Gretsch
G6636T-RF Richard Fortus Signature Center Block Falcon (Bigsby)
Top 5SponsoredHas said they use
Said in Richard Fortus on Gretsches, GN'R and Slash (Guitar.com), November 2021
No store page for this one.
Photo: Saivu Music (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY 2.0
Independent research by truerecs. Not affiliated with, endorsed or verified by Richard Fortus. Every item links to its public source.
16 items · Last checked What guitar does Richard Fortus play?
Richard Fortus has said he played his Gretsch G6636-RF signature Center Block Falcons with Filter'Tron pickups and a 1966 Gretsch Tennessean. On tour with Guns N' Roses he has said he ran a Voodoo 100-watt amp and a Magnatone Twilighter, with Celestion G12H, Gold and Alnico Cream speakers.
Top 5
Where to start with Richard Fortus's gear.
What guitars Richard Fortus uses: a sourced gear guide
Independent research by truerecs: every item links to the public source it comes from.
Guitars
Gretsch
G6636T-RF Richard Fortus Signature Center Block Falcon (Bigsby)
SponsoredHas said they use
Said in Richard Fortus on Gretsches, GN'R and Slash (Guitar.com), November 2021
No store page for this one.
Gretsch
G6636-RF Richard Fortus Signature Center Block Falcon (stoptail)
SponsoredHas said they use
Gretsch
Falcon (his original, pre-signature)
Has said they use
Said in Richard Fortus on Gretsches, GN'R and Slash (Guitar.com), November 2021
No store page for this one.
Gretsch
Tennessean (1966) with double HiLo'Tron pickups
Has said they use
“I bought my first Gretsch from a guitarist named Bobby Caldwell”
Said in Richard Fortus on Gretsches, GN'R and Slash (Guitar.com), November 2021
No store page for this one.
Bigsby
B6 vibrato (on his signature Falcon)
Has said they use
Said in Richard Fortus on Gretsches, GN'R and Slash (Guitar.com), November 2021
No store page for this one.
Seen in Premier Guitar's Rig Rundown with Guns N' Roses Guitarist Richard Fortus (Gretsch), December 2017
No store page for this one.
Seen in Premier Guitar's Rig Rundown with Guns N' Roses Guitarist Richard Fortus (Gretsch), December 2017
No store page for this one.
Seen in Premier Guitar's Rig Rundown with Guns N' Roses Guitarist Richard Fortus (Gretsch), December 2017
No store page for this one.
Gretsch
Filter'Tron pickups
Has said they use
Gretsch
Filter'Tron pickups“The sound of my Gretsch just sits around Slash's sound”
Said in Richard Fortus on Gretsches, GN'R and Slash (Guitar.com), November 2021
No store page for this one.
Paoletti Guitars
Richard Fortus Signature (leather top, P-90 and T-style pickups)Seen in Paoletti Guitars Richard Fortus Signature Demo, NAMM 2020 (Premier Guitar), January 2020
No store page for this one.
Amps and speakers
Voodoo Amps
100-watt amp
Has said they use
Voodoo Amps
100-watt ampSaid in Guns N' Roses Guitarist Richard Fortus Reflects on His Storied Career and Celestion Speakers (Celestion), February 2023
No store page for this one.
Magnatone
Twilighter
Has said they use
Magnatone
Twilighter“One is a little Magnatone Twilighter with an Alnico Cream.”
Said in Guns N' Roses Guitarist Richard Fortus Reflects on His Storied Career and Celestion Speakers (Celestion), February 2023
No store page for this one.
Fender
Tweed Twin (low-powered)
Has said they use
Fender
Tweed Twin (low-powered)Said in Guns N' Roses Guitarist Richard Fortus Reflects on His Storied Career and Celestion Speakers (Celestion), February 2023
No store page for this one.
Celestion
Alnico Cream speaker
Has said they use
Celestion
Alnico Cream speaker“The Cream just has the most magical midrange right out of the box.”
Said in Guns N' Roses Guitarist Richard Fortus Reflects on His Storied Career and Celestion Speakers (Celestion), February 2023
No store page for this one.
Celestion
G12H speakers
Has said they use
Celestion
G12H speakers“The G12H gives me more of the tight low end I want to hear.”
Said in Guns N' Roses Guitarist Richard Fortus Reflects on His Storied Career and Celestion Speakers (Celestion), February 2023
No store page for this one.
Celestion
Gold speakers
Has said they use
Celestion
Gold speakers“The Gold provides more of the shimmer on top.”
Said in Guns N' Roses Guitarist Richard Fortus Reflects on His Storied Career and Celestion Speakers (Celestion), February 2023
No store page for this one.
Questions
About Richard Fortus's gear.
What guitar does Richard Fortus use?
Gretsch, mainly. He has said he played his G6636-RF signature Center Block Falcons, one with a Bigsby B6 and one with a stoptail, plus a 1966 Tennessean bought from Bobby Caldwell. In 2017 he was seen with G6136T Players Edition Falcons in white and black.
What amp does Richard Fortus use?
In 2023 he said his Guns N' Roses live rig pairs a Voodoo 100-watt amp with a little Magnatone Twilighter, mixed by the front of house engineer. He has also said he owns a low-powered Fender Tweed Twin.
What speakers does Richard Fortus use?
Celestion. His Voodoo cab mixes two G12H and two Gold speakers, and the Magnatone Twilighter has an Alnico Cream. He has said the Cream has the most magical midrange right out of the box.
What pickups does Richard Fortus use?
Filter'Tron style pickups in his Gretsch guitars. For his signature Falcons, he has said new pickups were wound during rehearsals, using his original Falcons as a reference.
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Named in this guide
RF
Richard Fortus
About this guide · Last checked
Richard Fortus is a longtime Guns N' Roses guitarist who also played with The Psychedelic Furs and Love Spit Love. This guide covers his Gretsch signature Falcons, Paoletti signature guitar, amps and Celestion speakers.
truerecs put this guide together from public videos, interviews and posts. Each item says how we know and links to the source. Richard Fortus didn't write it or choose anything on it. How we source gear guides.
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