Ronnie James Dio

In this video, Dio can be seen playing a modified 1961 Gibson EB-0 with his old band The Prophets.

As a little known fact to many of his fans, Dio actually started his career on Bass Guitar as Ronnie James Padavona in 1957 (taking on the name Dio in 1960). He played Bass only up until 1958 when he began to fill in Vocals duties aswell, he filled this role through many name and line-up changes in the band, until his Bass Guitar position was replaced by Craig Gruber in 1973 leaving Dio to preform Vocals only.

This Bass was later put up for auction in September 13, 2017, the Bass had an estimated value of $8,000-$10,000 and sold for a winning bid of $10,240.

The description for the item read:

A modified 1961 Gibson EB-0 bass guitar used by Ronnie James Dio in his time as bassist for the band Elf. The solid mahogany body has been fitted with two additional pickups, original tuners replaced. Serial number 20067 to back of headstock. Accompanied by the original hardshell case.

Strangly enough, Dio has been seen with a Cherry version and a Walnut version both with the exact same modifications. So it is possible that he had two, or that he sanded the finish down and restained it at some point after 1967.

"I use a Shure Beta 58. I love the response that it gets. I was not using a wireless mic for a long time, because I didn't like what they did — they always seemed to cut the high end."

In this photo, Dio can be seen with a Custom Charvel Guitar (possibly playing fingerstyle).

This guitar is equiped with three single-coil pickups (with a hot-rail in the bridge position), a Floyd Rose Tremolo and a Custom graphic of a Wizard. The guitar also seems to bare a certin resemblence to Ritchie Blackmore's Stratocasters, as it has a white finish with a whiter-yet pickguard, black pickups and knobs (as was Ritchie's style).

This Guitar was later put up for auction on September 13, 2017, the Guitar had an estimated value of $3000-$5000 and sold for $10,240.

The discription for the item read:

Featuring a Strat style body with custom paint depicting a wizard on white background, the guitar also has a bolt-on bird’s-eye maple neck with 2 1/2-inch Charvel decal logo to the headstock and an unserialized brass neckplate. A DiMarzio potentiometer for tone control bears the code 1348431. Accompanied by a vintage photo of Ronnie James Dio playing the guitar in his home.

On September 13, 2017, two of Dio's Amplifier Cabinets were put up for auction, both Marshall 1982B 4x12s, the Cabinets' values were estimated both at $500-$700 with winning bids of $512 and $640.

The discriptions for these items read:

A Marshall JCM800 model 1982B 320-watt straight 4X12 speaker cabinet, serial number 3702, stenciled with "R-2."

29 1/2 by 30 by 14 1/4 inches

And:

A Marshall JCM800 model 1982B 320-watt straight 4X12 speaker cabinet, serial number 3552; stenciled with "R-7" and affixed with various tape labels.

30 by 30 by 14 1/4 inches

On September 13, 2017, one of Dio's guitars was put up for auction, a 1959 Gibson Melody Maker in a Sunburst finish. The Guitar's value was estimated around $1,000-$2,000 and sold for $5,120.

The item discription read:

A 1959 Melody Maker ¾ scale electric guitar. The single cutaway mahogany body is finished in Tobacco Sunburst; serial number 9 9786 is stamped to the back of the headstock. This was the last guitar Ronnie James Dio played as he was using it to write a song for the unfinished Magica 2 album. Accompanied by a hardshell case.

On September 13, 2017, the Grand Piano Dio played with the band Elf was put up for auction, the instrument's value was estimeted at $300-$500 with a winning bid of $384.

The discription for the item read:

A badly damaged George Steck grand piano that was used on stage by Ronnie James Dio's band Elf in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

60 1/2 by 55 1/2 inches

This link shows that he did use a Shure Beta 58 Wired, this was auctioned off after he died.

In his old band Elf Dio used to play Bass through a Marshall Major head and stacks.

This head was later put up for auction in September 13, 2017, the Head was estimated at $10,000-$15,000 with a winning bid of only $3,200.

The description for this item read:

A 1972 Marshall Major 200-watt amplifier played by Ronnie James Dio, as the bassist for the band Elf, in the early 1970s. Affixed to the front with an England sticker and bearing various retailer's and service technician's stamps as well as several custom adhesive labels. Serial number A 3357D. The rare Marshall Major model was also notably used by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, whose band, Rainbow, Dio would join a few years later.

10 1/2 by 29 by 11 inches

On September 13, 2017, one of Dio's Acoustic Guitars (most likely from the 1950's) was put up for auction, it's estimated value was set at $800-$1,200 and it sold for $2,240.

The item discription read:

An antique acoustic guitar gifted to Ronnie James Dio by his father-in-law, Reg, in 1976. The guitar was later fitted with new tuning pegs by Dio. The bone veneered headstock bears an incised maker's mark that has been worn down and is no longer readable.

On September 13, 2017, one of Dio's Amplifiers was put up for auction, the Head's value was estimated at $1,000-$2,000 with a winning bid of $4,480.

The discription for the item read:

A 1983 JCM800 model 2203 100-watt amplifier, serial number SA11918R; the front is affixed with a strip of pink gaffer's tape inscribed with setting notes.

11 1/2 by 8 1/2 by 29 1/4 inches

On September 13, 2017, a Fender Quad Reverb Combo Amplifier, previously owned by Ronnie James Dio, was auctioned by Julienslive. The amplifier, a 1975 model with serial number B14285, was housed in a rolling road case marked with "WT." and "DAVID WILLIAMS." It was valued between $800 and $1,200, ultimately selling for $640.

In the video at 2 minutes and 33 seconds, the E-Mu Emulator II is present in Ronnie James Dio's home studio.