Instruments played by the Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones, an English rock band formed in 1962, originally served as a counterpoint to The Beatles, drawing from blues, rock’n’roll, and R&B. Their recordings typically center on drums, bass, two guitars, and lead vocals, though studio work often varied.

Keith Richards began with a Harmony H72 Meteor on early tours, then an Epiphone Casino. After US success, he got a Gibson Firebird and a 1959 Les Paul with a Bigsby Vibrato, using the Les Paul live before switching to a Custom model in 1966. His use of the Les Paul in a British rock band helped popularize it and led to resumed production. In the late 1960s, he played a three-pickup Les Paul Custom and started using Fender Telecasters. At The Stones in the Park, he used an Epiphone Casino and a Gibson Flying V. On the late 1969 tour, he acquired an Ampeg Dan Armstrong, used during the live recording of *Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out!*. From 1970, Telecasters became his main live guitars. His favorite, nicknamed “Micawber,” was a 27th birthday gift from Eric Clapton; in 1972, he replaced its neck pickup with a Gibson PAF humbucker. He used other Telecasters on tours and in the studio, primarily the Telecaster Custom, which he played on tours from 1975 to 2008 and featured in a Fender ad. From 2003 to 2008, he used it live for Open G tuning songs, notably “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.” After 1980, he also played a Les Paul Junior and Gibson ES-335.

Brian Jones used a Harmony Stratotone in early blues club days, then a Gretsch Double Anniversary in two-tone green until 1965, when he switched to a Vox Prototype Mark IV “Teardrop,” his most associated guitar. He also played a Gibson Firebird, Gretsch White Falcon, Les Paul, Rickenbacker 360/12, and Telecaster. Jones played harmonica early on, doubled on piano and slide guitar, and in the studio played sitar on “Street Fighting Man” and “Paint It, Black,” organ on “2000 Man” and “Let’s Spend the Night Together,” marimba on “Under My Thumb,” “Out of Time,” and “Yesterday’s Papers,” recorder on “Ruby Tuesday,” trumpet on “Child of the Moon,” Appalachian dulcimer on “I Am Waiting” and “Lady Jane,” and oboe and saxophone on “Dandelion.” He played Mellotron on “We Love You,” *Their Satanic Majesties Request*, and *Beggars Banquet*, and autoharp on his final Stones recording, “You’ve Got the Silver.” Early on, Jones sang backing vocals before Richards took over.