Data Insight

Guitar Gear by Era

Which amps and pedals defined each decade? Ranked by how many professional guitarists in our database used them — from 1950s tweed amps to 2000s boutique overdrives.

1950s

12 artists

Amps

  1. #1
    Fender Twin Reverb4 artists
    Chuck BerryWes MontgomeryChet AtkinsBarney Kessel
  2. #2
    Fender Bassman2 artists
    B.B. KingBuddy Holly
  3. #3
    Fender Tweed Champ2 artists
    Muddy WatersElmore James
  4. #4
    Gibson GA-40 Les Paul Amp2 artists
    Wes MontgomeryBo Diddley
  5. #5
    Polytone Minibrute2 artists
    Jim HallKenny Burrell

Pedals

  1. #1
    No effects1 artist
    B.B. King
  2. #2
    Fender Reverb Unit1 artist
    Chet Atkins

Guitars

  1. #1
    Gibson ES-1753 artists
  2. #2
    Fender Stratocaster2 artists
  3. #3
    Gibson J-45 (acoustic)2 artists
  4. #4
    Gibson ES-355 "Lucille"1 artist
  5. #5
    Gibson B.B. King Lucille Signature1 artist
Artists in this era:
B.B. KingChuck BerryMuddy WatersJohn Lee HookerWes MontgomeryChet AtkinsBo DiddleyBuddy HollyElmore JamesBarney KesselJim HallKenny Burrell

1960s

18 artists

Amps

  1. #1
    Fender Bassman4 artists
    Jimi HendrixPete TownshendBuddy GuyFreddie King
  2. #2
    Marshall JTM453 artists
    Eric ClaptonJeff BeckPeter Green
  3. #3
    Marshall Super Lead 100W3 artists
    Eric ClaptonMike BloomfieldPete Townshend
  4. #4
    Fender Super Reverb3 artists
    Mike BloomfieldBuddy GuySteve Cropper
  5. #5
    Marshall Super Lead 100W "Plexi"2 artists
    Jimi HendrixJimmy Page

Pedals

  1. #1
    Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face2 artists
    Jimi HendrixPete Townshend
  2. #2
    Vox Wah (V846)2 artists
    Jimi HendrixEric Clapton
  3. #3
    Univox Uni-Vibe2 artists
    Jimi HendrixPete Townshend
  4. #4
    Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster2 artists
    Eric ClaptonDuane Allman
  5. #5
    Dunlop Cry Baby2 artists
    Pete TownshendBuddy Guy

Guitars

  1. #1
    Fender Stratocaster4 artists
  2. #2
    Gibson ES-3352 artists
  3. #3
    Gibson SG2 artists
  4. #4
    1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard2 artists
  5. #5
    Fender Telecaster2 artists
Artists in this era:
Jimi HendrixEric ClaptonJimmy PageCarlos SantanaJeff BeckDuane AllmanMike BloomfieldAlbert KingKeith RichardsPeter GreenPete TownshendBuddy GuyFreddie KingJoe PassGrant GreenSteve CropperCurtis MayfieldDick Dale

1970s

34 artists

Amps

  1. #1
    Fender Twin Reverb7 artists
    David GilmourNile RodgersRoy BuchananJerry Garcia
  2. #2
    Marshall JCM8004 artists
    Gary MooreJoe PerryMichael SchenkerAce Frehley
  3. #3
    Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus4 artists
    Robert FrippJohn McLaughlinSteve HowePat Metheny
  4. #4
    Marshall Super Lead 100W "Plexi"4 artists
    Joe PerryMichael SchenkerAce FrehleyUli Jon Roth
  5. #5
    Fender Bassman3 artists
    David GilmourRoy BuchananRory Gallagher

Pedals

  1. #1
    MXR Phase 908 artists
    David GilmourEVHTony IommiGary Moore
  2. #2
    Dunlop Cry Baby6 artists
    Alex LifesonJoe PerryFrank ZappaJohn McLaughlin
  3. #3
    Boss DD-3 Delay5 artists
    Alex LifesonLindsey BuckinghamAl Di MeolaJohn Scofield
  4. #4
    Boss CE-2 Chorus4 artists
    David GilmourAlex LifesonLindsey BuckinghamSteve Howe
  5. #5
    Univox Uni-Vibe4 artists
    Robin TrowerPeter FramptonFrank ZappaUli Jon Roth

Guitars

  1. #1
    Gibson ES-3354 artists
  2. #2
    Fender Stratocaster4 artists
  3. #3
    Fender Telecaster3 artists
  4. #4
    Gibson Les Paul Standard3 artists
  5. #5
    Gibson Les Paul Custom3 artists
Artists in this era:
David GilmourEVHAngus YoungTony IommiMark KnopflerBrian MayRobben FordGary MooreNile RodgersRoy BuchananRobert FrippRitchie BlackmoreRory GallagherJerry GarciaRobin TrowerNeil YoungJoe WalshPeter FramptonAlex LifesonJoe PerryFrank ZappaLindsey BuckinghamMichael SchenkerAce FrehleyJohn McLaughlinSteve HowePat MethenyGeorge BensonPaco de LucíaAl Di MeolaAlbert LeeJohn ScofieldLarry CarltonUli Jon Roth

1980s

28 artists

Amps

  1. #1
    Fender Twin Reverb8 artists
    The EdgeJohnny MarrPrinceThurston Moore
  2. #2
    Marshall JCM8006 artists
    SlashNuno BettencourtDave MurrayJohn Sykes
  3. #3
    Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier3 artists
    James HetfieldKirk HammettDave Mustaine
  4. #4
    Marshall JCM800 22033 artists
    Zakk WyldeMarty FriedmanJason Becker
  5. #5
    Marshall Super Lead 100W "Plexi"3 artists
    John SykesThurston MooreSteve Clark

Pedals

  1. #1
    Boss DD-3 Delay5 artists
    PrinceNuno BettencourtThurston MooreSonny Landreth
  2. #2
    Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble4 artists
    SRVEric JohnsonJohnny MarrRobert Smith
  3. #3
    Dunlop Cry Baby Wah4 artists
    SlashJames HetfieldThe EdgeJoe Satriani
  4. #4
    MXR Phase 903 artists
    SlashRandy RhoadsJohn Sykes
  5. #5
    Boss DD-3 Digital Delay3 artists
    SlashMarty FriedmanJason Becker

Guitars

  1. #1
    Fender Stratocaster5 artists
  2. #2
    Fender Telecaster4 artists
  3. #3
    Gibson Les Paul Standard3 artists
  4. #4
    Gibson Les Paul Custom (Black Beauty)2 artists
  5. #5
    Gibson Flying V2 artists
Artists in this era:
SRVSlashJames HetfieldKirk HammettSteve VaiZakk WyldeThe EdgeJoe SatrianiEric JohnsonJohnny MarrMarty FriedmanJason BeckerScott HendersonDave MustaineRandy RhoadsYngwie MalmsteenPrinceNuno BettencourtDave MurrayJohn SykesThurston MooreRobert SmithSteve ClarkVince GillSonny LandrethAdrian BelewDanny GattonMike Stern

1990s

22 artists

Amps

  1. #1
    Marshall JCM8008 artists
    Adam JonesBilly CorganNoel GallagherJerry Cantrell
  2. #2
    Fender Twin Reverb7 artists
    FruscianteKurt CobainDerek TrucksJonny Greenwood
  3. #3
    Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier3 artists
    John PetrucciWarren HaynesJerry Cantrell
  4. #4
    Vox AC303 artists
    Kurt CobainNoel GallagherJosh Homme
  5. #5
    Hiwatt DR1032 artists
    Billy CorganKim Thayil

Pedals

  1. #1
    Boss DD-3 Delay7 artists
    Jerry CantrellMike McCreadyJ MascisPaul Gilbert
  2. #2
    Dunlop Cry Baby6 artists
    Jerry CantrellMike McCreadyJ MascisPaul Gilbert
  3. #3
    Dunlop Cry Baby Wah5 artists
    Tom MorelloAdam JonesFruscianteWarren Haynes
  4. #4
    MXR Phase 904 artists
    FruscianteJosh HommeJerry CantrellMike McCready
  5. #5
    Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi3 artists
    Billy CorganJosh HommeKim Thayil

Guitars

  1. #1
    Fender Stratocaster7 artists
  2. #2
    Gibson Les Paul Standard3 artists
  3. #3
    Gibson Les Paul Custom2 artists
  4. #4
    Gibson Flying V2 artists
  5. #5
    Gibson SG Standard2 artists
Artists in this era:
Tom MorelloJohn PetrucciAdam JonesBilly CorganFruscianteKurt CobainDimebagNoel GallagherJosh HommeDerek TrucksWarren HaynesJonny GreenwoodBucketheadJerry CantrellMike McCreadyKim ThayilJ MascisTrey AnastasioPaul GilbertDave NavarroAndy TimmonsEric Gales

2000s

8 artists

Amps

  1. #1
    Two-Rock Custom Reverb Signature2 artists
    John MayerJoe Bonamassa
  2. #2
    Carr Rambler2 artists
    Brad PaisleyGuthrie Govan
  3. #3
    Fender Deluxe Reverb2 artists
    Brad PaisleyMatt Schofield
  4. #4
    Dumble Overdrive Special1 artist
    John Mayer
  5. #5
    Fender Vibroverb1 artist
    John Mayer

Pedals

  1. #1
    Strymon Timeline3 artists
    John MayerGuthrie GovanJoe Bonamassa
  2. #2
    Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi3 artists
    Jack WhiteAlex TurnerDan Auerbach
  3. #3
    Hermida Audio Zendrive3 artists
    Brad PaisleyGuthrie GovanMatt Schofield
  4. #4
    Klon Centaur2 artists
    John MayerJoe Bonamassa
  5. #5
    Xotic SP Compressor2 artists
    Brad PaisleyGuthrie Govan

Guitars

  1. #1
    Fender Stratocaster2 artists
  2. #2
    Fender Stratocaster "Black One"1 artist
  3. #3
    PRS Silver Sky1 artist
  4. #4
    Fender Stratocaster John Mayer Signature1 artist
  5. #5
    Kay/Silvertone Sears Guitar1 artist
Artists in this era:
John MayerJack WhiteBrad PaisleyGuthrie GovanAlex TurnerJoe BonamassaMatt SchofieldDan Auerbach

2010s

4 artists

Amps

  1. #1
    Fractal Audio Axe-Fx III2 artists
    Tosin AbasiPlini
  2. #2
    Fender Super Reverb1 artist
    Gary Clark Jr.
  3. #3
    Marshall JTM451 artist
    Gary Clark Jr.
  4. #4
    Vox AC301 artist
    Gary Clark Jr.
  5. #5
    Diezel Herbert1 artist
    Tosin Abasi

Pedals

  1. #1
    Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi1 artist
    Gary Clark Jr.
  2. #2
    Dunlop Cry Baby Wah1 artist
    Gary Clark Jr.
  3. #3
    Boss OD-1 Overdrive1 artist
    Gary Clark Jr.
  4. #4
    Strymon BlueSky Reverb1 artist
    Gary Clark Jr.
  5. #5
    MXR Carbon Copy1 artist
    Gary Clark Jr.

Guitars

  1. #1
    Gibson ES-3351 artist
  2. #2
    Fender Stratocaster1 artist
  3. #3
    Gibson SG Standard1 artist
  4. #4
    Gibson Gary Clark Jr. Signature Blak and Blu1 artist
  5. #5
    Abasi Concepts Larada 81 artist
Artists in this era:
Gary Clark Jr.Tosin AbasiMisha MansoorPlini

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