Ace Frehley, Kiss's original lead guitarist, built his sound on Gibson Les Paul guitars and a Gibson-branded 9-46 signature string set. His documented gear, sourced.
Endorsed · paid relationship documented
Artist rigs
What working guitarists actually play, cited from interviews, rig rundowns, and official press. Endorsed relationships and verified use are labeled on each artist's page.
Showing 36 guitarists tagged Hard rock.
Documented string gauges, brands, and tunings Angus Young uses with AC/DC on his Gibson SG. Ernie Ball Super Slinky (.009–.042). With citations.
Anna Cara, the Newcastle guitarist covering Nita Strauss's touring slot in Alice Cooper's band, plays Ibanez Xiphos guitars and a S.I.T. Strings .010-.052 gauge.
Endorsed · paid relationship documented
Documented string gauges and signature gear Billy Corgan uses with the Smashing Pumpkins: three Reverend signature guitars (factory-strung .010-.046), a self-reported .009-.042 gauge preference, and his current Carstens Grace, Empire, and Cathedral amps. With citations.
Endorsed · paid relationship documented
Documented string gauges, brands, and tunings Billy Gibbons uses with ZZ Top on his 1959 Les Paul 'Pearly Gates'. Dunlop Reverend Willy Extra Light (.007–.038). With citations.
Endorsed · paid relationship documented
Documented string gauges, brands, and tunings Brian May uses with Queen on his hand-built Red Special guitar. Optima Gold .009–.042 + sixpence pick. With citations.
Endorsed · paid relationship documented
Documented guitars and string gauges Dave Grohl plays with Foo Fighters: a custom-gauge D'Addario EXL115, the 1967 Gibson Trini Lopez, and his Gibson DG-335 signature model. Tech and interview sourced.
Endorsed · paid relationship documented
Documented string gauges, brands, and gear Eddie Van Halen used with Van Halen across 50 years. Fender 150XL early career, EVH Premium signature strings later. Frankenstrat plus Wolfgang signature instruments, Marshall Plexi into Peavey 5150 into EVH 5150III. With citations. Past-tense framing for the deceased.
Endorsed · paid relationship documented
Ian Gillan has fronted Deep Purple across three stints since 1969: Machine Head, a 1983 run with Black Sabbath, and 2026's SPLAT! The Jesus Christ Superstar story, sourced.
Documented string gauges, brands, and tunings J Mascis uses with Dinosaur Jr. Featured in Ernie Ball's String Theory series. With citations.
Endorsed · paid relationship documented
Documented string gauges, brands, and tunings James Hetfield has used across Metallica's career. With citations.
Endorsed · paid relationship documented
Jerry Cantrell's documented gear: Ernie Ball Slinky RPS strings, the 1984 G&L Rampage 'Blue Dress', the Gibson 'Wino' Les Paul Custom, and his 2024 Fryette/Bogner rack rig. With citations.
Endorsed · paid relationship documented
Documented string gauges, brands, and tunings Jim Root uses with Slipknot, and formerly used with Stone Sour. Dunlop signature strings (.011 to .056 for Drop B, .012 to .064 for Drop A), Fender Jim Root signature Telecaster / Stratocaster / Jazzmaster with EMG humbuckers, Orange Rockerverb 100 amps. With citations.
Endorsed · paid relationship documented
Documented string gauges, brands, and tunings Jimi Hendrix used with The Jimi Hendrix Experience and Band of Gypsys on his Fender Stratocasters. Fender Rock 'n' Roll .010-.038 + Eb standard tuning. With citations.
Documented string gauges, brands, and tunings Jimmy Page used with Led Zeppelin on his Les Pauls and Telecasters. Ernie Ball Super Slinky (.009–.042). With citations.
Documented string gauges, brands, and tunings Joe Bonamassa uses on his Les Pauls and vintage Strats. Ernie Ball Burly Slinky (.011–.052). With citations.
Endorsed · paid relationship documented
Documented string gauges and tunings Joe Satriani uses on his Ibanez JS signature electrics. D'Addario nickel-wound .009-.042 / .010-.046 across his solo catalog, Chickenfoot, and G3 tours. With citations.
Endorsed · paid relationship documented
Documented string gauges, brands, and tunings John Petrucci uses with Dream Theater and Liquid Tension Experiment. With citations.
Endorsed · paid relationship documented
Documented strings, guitars, amps, and effects Kirk Hammett uses with Metallica. The Ernie Ball RPS-10/RPS-11 hybrid set (.010 to .048), the ESP KH signature line, the Mesa Boogie Rackmount Dual Rectifier years, the Randall KH signature era, the current Fractal Axe-FX III live rig, and Greeny. Every claim cited.
Endorsed · paid relationship documented
The unusually heavy Gibson string gauge Malcolm Young played on 'The Beast,' his 1963 Gretsch Jet Firebird, plus the Marshall amp and stripped-down signal chain behind AC/DC's rhythm tone. Ground Guitar, Guitar Player, and Guitar World sourced.
Documented string gauges and guitars Mark Tremonti uses with Alter Bridge and Creed. A custom D'Addario hybrid gauge (.010-.049) on his PRS Mark Tremonti Signature, confirmed by his own MusicRadar interview and Premier Guitar's 2023 Alter Bridge Rig Rundown.
Documented string gauges and signature gear Matt Bellamy uses with Muse: Ernie Ball Power Slinky (.011–.048) per Ernie Ball's own artist blog, his Manson MB-1 signature guitar with a built-in MIDI touchpad and Korg Kaoss Pad, and the Diezel VH4 to Kemper/Axe-FX rig behind Muse's sound. With citations.
Endorsed · paid relationship documented
Documented career and gear history for Michael Angelo Batio: Holland, Nitro, M.A.C.E. Music, three decades with Dean Guitars, the 2021 move to Sawtooth, and his current role in Manowar. Includes the Double Guitar, Quad Guitar, and the MAB String Dampener he invented. With citations.
Endorsed · paid relationship documented
Documented string gauge, guitars, and amps Myles Kennedy uses with Alter Bridge. D'Addario Light Top/Heavy Bottom (.010–.052) on his PRS Signature, per Premier Guitar's 2023 Rig Rundown.
Documented strings and gear for guitarist Nita Strauss: D'Addario NYXL .010 to .046, her Ibanez JIVA10 signature, and the rig she runs with Alice Cooper and solo. Sourced.
Endorsed · paid relationship documented
Documented string gauges, brands, and tunings Pete Townshend uses with The Who. Light-to-medium gauge strings + Schecter signature Telecaster + various Gibson and Fender catalog instruments. With citations.
Endorsed · paid relationship documented
Documented string gauges and tunings Randy Rhoads used with Quiet Riot and Ozzy Osbourne's solo band on his Jackson Concorde and Karl Sandoval polka-dot Flying V instruments. With citations.
Documented string gauges and gear Ritchie Blackmore plays on his scalloped Fender Stratocaster across Deep Purple, Rainbow, and Blackmore's Night. Picato RB77 Artist Signature (.010–.048) and Fender USA Bullets (.009–.042). With citations.
Endorsed · paid relationship documented
Documented string gauges, brands, and tunings Saul 'Slash' Hudson uses with Guns N' Roses, Velvet Revolver, and his solo band. With citations.
Endorsed · paid relationship documented
Steve Vai
Solo
Documented strings, gauges, and gear for Steve Vai: Ernie Ball Super Slinky .009 to .042, his Ibanez JEM and PIA signatures, DiMarzio pickups, and the rig he tours. Sourced and corrected.
Endorsed · paid relationship documented
Documented string gauges and tunings Synyster Gates uses with Avenged Sevenfold on his Schecter Synyster Gates Custom signature instruments. Ernie Ball Slinky variants + Drop D and lower tunings. With citations.
Endorsed · paid relationship documented
Documented string gauges and tunings Tom Morello uses with Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, and Prophets of Rage on 'Arm the Homeless,' 'Soul Power,' and the Fender Tom Morello Stratocaster signature. With citations.
Endorsed · paid relationship documented
Documented string gauges and tunings Tony Iommi uses with Black Sabbath on his Gibson SG. La Bella custom-light .008-.032 set + tunings as low as C# standard and B standard. With citations.
Endorsed · paid relationship documented
Wolfgang Van Halen's documented gear: the EVH SA-126 signature semi-hollow built around his father's 1959 Gibson ES-335, an EVH 5150III amp rig, and the D'Addario string gauge he switched to before the 2022 Taylor Hawkins tribute shows. With citations.
Endorsed · paid relationship documented
Documented string gauges and tunings Yngwie Malmsteen uses on his Fender Yngwie Malmsteen Signature Stratocaster. Fender Yngwie Malmsteen signature .008-.046 set + Eb standard tuning. With citations.
Endorsed · paid relationship documented
Documented string gauges, brands, and gear Zakk Wylde uses with Black Label Society, Ozzy Osbourne, and the Pantera reunion tour. Dunlop Zakk Wylde String Lab signature strings, Gibson Custom Shop and Wylde Audio Les Pauls, EMG 81/85 pickups. With citations.
Endorsed · paid relationship documented
