Top 5Has said they use
Gibson
Les Paul JuniorSaid in Steve Howe talks new Yes album The Quest (MusicRadar), September 2021
Photo: Steve Knight · CC BY 2.0
Independent research by truerecs. Not affiliated with, endorsed or verified by Steve Howe. Every item links to its public source.
23 items · Last checked What guitar does Steve Howe play?
Steve Howe has said his 1964 Gibson ES-175D is the guitar he always goes back to, with a signature ES-175, an ES-345 and Fender Strats and Teles on Yes tours. He has said he plays his Martin MC-38 Steve Howe acoustic and recorded The Quest through a Line 6 Spider amp.
Top 5
Where to start with Steve Howe's gear.
01
02
Top 5Seen using
Fender
Twin ReverbSeen in Rig Rundown: Yes' Steve Howe and Chris Squire, May 2013
03
Top 5Seen using
Line 6
POD HD500Seen in Rig Rundown: Yes' Steve Howe and Chris Squire, May 2013
No store page for this one.
04
Gibson
ES-175D (1964)
Top 5Has said they use
Gibson
ES-175D (1964)“I've always gone back to [the ES-175D] thinking, 'You can't do better than this.'”
Said in Steve Howe talks new Yes album The Quest (MusicRadar), September 2021
No store page for this one.
05
Gibson
Steve Howe signature ES-175
Top 5SponsoredSeen using
Seen in Rig Rundown: Yes' Steve Howe and Chris Squire, May 2013
No store page for this one.
What guitars Steve Howe uses: a sourced gear guide
Independent research by truerecs: every item links to the public source it comes from.
Guitars
Gibson
ES-175D (1964)
Has said they use
Gibson
ES-175D (1964)“I've always gone back to [the ES-175D] thinking, 'You can't do better than this.'”
Said in Steve Howe talks new Yes album The Quest (MusicRadar), September 2021
No store page for this one.
Gibson
Steve Howe signature ES-175
SponsoredSeen using
Seen in Rig Rundown: Yes' Steve Howe and Chris Squire, May 2013
No store page for this one.
Gibson
ES-345 (1970, stereo)
Seen using
Gibson
ES-345 (1970, stereo)Seen in Rig Rundown: Yes' Steve Howe and Chris Squire, May 2013
No store page for this one.
Gibson
ES Artist
Has said they use
Gibson
ES Artist“I'm using two Gibson ES Artists. One is a backup, and I use my sunburst as my main guitar.”
Said in Steve Howe Talks Asia's "Omega," Yes Tour & Trio, July 2010
No store page for this one.
Seen in Rig Rundown: Yes' Steve Howe and Chris Squire, May 2013
No store page for this one.
Has said they use
Gibson
Les Paul JuniorSaid in Steve Howe talks new Yes album The Quest (MusicRadar), September 2021
Gibson
Super 400
Has said they use
Gibson
Super 400Said in Steve Howe talks new Yes album The Quest (MusicRadar), September 2021
No store page for this one.
Fender
Stratocaster (mid 80s)
Seen using
Fender
Stratocaster (mid 80s)Seen in Rig Rundown: Yes' Steve Howe and Chris Squire, May 2013
No store page for this one.
Seen in Rig Rundown: Yes' Steve Howe and Chris Squire, May 2013
No store page for this one.
Fender
Double-neck steel guitar
Seen using
Fender
Double-neck steel guitarSeen in Rig Rundown: Yes' Steve Howe and Chris Squire, May 2013
No store page for this one.
Steinberger
24-fret 12-string
Seen using
Steinberger
24-fret 12-stringSeen in Rig Rundown: Yes' Steve Howe and Chris Squire, May 2013
No store page for this one.
Rickenbacker
12-string
Has said they use
Rickenbacker
12-stringSaid in Steve Howe talks new Yes album The Quest (MusicRadar), September 2021
No store page for this one.
Line 6
Variax 700
Has said they use
Line 6
Variax 700“The Line 6 Variax is a totally remarkable guitar, and I play a 700 model.”
Said in Steve Howe Talks Asia's "Omega," Yes Tour & Trio, July 2010
No store page for this one.
Acoustics
Martin
MC-38 Steve Howe
SponsoredHas said they use
Martin
MC-38 Steve Howe“which is mainly what I play, along with the MC-28.”
Said in Steve Howe talks new Yes album The Quest (MusicRadar), September 2021
No store page for this one.
Martin
MC-28
Has said they use
Martin
MC-28Said in Steve Howe talks new Yes album The Quest (MusicRadar), September 2021
No store page for this one.
Martin
00-18 (1953)
Has said they use
Martin
00-18 (1953)Said in Steve Howe talks new Yes album The Quest (MusicRadar), September 2021
No store page for this one.
Amps and effects
Line 6
Spider amp
Has said they use
Line 6
Spider amp“But for the most part, I was using a Line 6 Spider amp.”
Said in Steve Howe says most of the new Yes album was recorded on a Line 6 Spider, September 2021
No store page for this one.
Line 6
DT50 amp
Seen using
Line 6
DT50 ampSeen in Rig Rundown: Yes' Steve Howe and Chris Squire, May 2013
No store page for this one.
Line 6
Vetta II amp
Has said they use
Line 6
Vetta II ampSaid in Steve Howe Talks Asia's "Omega," Yes Tour & Trio, July 2010
No store page for this one.
Seen using
Fender
Twin ReverbSeen in Rig Rundown: Yes' Steve Howe and Chris Squire, May 2013
Seen using
Line 6
POD HD500Seen in Rig Rundown: Yes' Steve Howe and Chris Squire, May 2013
No store page for this one.
BOSS
GS-10 Guitar Effects System
Has said they use
“I used the GS-10 which is a remarkable little system.”
Said in Steve Howe says most of the new Yes album was recorded on a Line 6 Spider, September 2021
No store page for this one.
Morley
A/B switch pedal
Seen using
Morley
A/B switch pedalSeen in Rig Rundown: Yes' Steve Howe and Chris Squire, May 2013
No store page for this one.
Questions
About Steve Howe's gear.
What guitar does Steve Howe play?
Mainly his 1964 Gibson ES-175D, which he has said he always goes back to. On Yes tours he has also been seen with his signature ES-175, a 1970 ES-345, a 1956 Les Paul Custom, a mid 80s Strat, a 1955 Tele, a Fender double-neck steel and a Steinberger 12-string.
What amp does Steve Howe use?
He has said most of The Quest was recorded through a Line 6 Spider, with a Boss GS-10 for the rest. On tour he has been seen with a Line 6 DT50 and Vetta II amps, after years on two Fender Twin Reverbs.
What acoustic guitar does Steve Howe play?
Martin. He has said he mainly plays his MC-38 Steve Howe signature and an MC-28, and that his 1953 Martin 00-18 is on Roundabout and much of early Yes.
What effects does Steve Howe use?
He has been seen running a Line 6 POD HD500 as his only effects device, programmed with the record tones, plus a Morley A/B pedal to switch between acoustic and electric.
Related gear guides
Setups that share gear with Steve Howe.
Yes
Classic rock
79 itemsSee Yes's gear →
Pete Townshend
Classic rock
68 itemsSee Pete Townshend's gear →
Cheap Trick
Classic rock
61 itemsSee Cheap Trick's gear →
Carl Broemel
Indie rock
53 itemsSee Carl Broemel's gear →
Frank Iero
50 itemsSee Frank Iero's gear →
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Classic rock
48 itemsSee Creedence Clearwater Revival's gear →
SH
Steve Howe
About this guide · Last checked
Steve Howe has been the guitarist of Yes since 1970, playing on The Yes Album, Fragile and Close to the Edge, and also played in Asia. This guide covers his Gibson ES-175 and other hollowbodies, his Fender, Steinberger and steel guitars, his Martin acoustics and his Line 6 amps and effects.
truerecs put this guide together from public videos, interviews and posts. Each item says how we know and links to the source. Steve Howe didn't write it or choose anything on it. How we source gear guides.
Report an error or ask for removal. We fix or remove within 72 hours. You don't need to sign up.
Are you Steve Howe?
Claim this page to make it yours: verify with your Instagram, TikTok or YouTube, keep what's right, drop what isn't, and add your own.
Claim this pagetruerecs 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. Steve Howe isn't paid for them. Report an error or ask for removal. Full disclosure.