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David Ellefson, Photo: Carter Sterling (Wikimedia Commons)

Photo: Carter Sterling (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA 4.0

Independent research by truerecs. Not affiliated with, endorsed or verified by David Ellefson. Every item links to its public source.
22 items · Last checked

What bass does David Ellefson play?

David Ellefson has been seen using Jackson signature basses, including Kelly Bird and Concert 5-string models, through Hartke LH1000 heads with HyDrive and XL cabinets and an Ampeg SVT-CL. His rack has included Providence and ISP preamps, Shure UHF-R wireless, SIT signature strings and Dunlop Tortex picks.

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Where to start with David Ellefson's gear.

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What bass gear David Ellefson uses: a sourced gear guide

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

Basses

4 items

Amps

4 items

Effects and rack

9 items

Strings and picks

2 items

Early days

2 items

Records that shaped me

1 item
Questions

About David Ellefson's gear.

What bass does David Ellefson play?

In Premier Guitar's 2016 gear list he was seen using Jackson USA Custom Shop signature Concert and Rust in Peace 20th Anniversary 5-strings, plus Jackson David Ellefson Signature Kelly Bird 4- and 5-string basses.

What amp does David Ellefson use?

He has been seen using Hartke LH1000 heads with Hartke 210XL and HyDrive HX810 cabinets, plus an Ampeg SVT-CL with an SVT-810 cab.

What strings does David Ellefson use?

His 2016 gear list shows SIT David Ellefson Signature Series sets (.045 to .128 for 5-string, .045 to .105 for 4-string) and Dunlop Tortex .88 mm picks.

What album made David Ellefson want to play?

He named Judas Priest's Unleashed in the East, saying the album made him want to go be a rock star.

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David Ellefson
About this guide · Last checked

David Ellefson is the bassist who co-founded Megadeth. This guide covers the basses, amps, rack gear, strings and picks shown in his Dystopia-era gear list, plus the album that pushed him into music.

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

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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. David Ellefson isn't paid for them. Report an error or ask for removal. Full disclosure.