Noel Gallagher's Guitars, Amps & Gear List

According to a video posted on Oasis’ YouTube channel for the 25th anniversary of (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?, Noel Gallagher might have used a Takamine FP 460 SC to record some of the album’s acoustic tracks, including the iconic “Wonderwall.”

In the video, Noel revisits Rockfield Studios, sharing stories about the recording sessions. At one point, Nick Brine, the engineer on the Morning Glory sessions, opens a guitar case and shows Noel a Takamine. Noel comments that it’s the “Wonderwall guitar,” implying it was used during the recording.

Apparently, during the Abbey Road Be Here Now sessions, Liam and Noel got into a fight, and in the chaos, Liam mistakenly smashed one of Nick Brine’s guitars, thinking it belonged to Noel. To make up for it, Noel gave Nick the Takamine FP 460 SC as compensation.

In a 2021 interview with The Pedal Show, Noel mentioned that the first guitar he ever owned was a “Kay Hummingbird.” He explained that he got it through a “Kay” catalogue and noted that the guitar was black.

I got my own first guitar, which was a Kay Hummingbird, right. It was black. I got it from my mom’s catalog, my mom ran K catalog.

Noel Gallagher – The Pedal Show

It’s important to make a little distinction here. Kay guitars and Kays Catalogues are entirely unrelated. The Kay Musical Instrument Company produced guitars, while Kays Catalogues was a British mail-order company offering a wide variety of consumer goods.

Noel acquired his Epiphone Frontier FT110 sometime before the What’s the Story Morning Glory? studio sessions in May and June 1995. It was one of the guitars he was seen playing during those sessions and was likely the acoustic guitar he used most on the album.

While he did use the Frontier occasionally for live performances too, it was typically for smaller audiences since the guitar didn’t have a built-in pickup system and had to be miked. For instance, he played it on October 1st, 1995, at the album launch event held at the Virgin Megastore in London, UK.

Because he continued using the Frontier in the days following the album’s release—and since its tone closely resembles the sound heard on the studio recordings—many fans have argued that this is the actual “Wonderwall” guitar. However, there are strong clues suggesting that the Takamine FP 460 SC might hold that title instead.

The first guitar Noel Gallagher ever played was one he discovered in his house when he was around 13 years old. It had belonged to his father, although his father apparently never played it—it was just sitting around. According to Noel, the guitar was an acoustic model with a blonde finish and a hummingbird design on it.

Unfortunately, Noel doesn’t recall the exact model, and no photos of him with the guitar seem to exist. While it might sound like it could have been a Gibson Hummingbird, this remains uncertain. It’s more likely that it was a Hummingbird-inspired knockoff, as many similar guitars were produced back then by brands like Hondo, Kiso Suzuki, Morris, and others.

Noel bought a WEM Dominator Mk.III amp at Johnny Roadhouse in Manchester in 1993. This 15-watt, all-valve amp, equipped with a 12-inch speaker, was a staple in his setup during live performances until mid-1994, paired with a Marshall Model 8080.

According to an interview he did with The Pedal Show recently, the amp was also used on Oasis’ debut album, Definetely Maybe, but the sound was obviosly altered to some extent during the mixing.

The WEM Dominator was replaced by an Orange OR-120 head around mid-1994, but Noel held onto the WEM and occasionally used it on stage until 1996. For example, it was part of his setup during the legendary Knebworth gigs that year.

Noel used a Marshall Valvestate 80V (Model 8080) to record majority of the songs of of Oasis debut album “Definetely Maybe”, alongside a Watkins Dominator amp. This setup also served as his main live rig until around mid-1994, when the band’s gigs grew larger, and so did the need for a bigger sound. At that point, he switched to a Marshall JCM900 head.

As for when Noel first started using the Valvestate 80V, he doesn’t seem to recall the exact timing, but photos suggest it was sometime in 1993.

Marshall I think I got when – I don’t know – I must’ve come into money somehow. The two of them togeather sound amazing. That was the live rig until the royalties came in.

Noel Gallagher – That Pedal Show

Noel used a Vox AC30 during the pre-Definitely Maybe era, primarily when the band was playing small gigs.

This is based on a 2011 interview with MusicRadar, in which Noel mentioned that he began using a Vox AC30 again with his new band, High Flying Birds. However, at that point he couldn’t recall if he had ever recorded with one during his time with Oasis.

As far as amps and stuff, what did I use?… I used a Hiwatt Custom 100, a Blackface Fender ’64 Deluxe, an 1980s Vox AC30… I’m not sure I’ve used any of these on Oasis records before… I can’t remember!

Noel Gallagher – Music Radar

Around mid-1994, Noel acquired a Marshall JCM900 tube head paired with a full stack of two 4×12 cabinets. This amp replaced his old Marshall Model 8080 and became a key part of his main live rig, used alongside an Orange OR-120.

However, Noel’s setup wasn’t always consistent, and other amps occasionally appeared on stage behind him. Notably, a Marshall Bluesbreaker was part of his rig and was used alongside the JCM900 during the iconic Maine Road concerts. On some occasions, he even brought back his old WEM Dominator or Marshall 8080, such as during the Earl’s Court performances.

In the early to mid-2000s, Noel began incorporating a pair of Fender Blues Junior amps into his live rig, using them in much the same way as he had previously used the Clark Tyger amps. Specifically, he miked one Blues Junior for the main sound while the other was connected to a Marshall 4×12 cabinet to achieve a fuller sound and greater volume headroom compared to the single 12″ speaker in the Blues Junior.

Noel continued using the Blues Junior amps until Oasis split up, and they remained part of his setup with the High Flying Birds. Over time, his rig evolved, and the Blues Juniors were often paired with other amps as part of a more expansive setup.

Sometime around the late 2000s, Noel started using custom-made Hiwatt combos as part of his live rig. According to Noel, it seems he initially had just one made, and while Hiwatt attempted to replicate it by making a few more, they apparently couldn’t match the sound of the original.

For that reason, Noel eventually stopped using the amp. It seems he thought the original sounded so good that it would be impossible to replace if it ever broke down.

I have this Hiwatt combo, it’s a 100W combo, they made me, and it was a vertical stack. It’s unique, they tried replicating it but they just couldn’t. So it was one of those where I was like – I have to get myself away from this amplifier, because if I don’t, it’s gonna be the death of me.

The Noel Gallagher Guitars & Gear Interview

Noel got a Hiwatt Custom 50 amp after watching a review/demo of it on Brett Kingman’s YouTube channel. He began using these specific combos around 2018, though prior to that, he had used both his custom-made Custom 100 vertical combos and Custom 50/100 heads.

Noel has continued using the Custom 50 as one of his main live amps, and as of 2024, it remains a key part of his rig.

In a 2023 interview with The Pedal Show, Noel mentioned that one of his long-standing live amps during his time with Oasis was a Vox Conqueror. However, he explained that the amps were eventually sold because they were “big and mad.” To demonstrate the sound from that era, Noel used a Vox AC50 instead.

The Vox Conqueror can indeed be seen in much of the footage recorded from 1997 onward, most notably during the Be Here Now tour.

However, based on Noel’s statement in the The Pedal Show interview, he also used the amp earlier during the What’s the Story Morning Glory? studio sessions, and this was actually the main amp on that album.

Around 1999, Noel began incorporating Clark Tyger amps into his live rig. These amps were used well into the 2000s and were a prominent part of his setup during the Standing on the Shoulder of Giants live tour (however, most likely they were not used during studio sessions). Notably, the Clark Tyger was seen during Oasis’s iconic gig at Wembley Stadium, London, on July 21, 2000, which was later released as Familiar to Millions.

Noel usually had two Clark Tygers on stage, both sitting on a Marshall 4×12 cabinet. Most likely, one of the amps was connected to the cabinet to achieve a bigger, fuller sound with more projection than the combo’s single 12″ speaker can offer.

I’m using Clark amps — they’re made by a guy in America. Spike [Stent, Giants co-producer] downloaded the information from the Internet, and I was intrigued by Clark’s claim that he could replicate any tweed Fender, but with sturdy hardware so that they don’t rattle around on tour. We couldn’t try one out beforehand — because he only makes the amps to order — so we took a gamble and sent him some money. Four months later, this amp turns up at our rehearsal studio. We plug it in, and it sounds five times better than my Bandmaster! I don’t know what this guy does, but he’s a genius.

It’s a Tyger, which is based on a late-model tweed Bandmaster. Spike ordered a replica of a ’59 tweed Deluxe which Clark calls the Beaufort.

Noel Gallagher – Guitar Player.com – 2000

Noel started using an Orange OR-120 amp sometime in 1994, replacing the WEM Dominator he had been using for live performances up until that point. The second part of his live rig was a Marshall Model 8080, which he continued using alongside the Orange. This setup remained his main live rig until the Morning Glory tour, when he switched to Marshall stacks.

I swapped the WEM with an Orange stack for a while. I couldn’t tell you which one it was. I bought that simply because of Peter Green – hes one of my favorite ever guitarists. And they look… to have an orange cab on stage at the time was like wow, man!

The Noel Gallagher Guitars & Gear Interview

Over the years, Noel accumulated a few different OR-120s, but his main one during those early years was easily recognizable by a Rolling Stones sticker on it.

Noel purchased this amp sometime before the Morning Glory sessions and used it to record Don’t Look Back in Anger from Oasis’ second album, (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?. For that song, he paired the amp with a 1965 Fender Stratocaster for the solo, and an 1983 Epiphone Riviera for the rhythm parts.

I bought it from a guy who worked for The Hollies, and they got it from the Cavern—it was a Cavern house amp. When we went to record Morning Glory, I reached that point where you say to yourself, ‘I think I’m ready for a Stratocaster.’ So, I bought this Vox, and I’ve had it ever since. This is the Don’t Look Back in Anger Vox, and I only ever used it for the Morning Glory sessions.

The Noel Gallagher Guitars & Gear Interview

According to Noel, the amp came from someone who worked for The Hollies and, before that, belonged to The Cavern Club—a famous music venue in Liverpool, England, best known as the birthplace of The Beatles’ early career.

Noel started using a Marshall JTM45/Bluesbreaker combo as part of his live rig in late 1995, around the time of the band’s iconic gigs at Earls Court. For those shows, the amp was paired with Noel’s WEM Dominator and a Marshall JCM900 stack.

He continued using the JTM45/Bluesbreaker on and off until around 1997, at which point he moved on to other amplifiers.

In late 1996, Noel began using another JTM45/Bluesbreaker combo. The exact differences between these two amps are unclear, but they appear to have distinct builds—one with thinner cabinet edges and the other with thicker ones. Both are essentially combo versions of the JTM45 and should, in theory, perform similarly. However, if you know more about what differentiates these specific versions, feel free to leave a comment below.

Around mid-1996, Noel began incorporating a Marshall JTM 45 combo amp into his live rig. One of its first notable appearances was during the iconic Knebworth Festival gigs on August 10th and 11th, 1996. At Knebworth, Noel used the JTM 45 alongside a variety of other amps, including two WEM Dominators, a Marshall JCM900, and another Marshall JTM 45/Bluesbreaker.

Noel continued using the JTM 45 for live performances into 1997, but by 1998, it had disappeared from his rig. Eventually, he sold the amp through GuitarAvenue Ltd. Dave Simpson, a guitarist and YouTuber, later published a short video giving the amp a test, which can be viewed below.

In a 2024 interview with John Robb, published on Oasis’ YouTube channel, Noel Gallagher mentioned that he used an HH amplifier during the Monnow Valley studio sessions in early 1994. These sessions marked the band’s first attempt at recording Definitely Maybe, though most of the tracks recorded at the time remained unheard by the public until the album’s 30th-anniversary release.

Listening back to it, and looking at some of the pictures, we didn’t have the equipment, we didn’t have the Marshalls at Monnow Valley. I had a Vox AC-30, and an HH amp. I don’t know why. And then by the time at Sawmills, I had a Marshall and a Wem Dominator.

Oasis – ‘Definitely Maybe’ – Noel Gallagher In Conversation With John Robb [Full Interview]

Based on the photos, the specific model of the amp was the HH V-S Musician. This is a 100-watt combo amp equipped with two 12″ Celestion speakers.

In 1997, around the time of the Be Here Now album release and tour, Noel began using a Matchless Superchief 120 as part of his live rig. He ordered the amp directly from Mark Sampson, the founder of Matchless, along with another green-colored combo amp. The Superchief 120 was typically used alongside other amps, including a Marshall JCM900, a JTM45/Bluesbreaker combo, and a Vox Defiant.

The Matchless Superchief 120 was used until the end of the Be Here Now tour. After that, it was apparently lent to Johnny Marr for a period. Around 2000, the amp, along with several other pieces of Noel’s gear—including his 1967 Gibson Firebird III Non-Reverse and his 997 Gibson Les Paul Florentine Silver Sparkle—was sold through the New Kings Road Vintage Guitar Emporium. Last it was seen was in 2022, in an auction organized by the PropStore auction.

Noel has been using the SIB Echo Drive in recent years with the High Flying Birds as his main overdrive pedal. In a 2023 interview on That Pedal Show, he mentioned that he “basically couldn’t play without it” because it produced the exact sound he needed. Interestingly, he noted that he never used the delay feature on the pedal—only the drive.

That has been a part of my sound for years. I never have the delay on it at all, but it’s got a valve in, it’s got the best drive on it I’ve ever heard. For years, I could’t do anything without it.

The Noel Gallagher Guitars & Gear Interview

Based on footage from the interview, all the knobs on Noel’s SIB Echo Drive are essentially set to zero, except for the Volume knob, which is dialed to around 3 o’clock. One interesting detail about the SIB Echo Drive, as Noel mentioned, is that it features a 12AX7 tube circuit, which gives it that warm, tube-driven overdrive sound he relies on.

The Boss CS-3 Compressor Sustainer was spotted on Noel’s pedalboard during the legendary Knebworth show in 1996. While Noel has stated that he never used a compressor with Oasis, he likely meant in the studio. It’s clear from the Knebworth performance, as well as many shows on the Be Here Now tour, that the CS-3 was used extensively for live gigs with Oasis.

In the November 1996 issue of Sound On Stage, which featured a few pages dedicated to the Knebworth gig, there is a photograph showing a Vox Wah, a Boss DD-3, a Boss Super Phaser, and a Boss Harmonizer (shown at the bottom of this page).

However, if we compare those pedals to the photo of the pedalboard shown above, the setup doesn’t quite match. Obviously, the Wah is there, but the first pedal right next to the Wah appears to have multi-colored knob tops, so it was most likely a Boss LS-2 Line Selector.

Sometime in the 1990s, Noel acquired a Pete Cornish Soft Sustain 2 pedal, which he primarily used for playing solos during live concerts. However, he never used the pedal in the studio. The SS-2 is basically a high-end overdrive pedal that makes the guitar sound smoother, warmer, and more dynamic. It adds a natural boost and light distortion, like turning up a tube amp, which makes it pefect for solos.

In his 2023 interview with That Pedal Show, Noel shared that he originally ordered a Sustainer pedal from Pete Cornish but later discovered that the one owned by Paul Stacey sounded better. As a result, Noel gave his original pedal to Paul and began using Paul’s Sustainer instead. Since Paul Stacey started working with Oasis around 1999, this gives a rough estimate of when Noel made the switch.

Roland RE-201 Space Echo is the only effect that Noel used on Oasis’ debut album, Definetely Maybe. Accoding to Noel, it played a huge role in shaping his sound, next to his Marshall Model 8080, and a WEM Dominator.

We never messed with [effects] really. It would be way down the line that I got a pedalboard. The only pedal I used was the Space Echo, and I had this on/off switch to kick the delay in. And that was it.

Space Echo was a big part of the sound. We would go into the front of the Space Echo, and just turned the the preamp up full.

The Noel Gallagher Guitars & Gear Interview

The Roland RE-201 Space Echo is a legendary tape-based delay and reverb unit, originally introduced in 1974, and it uses a magnetic tape loop to create echo and reverb effects.

In the 2023 interview with That Pedal Show, Noel mentioned that the Kingsley Page Tube Boost is one of his favorite pedals and that he’s used it on virtually everything he’s recorded since acquiring it. He most likely got the pedal shortly after its release around 2012, meaning it was used extensively on albums such as Chasing Yesterday, Who Built the Moon?, and Council Skies.

Kingsley boost is one of the best pedals in the history of music. It’s on everything I ever recorded since the day it came out.

Noel Gallagher – That Pedal Show

The Kingsley Page Tube Boost is a boutique pedal designed by Simon Jarrett (Kingsley founder and designer) to provide warm, tube-driven boost and low-gain overdrive tones. The pedal features a 12ax7 tube running at high voltage, replicating the way classic tube amplifiers behave.

Noel started using a Boss DD-3 Digital Delay pedal sometime after Definitely Maybe was released. It directly replaced the Roland Space Echo, which he had been using up until that point.

In the 2023 interview with That Pedal Show, Noel noted that at the Knebworth gig in 1996, this was the only pedal he used, aside from a tuner. However if we look at the actual footage we’ll see that he also had a wah pedal, and a Boss CS-3 compressor sustainer (image below).

This is the greatest delay pedal of all time – the DD-3. That pedal I had for 20 years. It was at Knebworth – a photographer friend of mine has hat a picture of the empty stage from Knebworth before we walked on, and I’ve got a piece of plywood, and it’s got a Boss chromatic tuner on it, and that [the DD-3]. That’s it.

Noel Gallagher – That Pedal Show

Noel Gallagher began incorporating the Ibanez Tube Screamer into his setup around the year 2000. In Oasis’s early days, he relied solely on cranked amplifiers to achieve his overdriven sound. By 2000, he had started using the Tube Screamer, particularly for solos, often pairing it with a Boss Digital Delay as his primary effects for lead parts.

In a 2000 interview with Guitar Player, Noel mentioned that his favorite Tube Screamer was an old ’70s model, which indicates it was likely an early TS-808. The TS-808, the first Tube Screamer ever released, debuted in 1979, followed by the TS-9 model in 1981.

I used to just turn up the amps as full as I could get them — I never used distortion pedals or anything like that. But I started collecting Ibanez Tube Screamers recently, and I’ve got an old ’70s model, which is the best pedal I’ve ever come across. So now I get a really good rhythm sound, and then kick in a Tube Screamer for the guitar solos. I like that so much better than having a loud guitar sound going all the time.

Noel Gallagher – Guitar Player.com – 2000

This pedal was seen in a photo featured in the October 1996 issue of Sound On Stage magazine, which included a few pages dedicated to the Knebworth gig. The photo was taken backstage and shows a Vox Wah, a Boss DD-3, a Boss Super Phaser, and a Boss Harmonizer.

However, it’s unclear whether Noel actually ever used the PN-2 or any phaser at this point in his career. If you happen to know more, feel free to leave a comment below!

Noel uses a Boss GE-7 Equalizer on his pedalboard in recent years to minimize the tonal differences when switching between humbucker and single-coil-equipped guitars. This information comes directly from Noel himself during his appearance on That Pedal Show. During the interview, we also got a quick look at the settings on his equalizer, as shown below.

In recent years, Noel has been using a Boss PN-2 Tremolo/Pan pedal to perform Little by Little by Oasis live, as the song was clearly recorded with a tremolo effect in the studio. While it’s uncertain if this is the exact pedal he used during the original recording, the PN-2 is a 1990s-era pedal, so it’s quite possible that it was part of the session.

Based on his appearance on That Pedal Show, Noel’s settings for the PN-2 are as follows:

Noel began using compressors as part of his pedalboard around the time Oasis split up and he transitioned to his solo career – so around 2010. His primary live compressor is the Keeley Compressor Plus, which he demonstrated during a 2023 interview with That Pedal Show.

I never used a compressor in Oasis [but] that Keeley compressor – I’ve used that ever since I went solo. It was simplified, in the sense when all the buttons are at a certain kind of thing – it starts at 50% and it’s very very easy to work. So I used that a lot now.

Noel Gallagher – That Pedal Show 2023

Based on the footage valiable, Noel’s guitar pick of choice during the early years of Oasis was a yellow Dunlop Tortex 0.73mm standard pick. He’d have a bunch of these lined in in his microphone stand during gigs, so if he dropped one he would have another one ready.

On ocassions, like at the Maine Road gig, he was seen having some extra Dunlop 0.60mm orange picks.