize" tour