Kim Gordon

On the Sonic Youth website, it says, about Kim Gordon's Thunderbird Bass:

Used by Kim: 1988-1993

Used by Jim: 2004-2005

Used by Kim: 2007-2009

NOTES:

A '76 Gibson Thunderbird acquired by Kim in 1988 to replace her Rickenbacker and Ovation basses. She stopped using it live in favour of her BC Rich during the Goo era, though it did show up at a few shows. It was used for the recording of "Dirty", however, and many 'Dirty' tour shows in '92. She also used it for the recording of "Sonic Nurse". Jim used it for the Nurse tour, and Kim revisited it for the entirety of the "Daydream Nation" shows they did, except for 'Eliminator' which she played on her EB bass. Still used on the Eternal tour.

Gauges: .105 .085 .065 .045

Wood finish

2 pick-ups

Rosewood fretboard

White pickguard

Various scribbled messages, including Mark Arm "So Messed Up - You Know It" and "Sister Rock On, Love John Bram"

Used in "Candle" & "Cinderella's Big Score" videos

Sonic Youth's website states, about Kim Gordon's J. Mascis Jazzmaster:

"Used by Kim/Thurston: 2008-2009 2008 -- F#F#F#F#EB (Kool Thing - THURSTON) 2009 -- CGDACD (What We Know - KIM) & DADABD (Antenna, Leaky Lifeboat, Massage the History) NOTES:

A J Mascis signature Jazzmaster first seen at the Marc Jacobs fashion show on February 8th, 2008 -- used by Thurston for 'Kool Thing'. Kim seems to have adopted it for the Eternal tour, and since she keeps rotating tunings it's probably been used for almost every song! Eric replaced all of the stock white hardware with black hardware prior to the Eternal tour. Purple body, purple headstock Gold anodized pickguard 2 soapbar pickups Rosewood fretboard 2 Volume, 2 Tone controls, 3-way pickup switch, 2-way circuit switch Vibrato bar Gauges for DADABD = .052 .042 .026 .020 .017 .013"

In this photo, Kim Gordon can be seen with a BC Rich Mockingbird Bass.

On Sonic Youth's website, about Kim Gordon's RIckenbacker 4003, it is said:

"Used by Kim: 1988?-1990 NOTES:

Used briefly between the Ovation and the Thunderbird, or possibly in conjunction with the Thunderbird at some '89 shows. -Yellow body -1 pickup ? -Rosewood fretboard -1 toggle switch -4 knobs -White pickguard -Used in the "Silver Rocket" & "Dirty Boots" videos"

In a performance captured by The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra on YouTube, Kim Gordon is seen using the Electro-Harmonix Oceans 11 reverb pedal. I also witnessed her using this pedal during a recent live show.

Kim Gordon can be seen playing a Fender Jazzmaster Blacktop HS in this photo.

We always ask for Fender DeVilles, but often we end up with Fender Twins, which I just don’t get why people like them. They’re obviously good for certain kinds of guitar playing, but tend to have too much treble and not quite as full a range of sound as I’ve found I get from the DeVille. Not that I’m much of a gearhead, but that’s one thing I’ve found.

Kim Gordon can be seen with a Gibson Ripper Bass in this photo. On Sonic Youth's website it says:

"Used by Kim: 1993 NOTES:

Only seen in "Youth Against Fascism" video, no idea if it was borrowed or just one of the many spare instruments SY have accumulated. -Sunburst body -2 pickups? -Rosewood fretboard w/ C D E G markers -Black pick guard"

In this picture from Sonic Youth's website we can see that this amp is listed in Kim's gear.

Gordon can be seen in this photo with a fretless Gibson Ripper Bass.

In this photo, Kim Gordon can be seen playing a Gibson EB-O. On Sonic Youth's website it says:

"Used by Kim/Jim 2002-2009 NOTES:

'69 EB-0 purchased in Austin on the Murray Street North American to replace the blue P-Bass she'd been using previously, because she was unhappy with its sound. Jim used this bass on "Kool Thing" "Kissability" and "Drunken Butterfly" when Kim isn't playing. Jim didn't seem to use this (much?) in 2004. Kim says: "I've been using the EB-0 because it's just easier and smaller [than the Thunderbird]. It only sounds good with new strings, though [usually D'addario mediums]. I'd like to have another bass that has more resonance to it, but for now this one is really fun to play live." -Red body -1 pickup -Rosewood fretboard -Black pickguard -2 knobs"

Sonic Youth's website states, about Kim Gordon's Fender Musicmaster Bass:

"Used by Kim: 1994 NOTES:

Kim used this bass in the "Bull in the Heather" video. It's similar to this one but the pickguards are different. Never used live, to my knowledge. -White body -1 pickup -Rosewood fretboard -Black pick guard"

Here you can see Kim's Hot Tubes. Source.

"I have a couple loop pedals. It’s a very lo-fi loop, so it only holds one loop—you can’t save it, really. Or you can save it, but you can only have that one loop on it then. It sounds more like it has a cassette sound to it," mentions Kim Gordon, in this interview, in which this photo of her pedalboard, with her ZVex LO-FI Loop pedal can be seen.

On Sonic Youth's website it says, about the Fender Jaguar Kim Gordon is holding in this photo:

"Used by Kim: 2009 2009 -- CGDACD (What We Know), DADABD (Antenna), DDAF#AD (Calming the Snake, No Way, Walkin Blue, Poison Arrow, Anti-Orgasm) NOTES:

Perhaps not literally a 'Fender', this is Kim's new Jaguar which has bounced thru every tuning for the Eternal songs in the short time she's used it. She seems to have rested on DDAF#AD for the tour, but we'll see. Eric built this for her with a Japanese reissue body, P-90 pickups, an Allparts neck, and a Mastery bridge. Red body Black pickguard 2 black P-90 pickups 2 knobs Toggle switch Mastery bridge Gauges for DDAF#AD = .052 .052 .036 .020 .017 .013"

According to Sonic Youth's website, Kim Gordon used a Musima Eterna:

"Used by Thurston/Kim: 1989-2007 1989 -- GABDEG (Teenage Riot, Hey Joni - THURSTON) 1992 -- DEGDBB (Swimsuit Issue - KIM) 1995 -- DADABB (Junkie's Promise - THURSTON) 1996 -- DADABB (Junkie's Promise - THURSTON) 1999 -- DADABB (Nevermind, Small Flowers Crack Concrete - KIM) 2000 -- DADABB (Nevermind, Small Flowers Crack Concrete - KIM) 2001 -- DADABB (Nevermind, Small Flowers Crack Concrete, The Empty Page, Karen Revisited, Disconnection Notice - KIM) 2002 -- DADABB (Nevermind, The Empty Page, Karen Revisited, Disconnection Notice - KIM) 2003 -- DADABB (The Empty Page, Karenology, Disconnection Notice - KIM) 2004 -- DADABB (The Empty Page, Karenology, New Hampshire - KIM) 2005 -- DADABB (The Empty Page, Disconnection Notice, Karenology, New Hampshire - KIM) 2006 -- DADABB (Rats - KIM) 2007 -- DADABB (The Empty Page, Rats - KIM) NOTES:

This odd East German guitar was purchased in L.A. by Kim in the mid-80s. Thurston used it live on occasion from '89-'96, but Kim used it to record her guitar parts on "Dirty" (and was using it for her part on 'Swimsuit Issue' live before obtaining the Les Paul). After the July '99 gear theft, she returned to this guitar for the recording of "nyc ghosts & flowers" and has used it on each album since (except possibly 'The Eternal'). This was probably used on some of the Free Kitten records as well. Here's a little info on this brand of guitar: Musima Eterna Black body 3 single coils Rosewood fretboard Tons of switches 2 knobs, probably more Small rectangular sticker Listed as "DDR" on '95 set lists. Listed as "ETERNA" on 2000 set lists. Listed as "eterna" on 2002 set lists. Return to the Sonic Youth Gear Guide."

Here we can see Kim's Fender Bassman AB165 Amp. Source.

Chris Lawrence mentions that Kim used an MXR M-103 Blue box according to this post on Sonic Youth's official "Gearography".

Kim Gordan can be seen playing a Fender Lee Ranaldo Signature Jazzmaster at 2:44 into this video.

On the Sonic Youth website, it states, of Kim Gordon's Ovation Magnum:

Used by Kim: 1983-1987

NOTES:

This was Kim's primary bass during the early-mid 80s. Kim had 2 of these, and I'm not sure when she started using the second one (by '87 for sure). The 2nd one had a sliding pickup and an on-board graphic EQ. The top 3 pictures are of the first one, from 1985, the bottom picture is of the second one, from 1987. The first one is now hanging in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio! Somebody should go take a picture of it... Brown body

2 pick-ups

Rosewood fretboard

4 knobs

3-position switch

Various stickers (first one had a 'Gremlins' sticker, a 'Confusion is Sex' sticker, and some others)

Sonic Youth's website states, about Kim Gordon's Yamaha Pacifica:

"Used by Kim: 1997-1999 1997 -- DADGGB (Female Mechanic, Karen Koltrane) 1998 -- DADGGB (Female Mechanic, Karen Koltrane) 1999 -- DADGGB (Female Mechanic, Karen Koltrane) NOTES:

Yamaha Pacifica Strat style, Kim's second guitar during '97 and '99. Stolen in July 1999. Cherry red sunburst body 2 single coils, humbucker in neck Rosewood fretboard Pearl pickguard 1 slider 3 knobs Serial # -- LX23245 Listed as "YAMAHA" on '97/98/99 set lists."

Kim laying on a Fender Twin Reverb at a Body/head show.

In this photo, Kim Gordon can be seen playing a sunburst Precision Bass.

Sonic Youth's website states that Kim Gordon used a Gibson Les Paul Special, and includes this information about said guitar:

"Used by Thurston/Kim/Lee: 1999-2004 1999 -- CGGDDD (THURSTON) & FGCFAF# (Nevermind, Small Flowers Crack Concrete, Side2Side, StreamXSonik Subway, NYC Ghosts & Flowers, Lightnin' - THURSTON) 2000 -- FGCFAF# (Nevermind, Side2Side, NYC Ghosts & Flowers, Lightnin' - THURSTON) 2001 -- FGCFAF# (Nevermind, Side2Side, NYC Ghosts & Flowers, Lightnin' - THURSTON) 2002 -- FGCFAF# (Nevermind - THURSTON) 2004 -- EBEEAB (Eric's Trip - LEE) NOTES:

Purchased immediately after the gear theft in July 1999, this was originally played by Kim during the remainder of the July gigs, then used by Thurston during songwriting for "nyc ghosts & flowers". In July of 2000, he replaced it with a "real" Les Paul, but seems to have continued using the Maroon one instead. Apparently Lee began using this guitar in 2004. This was still in Lee's box of reserve guitars at the 07/28/09 show, with GGCGCD on the back of the headstock, so it was possibly used for 'Bull' as well. Maroon body 2 pickups Rosewood fretboard 1 toggle switch 4 knobs Black pickguard Rectangular sticker Gauges for FGCFAF# = .064 .062 .036 .028 .020 .017 Listed as "MAROON" on 2000 set lists."

This image from Sonic Youth's official site shows a SVT 4 amp head, which can also be seen it this performance at 1:58 at the Rock En Seine Festival in 2004.

In this image we can see Kim's Pro Co TurboRAT Pedal. Source.

Left side of Kim's pedalboard shows a Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man. Source.

Love my new octave fuzz scrambler

used for her vocal mic, going into a fender deluxe

In this photo, Kim Gordon can be seen using an Ovation Magnum II.