Top 5Has said they use
Apple
Logic Pro“When I want to get an arrangement together, Logic is brilliant for that, and very, very straightforward”
Said in Franz Ferdinand: Better at Night, July 2009
f
Independent research by truerecs. Not affiliated with, endorsed or verified by Franz Ferdinand. Every item links to its public source.
25 items · Last checked What guitar does Franz Ferdinand play?
Alex Kapranos uses an old Fender Telecaster Deluxe, late-1970s Greco Strat-style guitars, a Watkins Westminster amp and Watkins Copicat tape echoes. He has said he writes in Logic Pro and GarageBand with an Apogee Duet. Nick McCarthy was seen with a Gibson SG Classic and Carr amps.
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Top 5
Where to start with Franz Ferdinand's gear.
01
02
Top 5Has said they use
Apple
GarageBand“GarageBand reminded me of the old four-track tape recorders I always used to use to write songs”
Said in Franz Ferdinand: Better at Night, July 2009
03
Top 5Has said they use
Apple
MacBook Pro“I recorded that in GarageBand through the little condenser microphone on my MacBook Pro.”
Said in Franz Ferdinand: Better at Night, July 2009
04
Fender
Telecaster Deluxe (vintage)
Top 5Uses
“I use an old Tele Deluxe quite a lot.”
Said in Franz Ferdinand's Alex Kapranos reveals his vintage gear obsessions, January 2025
No store page for this one.
05
Fender
1973 Telecaster Deluxe
Top 5Seen using
Fender
1973 Telecaster DeluxeSeen in Franz Ferdinand: Spanners in the Works, August 2013
No store page for this one.
What guitars Franz Ferdinand uses: a sourced gear guide
Independent research by truerecs: every item links to the public source it comes from.
Alex Kapranos: guitars and amps
“I use an old Tele Deluxe quite a lot.”
Said in Franz Ferdinand's Alex Kapranos reveals his vintage gear obsessions, January 2025
No store page for this one.
Fender
1973 Telecaster Deluxe
Seen using
Fender
1973 Telecaster DeluxeSeen in Franz Ferdinand: Spanners in the Works, August 2013
No store page for this one.
Fender
1966 Telecaster
Seen using
Fender
1966 TelecasterSeen in Franz Ferdinand: Spanners in the Works, August 2013
“I love the late-’70s Grecos from Japan; I have a couple of their Strat-style guitars.”
Said in Franz Ferdinand's Alex Kapranos reveals his vintage gear obsessions, January 2025
No store page for this one.
Specimen Products
Emerald Deluxe Guitar (commissioned)Seen in Emerald Deluxe Guitar, July 2013
Watkins
Westminster amp“A lot of the guitar on this album was played though that.”
Said in Franz Ferdinand's Alex Kapranos reveals his vintage gear obsessions, January 2025
No store page for this one.
Fender
1950s Champ
Has said they use
Fender
1950s Champ“I’ve got a ’50s Fender Champ that I bought really cheaply while on tour in Portland”
Said in Franz Ferdinand's Alex Kapranos reveals his vintage gear obsessions, January 2025
No store page for this one.
Carr Amplifiers
Slant 6V
Seen using
Carr Amplifiers
Slant 6VSeen in Franz Ferdinand: Spanners in the Works, August 2013
No store page for this one.
Seen in Franz Ferdinand: Spanners in the Works, August 2013
No store page for this one.
Watkins
Copicat tape echo“I like to use the old Watkins tape echo Copycats.”
Said in Franz Ferdinand's Alex Kapranos reveals his vintage gear obsessions, January 2025
No store page for this one.
Rotosound
R11 Roto Reds strings (.011-.048)Seen in Franz Ferdinand: Spanners in the Works, August 2013
No store page for this one.
Alex Kapranos: writing and recording
Has said they use
Apple
Logic Pro“When I want to get an arrangement together, Logic is brilliant for that, and very, very straightforward”
Said in Franz Ferdinand: Better at Night, July 2009
Has said they use
Apple
GarageBand“GarageBand reminded me of the old four-track tape recorders I always used to use to write songs”
Said in Franz Ferdinand: Better at Night, July 2009
Apple
Sculpture (Logic software synth)
Has said they use
“I love the sounds I’ve been getting out of Sculpture.”
Said in Franz Ferdinand: Better at Night, July 2009
No store page for this one.
Apple
Compressor and Channel EQ (Logic plug-ins)
Has said they use
Said in Franz Ferdinand: Better at Night, July 2009
No store page for this one.
Apogee
Duet audio interface
Has said they use
Apogee
Duet audio interface“When I’m actually putting things down I’ll use the Apogee Duet”
Said in Franz Ferdinand: Better at Night, July 2009
No store page for this one.
Has said they use
Apple
MacBook Pro“I recorded that in GarageBand through the little condenser microphone on my MacBook Pro.”
Said in Franz Ferdinand: Better at Night, July 2009
Polivoks
Russian synthesizers
Seen using
Polivoks
Russian synthesizersSeen in Franz Ferdinand: Better at Night, July 2009
No store page for this one.
Alex Kapranos: records that shaped me
Fleetwood Mac
Oh Well
Has said they love
Fleetwood Mac
Oh Well“That’s such a great riff. I’ve always loved a good riff.”
Said in Franz Ferdinand's Alex Kapranos reveals his vintage gear obsessions, January 2025
No store page for this one.
Nick McCarthy: guitars and amps
Gibson
SG Classic
Seen using
Gibson
SG ClassicSeen in Franz Ferdinand: Spanners in the Works, August 2013
No store page for this one.
Hagstrom
1959 P46 Sweetone
Seen using
Hagstrom
1959 P46 SweetoneSeen in Franz Ferdinand: Spanners in the Works, August 2013
No store page for this one.
Carr Amplifiers
Slant 6V (Nick McCarthy rig)Seen in Franz Ferdinand: Spanners in the Works, August 2013
No store page for this one.
Carr Amplifiers
The Viceroy
Seen using
Carr Amplifiers
The ViceroySeen in Franz Ferdinand: Spanners in the Works, August 2013
No store page for this one.
Seen in Franz Ferdinand: Spanners in the Works, August 2013
No store page for this one.
Dino Bardot: amp
Laney
Lionheart L20T-112
Seen using
Questions
About Franz Ferdinand's gear.
What guitar does Alex Kapranos play?
In 2025 he said he uses an old Fender Telecaster Deluxe quite a lot, plus a couple of late-1970s Greco Strat-style guitars. In 2013 he was listed with a 1973 Telecaster Deluxe and a 1966 Telecaster, and he commissioned a Specimen Emerald Deluxe.
What amp does Alex Kapranos use?
On The Human Fear a lot of his guitar went through a blue Watkins Westminster, and he has a 1950s Fender Champ. In 2013 he was listed with a Carr Slant 6V and a 1960s Traynor head into a 4x12.
What DAW does Alex Kapranos use?
He has said he used GarageBand to jot down ideas and Logic Pro for arranging and remixes on a MacBook Pro, with an Apogee Duet when recording.
What strings does Alex Kapranos use?
Premier Guitar listed Rotosound R11 Roto Reds (.011-.048) for both Kapranos and Nick McCarthy in 2013.
What guitar does Nick McCarthy play?
In 2013 he was listed with a Gibson SG Classic and a 1959 Hagstrom P46 Sweetone, through a Carr Slant 6V and a Carr Viceroy.
What amp does Dino Bardot use?
Laney says Dino Bardot has played a Laney Lionheart L20T-112.
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FF
Franz Ferdinand
About this guide · Last checked
Franz Ferdinand are the Glasgow band led by singer and guitarist Alex Kapranos, with Bob Hardy, Dino Bardot and, earlier, Nick McCarthy. This guide covers Kapranos' Telecasters, Grecos and small British amps, his Logic and GarageBand writing setup, McCarthy's SG and Hagstrom, and Bardot's Laney.
truerecs put this guide together from public videos, interviews and posts. Each item says how we know and links to the source. Franz Ferdinand didn't write it or choose anything on it. How we source gear guides.
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