Elliott Smith

Pictured in photo titled “ Elliott Smith Recording Equipment, circa 1996” from Tape Op interview by Larry Crane with Elliott Smith and producers Rob Schnapf and Tom Rothrock on the recording of Either/Or.

''We've got a Steinway grand piano, a Stenway tack piano (actually there are no tacks, just very stiff, ridged hammers), a Hammond C3 organ with two Leslies to choose from, and an electric harmonium.'' - Tape Op, interview (XO & Figure 8 Era)

the top hat amp he uses is a model k-35 (king royale).

Pictured in photo titled “ Elliott Smith Recording Equipment, circa 1996” from Tape Op interview by Larry Crane with Elliott Smith and producers Rob Schnapf and Tom Rothrock on the recording of Either/Or.

From Tape Op interview by Larry Crane with Elliott Smith and producers Rob Schnapf and Tom Rothrock on the recording of Either/Or.

Mentioned throughout article, including this one by Elliott:

Elliott: "The [first two solo] records were totally limited, and there was no choice about what to use [gear-wise]. Then I got an 8-track [Tascam 38], and I had a choice between a couple of different mics. I got a compressor [Behringer Composer] and one of those [digital effects] boxes that will make any effect that you have the patience to try to program [Digitech TSR 24S]. Most of [Either/Or] was done at my house, some was done at Joanna's house on a 4-track, and some on 16-track in California [at The Shop]. Everything sounded different."

And Tom: “In other cases, like the song "Alameda," the drum mics were mixed together live through the Mackie 1604 to one track live as they were recorded, with compression from the Behringer Composer added at the same time as well. Knowing Elliott, I'd speculate that he did test passes of the drum mix until he felt it would work well in the final mix."

At the 2:53 mark in the YouTube video "Elliott Smith in the studio," Elliott Smith is seen playing a Wurlitzer 140B while performing the "Figure 8" B-side track. It's likely he used this keyboard for the song "Bye" as well.

Elliott Smith frequently used a Shubb Capo for his acoustic performances, as evidenced by a photo on Stereogum.

the old gibson acoustic is actually a 60’s j-45 and he uses a fishman rare earth soundhole pickup with it.

Elliott uses in some live performances (Winter/Spring 1999) for main and secondary vocals.

Elliott Smith used a Fender Precision Bass in the song "Strange Parallel," as noted in the frequently asked questions section on Sweetadeline.

In a performance on David Letterman, Elliott Smith's bassist can be seen playing a Rickenbacker bass, likely a 4003. The use of flatwound strings is suggested by the sound, though this cannot be confirmed.

Elliott uses this recorder in 1996 for Either/Or album

''I got a compressor (Behringer Composer) and one of those (digital effects) boxes that will make any effect that you hae the patience to try to program (Digitech TSR24S)''

Pictured in photo titled “ Elliott Smith Recording Equipment, circa 1996” from Tape Op interview by Larry Crane with Elliott Smith and producers Rob Schnapf and Tom Rothrock on the recording of Either/Or.

Used by Elliott whilst playing with Heatmiser. Seen on multiple in studio photos during the recording of ‘Cop and Speeder’. https://www.instagram.com/p/CTKlSjpAd3T/?utm_medium=copy_link

In the video hosted by Josh Scott on Sweetwater's YouTube channel, Elliott Smith is seen using a Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp during his performance on Conan.

In a live performance of "Waltz #2" on 2 Meter Sessions, Elliott Smith can be seen using Sony MDR-V900 headphones for monitoring.

Used by Elliott whilst playing with Heatmiser. Seen on multiple in studio photos during the recording of ‘Cop and Speeder’. https://www.instagram.com/p/CTKlSjpAd3T

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 the 7th picture of the post the Tube King can be seen near Elliott’s feet next to a setlist.

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.

Rob Schnapf mentioned that after recording XO Elliott Smith didn’t have a rig to tour with so he lent him a Gibson 330 and an Ampeg Gemini amp, staring around 7:08 in the Show Us Your Junk video, and “he loved it”…

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.

In this post from the official Heatmiser Archive account, Elliott can be seen plugged into a KB-60 Amp during an acoustic Heatmiser gig. Not the KB/A-60 since Equipboard wouldn’t let the KB-60 be added.