Top 5SponsoredHas said they use
“I’m still using my Yamaha Tele-style signature model. It's very comfortable.”
Said in Guitar World: Mike Stern and Jeff Lorber interview, October 2019
Photo: ArtBrom · CC BY-SA 2.0
Independent research by truerecs. Not affiliated with, endorsed or verified by Mike Stern. Every item links to its public source.
15 items · Last checked What guitar does Mike Stern play?
Mike Stern has said he plays his Yamaha Tele-style signature Pacifica through two amps in stereo, usually Fender '65 Twin Reverb reissues or Roland Blues Cubes, with a Yamaha SPX90 for air. His board has been seen with Boss SD-1, DD-3, MO-2 and BD-2 pedals and D'Addario strings.
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Top 5
Where to start with Mike Stern's gear.
01
02
Top 5Has said they use
Fender
'65 Twin Reverb“I usually use Blackface Twins on the road because they're easy to rent and they sound good.”
Said in Premier Guitar: Mike Stern, Spirit Is Everything, December 2017
03
Top 5Has said they use
Roland
Blues Cube Artist 212“I use these Roland Blues Cube things.”
Said in Premier Guitar: Mike Stern, Spirit Is Everything, December 2017
No store page for this one.
04
Top 5Has said they use
Yamaha
SPX90 multi-effects“It fattens up the sound and gives it more air.”
Said in Premier Guitar: Mike Stern, Spirit Is Everything, December 2017
No store page for this one.
05
Top 5Has said they use
Said in Guitar World: Eric Johnson and Mike Stern discuss Eclectic, October 2014
What guitar gear Mike Stern uses: a sourced gear guide
Independent research by truerecs: every item links to the public source it comes from.
Guitars
SponsoredHas said they use
“I’m still using my Yamaha Tele-style signature model. It's very comfortable.”
Said in Guitar World: Mike Stern and Jeff Lorber interview, October 2019
Amps
Has said they use
Fender
'65 Twin Reverb“I usually use Blackface Twins on the road because they're easy to rent and they sound good.”
Said in Premier Guitar: Mike Stern, Spirit Is Everything, December 2017
Has said they use
Roland
Blues Cube Artist 212“I use these Roland Blues Cube things.”
Said in Premier Guitar: Mike Stern, Spirit Is Everything, December 2017
No store page for this one.
Effects
Has said they use
Yamaha
SPX90 multi-effects“It fattens up the sound and gives it more air.”
Said in Premier Guitar: Mike Stern, Spirit Is Everything, December 2017
No store page for this one.
Pedalboard
BOSS
SD-1 Super OverDrive (Keeley modified)
Has said they use
“My pedals include a BOSS DD3 and a Super Overdrive that Robert Keely modified to help warm it up.”
Said in Guitar World: Eric Johnson and Mike Stern discuss Eclectic, October 2014
Has said they use
Said in Guitar World: Eric Johnson and Mike Stern discuss Eclectic, October 2014
Has said they use
“I hadn't used it for the whole record, so I said, 'Let me use this with distortion.'”
Said in Premier Guitar: Drive and Obsessiveness, Mike Stern's Keys to Survival, October 2024
Seen using
Seen using
Seen in Premier Guitar: Mike Stern, Spirit Is Everything, December 2017
Seen using
Seen in Premier Guitar: Drive and Obsessiveness, Mike Stern's Keys to Survival, October 2024
Seen using
Vemuram
Jan Ray overdriveSeen in Premier Guitar: Drive and Obsessiveness, Mike Stern's Keys to Survival, October 2024
Seen using
Seen in Premier Guitar: Drive and Obsessiveness, Mike Stern's Keys to Survival, October 2024
No store page for this one.
Seen in Premier Guitar: Drive and Obsessiveness, Mike Stern's Keys to Survival, October 2024
No store page for this one.
Strings and picks
D'Addario
Electric strings (.011 to .038)
Seen using
D'Addario
Electric strings (.011 to .038)Seen in Premier Guitar: Drive and Obsessiveness, Mike Stern's Keys to Survival, October 2024
No store page for this one.
D'Addario
Heavy picks
Seen using
D'Addario
Heavy picksSeen in Premier Guitar: Drive and Obsessiveness, Mike Stern's Keys to Survival, October 2024
No store page for this one.
Questions
About Mike Stern's gear.
What guitar does Mike Stern play?
His Yamaha Tele-style signature model, the Pacifica PAC1611MS. He told Guitar World in 2019 he was still using it and found it very comfortable.
What amp does Mike Stern use?
He has said he runs two amps in stereo, usually Blackface Fender Twins on the road, often '65 Twin Reverb reissues, and Roland Blues Cube Artist 212 amps, which he also played on record.
What pedals does Mike Stern use?
He has said his pedals include a Boss DD-3 and a Super Overdrive modified by Robert Keeley. Premier Guitar's 2024 gear list added a Boss SD-1W, MO-2, TU-3, a Vemuram Jan Ray and a Yamaha SPX90.
Why does Mike Stern use a Yamaha SPX90?
He told Premier Guitar the old SPX90 is still in his rig for one patch, number 23, because it fattens up the sound and gives it more air, especially in quartet settings without piano.
What strings does Mike Stern use?
Premier Guitar listed D'Addario strings gauged .011 to .038 with a wound .026 third string, plus D'Addario heavy picks.
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Named in this guide
MS
Mike Stern
About this guide · Last checked
Mike Stern is the jazz fusion guitarist who played with Miles Davis, Jaco Pastorius and the Brecker Brothers and helped bring the Telecaster into jazz. This guide covers his Yamaha signature guitar, his stereo amp setup and the Boss pedalboard he has described.
truerecs put this guide together from public videos, interviews and posts. Each item says how we know and links to the source. Mike Stern didn't write it or choose anything on it. How we source gear guides.
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