Chris Isaak's Gear

Hide incorrect submissions

In this picture Isaak can be seen playing his main guitar when it gets electric: a white ES-345 Stereo.

Find it on:

In this interview Isaak says: "There’s a reason I’m playing a Gibson through a Fender blackface Twin. It’s like driving a Chevy – you can get parts anywhere, and it always starts."

  • The Blackface Fender amplifiers were produced between 1964 and 1967

Find it on:

Isaak revealed in a 2002 interview with Acoustic Guitar that he uses a one-of-a-kind Gibson: "For my electric, I've got a one-off Gibson version of a Gretsch 6120, a sort of Chet Atkins thing. They made one of these things and gave it to me to see if I liked it, and I liked it so much I've been playing it ever since. People told me they thought it was a White Falcon, but it's not. It's just a white Gibson. I don't think they ever manufactured any of the things. They strung up this one prototype, scratched their heads, and said, 'Huh. Give it to Isaak.'"

Find it on:

"For years, the J-200 has been Chris Isaak’s main guitar for songwriting. Not surprisingly, when he recorded last year’s Sun Records tribute album, Beyond the Sun, he turned to his trusty J-200 to capture that distinctive “Sun” sound. “I’m playing that guitar on about 89 percent of the record,” he told Guitar World, adding that he’s owned his distinctive J-200 since the late ‘80s. 'It’s a great guitar and I play it a lot.'" (http://www.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/Features/en-us/10-Great-Players-Who-Chose-J-200s.aspx)

Find it on:

In the video for Blue Hotel, Chris Isaak can be seen playing a Silverstone 1446.

Find it on:

"Epiphone has a couple of guitars that I play in the studio too — the Joe Pass are amazingly nice sounding, but Gibsons are really the ones that hold up." - Isaak to Gibson.com

Find it on:

In this article Isaak talks about his Gibson Super 400: "I played a little show once – I think it was for iTunes – where they said, “Bring a guitar.” I thought, “I’ll bring an electric.” So I brought a funky little Silvertone amp and a little echo box, with my blond ’56 Super 400 (laughs)! Talk about overkill! People are looking at me like, “Uh huh… That’s a nice guitar.” I go, “Yes, it is. You have no idea!” Some people think you shouldn’t play that sort of stuff outside the house. But you know, I’m never going to sell this stuff. And it only comes out boots first!"

Find it on:

"The J-200 I play onstage has my name across the top in mother of toilet seat (pearloid), and I wanted the little guitar to have the same thing – they look like father and son!" - Chris Isaak on vintageguitar.com

Find it on:

According to Shure's artist page, Chris Isaak uses Shure's Beta 98A microphone for his toms.

Find it on:

In the MTV Unplugged performance of "Wicked Game," Chris Isaak uses a Shure Beta 87A microphone.

Find it on:

According to Shure's artist page, Chris Isaak uses Shure's SM57 microphone for his snare, guitar cabinet, and leslie cabinet top.

Find it on:

Chris Isaak seems to be using this microphone at this live version of Wicked Game.

Find it on:

In a photo taken at a concert in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on December 15, 2025, Chris Isaak is playing a Gibson Trini Lopez ES-335, distinguished by its sparkly appearance.

Find it on:

This is a community-built gear list for Chris Isaak.

  • Find relevant music gear like Microphones, Guitars, Amplifiers, Effects Pedals, and other instruments and add it to Chris Isaak.
  • The best places to look for gear usage are typically on the artist's social media, YouTube, live performance images, and interviews.
  • To receive email updates when Chris Isaak is seen with new gear, follow the artist.

Discography

Album Credits

Similar Artists

Roy Orbison

Roy Orbison

Singer, Guitarist · Traveling Wilburys

Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen

Singer, Guitarist · Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes

John Fogerty

John Fogerty

Singer, Guitarist · Creedence Clearwater Revival

Van Morrison

Van Morrison

Singer, Guitarist · Them

Rick Nelson

Rick Nelson

Guitarist, Singer

Tom Petty

Tom Petty

Singer, Guitarist · Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

John Hiatt

John Hiatt

Guitarist · Little Village

The Everly Brothers

The Everly Brothers

Mark Knopfler

Mark Knopfler

Singer, Guitarist · Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes

Warren Zevon

Warren Zevon

Guitarist, Music Producer · Lyme & Cybelle

Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley

Guitarist, Singer · The Blue Moon Boys

Traveling Wilburys

Traveling Wilburys