Paul Gilbert — Rig Network

The primary Paul Gilbert signature model — a superstrat design with f-holes for acoustic resonance, DiMarzio pickups, and a 24-fret maple neck. The PGM's light body and fast neck suit Gilbert's extreme picking technique. The f-holes reduce body weight and add subtle acoustic character.

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Earlier PGM model — similar superstrat construction but different cosmetics. Multiple versions of the PGM have been produced across his career in partnership with Ibanez.

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Fender custom shop Strats used for vintage-voiced material — Gilbert's recent solo work incorporates more classic rock-derived material for which the Strat's single-coil character is more appropriate than the PGM humbuckers.

Paul Gilbert's primary amp through his Mr. Big and early solo career — the Laney GH100L is a 100W British valve amp producing bright, tight gain. Its forward treble character suits Gilbert's extreme picking attack by keeping fast runs articulate rather than blurring into saturation.

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Used during his GIT period and early Mr. Big — the Mesa Mark III's five-band graphic EQ allowed precise voicing for both clean technique demonstrations and full-gain performances.

Used alongside the Laney and Mesa for certain applications — the JCM800's slightly warmer gain character contrasts with the Laney's brightness for rhythm versus lead differentiation.

The DS-1 is Gilbert's backup and occasional primary overdrive — he has famously used it at full settings into clean amp channels. The DS-1's hard-clip distortion cuts through at high picking speeds without compression obscuring individual notes.

Wah used selectively on lead passages — Gilbert is not a constant-wah player but deploys it for dramatic emphasis on specific solo peaks.

Chorus for clean rhythm passages — adds shimmer to clean arpeggios without the density of a humbucker-specific effect.

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Delay for lead passages — set for single moderate repeat to add dimension without obscuring the fast picking technique.