David Byrne's Gear

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David Byrne mainly used it in the early days of the Talking Heads as seen in the picture along with a Fender Mustang, eventually both guitars ended heavily modded

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This photo shows Byrne with a Fender Stratocaster.

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In this photo from 1993-1994, David Byrne is shown using the Guild D-150CE Acoustic/Electric Guitar, highlighting the original Guild F15ce electronics.

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David playing a D-35 in this version of ‘Psycho Killer’ in the 1983 film Stop Making Sense

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Here’s David playing a red Lead II.

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David's Boss BF-2 can be seen on the left of this picture. Appears in several shots during Talking Heads' 1984 concert film Stop Making Sense.

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It is said in this article that David used multiple Roland JC120s for guitars and keyboards, citing their clean tone and reliability as the reasoning

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In this article, it is stated that David uses an MXR Distortion+

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In an article from Sound on Sound, David Byrne's use of the Vox AC30VR amplifier is mentioned in his gear list.

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Byrne played one on 'The Tonight Show' w/ the Atomic Bomb Band (2015)

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In this picture from Stop Making Sense, David can be seen playing the Roland G-303 Guitar Synthesizer

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This photograph shows David resting on his favourite Fender Super Reverb Amplifier Blackface in his apartment in New York City.

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In an article on Soundonsound, David Byrne's use of the Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 synthesizer is documented.

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In this photo, Byrne can be seen playing a Gibson ES-335 12 String.

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The above picture is a screen shot from Talking Heads' 1984 concert film Stop Making Sense. David's Boss DM-2 is visible throughout the film.

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David Byrne played a red Fender Telecaster Thinline Deluxe at the 2002 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, the guitar is modified with a set of Telecaster Hot Rails.

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Byrne has used Oblique Strategies at least once while working with its co-inventor Brian Eno, as stated in this September 7, 2009 The Guardian article.

David Byrne thinks that "Brian's cards are funny and sometimes useful", but the rest of Talking Heads resented Eno's input.

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In an article from Soundonsound, David Byrne's use of the Shure Beta 57A dynamic microphone is documented as part of his recording setup.

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In the "Sessions At West 54th" performance from November 15, 1997, David Byrne is seen playing a Gibson Les Paul Studio Electric Guitar.

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Photograph of a performance at The Roundhouse, London, January 29th 1978. David can be seen playing his Fender Mustang guitar into a Fender Super Reverb Silverface.

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It is stated in this article that He used a Roland RE-501 Chorus Echo

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David Byrne in Concert at the Central Park Summer Stage - June 29, 2005 David Byrne during David Byrne in Concert at the Central Park Summer Stage - June 29, 2005 at Central Park in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by E. Dougherty/WireImage)

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Byrne plays Gretsch in Live Union Chapel

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"The equipment I have is pretty basic. There's an old 16-channel Soundcraft 600 Series desk, two Tascam DA88s and an old tube compressor, a tube limiter and a tube preamp."

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In a Sound on Sound article, David Byrne is listed as using the Sennheiser MD 421-II microphone.

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David Byrne is noted for using the Akai S2800 MIDI Stereo Digital Sampler, as detailed in an article from Soundonsound regarding his work with Talking Heads.

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David Byrne used two Mackie 1604 mixers while on tour in 2001, according to this article.

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In this article, it is stated that David uses an MXR Dyna Comp

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David Byrne authored "How Music Works," as detailed in a New York Times review by John Rockwell.

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In this YouTube video from the talking heads’ “Stop Making Sense” performance, David Byrne is seen using the Boss DS-1 Distortion pedal.

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This is a community-built gear list for David Byrne.

  • Find relevant music gear like Microphones, Guitars, Amplifiers, Effects Pedals, Software Plugins and VSTs, Keyboards and Synthesizers, Instruments, Studio Equipment, Headphones, and other instruments and add it to David Byrne.
  • 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 David Byrne is seen with new gear, follow the artist.

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