Top 5Seen using
Epiphone
CasinoSeen in Guitar World: Johnny Marr's most iconic guitars and the stories behind them, September 2026
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Independent research by truerecs. Not affiliated with, endorsed or verified by The Smiths. Every item links to its public source.
12 items · Last checked What guitar does The Smiths play?
Johnny Marr was seen with a 1982 Jetglo Rickenbacker 330, a 1960 cherry Gibson ES-355 and a 1984 cherry Les Paul. Andy Rourke said his old faithful was a 1964 Fender P-Bass, and he used Trace Elliot amps and a Boss chorus in the band.
Top 5
Where to start with The Smiths's gear.
01
02
Top 5Seen using
Martin
D-28Seen in Guitar World: Johnny Marr to sell nearly 100 pieces of gear at auction, June 2026
03
Fender
Precision Bass (1964)
Top 5Has said they love
Fender
Precision Bass (1964)“I’ve still got my old faithful – my 1964 [Fender] P-Bass.”
Said in Andy Rourke: If I wasn't eating or in the bath, I had a bass in my hand, May 2023
No store page for this one.
04
Fender
Jazz Bass, black
Top 5Has said they use
Fender
Jazz Bass, blackSaid in Andy Rourke: If I wasn't eating or in the bath, I had a bass in my hand, May 2023
No store page for this one.
05
Yamaha
BB3000
Top 5Has said they use
Yamaha
BB3000Said in Andy Rourke: If I wasn't eating or in the bath, I had a bass in my hand, May 2023
No store page for this one.
What gear The Smiths uses: a sourced gear guide
Independent research by truerecs: every item links to the public source it comes from.
Andy Rourke: bass
Fender
Precision Bass (1964)
Has said they love
Fender
Precision Bass (1964)“I’ve still got my old faithful – my 1964 [Fender] P-Bass.”
Said in Andy Rourke: If I wasn't eating or in the bath, I had a bass in my hand, May 2023
No store page for this one.
Fender
Jazz Bass, black
Has said they use
Fender
Jazz Bass, blackSaid in Andy Rourke: If I wasn't eating or in the bath, I had a bass in my hand, May 2023
No store page for this one.
Yamaha
BB3000
Has said they use
Yamaha
BB3000Said in Andy Rourke: If I wasn't eating or in the bath, I had a bass in my hand, May 2023
No store page for this one.
Rickenbacker
Stereo bass
Has said they use
Rickenbacker
Stereo bass“I played that on a couple of Smiths records.”
Said in Andy Rourke: If I wasn't eating or in the bath, I had a bass in my hand, May 2023
No store page for this one.
Trace Elliot
Bass amps
Has said they use
Trace Elliot
Bass amps“I used Trace Elliot back then.”
Said in Andy Rourke: If I wasn't eating or in the bath, I had a bass in my hand, May 2023
No store page for this one.
BOSS
Chorus pedal
Has said they use
BOSS
Chorus pedalSaid in Andy Rourke: If I wasn't eating or in the bath, I had a bass in my hand, May 2023
No store page for this one.
Johnny Marr: guitar
Rickenbacker
330, Jetglo (1982)
Has said they use
Rickenbacker
330, Jetglo (1982)“I bought that with the first bit of money I made, and I immediately started writing things like Still Ill and Accept Yourself.”
Said in Guitar World: Johnny Marr on the guitars he's loved and is about to lose at auction, September 2026
No store page for this one.
Gibson
ES-355, Cherry (1960)
Has said they use
Gibson
ES-355, Cherry (1960)“As soon as I got that 355 back to the hotel, I wrote Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now.”
Said in Guitar World: Johnny Marr on the guitars he's loved and is about to lose at auction, September 2026
No store page for this one.
Seen using
Epiphone
CasinoSeen in Guitar World: Johnny Marr's most iconic guitars and the stories behind them, September 2026
Seen in Guitar World: Johnny Marr to sell nearly 100 pieces of gear at auction, June 2026
No store page for this one.
Gibson
Les Paul Custom ('73)
Has said they use
Gibson
Les Paul Custom ('73)Said in Guitar World: Johnny Marr on the guitars he's loved and is about to lose at auction, September 2026
No store page for this one.
Seen using
Questions
About The Smiths's gear.
What guitar did Johnny Marr play in the Smiths?
A 1982 Jetglo Rickenbacker 330, a 1960 cherry Gibson ES-355, an Epiphone Casino, a 1984 cherry red Les Paul Standard, a '73 Les Paul Custom and a Martin D-28, among others.
What bass did Andy Rourke play?
His 1964 Fender Precision, which Seymour Stein bought him at Manny's Music in New York around New Year's 1983. He also had a Yamaha BB3000, a stereo Rickenbacker he played on a couple of Smiths records and a black Fender Jazz for rehearsals.
What amps and effects did Andy Rourke use?
Trace Elliot amps in the Smiths days, and early on a Boss chorus pedal and a flanger. You can hear a bit of the chorus on How Soon Is Now?. Later he used a Marshall valve head and an 8x10.
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TS
The Smiths
About this guide · Last checked
The Smiths were the Manchester band of Morrissey, Johnny Marr, Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce, behind The Queen Is Dead and How Soon Is Now?. This guide covers the band's documented gear: Marr's Rickenbacker 330, Gibson ES-355 and Les Pauls, and Rourke's beloved 1964 Fender Precision, Yamaha and Rickenbacker basses and Trace Elliot amps.
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