Top 5Has said they use
Fender
Jazz Bass“I used a Fender Jazz for a while”
Said in Guitar World: Cliff Williams, AC/DC's songs are very guitar-driven, January 2021
Photo: Harry (Howard) Potts (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY 2.0
Independent research by truerecs. Not affiliated with, endorsed or verified by Cliff Williams. Every item links to its public source.
9 items · Last checked What bass does Cliff Williams play?
Cliff Williams has said he has played his 1979 Music Man StingRay, which he would call Workhorse #1, ever since George Young let him try one around 1978, after years on a '64 Fender P-bass. Music Man replicated it as the Icon Series StingRay, and Ampeg lists him with an SVT-4PRO and SVT-810E.
Top 5
Where to start with Cliff Williams's gear.
01
02
Music Man
1979 StingRay Bass
Top 5Has said they use
Music Man
1979 StingRay Bass“I got my '79 and, apart from the odd short-lived sidetrack here and there, have played it ever since.”
Said in Ernie Ball Music Man: Cliff Williams Icon Series StingRay Bass, October 2026
No store page for this one.
03
Music Man
Cliff Williams Icon Series StingRay Bass
Top 5SponsoredSeen using
Seen in Ernie Ball Music Man: Cliff Williams Icon Series StingRay Bass, October 2026
No store page for this one.
04
Fender
1964 Precision Bass
Top 5Has said they use
Fender
1964 Precision Bass“I was used to my old '64 vintage P-bass and was happy with that until I came upon the Stingray.”
Said in Ernie Ball Music Man: Cliff Williams Icon Series StingRay Bass, October 2026
No store page for this one.
05
Ampeg
SVT-4PRO bass head
Top 5SponsoredSeen using
Ampeg
SVT-4PRO bass headSeen in Ampeg artists: Cliff Williams, October 2026
No store page for this one.
What bass gear Cliff Williams uses: a sourced gear guide
Independent research by truerecs: every item links to the public source it comes from.
Basses
Music Man
1979 StingRay Bass
Has said they use
Music Man
1979 StingRay Bass“I got my '79 and, apart from the odd short-lived sidetrack here and there, have played it ever since.”
Said in Ernie Ball Music Man: Cliff Williams Icon Series StingRay Bass, October 2026
No store page for this one.
Music Man
Cliff Williams Icon Series StingRay Bass
SponsoredSeen using
Seen in Ernie Ball Music Man: Cliff Williams Icon Series StingRay Bass, October 2026
No store page for this one.
Fender
1964 Precision Bass
Has said they use
Fender
1964 Precision Bass“I was used to my old '64 vintage P-bass and was happy with that until I came upon the Stingray.”
Said in Ernie Ball Music Man: Cliff Williams Icon Series StingRay Bass, October 2026
No store page for this one.
Has said they use
Fender
Jazz Bass“I used a Fender Jazz for a while”
Said in Guitar World: Cliff Williams, AC/DC's songs are very guitar-driven, January 2021
Gibson
Thunderbird bass
Has said they use
Gibson
Thunderbird bass“I also played a Gibson Thunderbird for a bit, but not for very long.”
Said in Guitar World: Cliff Williams, AC/DC's songs are very guitar-driven, January 2021
No store page for this one.
Steinberger
Headless graphite bass
Has said they use
Steinberger
Headless graphite bass“Those were the first active pickups I ever used, and I really liked the sound, but I hated the bass.”
Said in Bass Player: Cliff Williams, AC/DC's venerable undercurrent, January 2020
No store page for this one.
Amps
Ampeg
SVT-4PRO bass head
SponsoredSeen using
Ampeg
SVT-4PRO bass headSeen in Ampeg artists: Cliff Williams, October 2026
No store page for this one.
Ampeg
SVT-810E 8x10 cabinet
SponsoredSeen using
Seen in Ampeg artists: Cliff Williams, October 2026
No store page for this one.
Recording
Avalon Design
DI box (Power Up sessions)
Has said they use
Avalon Design
DI box (Power Up sessions)“We had the Ampegs set up, and an Avalon DI, and one other DI into the desk as well”
Said in Guitar World: Cliff Williams, AC/DC's songs are very guitar-driven, January 2021
No store page for this one.
Questions
About Cliff Williams's gear.
What bass does Cliff Williams use?
A 1979 Music Man StingRay. On Music Man's Icon Series page he says George Young let him try a new StingRay at Alberts Studios in Sydney around 1978, and he has played his '79 ever since. He would call it Workhorse #1.
What amp does Cliff Williams use?
Ampeg. Ampeg's artist page lists him with an SVT-4PRO head and an SVT-810E 8x10 cabinet.
What bass did Cliff Williams play before the StingRay?
An old 1964 vintage Fender P-bass. He told Music Man he was happy with it until he tried the StingRay.
Is there a Cliff Williams signature bass?
Yes. Music Man's Icon Series Cliff Williams StingRay replicates his 1979 bass, with a poplar body in Back in Burst sunburst, a vintage-style Alnico pickup and the mute pads removed per his setup. Only 26 were made.
What strings does Cliff Williams use?
Flatwounds. He told Bass Player he has used flatwound strings everywhere, studio and live, for decades, for their punch and fatness, and that he very rarely plays with his fingers, preferring a pick.
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Named in this guide
CW
Cliff Williams
About this guide · Last checked
Cliff Williams is the bassist of AC/DC, in the band since 1977 and back on the Power Up tour. This guide covers his 1979 Music Man StingRay, the Icon Series replica Music Man built from it, the Fender, Gibson and Steinberger basses he tried along the way and the Ampeg amps and Avalon DI behind his tone.
truerecs put this guide together from public videos, interviews and posts. Each item says how we know and links to the source. Cliff Williams didn't write it or choose anything on it. How we source gear guides.
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