Robert Smith

One of the first signature models made by Shcecter for Robert, to the present (2024) he has stopped using it live. On an interview made in 2016, Smith talks about this guitar. He says, "I’ve always liked the Schecter Ultra. In fact, my tech was always getting frustrated because he wanted me to use one of my vintage guitars, but I always preferred to play the Schecter. The neck shape on the UltraCure is the standard Ultra style, which I love because it’s not too deep"

In this article on the making of "A Forest" from the Cure's album Seventeen Seconds, producer Mike Hedges recalls the gear used by Robert Smith in the studio. "[His] guitar went through a Roland JC120, close-miked with a Shure SM57 while a Neumann U47 was positioned about three feet away."

In this interview, Robert discusses his distinctive Jazzmaster. "The extra pickup on that Jazzmaster is from a Woolworth's Top 20 guitar—my very first electric," he says. "I took it [the Woolworth guitar] in to record our first album, along with a little WEM combo amp. [Manager/producer] Chris Parry, who was paying for the record, said, 'You can't use that!' We went out and bought a Fender Jazzmaster, and I immediately had the Top 20 pickup installed into it, which really upset Chris. I played the entire Three Imaginary Boys album through a Top 20 pickup. It's a brilliant guitar, though I actually bought it because of how it looked."

In a user-uploaded photo on Imgur, Robert Smith is seen using the Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress Flanger/Filter Matrix, showcasing its role in his guitar effects setup.

In this live video of the Cure's May 13 performance in Austin, TX, at the 45 second mark, in the lower-left corner we can see one of the two Cube 80 amps Smith has been using on the band's 2016 tour.

According to Guitar Geek's 1996 rig diagram, Smith used the Boss CH-1 super chorus pedal.

In this picture, we see Robert with his first electric guitar. He loved the guitar's "trashy" sound, and after he later upgraded to a Jazzmaster, he had the bridge pickup installed between the Fender's bridge and neck pickups.

Robert Smith can be seen playing a Fender Bass VI in this picture.

Also, Robert can be seen playing a Fender VI at :34s of this live performance of "Pictures of You".

Second Fender Bass VI, in white colour was also the guitar he used back in 1980's and 1990's, with him playing "Pictures Of You" on that bass. This bass looks like Squier Vintage Modified Bass VI, but it is a Fender, based on the headstock. This photo, and this photo are confirming his use of white Fender Bass VI.

This article from the April 2000 issue of Guitar Player magazine lists the AC-30 as being among Robert's amplifiers during the recording of their album Wild Mood Swings.

In this live performance , there is a clear shot of the Gretsch Silver Falcon that Robert is playing, used during the bloodflowers album cycle

Smith played a Black Fender Telecaster, with maple neck and white pick guard on the Head on the Door tour.

In this interview from the April 2000 issue of Guitar World magazine, Robert explains his pedalboard circa the recording of the album Bloodflowers.

According to the 1996 rig diagram from Guitar Geek, Smith used the Boss BF-2 flanger pedal.

Robert used this guitar during the Disintegration era, apparently according to this video:https://youtu.be/JgYHVZ4eYf8?t=216, Robert paid 10,000 dolars for it, but the veracity of the information is questionable. Then Robert used this guitar again in 2019 for concerts such as the Syndey Opera House with The Cure. https://youtu.be/RQFykrCo6yQ?t=32

From 3:18 to 3:26 the MXR Flanger Guitar Effects Pedal can be seen in the foreground on a mic stand. It's the setup Smith inherited from McGeoch when assuming his place in Siouxsie and the Banshees per this Guitar World article. Robert says in this article "It was a lot more interesting the second time I played with the Banshees and inherited John McGeoch's setup. (McGeoch has also played with Magazine, Visage and P.I.L.) He had an old MXR Flanger mounted on a mike stand."

Robert is pictured here, playing in front of the pair of Musician amplifiers he employed throughout the 1980s.

In this interview from the April 2000 issue of Guitar World magazine, the 505 is listed in the sidebar among Robert's effects.

Robert Smith's Schecter Ultracure VI, part of the first series of his signature models, is a key instrument in his collection. While it is not used in live performances as of 2024, a user-uploaded photo confirms its place among his gear.

According to 1996 rig diagram from Guitar Geek, Smith used the Boss DS-1 distortion pedal.

Robert with an Ovation Breadwinner, used in early 80s

Used on the 90s as roberts main guitar, debuted on the "wish" album record and promo era

Robert is playing an SG Custom on the Kissing Tour in 1987 at Nassau Coliseum in this photo from Getty Images.

This source comes from the French Guitarist Magazine, April 1992 -

Robert says "Mes effects sont tous des Boss: Stereo Chorus, Digital Delay, Flanger, Phaser, Super overdrive, plus une Jen Crybaby, une pédale wah wah."

Translated: "My effects are all Boss: Stereo chorus, Digital Delay, Flanger, Phaser, Super overdrive, plus a Jen Crybaby, a wah wah pedal."

Smith can be seen playing a Roland RS-09 in a photo on this site.

In this interview from the April 2000 issue of Guitar World magazine, the Flextone Plus is listed as being one of Robert's amps during the making of the Bloodflowers album.

Robert can be seen in this image in front of an older version of the Electro Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man and what is likely a Boss SD-1 Overdrive.

At 5:00 in this video you can see Robert playing through a Roland Jazz Chorus-160.

Smith, as well as bassist Simon Gallup, can be seen playing a black Fender Precision Basses throughout the music video for "Primary" by The Cure.

In a performance of "Hot Hot Hot" on the final episode of "The Tube," Robert Smith of The Cure can be seen playing a 1970s vintage Epiphone EA-250 with a uniquely positioned toggle switch, as captured in a video by Cyberman on YouTube.

This article from the June 1996 issue of Sound On Sound magazine lists the Coral Sitar as being among Robert's instruments during the recording of their album Wild Mood Swings.