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Independent research by truerecs. Not affiliated with, endorsed or verified by Chuck Berry. Every item links to its public source.
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What guitar does Chuck Berry play?

Chuck Berry was seen with a Gibson ES-350T on his first hit Maybellene, then with ES-335, ES-345 and ES-355 models, including a 1978 Wine Red ES-355 with a Varitone switch and Maestro Vibrola. On stage he was seen playing through a pair of Fender Dual Showman Reverb amps.

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What guitars Chuck Berry uses: a sourced gear guide

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

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About Chuck Berry's gear.

What guitar did Chuck Berry play?

He was seen with a Gibson ES-350T on Maybellene in 1955, and later with ES-335, ES-345 and ES-355 models. Gibson's Custom Shop recreated his 1978 Wine Red ES-355, with a Varitone switch and Maestro Vibrola.

What guitar did Chuck Berry use on Maybellene?

Bonedo reports he used a Gibson ES-350T on his first hit Maybellene in 1955, and that the guitar is now in the Smithsonian in Washington.

What amp did Chuck Berry use?

Premier Guitar reports that his contract asked for two Fender Showman Reverb amps, and that he played his Gibson ES-355 through two Dual Showman Reverb amps at factory settings, turned all the way up.

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Chuck Berry
About this guide · Last checked

Chuck Berry (1926 to 2017) wrote Maybellene, Roll Over Beethoven and Johnny B. Goode and set the template for rock and roll guitar. This legacy guide covers the Gibson ES guitars and Fender amps he played, from guitar press reports and Gibson's own recreations of his instruments.

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

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