truerecs
Explore truerecs
Log inFor artists
Independent research by truerecs. Not affiliated with, endorsed or verified by A Perfect Circle.Are you A Perfect Circle? Claim this page
A Perfect Circle, Photo: Carlos Montes (Wikimedia Commons)

Photo: Carlos Montes (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY 2.0

Independent research by truerecs. Not affiliated with, endorsed or verified by A Perfect Circle. Every item links to its public source.
29 items · Last checked

What guitar does A Perfect Circle play?

A Perfect Circle's Billy Howerdel has been seen playing a 1960 Gibson Les Paul Classic Reissue through a Friedman-modded 1978 Marshall Super Lead and an Axe-Fx II. James Iha has been seen with a 1984 Les Paul Custom and Axe-Fx II, and Matt McJunkins a Fender American Elite P.

Shop the gear
AllTop 5James IhaJames Iha and Billy HowerdelWhole bandMatt McJunkinsBilly Howerdel
Top 5

Where to start with A Perfect Circle's gear.

01
02
03
04
05

What guitars A Perfect Circle uses: a sourced gear guide

Independent research by truerecs: every item links to the public source it comes from.

James Iha

4 items

James Iha and Billy Howerdel

2 items

Whole band

1 item

Matt McJunkins

7 items

Billy Howerdel

15 items
Questions

About A Perfect Circle's gear.

What guitar does Billy Howerdel play?

His main guitar is a 1960 Gibson Les Paul Classic Reissue he rebuilt from two broken Nine Inch Nails guitars, fitted with Tom Anderson H3 and H1 humbuckers and tuned to C sharp. He has played a Les Paul Studio for slide.

What amp does Billy Howerdel use?

A 1978 Marshall Super Lead modded by Dave Friedman, Gibson GA-15RV Goldtone combos and a Fractal Audio Axe-Fx II, into a Marshall 4x12, controlled by an RJM Mastermind GT.

What guitar does James Iha play in A Perfect Circle?

A 1984 Gibson Les Paul Custom with Tom Anderson pickups, an '80s silverburst Les Paul and a Yamaha Revstar, with all amp sounds from a Fractal Audio Axe-Fx II.

What bass does Matt McJunkins play?

A 2017 Fender American Elite Precision Bass with Ernie Ball Power Slinkys, into a Mesa/Boogie 400+ and an Ampeg 8x10, with a Demeter Tube Bass Pre-Amp and Axe-Fx II.

AP
A Perfect Circle
About this guide · Last checked

A Perfect Circle are the band led by Billy Howerdel and Maynard James Keenan. This guide covers the guitars, basses, amps and digital rigs of Billy Howerdel, James Iha and Matt McJunkins, from Premier Guitar's Rig Rundown.

truerecs put this guide together from public videos, interviews and posts. Each item says how we know and links to the source. A Perfect Circle didn't write it or choose anything on it. How we source gear guides.

Report an error or ask for removal. We fix or remove within 72 hours. You don't need to sign up.

Are you A Perfect Circle?

Claim this page to make it yours: verify with your Instagram, TikTok or YouTube, keep what's right, drop what isn't, and add your own.

Claim this page
truerecs gear guides are independent research from public sources, not made or approved by the artist. Store buttons on this page may be affiliate links: truerecs may earn a commission when you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. A Perfect Circle isn't paid for them. Report an error or ask for removal. Full disclosure.