Vivian Campbell

Campbell brings out a ’78 Gibson Les Paul Custom with a silver sparkle finish that he bought in a Nashville pawn shop for $400. A luggage cart in Germany smashed the body but the neck was salvaged and attached to a Jimmy Page-style body by Bolin Guitars.

In an interview on Soundadvice from 1992, Vivian Campbell discusses using a Tom Anderson Guitarworks Classic during his early 90s performances with Def Leppard.

We see Vivian use this guitar when he plays live at the Spectrum in 1984 with Dio.

The Nightswan was a signature model for Vivian Campbell, the current guitarist in Def Leppard, who also played for Ronnie James Dio, Riverdogs, Whitesnake, and a few other bands here and there in the 80's.

Viv Campbell used the RG100ES head during the Dio years and on tour with Whitesnake.

I used Engl Ritchie Blackmore heads for all the solos on both records. When we tracked, I cut the first rhythm with the Engl as clean as I could. Then I went back and did a second rhythm with a different amp.

Vivian uses Dimarzio Super Distortion pickups.

Vivian uses two Les Paul Standards, according to this Guitar Geek rig diagram.

Jeff [Pilson] has an amp called a Naked [by Friedman Amps], which is a custom-made boutique amp that I believe is based on an early Marshall JTM45. I’m always using my Les Pauls, primarily my Dio-era Les Paul that I did the Holy Diver album with. That and my other Les Paul, which is the Custom Shop model that came out last year.

In this video, Vivian Campbell demos his new signature guitar from Epiphone.

This is his Signature Les Paul Custom, introduced early 2018, that he's been playing live with Def Leppard a fair bit since. Seen in this video as well as numerous Instagram posts with photos from their current tour.

“Casper” is Vivian’s Les Paul Studio. His tech bought it in Japan and then Vivian bought it from him. It has his signature set up meaning Tone Pros hardware, Dunlop frets, and a Super Distortion in the bridge.

This guitar is named Cait after his wife. It has P100s in it. Tone Pros hardware. Dunlop jumbo frets. And Pete Townsend scribbled under the bridge “Pete loves Viv” with a screwdriver.

On the Epiphone Website, it states Campbell's signature Les Paul Outfit comes fitted with a set of DiMarzio X2N Humbuckers.

Vivian uses a Rocktron Intellifex, according to Guitar Geek.

Vivian’s Goldtop with humbuckers (so not his ‘56.) if you look closely you can see “Classic” on the neck plate.

Vivian uses a couple of ‘58 Burst reissues from the ‘90s. Like most of his guitars, they have Super Distortions in the bridge. He confirmed in an interview with Gibson but it has been taken down since.

Spotted at 1:58 in Viv Campbell's "Hot Guitarist" video.

This was Vivian’s first Les Paul. It started life as a wine red Deluxe and housed a pair of X2Ns in the ’80s, the hottest pickup DiMarzio made. It now contains a matched set of Seymour Duncan ’59s.

Says Campbell, “I was using DiMarzio X2Ns back then because I was playing through a JCM800 Marshall and there just wasn’t enough distortion in that amp, so I front-loaded it with really hot pickups and Boss overdrive pedals. With modern amps you don’t need to do that – there’s so much more saturation available.”

It has been since remade as an Epiphone Signature Model.

According to Guitar Geek, Vivian uses Celestial Vintage 30s in his cabinets.

Vivian uses these picks, according to Guitar Geek's rig diagram.

Vivian uses a Rockman Acoustic Guitar Pedal according to Guitar Geek.

A post by official GMP Guitars page, showing a pic of Vivian with the guitar.

Spotted at 2:14 in Viv Campbell's "Hot Guitarist" video.

Vivian uses a Fishman Powerbridge on one of his Les Paul Standards, according to Guitar Geek.

Vivian uses Fralin P-90 pickups in his Les Paul Goldtop, according to Guitar Geek's rig diagram.

Vivian uses two Marshall JMP-1 preamps, according to Guitar Geek.

According to this Guitar Geek rig diagram, Vivian uses an Engl Midi Tube Preamp 580.

He uses a CAE Line Mixer, according to Guitar Geek's rig diagram.

Vivian uses four Engl 4x12 cabinets, according to this Guitar Geek rig diagram.