Nuno Bettencourt

The Washburn Nuno Bettencourt Nele Standard is the latest collaboration between Nuno Bettencourt and Washburn. This bold instrument is inspired by some great vintage instruments, but it’s far from traditional. It delivers more tonal options and a feel that is far faster and enticing than its forerunner. The Washburn Nele Standard features a natural-grain swamp ash body, equipped with a Seymour Duncan Vintage Stack in the neck position, a Bill Lawrence L-250 bridge pickup and an innovative 6-way “Freeway Ultra” switch. The new tone switch gives players access to the three common settings and then three additional hot-rod options. Each Nele is custom-built in the Washburn USA custom shop.

“I’m excited about the Nele and its multitude of tones. Not only the traditional approach to the single coils, but the six position switch opens up new creative possibilities. I’ve already used it in the new Extreme album. ” – Nuno

At 16:30 in the video you can clearly see the Tobacco Burst beauty.

In a MusicRadar interview, Nuno Bettencourt discussed using his Dean Markley Signature Series Nickel Steel Guitar Strings, which were available in both 10-52 and 9-46 gauges.

Nuno said he played GHS Boomers until he switched to Dean Markley. He has since switched back and currently plays with a gauge of 9-52.

Nuno Bettencourt uses Fender Heavy Gauge Picks, identifiable by the distinctive red, white, and blue color scheme. A user-uploaded photo features the Extreme logo, confirming it as his choice.

In a YouTube video from the provided playlist, Nuno Bettencourt is seen playing the EVH Striped Series Frankenstein guitar, showcasing its use in his setup.

In the video titled "Nuno Bettencourt's Pedalboard & Amps for Extreme" by Premier Guitar, at the 30-second mark, the MXR MX-101 Phase 90 (Vintage - Script Logo) can be clearly seen on Nuno Bettencourt's pedalboard, confirming its use by the artist.

Nuno Bettencourt uses the Nuno Guitars Thoroughbred Dark Horse, an instrument crafted from his relentless pursuit of tone, feel, and performance. This guitar, described on the official Nuno Guitars site, features a black-stained alder body with a ziricote cap, maple/ebony through-body racing stripes, and Nuno’s signature Extended Cutaway for unrestricted upper-fret access. It includes a custom-wound bridge humbucker and a Seymour Duncan ’59 neck pickup, offering a blend of punch, clarity, warmth, and classic character. The craftsmanship and design reflect Nuno Bettencourt's specific requirements, making it a modern classic.