Steven Wilson
founder of Porcupine Tree
Group
Group
Steven Wilson's Guitars
Steven shows his guitar specifically used for songs tuned to drop-D.
It was played by Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree during his Europe tour in 2008. You can see him using this guitar at the Half Light music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRjZ_3ZLL_I
Steven Wilson uses a PRS Mike Mushok Baritone when performing The Incident live. Most likely tuned to drop A.
This article, states that Wilson uses a Singlecut PRS guitar, his main guitar.
Steven Wilson owns a Fender Custom Shop 1963 Relic Telecaster, as mentioned on his official Instagram account. He expressed his admiration for the guitar, stating he wrote and recorded "To the Bone" primarily using Telecasters, and plans to feature this guitar on tour.
Steven Wilson played an unidentified HSS Stratocaster during the 1996 to 2002 period, including the recording of Stupid Dream, Lightbulb Sun, and In Absentia albums. It appears he got this guitar soon after the Signify album was released and it can be seen on live footage up until the 2001 NEARfest show.
At 19:49 of this "Rig Rundown" with Premier Guitar, Steven shows us his Ovation which is in "Nashville" tuning.
in this video he plays a Fender artist Joe strummer Telecaster
In this article, about Steven Wilson's gear, it says, "On the acoustic side of things he uses a Babicz tuned to standard and an Ovation in "Nashville" tuning."
"Last night I played the new Steven Wilson signature model Babicz acoustic guitar on stage at The Egg in Albany. I’ve been playing these distinctive guitars on stage for the last 10 years, but this is the first time I have actually collaborated with Jeff Babicz on my own signature model, and it’s a beautiful thing" Steven Wilson about his new signature model by Babicz Source: http://stevenwilsonhq.com/sw/sw-plays-new-signature-model-babicz-acoustic-guitar/
Steven performing a song from his new album using a new Martin acoustic
In the YouTube video "Steven Wilson--Evil Major Thirds" by Tyler Roland, Steven Wilson is seen using a PRS SE Custom 22, noted for its two humbuckers and 22 frets.
In this photo from 1995, Steven Wilson can be seen playing his black Fenix ST-20 Stratocaster copy. Note the distinctive pole piece-less pickups, which were actually stacked humbuckers on the later Fenix models. Steven can also be seen playing the guitar in this live video from 1994: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnkJKPNlBGk
Later on, Steven replaced the bridge pickup with some type of Strat-sized humbucker, as seen close up in this live TV performance from 1996: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6GTDpeYIdw
This guitar was used from the start of Porcupine Tree until around 1997, when he acquired an HSS Stratocaster copy in red.
Steven Wilson has used at least three PRS Singlecut Tremolo models throughout his career.
His first Singlecut was a black model, used on the Arriving Somewhere... live album and video. It was tuned to E Standard while his Custom 22 was used for Drop D tuning on that recording. It can be seen clearly in this performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5nAA_QXBPY It can also be seen as a backup in the 2023 rig tour by Thomann here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHhM4TUtJzg (at 17:48)
He then switched to a gold top model, which he continues to use today. This was first seen tuned to E Standard on the Anesthetize live album and video. He continued to use it through his solo career and with Porcupine Tree on the Closure/Continuation album and tour. It can be seen in the following rig rundown videos, from his 2013 and 2019 solo tours and the 2023 Porcupine Tree tour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iv753X9q_x0 (at 18:36) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqXkKLtNysw (at 6:18) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHhM4TUtJzg (at 16:17)
Finally, Steven uses a red model for Drop C tuning (specifically on Anesthetize) and later for Drop B tuning (Harridan's middle section). This can be seen in the live video for Anesthetize from the recording of the same name here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgwgtERCVI4 As well as in the 2023 rundown of Porcupine Tree's equipment from Thomann here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHhM4TUtJzg (at 16:37) And finally in the live performance of Harridan here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pavnAi7lNk (at 3:16)
This is a community-built gear list for Steven Wilson.
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Discography
Octopus (Steven Wilson Mix)
1972
Free Hand (Steven Wilson Remix)
1975
The Missing Piece (Steven Wilson 2024 Remix)
1977
Cover Version
2005
Insurgentes (2016 Remaster)
2008
Grace for Drowning
2011
Get All You Deserve (Live)
2012
The Raven That Refused to Sing (and Other Stories)
2013
Drive Home
2013
Hand Cannot Erase
2015
4 1/2
2016
Transience
2016