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The Doobie Brothers, 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 Doobie Brothers. Every item links to its public source.
23 items · Last checked

What guitar does The Doobie Brothers play?

Tom Johnston has said he has played PRS guitars for about 30 years and has started using PRS amps. Pat Simmons has said he played through a Mesa/Boogie Mark V with Taylor acoustics and custom koa electrics. Premier Guitar's 2017 Rig Rundown showed a PRS Archon, PRS Custom 24, Line 6 Helix and Variax, and Boss pedals.

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AllTop 5Tom Johnston: guitars and ampsPat Simmons: guitars and amps2017 touring rig (Premier Guitar)
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What guitars The Doobie Brothers uses: a sourced gear guide

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

Tom Johnston: guitars and amps

2 items

Pat Simmons: guitars and amps

4 items

2017 touring rig (Premier Guitar)

17 items
Questions

About The Doobie Brothers's gear.

What guitar does Tom Johnston play?

He told Guitar World in 2016 that he bought a PRS about 30 years earlier, took it on a USO tour and has played PRS guitars ever since. He added that he had started using PRS amps as well.

What amp does Pat Simmons use?

He told Guitar World in 2016 that he played through a Mesa/Boogie Mark V, with a basic clean sound plus a little digital delay and the amp's other channel for overdrive.

What guitars does Pat Simmons play?

He has said he loves Taylor guitars in his live rig. His electrics are mostly one-off custom builds, including a koa guitar with EMG pickups made by his tech Joe Vali, and he has started playing Taylor electrics.

What pedals do The Doobie Brothers use?

Premier Guitar's 2017 Rig Rundown named a Boss BD-2, CH-1, DD-20, RT-20 and TU-2, an Electro-Harmonix Micro POG, JHS Pulp 'N' Peel, MXR Carbon Copy, TC Electronic Flashback and Xotic AC Booster.

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The Doobie Brothers
About this guide · Last checked

The Doobie Brothers are the California rock band behind China Grove, Listen to the Music and Black Water. This guide covers the guitars and amps of Tom Johnston and Pat Simmons, plus the band's 2017 touring rig as Premier Guitar documented it.

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

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