Top 5SponsoredHas said they use
“This is why I love my guitar. For me, it’s perfect.”
Said in Guitar World: PRS drops new Private Stock John McLaughlin model, July 2023
Photo: Frank C. Müller, Baden-Baden · CC BY-SA 4.0
Independent research by truerecs. Not affiliated with, endorsed or verified by John McLaughlin. Every item links to its public source.
31 items · Last checked What guitar does John McLaughlin play?
John McLaughlin has said he plays a PRS Private Stock signature guitar with a Fishman TriplePlay Connect MIDI system and a Hermida Zendrive 2. His own equipment page lists a Godin Freeway SA, Gibson J-200, ES-345 and Johnny Smith, a Mesa/Boogie V-Twin and a Seymour Duncan Twin Tube.
Top 5
Where to start with John McLaughlin's gear.
01
02
Top 5Has said they use
Godin
Freeway SA“A great guitar played in many concerts and recordings. Excellent midi.”
Said in John McLaughlin official site: Equipment, January 2018
03
Top 5Has said they use
Hermida Audio
Zendrive 2“I always carry a ZenDrive 2 preamp in case of a breakdown.”
Said in Vintage Guitar: John McLaughlin, 50 Years in Fusion, January 2018
04
Top 5Has said they use
Mesa/Boogie
V-Twin tube preamp“one of my oldest favorites, the Mesa-Boogie V-Twin”
Said in John McLaughlin official site: Equipment, January 2018
05
Top 5Seen using
Seen in Premier Guitar: Rig Rundown, John McLaughlin, January 2011
What guitar gear John McLaughlin uses: a sourced gear guide
Independent research by truerecs: every item links to the public source it comes from.
Guitars
SponsoredHas said they use
“This is why I love my guitar. For me, it’s perfect.”
Said in Guitar World: PRS drops new Private Stock John McLaughlin model, July 2023
PRS
Custom double neck (2017 farewell tour)
Has said they use
“Paul built me this guitar for my US Farewell Tour in 2017.”
Said in John McLaughlin official site: Equipment, January 2018
No store page for this one.
PRS
New York Skyline guitar
Has said they use
“This instrument is a true work of art in every sense of the term”
Said in John McLaughlin official site: Equipment, January 2018
No store page for this one.
PRS
Electric guitar heard on Now Here This
Has said they use
“This guitar is a jewel.”
Said in John McLaughlin official site: Equipment, January 2018
No store page for this one.
Has said they use
Godin
Freeway SA“A great guitar played in many concerts and recordings. Excellent midi.”
Said in John McLaughlin official site: Equipment, January 2018
Godin
Fretless nylon-string guitar
Has said they use
Said in John McLaughlin official site: Equipment, January 2018
No store page for this one.
Gibson
1958 Les Paul Custom Reissue with Bigsby
Has said they use
“I’ve always loved this guitar.”
Said in John McLaughlin official site: Equipment, January 2018
No store page for this one.
Gibson
ES-345 with Bigsby and scalloped fingerboard
Has said they use
“This is one of my all time favorite guitars that I bought in 1978.”
Said in John McLaughlin official site: Equipment, January 2018
No store page for this one.
Gibson
Johnny Smith archtop
Has said they use
Gibson
Johnny Smith archtop“I was playing the Johnny Smith Gibson, which has a very sweet, clean sound that went very well with the electric mandolin.”
Said in Guitar Player: John McLaughlin on reuniting with Shakti and his signature PRS, October 2023
No store page for this one.
Fender
1968 Stratocaster Reissue (white)
Has said they use
Said in John McLaughlin official site: Equipment, January 2018
No store page for this one.
Mike Sabre
Custom travel guitar with MIDI pickup
Has said they use
Mike Sabre
Custom travel guitar with MIDI pickup“A great traveling guitar with a wonderful sound.”
Said in John McLaughlin official site: Equipment, January 2018
No store page for this one.
Acoustic guitars
Gibson
J-200 acoustic
Has said they use
Gibson
J-200 acoustic“Perhaps the greatest steel string acoustic guitar ever built”
Said in John McLaughlin official site: Equipment, January 2018
No store page for this one.
Abraham Wechter
Notre Dame nylon-string guitar
Has said they use
Abraham Wechter
Notre Dame nylon-string guitar“This guitar has a marvelous tone and is featured throughout the CD ‘Thieves & Poets’.”
Said in John McLaughlin official site: Equipment, January 2018
No store page for this one.
Abraham Wechter
1985 acoustic cutaway
Has said they use
Abraham Wechter
1985 acoustic cutawaySaid in John McLaughlin official site: Equipment, January 2018
No store page for this one.
Mirko Borghino
Shakti guitar (scalloped, sympathetic strings)
Has said they use
Mirko Borghino
Shakti guitar (scalloped, sympathetic strings)“What’s amazing is that his is perfect in every detail. A wonderful instrument.”
Said in John McLaughlin official site: Equipment, January 2018
No store page for this one.
Guitars over the years
Rex Bogue
Double Rainbow double neck
Has said they use
Rex Bogue
Double Rainbow double neckSaid in Quill & Pad: Talking watches and guitars with John McLaughlin, October 2022
No store page for this one.
Gibson
1963 L-4C with Charlie Christian pickup
Has said they use
“It had a great jazz tone, but I ran out of money and had to sell it to eat!”
Said in Guitar.com: Why John McLaughlin doesn't believe in collecting guitars, July 2025
No store page for this one.
Guitar synth
Fishman
TriplePlay Connect MIDI guitar system
Has said they use
“I use the Fishman Triple Play Connect system in conjunction with my laptop, and it works like a dream.”
Said in Guitar Player: John McLaughlin on reuniting with Shakti and his signature PRS, October 2023
No store page for this one.
Rig
Has said they use
Hermida Audio
Zendrive 2“I always carry a ZenDrive 2 preamp in case of a breakdown.”
Said in Vintage Guitar: John McLaughlin, 50 Years in Fusion, January 2018
DSM & Humboldt
Simplifier amp simulator
Has said they use
DSM & Humboldt
Simplifier amp simulatorSaid in Guitar Player: John McLaughlin on reuniting with Shakti and his signature PRS, October 2023
No store page for this one.
Seymour Duncan
Twin Tube Classic preamp
Has said they use
Seymour Duncan
Twin Tube Classic preamp“the Seymour Duncan Twin Tube which I also like very much”
Said in John McLaughlin official site: Equipment, January 2018
No store page for this one.
Has said they use
Mesa/Boogie
V-Twin tube preamp“one of my oldest favorites, the Mesa-Boogie V-Twin”
Said in John McLaughlin official site: Equipment, January 2018
PRS
MDT 1x12 combo
Has said they use
“At home, I have the PRS MDT 1×12 combo”
Said in Vintage Guitar: John McLaughlin, 50 Years in Fusion, January 2018
No store page for this one.
Seen using
Seen in Premier Guitar: Rig Rundown, John McLaughlin, January 2011
Seen using
Seen in Premier Guitar: Rig Rundown, John McLaughlin, January 2011
Seen using
Dunlop
Jazz III picksSeen in Premier Guitar: Rig Rundown, John McLaughlin, January 2011
Watches
Audemars Piguet
Royal Oak (black dial)
Has said they love
Audemars Piguet
Royal Oak (black dial)“It’s the skinny one, Colin!”
Said in Quill & Pad: Talking watches and guitars with John McLaughlin, October 2022
No store page for this one.
Jaeger-LeCoultre
1950s gold LeCoultre
Has said they love
Jaeger-LeCoultre
1950s gold LeCoultreSaid in Quill & Pad: Talking watches and guitars with John McLaughlin, October 2022
No store page for this one.
Cartier
Tank Basculante
Has said they love
Cartier
Tank Basculante“because it’s slim and light”
Said in Quill & Pad: Talking watches and guitars with John McLaughlin, October 2022
No store page for this one.
Hublot
Watch on a rubber strap (gift from Cindy Blackman)
Has said they love
“Now that one I like for playing: it’s quite heavy but it’s on a rubber strap, which is impervious to sweat.”
Said in Quill & Pad: Talking watches and guitars with John McLaughlin, October 2022
No store page for this one.
Parmigiani Fleurier
Watch on a white strap
Has said they love
Parmigiani Fleurier
Watch on a white strap“But I do have another beautiful Parmigiani on a white strap, which my wife gave me.”
Said in Quill & Pad: Talking watches and guitars with John McLaughlin, October 2022
No store page for this one.
Questions
About John McLaughlin's gear.
What guitar does John McLaughlin play?
He has said he plays his PRS Private Stock John McLaughlin signature model, which has a hormigo neck. His equipment page also lists a PRS double neck built for his 2017 farewell tour, a Godin Freeway SA, a Gibson ES-345 with a scalloped fingerboard and a Gibson Johnny Smith.
What guitar synth does John McLaughlin use?
He told Guitar Player in 2023 that he has been using the Fishman TriplePlay Connect system with his laptop to trigger orchestral sounds in Shakti.
What amp does John McLaughlin use?
He has said he keeps a PRS MDT 1x12 combo at home and switches between tube preamps: a Hermida Zendrive 2, a Seymour Duncan Twin Tube Classic and a Mesa/Boogie V-Twin, depending on his mood.
What acoustic guitar did John McLaughlin play in Shakti?
The original Shakti guitar was built by Abraham Wechter with a scalloped fingerboard and sympathetic strings. He now has a recreation built by Italian luthier Mirko Borghino, which he calls perfect in every detail.
What watch does John McLaughlin wear?
He told Quill & Pad he wears a slim black-dial Audemars Piguet Royal Oak daily and on stage, and has spoken warmly of a 1950s gold LeCoultre, a Cartier Tank Basculante and a Hublot on a rubber strap.
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JM
John McLaughlin
About this guide · Last checked
John McLaughlin is the jazz fusion guitarist behind the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Shakti and the Guitar Trio with Paco de Lucia and Al Di Meola. This guide covers the guitars, preamps and guitar synth rig he has described, plus the watches he has talked about.
truerecs put this guide together from public videos, interviews and posts. Each item says how we know and links to the source. John McLaughlin didn't write it or choose anything on it. How we source gear guides.
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