Chris Bell

Chris Bell used a Gibson ES-330 fitted with a Bigsby vibrato, believed to date from the mid-1960s, to record Big Star's #1 Record. The guitar is still owned by the Bell family but is on loan to Ardent Studios.

"(Chris) also had a cherry red Gibson ES-330 (black single-coil pickups) (sic) from his teen years, which the Bell family still has. That guitar was definitely one of the ones used on the 1st Big Star record." -Van Duren

Chris Bell was pictured playing a Fender Telecaster. He used it prior to the formation of Big Star, while performing with Rock City.

Chris Bell was pictured using a "non-reverse" Gibson Firebird III during the first and only tour of the original Big Star lineup.

Chris Bell used a 1970 Yamaha FG-180 acoustic which may have been used on Big Star's #1 Record, and on his solo album I Am The Cosmos.

"He also had a 1950’s Fender Bassman combo amp that had 4 10’s in it and was loud as hell. The Tele and the amp were stolen out of his mother’s station wagon while Chris was attending a Joni Mitchell concert at the Mid South Coliseum in the spring of 1976 (February 4th - ed.)" -Van Duren

Chris Bell was pictured using a Fender Stratocaster, believed to date from the 1950s, while performing with The Jynx in the 1960s. He is also shown using a Fender Stratocaster in rehearsal footage of Big Star; this guitar was owned by Alex Chilton before being stolen in 1974.

Chris Bell with what appears to be a Gibson J-45 sometime after his exit from Big Star in the mid 70s.