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Independent research by truerecs. Not affiliated with, endorsed or verified by The Clash. Every item links to its public source.
34 items · Last checked

What gear does The Clash use?

Joe Strummer was seen with his 1966 Fender Telecaster and Music Man combos. Mick Jones has said he played a Gibson Les Paul Junior through a 4x12, Paul Simonon played a Fender Precision Bass, and Topper Headon played Pearl drums.

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AllTop 5Joe Strummer: vocals and rhythm guitarMick Jones: lead guitarPaul Simonon: bassTopper Headon: drumsKeith Levene: guitar (early Clash)
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What gear The Clash uses: a sourced gear guide

Independent research by truerecs: every item links to the public source it comes from.

Joe Strummer: vocals and rhythm guitar

10 items

Mick Jones: lead guitar

14 items

Paul Simonon: bass

6 items

Topper Headon: drums

3 items

Keith Levene: guitar (early Clash)

1 item
Questions

About The Clash's gear.

What guitar did Joe Strummer play?

A 1966 Fender Telecaster, a sunburst refinished in black and grey, which Fender has since recreated as a Custom Shop Masterbuilt model. Premier Guitar also lists a stripped backup Telecaster and a mid-'50s Esquire with a racing stripe.

What amp did Joe Strummer use?

A Fender Twin Reverb and Music Man combos. Strummer said he didn't have time to search for old Fender tube amps and the Music Man was the closest thing to that sound he had found, though he called its plastic front repulsive.

What guitar did Mick Jones play in The Clash?

Mick Jones has said he played his Gibson Les Paul Junior through a big 4x12 on the first album. Later he played a '58 Les Paul Standard, '70s Les Paul Customs and a white ES-295, through Mesa/Boogie Mark I and Mark II amps with MXR and Roland Space Echo effects.

What bass is on the London Calling cover?

A Fender Precision Bass that Paul Simonon smashed on stage at the Palladium in New York in 1979. No Treble reports it is on permanent display at the Museum of London. He played an Epiphone Rivoli in the London Calling video.

What drums did Topper Headon play?

Topper Headon has said he joined The Clash with a silver Premier kit he brought from Dover, then bought a big silver mirror-finish Pearl kit at Henrit's on Wardour Street. He always used Zildjian cymbals with 15-inch hi-hats.

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The Clash
About this guide · Last checked

The Clash were the London punk band of Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon and Topper Headon, behind London Calling, Should I Stay or Should I Go and Rock the Casbah. This guide covers the whole band's documented gear: Strummer's battered 1966 Telecaster and Music Man amps, Jones' Les Pauls and Mesa/Boogies, Simonon's Precision Bass from the London Calling cover, Headon's Pearl kit and early guitarist Keith Levene's Travis Bean.

truerecs put this guide together from public videos, interviews and posts. Each item says how we know and links to the source. The Clash didn't write it or choose anything on it. How we source gear guides.

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