Elliott Smith

Elliott Smith is known to have used the Yamaha FG-180 Red Label acoustic guitar, a model originally manufactured in Japan, though Elliot's FG-180 was actually a Taiwan manufactured acoustic as can be seen from the missing Nippon Gakki sticker. This is evidenced by a photo from Sweetadeline, showing Smith with the guitar at the Oscars.

"I had the amazingly good fortune to meet another incredibly talented songwriter named Elliott Smith. He set a new bar for music and I truly believe him to be one of the great voices of our generation. In 1995 I took Elliott out on his first tour as my opening act. I adored his songs and our friendship ran deep. Although our relationship was strictly platonic, it was Elliott who helped me fill the void after the loss of Kurt. On both of the tours that Elliott and I subsequently did together, it was the Martin that we would end up playing into the wee hours of the morning in our hotel room…I believe that "Grandpa" is the ONLY instrument in the world that was played, adored and loved by both Kurt Cobain AND Elliott Smith. It was also played on occasion by Shawn Colvin and of course, me. In 2003, Elliott died and this completely broke my heart…It was around this time that I began to release myself from the whole world of music as I knew it and dedicate myself to my young daughter Annabelle. The Martin was getting little attention, and by this point it held memories that I wanted to let go of. It had served me well and I wanted to give it a new lease on life. It needed to be played, so in 2004 I sold it to a guitar dealer and that was that. A few years later I got a letter from someone who was about to purchase the guitar and wanted to know if everything was on the “up and up.” I am happy to say that the guitar Kurt Cobain called “Grandpa” and Elliott Smith called “Gramps” now resides in the permanent collection of Make’n Music in Chicago, IL. I am told it is played regularly and adored by many a visitor who wants to hear the “stories.” On special occasions it is even made available to other musicians for purposes of inspiration and to use on recordings. I am glad to have known it, served it well, and to have shared in the memories this wonderful guitar possesses. There you go…the story of “Grandpa.” Mary Lou Lord

He has many pre 1969 and post 1969 guitars (at least five). The difference in those is the fret witch the neck joins the body (pre at the 16th, post at the 19th). -Gibson ES-330 pre 1969, flaming red finish, Standard tuning and a Bigsby vibrato -Gibson ES-330 post 1969, sunburst finish, Open D tuning. We can see a picture of it at Portland's Oregon History Museum.

''He brought his guitars, but the funny thing about Elliott is he had five of the same guitar, the Gibson ES-330. I never understood it, exactly. I was like, "OK, that’s great, we can use those, but if you want this bigger guitar sound, I encourage you to check out the guitars that I have." On “Shooting Star”, he fell in love with this old 60s Telecaster I have. Most of the really big guitars you hear on that album are that Telly because this guitar just spits at you. '' (David McConnell on Pitchfork interview)

It's a very old guitar (made in the 30's) from Chicago. He uses in Roman Candle's era.

Elliott playing his 60' Gibson J45

"we definitely recorded a version of Go By i'm not sure which version got used on new moon either or was the yamaha cant remember the model number XO was a 60's gibson country and western and a 63 epiphone texan and the yamaha figure 8 was the '63 texan and a '57 J-50"

Rob Schnapf

Elliott Smith used a Fender Duo-Sonic, not a Cyclone or Mustang, during his early years with Heatmiser, until he switched to an Epiphone Crestwood in 1994. This is evidenced in the Sweetadeline image titled "nateheatmiser5.jpg."

when elliott briefly stayed in Paris in 1999 after the XO tour and before recording Figure 8, he bought that guitar in a Place Pigalle store and created the song bearing the same title (Place Pigalle was also the work title for Figure 8)

Elliott plays a Rickenbacker as a Frontman of Heatmiser

Elliott Smith is seen with a Fender Mustang Electric Guitar on the inside cover of his album "XO," as mentioned in the Sweetadeline FAQ.

Elliott Smith began using the Epiphone Crestwood Custom in 1994 during his time with Heatmiser. The accompanying photo suggests he may have also used this guitar for some of his solo recordings.

epiphone crestwood in a guitar player article

Elliott Smith uses a Gibson Les Paul Deluxe, as mentioned in the "Frequently Asked Questions" section on Sweetadeline, particularly noted in relation to "Strange Parallel."

On the XO album cover Elliott is clearly using Fender Telecaster, there is a Fender sign on a headstock that is shaped like Tele's.

In this photo, a 17-year-old Elliott Smith is seen playing a 1968-style Les Paul Custom while performing with his High School band, Stranger Than Fiction. The band was one of few spotlighted in the March 8th, 1987 article in the Oregonian newspaper. The article also includes this striking quote from Smith:

“Music is what I want to do—it’s not a passing phase,’ ” Smith said. That intensity, the 17-year-old knows, sometime results in having “a certain amount of resentment to deal with. I’m more driven to complete band projects.”

Elliott used a Gibson Songbird during his second night at the Fonda Theatre for Independence Day in 2003.

Elliott Smith is seen using a Fender Stratocaster in this live video of Quasi performing "The Poisoned Well" from around 1999.

Elliott is seen using a Cherry Epiphone Olympic Single in this picture and another from around 1997.

Elliott Smith is seen using what appears to be a Gibson J-50 during his performance at the Henry Fonda Theater, updated with a Country Western style pickguard and Grover rotomatic tuners. Additionally, producer Rob Schnapf mentioned that Smith used a J-50 on the album "Figure 8."

Elliott Smith is confirmed to use a Fender Duo-Sonic Electric Guitar, as evidenced by an image from Equipboard showing Smith with the guitar during his time with the band Heatmiser.