Jimmy Smith

In this picture from a live performance, Jimmy Smith is playing on a Fender Jazzmaster Classic Player electric guitar with a black finish.

“It’s a rhythm machine that has a clean sound with depth to it. I stick to the rhythm pickup.” - Jimmy to Guitar & Bass magazine

In this picture Jimmy is playing on a Fender Jaguar Reissue.

In this picture from a live performance, Jimmy is seen holding a Fender Telecaster American Standard.

In this picture, Jimmy Smith is playing a guitar that very closely matches a Gibson Les Paul Faded Double Cutaway Electric Guitar in Worn Cherry finish.

Smith’s Jazzmasters are all supplied by Fender, and the company has even made him his own bespoke range with original colours and matching headstocks.

“I’ve had quite a few Jazzmasters from Fender, all Mexican Classic players, and I had a problem with the strings coming off,” says Jimmy. “We played Lollapalooza in Chicago. It was my birthday and they gave me a Mexican Sunburst Jaguar and told me it was specifically designed so I could play it really hard, and I plugged it in on stage, and on the first note the three bottom strings all came off! Now my guitar tech is on it and sorts it all out for me.

“My guitars are super-cool. I requested that I repaint some of the guitars Fender give me, and wanted to paint them the original surf colours – Sonic Blue and Surf Green – and Neil [Whitcher, Fender’s European head of artist relations] said ‘how about we just make them for you?’. I’ve got four now – two of each. It’s pretty great!

“I like the fact that Jazzmasters are pretty loud. I always play them on the neck pickups, and they’re big and warm, and for the studio they’re pretty versatile. You can get a lot of different sounds out of them. They’re nice to play, and I like the size of the body and the way it’s cut. If I’m playing it every single night, sometimes I struggle with other guitars. I used to really want a Mustang but I just couldn’t get to grips with the body. It’s strange, the Jazzmaster just seems to totally suit me… and I really love Sonic Youth. I grew up looking at those old beaten-up Jazzmasters.”

“Jimmy has been playing Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special guitars since the Holy Fire album cycle,” says Whitcher. “He was looking for a robust touring instrument, the Classic Player suited him well due to the nature of the tune-o-matic bridge and the break angle over the saddles being increased, as the trem system is moved slightly closer to the bridge than on vintage and traditional Jazzmasters.

“He’s pretty hard on his guitars, I’ve seen them go through stage ceilings, strung up on lighting rigs, even being kick flipped… amazingly they always seem to be able to put the guitars back together.

“For the new album campaign, we decided to do a couple of custom colour guitars for Jimmy to take out on the road – he wanted matching headstock models, which are not available in the Classic Player series, so I commissioned the factory in Ensenada to build him a Surf Green and a Faded Sonic Blue (with tortoise shell guard), both are Classic Player Jazzmasters, both with matching headstocks.”

Smith’s currently playing Limited Edition Olympic White, Black and Sunburst models and Surf Green and Faded Sonic Blue guitars specially made for him by Fender, through an Orange Rockerverb head.

(Source).

During the performance of "Mathletics" @ La Route du Rock 2008, you can see Jimmy playing a sunburst jaguar. Nowadays, it seems he doesn't use it anymore.

In the music video for "Hummer" Jimmy is playing a Danelectro 56 Pro Sp You can clearly see the screenshot here: https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/69576727.jpg?mw=1920&mh=1080&q=70

You can see the Jazzmaster in a white finish at 0:06

This picture was taken from Jimmy's Instagram profile with the quote: "Thanks @neil_deluxe65 for my badass starcaster"

In this Instagram posted by Jimmy Smith, his Fender American Professional Jazzmaster in Sonic Gray with a maple fingerboard can be seen. He says:

After acquiring a new category of hangover on a stag in Ibiza, this here new gizmo should soften the blow as i sail into the pit of despair. Thanks @fender and Neil. #americanpro ????

In this Instagram post, Jimmy Smith shows his Fender EOB Sustainer Stratocaster. He says:

This here gizmo is gonna carry me to the rings of Saturn and beyond. Big thanks to @fender and true source of inspiration Ed O’Brien for inventing this beauty.

Jimmy SMITH can be seen playing a Gretsch G117 Double anniversary in this video at 6:30 * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCbHbfL3H8o

**Jimmy SMITH uses a FENDER CD-140SCE in this acoustic performance of 2 trees.

**Jimmy Smith uses this guitar for the cover of Everybody wants to rules the world

We can see, Jimmy play on it live in 2008.

You can also see it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOD7HiDtUBM at 2:12.

Jimmy uses a heavily worn 1980s lead 2 in the video for In Degrees

A Guitar & Bass magazine article on how to sound like Jimmy Smith from Foals indicates that he plays through a 1970s Vox AC30. Later on in the article Jimmy Smith says, "Also get rid of your Marshall amp and get one with a clean sound". Guitar & Bass magazine

Jimmy Smith can be seen laying next to his gear in a dressing room before a show. The poster of the photo reubengotto confirms the gear is "just for jamming in dressing rooms". Jimmy Smith's practice amp can be identified as a Fender Mustang I V.2 1x8" 20-Watt DSP Combo.

Jimmy Smith can be seen playing a Fender Bassman combo amp in this video at 1:05:43. The back of his amp can be clearly seen, which matches that of a Bassman as seen here.

The concert is Foals headlining the Hotot-tent at Down The Rabbit Hole, Beuningen, The Netherlands, 29-6-2014.

JIMMY SMITH OF FOALS CURRENTLY USING: * Rockerverb 100 MKII Head * PPC412 Cab

JIMMY SMITH OF FOALS CURRENTLY USING: Rockerverb 100 MKII Head PPC412 Cab

In this photo from a performance at the Crystal Ballroom, in Portland, OR, the Line 6 DL4 Delay Guitar Effects Pedal can be seen on Jimmy Smith's pedal board. via effectsbay.com

In this photo from a performance at the Crystal Ballroom, in Portland, OR, the Electro-Harmonix POG2 Octave Generator Guitar Effects Pedal can be seen on Jimmy Smith's pedal board. via effectsbay.com

In this photo from a performance at the Crystal Ballroom, in Portland, OR, the Strymon Timeline can be seen on Jimmy Smith's pedal board. via effectsbay.com

In this photo from a performance at the Crystal Ballroom, in Portland, OR, the Boss RV-5 Digital Reverb Effects Pedal can be seen on Jimmy Smith's pedal board. via effectsbay.com