truerecs
Explore truerecs
Log inFor artists
Independent research by truerecs. Not affiliated with, endorsed or verified by The Darkness.Are you The Darkness? Claim this page
The Darkness, Photo: Raph_PH (Wikimedia Commons)

Photo: Raph_PH (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY 2.0

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

What drums does The Darkness play?

The Darkness' Justin Hawkins has been seen using white Gibson Les Paul Customs and a Wizard Modern Classic II, Dan Hawkins Gibson Les Paul Standards into a Marshall 1959 Super Lead, and Frankie Poullain Gibson Thunderbirds. Rufus Taylor has said he played a DW Collectors Series kit with Zildjian cymbals.

Shop the gear
AllTop 5Justin Hawkins: guitars and amps (2016)Dan Hawkins: guitars (2016)Dan Hawkins: amps and pedals (2016)Frankie Poullain: bass rig (2016)Rufus Taylor: drums (2023)
In stores now

Shop The Darkness's setup.

Top 5

Where to start with The Darkness's gear.

01
02
03
04
05

What gear The Darkness uses: a sourced gear guide

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

Justin Hawkins: guitars and amps (2016)

3 items

Dan Hawkins: guitars (2016)

4 items

Dan Hawkins: amps and pedals (2016)

11 items

Frankie Poullain: bass rig (2016)

6 items

Rufus Taylor: drums (2023)

14 items
Questions

About The Darkness's gear.

What guitar does Justin Hawkins play?

White 2001 Gibson Les Paul Customs, both stock, per Premier Guitar's 2016 Rig Rundown, played into a Wizard Modern Classic II head after years on Marshall 1959 Super Leads.

What guitar does Dan Hawkins play?

Three Gibson Les Paul Standards, including the 2000 model he calls "Dune" with stock 498 pickups and a TonePros bridge, strung with Ernie Ball Beefy Slinkys.

What amp does Dan Hawkins use?

A Marshall 1959 Super Lead plexi that is always on, plus a Friedman Small Box head for solos and palm-muted rhythms, per Premier Guitar in 2016.

What bass does Frankie Poullain play?

Gibson Thunderbirds, including a 1990 model he calls the "Brown Bastard", through an Orange AD200 MK 3 on US dates and usually Hiwatt heads, with an Aguilar Tone Hammer.

What drums does Rufus Taylor play?

He has said he played a DW Collectors Series kit in pearlescent black with a 14x6 VLT snare, Zildjian K and A Custom cymbals, Remo heads and Vic Firth 5B sticks, per MusicRadar in 2023.

TD
The Darkness
About this guide · Last checked

The Darkness are the English rock band of brothers Justin and Dan Hawkins, bassist Frankie Poullain and drummer Rufus Taylor. This guide covers each member's main gear, from Premier Guitar's 2016 Rig Rundown and MusicRadar's 2023 drum kit tour with Taylor.

truerecs put this guide together from public videos, interviews and posts. Each item says how we know and links to the source. The Darkness 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 The Darkness?

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 page
truerecs 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. The Darkness isn't paid for them. Report an error or ask for removal. Full disclosure.