Keith Richards
Rolling Stones guitarist
Keith Richards' Amplifiers
In this Keith Richards interview with "Guitar World", it reads,
"'The Stones had an endorsement deal with Vox around this time. Were those the amps you were using in the studio?'
'I have no doubt they were. The AC30's a damn good amp.'"
Richards’ stock guitar amp setup in the studio is a tweed Fender Champ with an eight-inch speaker[...]
“And Keith is always plugged into Input 2 on the Champ, not Input 1. We turn the Champ up to about 4, no higher—to where it’s just starting to break up.” - Pierre de Beauport (Keith's tech)
Richards’ stock guitar amp setup in the studio is [...] combined with a tweed Fender Harvard modified with a 6L6 output stage tube and a 12” speaker, nicknamed “One Love.” The modification makes the Harvard a single-ended or Class A amp.
“The Harvard adds a little bottom end and clarity,” - Pierre de Beauport (Keith's tech)
In this photo Keith Richards can be seen with a Mesa Boogie Mark I.
In addition, he appears to be playing on this same amp in this photo.
In this photo two wide-boxed Tweed Fender Twins with the 5F8-A 80 watt circuit can be seen behind 'ol Keef as he struts his stuff playing a Mary Kaye Strat.
Mesa/Boogie amps first appeared during the famous gig at the El Mocambo in 1977, and Kieth got a first glimpse of it some time earlier when Carlos Santana joined the band for a jam using his small Snakeskin combo. Although some sources indicate that Stones used more than 40 different Mesa/Boogie amps over the years, one that is perhaps most notable was a hardwood combo handcrafted personally by Randall Smith. This one was Keith’s favorite and he used it on Stones’ albums Love You Live, Some Girls, Emotional Rescue and Tattoo You, as well as on his solo albums.
http://www.groundguitar.com/keith-richards-guitars-and-gear/
Here you can see Keith playing an Ampeg VT-22 amplifier.
Hiwatt stack behind him. Probably tried it out being so close to The Who at the time.
Used mostly on stage, although sometimes used in the studio
Used during the recording of Exile on Main St.
Keith Richards utilized the Vox Foundation Bass head to record the bassline for "Sympathy for the Devil" in 1968. This piece of equipment, paired with his Fender Precision Bass, was instrumental in crafting bass lines for The Rolling Stones during that period. Evidence of this can be observed in a video documenting the studio session for "Sympathy for the Devil," which provides visual confirmation of Richards using the Vox Foundation Bass head. This source, provided by the author Jesahel in a music video compilation, offers a clear view of the gear in use during the recording process.
Keith Richards is confirmed to use the Fender Twin Reverb Silverface amplifier, as evidenced by a studio photograph showing the distinct JBL logo on the amp's right corner. Additionally, this amplifier can be seen atop his Ampeg SVTs during the renowned Marquee Club performance.
Keith Richards confirmed his use of the Fender "High-Powered" Tweed Twin (1958-1959) amplifier in a Facebook post from September 1, 2017, where he captioned a photo with, "Some of my Fender high power tweed twin amps ... road ready!"
Keith Richards is seen using the Positive Grid Spark amplifier while trying out his custom shop V guitar
Keith Richards used the Triumph Electronics Silicon 100W Lead and Bass Amplifier while performing as the bassist for The Dirty Mac, a supergroup that included John Lennon and Eric Clapton, during The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus in 1968. This is evidenced by the official music video "Yer Blues" by The Dirty Mac, directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg and produced by ABKCO Music & Records.
Keith Richards began using the Fender 'Black Panel' Dual Showman amplifier in 1964, which significantly contributed to the early sound of the Rolling Stones. This amplifier was known for producing sparkling and clean guitar tones, such as those heard in "Satisfaction," despite the distinctive sax-like tone. Throughout the 1960s, Richards utilized this early "blackface" Showman, leveraging its ability to deliver high volume levels without distortion, as evidenced by the image proof on Equipboard.
Keith Richards used the Vox Supreme amplifier as both a guitar and bass amp during the recording sessions for "Sympathy for the Devil," as evidenced in the 4K restoration of Jean-Luc Godard's film "Sympathy For The Devil" provided by ABKCO Records & Films.
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Discography
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