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

Dave Mustaine has been seen playing his signature Gibson Flying V EXP with Seymour Duncan Thrash Factor pickups, and he says he played his Kramer Vanguard on tour without noticing the switch. Premier Guitar's 2022 Rig Rundown showed him using a Neural DSP Quad Cortex into Seymour Duncan PowerStage 700 amps, with a Shure Axient wireless, a Radial JX44 and Cleartone Heavy Series strings.

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What gear Dave Mustaine uses: a sourced gear guide

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

Guitars

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Live rig

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Pickups and strings

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Records that changed his life

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About Dave Mustaine's gear.

What guitar does Dave Mustaine play?

Since joining Gibson in 2021 he has played his signature Gibson Flying V EXP, which Premier Guitar shows in silver metallic and antique natural, and a Kramer Dave Mustaine Vanguard. Earlier, his main guitars were Jackson King Vs, including his silver "Number One".

What amp does Dave Mustaine use live?

Premier Guitar's 2022 Rig Rundown and Guitar World report that he swapped his Axe-Fx for a Neural DSP Quad Cortex, running Marshall-style settings into a pair of Seymour Duncan PowerStage 700 amps and onstage Marshall 4x12s.

What pickups does Dave Mustaine use?

His signature guitars carry his Seymour Duncan Thrash Factor humbuckers. Guitar World notes that in the Jackson years he used a Seymour Duncan JB in the bridge and a Jazz in the neck.

What strings does Dave Mustaine use?

Premier Guitar reports custom Cleartone sets (.011 to .054) for D standard, the Cleartone Heavy Series (.010 to .052) for standard tuning, and Cleartone .73 mm picks.

What albums changed Dave Mustaine's life?

He has said AC/DC's Let There Be Rock changed his life, called Judas Priest's Sad Wings of Destiny one of the all-time great opuses, and picked The Beatles' White Album and Led Zeppelin IV among five albums he can't live without. His first album was Kiss' Hotter Than Hell.

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Dave Mustaine
About this guide · Last checked

Dave Mustaine founded Megadeth in 1983 after his early run in Metallica, and has been a Gibson brand ambassador since 2021. This guide covers his signature Gibson Flying V EXP and Kramer Vanguard, the Neural DSP and Seymour Duncan rig from Premier Guitar's Rig Rundown, the Jackson King V and Seymour Duncan pickups of the classic years, and the records he says changed his life.

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