Zakk Wylde
Zakk Wylde joined Ozzy Osbourne's band as a teenager and developed one of the most powerful heavy metal tones in the genre — a wall of Marshall stacks with EMG pickups delivering crushing pinch harmonics and thunderous solos. He leads his own band, Black Label Society, and is one of the most recognisable guitarists in metal.
Les Paul with EMG-81/85 pickups into a wall of Marshall JCM800/JMP stacks — maximum gain, thick sustain, pinch harmonics at will. The EMG active pickups provide the high-output, scooped character that sits in the Marshall high-gain channel perfectly.
Guitars
Gibson Les Paul Bullseye
Black and white bullseye finish. EMG-81/85 active pickups. His signature throughout Ozzy and BLS career.
Full specs & buy →Wylde Audio Odin
Flying V variant from his own Wylde Audio brand.
Wylde Audio Barbarian
Les Paul style with Explorer-influenced lower horn.
Amplifiers
Marshall JCM800 2203
Primary amp — all gain, all the time. High treble, moderately scooped mid.
Wylde Audio PA100
Signature head from his own brand.
Effects Pedals
MXR ZW-44 Berzerker Overdrive
Signature overdrive — pushes the Marshall harder for extra-saturated lead tones.
MXR ZW-90 Oink Wah
Signature wah with his voiced response.
Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor
Essential for extremely high-gain rig noise management.
Key Albums & Tone
"Mama, I'm Coming Home" and "No More Tears" — the peak of his Ozzy work.
First Ozzy album with Zakk — raw and aggressive.
Black Label Society debut — doom-tinged heavy riffs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What guitar does Zakk Wylde use?
Gibson Les Paul Bullseye and Wylde Audio Odin. Black and white bullseye finish. EMG-81/85 active pickups. His signature throughout Ozzy and BLS career.
What amp does Zakk Wylde use?
Marshall JCM800 2203 and Wylde Audio PA100. Primary amp — all gain, all the time. High treble, moderately scooped mid.
What pedals does Zakk Wylde use?
Zakk Wylde uses MXR ZW-44 Berzerker Overdrive, MXR ZW-90 Oink Wah, Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor.
What is Zakk Wylde's signature sound?
Les Paul with EMG-81/85 pickups into a wall of Marshall JCM800/JMP stacks — maximum gain, thick sustain, pinch harmonics at will. The EMG active pickups provide the high-output, scooped character that sits in the Marshall high-gain channel perfectly.