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Pete Townshend’s guitar history. An overview of the guitars, amplifiers and effects that Pete Townshend used on stage and in the studio throughout his career, both solo and with The Who. Contains detailed descriptions of Pete’s classic setups. Arranged by tour and album.
EraAcousticElectricAmplification/effectsStage equipment: 2022Blonde (Antique Natural) Gibson J-200 ...Torino/Candy Apple Red, Olympic White, ...Amps: Two (plus spares) Fender Vibro-King ...Who (2019)Miscellaneous acoustics, including: ...Miscellaneous electrics, including: ...Amps: Lazy J 20 and Lazy J 10 combo ...Stage equipment: 2019–2020Blonde (Antique Natural) Gibson J-200 ...Torino/Candy Apple Red, Olympic White, ...Amps: Two (plus spares) Fender Vibro-King ...Stage equipment: 2014–2017Blonde (Antique Natural) Gibson J-200 ...Torino/Candy Apple Red, Olympic White, ...Amps: Two (plus spares) Fender Vibro-King ...Pete Townshend's gear and equipment including the Fender Eric Clapton Stratocaster and Gibson Les Paul Deluxe. Get the gear to sound like Pete Townshend and get their tone.
- Pete Townshend’s Gibson Les Paul Deluxes: 1972–1979
- 1976–1979-Era Models and Whereabouts
- Additional Guitars
- Auction Profiles
- Resources and Information
Introduction
In August 1972, Pete Townshend began using Gibson Les Paul Deluxe guitars — primarily cherry sunburst at first — as his main stage guitar, replacing the Gibson SG Special, of which the model Pete preferred had been discontinued and were no longer available in mass quantities. The Les Paul Deluxe eventually became Pete’s longest used stage guitar of the Who’s initial touring career, used almost exclusively between 1973 and 1979. This despite the relative heavy weight of this guitar model, espe...
Signature models
In 2005, Gibson issued three Pete Townshend-signature edition Les Paul Deluxe guitars, based on the “#1” Wine Red 1976 Les Paul Deluxe, the #3 Gold top 1976 and the #9 Cherry Sunburst 1976. In 2016, Gibson announced the Gibson Les Paul Artist Series – Pete Townshend Deluxe Gold Top ’76, based on Pete’s 1976 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe Gold Top that he smashed at the Boston Gardens on 1 April 1976. And on 10 Sept. 2016, at Oberhausen, Germany, Pete used one of these guitars on the first half of Won...
Specification
The general Les Paul Deluxe model, introduced by Gibson in 1969, had the following features: 1. Dual Gibson mini (“New York”) humbuckers, with adjustable pole pieces and Alnico II magnets. 2. Three-piece mahogany and maple “pancake” body, with bound carved maple top. 3. Mahogany neck, with bound rosewood fingerboard. 4. Gibson pearl trapezoid inlays starting at third fret*. 5. Nickel hardware. 6. Tune-o-Matic bridge/tailpiece. * Only one Les Paul Deluxe with an inlay at the first fret is know...
The mid-1976- to 1979-era collection, with modifications as noted, above. Courtesy whocollection.com. Many thanks to Brad Rodgers. For more, see whocollection.com.
Unnumbered three-pickup (prototype) Gold Top Gibson Les Paul Deluxe
1. Likely used (and destroyed) early 1976, owned by the Victoria & Albert Museum, London. See photo, courtesy whocollection.com.
All auction information, including quotes and references are copyright their original owners and are included for reference only. Whotabs makes no claim that these auctions represent authentic Who-used items.
Thanks to the following for assistance with this page:
1. David Brewis at Rock Stars Guitars, rockstarsguitars.com 2. Brad Rodgers at whocollection.com 3. Joe Giorgianni: thewho.org 4. Norm DeWitt 5. “A French Fan”
For more information
1. Vintage Guitars Info: guitarhq.com/gibson5.html#lpdlx 2. Vintage Guitars: vintageguitars.org.uk/LesPaulDeluxe.php
Manufacturer:
1. Gibson USA: gibson.com
An overview of the guitars, amplifiers and effects that Pete Townshend used on stage and in the studio throughout his career, both solo and with The Who, from 1956 to the present. Includes a full history timeline as well as equipment detail pages on notable equipment.
Feb 2, 2024 · During the golden age of rock ’n’ roll, Pete Townshend helped define and redefine both the electric and acoustic guitar several times over. As the Who’s guitarist, he pioneered an aggressive, almost punky approach to the guitar in the mid-1960s, at least a decade before punk was a genre.
- Jeff Slate
There are several Gibson Pete Townshend signature guitars, such as the Pete Townshend SG, the Pete Townshend J-200, and three different Pete Townshend Les Paul Deluxes. The SG was clearly marked as a Pete Townshend limited edition model and came with a special case and certificate of authenticity, signed by Townshend himself.
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Oct 29, 2021 · Anyone paying attention to Pete Townshend’s guitar tone at the dawn of the 1970s would have noticed a distinct change with the release of Who’s Next. This was due to a gift he’d received from his pal and fellow guitarist Joe Walsh in 1970: a 1959 Gretsch 6120.
