Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran is known for using the Martin X Series LX1E Little Martin Acoustic-Electric Guitar, a choice evident in a photo from his Manchester Arena performance. Early in his career, Sheeran favored pre-2011 models with Fishman Mini Q pickups. These pickups had a preamp/battery box mounted under the strap nut, a setup he preferred due to its impact on sound quality, especially the percussive elements. To maintain consistency, Sheeran's guitar tech frequently transfers these pickups to new LX1 guitars, either using pre-cut models or customizing them as needed. His signature models also follow this setup. For the general public, the LX1E models come equipped with Fishman Isys T pickups. The guitar features a Solid Sitka Spruce top, HPL Mahogany finish back and sides, and a Stratabond neck.

In this YouTube video, Ed Sheeran plays the Paul Reed Smith HollowBody II guitar in what appears to be an Acquableux finish at the 2014 iTunes Festival for his song "Thinking Out Loud."

In this video, Ed Sheeran can be seen using a replica Fender Eric Clapton "Crash 1" Stratocaster Electric Guitar to play his single 'Thinking Out Loud' live.

Sheeran reportedly no longer uses this guitar after learning it was an unauthorized reproduction, and has since commissioned Crash to create a unique Strat for him, in collaboration with British artist Teddy M.

Designed in collaboration with award-winning recording artist Ed Sheeran, the LX1E Ed Sheeran Signature Edition features Ed’s signature “+” sign on the headstock and album logo laser-etched on the solid sapele top. Stage-ready, this model is small enough to take anywhere and comes equipped with Fishman Isys T electronics, SP Lifespan Martin strings and a padded gig bag. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this model will be donated to the East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (www.each.org.uk). Solid Sapele top, HPL finish back & sides, Stratabond neck.

In this photo, Ed Sheeran uses a customized Lowden 35 Series guitar. He can be seen playing it live on the song Lego House and while singing with Wayne Rooney.

The article was written by Trevor Dawkins, Ed's sound engineer.

"Ed Sheeran essentially plays two Martin Guitar models. The larger models are a pair of 00-28VS customs that Martin put together for us. They’re absolute beauts: figured Koa back and sides, the gecko inlays on the neck (copies of one of Ed’s tattoos . . . ), and the inlaid koa “X” logo on the soundboard. These are fitted with Fishman Matrix Infinity electronics and are used for Ed's acoustic ballad-type songs." From watching live videos, Ed has 4 copies of this guitar. One has black bridge pins, another has white, and the other two have no gecko inlays on the neck.

In this Instagram photo shared by Ed Sheeran September 2013, he shows a collection of Martin guitars which he has toured with over seven years. The left-most guitar is a Martin Steel-String Backpacker Acoustic Guitar. He captions the photo, "7 years of touring"

In this video, while playing live with John Mayer, Ed Sheeran uses a PRS Silver Sky, which he later got to keep (he posted it on his Instragram story the next day). Ed Sheeran was a guest star during John Mayer's concert.

A collaboration between New York graffiti pioneer John CRASH Matos and Teddy M, commissioned by multi-platinum musician, Ed Sheeran.

This exciting collaboration sees the striking cohesion of Crash x Teddy M on a Fender Eric Clapton Stratocaster.

Both artists worked closely together selecting the colours and applying their own signature touches, Crash's being the eye and Teddy M's the heart.

Crash previously created the famous graffiti guitars played by Eric Clapton and later John Mayer and Gary Clark Jr.

In 1983, Crash headlined an exhibition in New York City with his friends Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat and his work is now in MoMA and art museums around the world.

Teddy M considers Crash to be one his major influences in him deciding to follow a career in art.

At 3.49 Ed is spotted tuning this guitar.

Here you can see Ed Sheeran using the Martin GPCPA5 acoustic guitar on a London stage performance with Nina Nesbitt. At the beginning of the video she can be seen giving the guitar to Ed to play.

In a video from Taylor Swift's Instagram, Ed Sheeran can be seen playing a Gibson J-160E.

Ed can be see in this video playing his new signature X guitar with John Mayer. Ed also posted this on Instagram confirming its soon to be release. On Twitter, Ed Sheeran says, "It's exactly the same guitar that I use live and I can safely say it's awesome". Solid Sitka Spruce top, HPL Koa finish back & sides, Stratabond neck.

On May 10, 2012, Ed Sheeran was seen playing a Takamine GD20-NS Acoustic Guitar while interacting with fans after a show, as captured in a YouTube video by Rhay.

In this video you can see Ed Sheeran and Passenger playing Hearts On Fire with Michael Rosenberg's (Passenger's real name) favorite choice of guitar, the Gibson J45.

First seen during this performance at the 2017 live shows of UK's talent show X Factor, this Custom Lowden WL-35 has no pick guard and features the Divide emblem from Ed Sheeran's third album.

Photo from Concert at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, Japan on April 14, 2018. This guitar has been a part of Ed's rotation since the beginning of the 2018 leg of the Divide Stadium Tour. It is definitely larger than the Wee Lowden WL model, I believe it is an S body size. Looks like Cedar, or Redwood top? Very cool orange "Divide" album art.

Ed Sheeran's new little Martin Divide signature guitar

Ed Sheeran is seen here using the 2015 Gibson Les Paul Supreme.

In this photo on his facebook where you can see Mr. Sheeran writing a song. You can see that he has a Córdoba GK Studio Negra. Which is a nylon string guitar, being different from his usual steel string acoustic. Fun fact, his first ever guitar was a nylon string guitar as seen in this documentary. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJWRAD_gyDI (Skip to 11:37).

Serial No. SZ2201386, green finish with white motifs by artist Teddy M, maple neck with skunk-stripe routing, the back of headstock with printed transfer number SZ2201386, signed and dated 2015 below by the artist in black ink, twenty-two fret fingerboard with dot inlays, three Vintage Noiseless pickups, three rotary controls, selector switch, tremolo/bridge tailblock and white pickguard; in hand painted Fender tweed case, painted Rocker by Teddy M; together with a print of canvas of Ed Sheeran, a recording on DVD both showing the guitar being played at the Central Park, New York shown on Good Morning America, a certificate from Teddy M and a letter from Ed's management.

This guitar was loaned by the rising British artist Teddy M to Ed Sheeran in 2015 where it was used on his X world tour 27th February - 3rd July 2015. Ed used this guitar to play Thinking Out Loud most nights of the tour in approximately 18 countries. This included a live performance in Central Park, New York City which was televised on Good Morning America on 29th May 2015.

Original Bonhams auction page here

Similar to the last custom 00-28V, featuring a shark inlay instead of the lizard, and the "Divide" symbol instead of the Multiply "X." Seen in the acoustic performance of "Castle on the Hill," for BBC Radio 1.

Here you can see Ed using the only Martin LXME he ever owned. He used to play on this guitar for a short while in 2011 before permanently sticking to the Martin LX1E as his go-to guitar.

Ed Sheeran is seen playing a custom Lowden GL-10 electric guitar during his performance of "Thinking Out Loud" at Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball 2017, as featured in a video by Capital FM on YouTube.

Ed Sheeran played the Sheeran by Lowden on his Divide Tour in 2019. The guitar is based on the Lowden WL (Wee Lowden) body size as originally designed for Ed Sheeran. Original Instagram post here.

Ed Sheeran's new signature LX1E for his Divide tour.

Ed uses this guitar when playing with Shawn Mendes in Barclys Center, August 16th 2017

Ed Sheeran used the lowden WL-25 during the production of his album Divide

Same model and brand as his previous "X" guitar expect the inlays are marked with a divide symbol to promote his upcoming album. The wood used for the back and sides seem to be a darker colour than his x guitar which makes us think it could be mahogany or African mahogany back and sides! Fitted with Fishman Matrix Infinity most probably. As seen on Ed Sheeran's Radio 1 interview on 6th January 2017!

April 13, 2016 - Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan. Eric Clapton with Ed Sheeran - I Will Be There