Adrian, Janick and Dave's guitars and Steve's basses

matic22

Ancient Mariner
Since I have a bit of time, am a guitarist and have done a lot of searching on this topic I decided to post about gutars used by the Maiden guitarists through the years live. Let's start with Dave:

Dave Murray:

Early days: -1981

Main Guitar:
-1957 Stratocaster, bought from Paul Kossoff's estate, painted black with pickguard and routed for humbuckers (DiMarzio PAF in neck position and DiMarzio Super Distortion in bridge and a single coil in the middle).
Backups:
-1964 Stratocaster, black with black pickguard routed for humbuckers.
-Various Les Pauls
Beast On The Road
Main Guitar:
-1957 Stratocaster
Backups:
-Ibanez Destroyer II in Sunburst finish (Total Eclipse, Hallowed, The Prisoner)
-*possibly* 1964 Stratocaster
World Piece Tour:
Main Guitar:
-1957 Stratocaster
Backups:
-Dean Flying V (Wrathchild, Die With Your Boots On)
-1964 Stratocaster, at this time with white pickguard and same electronics as 1957 Stratocaster
-70's Sunburst Stratocaster (ruined in Dortmund, used on Iron Maiden)
-Les Paul Standard with higly figured top
-White Stratocaster, year unknown
World Slavery Tour:
Main Guitars:
-1957 Stratocaster
-1964 Stratocaster, newly fitted with Kahler tremolo system
Backups:
-Les Paul Standard with higly figured top
-2 Lado Stratocasters (black and blue) (used sometimes on IM)
-White Stratocaster, year unknown (used sometimes in IM)
Somewhere On Tour:
Main Guitars:
-1957 Stratocaster
-1964 Stratocaster
Backups:
-Light Blue ESP Stratocaster with maple fingerboard and same pickup configuration as other strats, used for encores
Seventh Tour Of A Seventh Tour
Main Guitars:
-Cream ESP Stratocaster with rosewood fingerboard and same pickup configuration as other strats
-1957 Stratocaster (TETMD, Moonchild, Wasted Years, Sanctuary, CIPWM)
Backups:
-Light Blue ESP Stratocaster with maple fingerboard and same pickup configuration as other strats (sometimes Clairvoyant)
No Prayer On The Road
Main Guitar:
-Candy Apple Red Jackson Stratocaster, black pickguard, maple neck, silver Floyd Rose and Seymour Duncan pickups (JB and 59)
Backups:
-White Jackson Startocaster, white pickguard, silver Floyd Rose and Seymour Duncan pickups (JB and 59) (DWYBO, Hallowed, 22AA)
Trash Guitar (used for song IM to throw around):
-Light Blue ESP Stratocaster with maple fingerboard and same pickup configuration as other strats (Iron Maiden)
Fear Of The Dark Tour
*
First half of the tour was the same as NPOTR tour*
Second half:
Main Guitars:
-Candy Apple Red Jackson Stratocaster, black pickguard, maple neck, silver Floyd Rose and Seymour Duncan pickups (JB and 59)
-Sunburst Stratocaster with Floyd rose, rosewood neck, black SD humbuckers and a white single coil in the middle
Backups:
-Blue sunburst Stratocaster with Floyd rose, rosewood neck, black SD humbuckers and a white single coil in the middle (wireless guitar)
Thrash Guitars:
-Candy Apple Red Hot-Rod Stratocaster with rosewood neck HSS pickup configuration and chrome Floyd Rose. Also used by H on Running Free (Donnington) (Iron Maiden)
-White Jackson Startocaster, white pickguard, silver Floyd Rose and Seymour Duncan pickups (JB and 59) (RTTH)
Trash Guitar
Real Live Tour
Main Guitars:
-Candy Apple Red Jackson Stratocaster, black pickguard, maple neck, silver Floyd Rose and Seymour Duncan pickups (JB and 59)
-Cream Stratocaster with Floyd rose,black pickguard, rosewood neck, zebra SD humbuckers and a white single coil in the middle
Backups:
-Cream Stratocaster with Floyd rose, rosewood neck, black SD humbuckers and a white single coil in the middle
Thrash Guitars:
-Candy Apple Red Hot-Rod Stratocaster with rosewood neck HSS pickup configuration and chrome Floyd Rose. Also used by H on Running Free (Donnington)
-White Jackson Startocaster, white pickguard, silver Floyd Rose and Seymour Duncan pickups (JB and 59)
Trash Guitar (used for RTTH)
X Factour
Main Guitars:
-Candy Apple Red Jackson Stratocaster, black pickguard, maple neck, silver Floyd Rose and Seymour Duncan pickups (JB and 59)
-Cream Stratocaster with Floyd rose,black pickguard, rosewood neck, zebra SD humbuckers and a black single coil in the middle (changed before the tour). This guitar also sported a white pickguard with 3 Hot Rails pickups for a chunk of the tour. After that, the neck pickup was switched for a full black one.
Thrash Guitars:
-Candy Apple Red Hot-Rod Stratocaster with rosewood neck HSS pickup configuration and chrome Floyd Rose. Also used by H on Running Free (Donnington) (Iron Maiden)
Virtual XI Tour
Same as the X Factour
Ed Hunter Tour
For the first few shows Dave used the Cream strat as the main guitar and the CAR Jackson as a backup (SIASL 2MTM).
Then he acquired:
-Black Floyd Rose Classic Stratocaster with 3 Seymour Duncan Hot Rails pickups, chrome hardware, white tortoise pickguard and chrome hardware.
At that point the Cream Strat became a backup. After a few more shows Dave acquired:
-Cream Floyd Rose Classic Stratocaster with 3 Seymour Duncan Hot Rails pickups, chrome hardware, white tortoise pickguard and chrome hardware.
At that point the were old Cream strat and CAR Jackson eliminated from the show and possibly used as stand-by's.
Brave New World Tour
Main Guitars:
-Black Floyd Rose Classic Stratocaster with 3 Seymour Duncan Hot Rails pickups, chrome hardware, white tortoise pickguard and chrome hardware. (Used as cable guitar)
-Cream Floyd Rose Classic Stratocaster with 3 Seymour Duncan Hot Rails pickups, chrome hardware, white tortoise pickguard and chrome hardware. (Used as wireless guitar)
Give Me Ed... Tour
Main Guitar:
-Cream Floyd Rose Classic Stratocaster with 3 Seymour Duncan Hot Rails pickups, chrome hardware, white tortoise pickguard and chrome hardware.
Backup Guitars:
-Wayne 3-tone sunburst Stratocaster with maple neck, white pickguard and 3 Hot Rails pickups (22AA, Clairvoyant, Wildest Dreams)
-California Series Stratocaster, 2 tone sunburst with rosewood fingerboard, white tortoise pickguard, Floyd Rose in chrome and 3 Hot Rails pickups (used sometimes for encores)
-Black Floyd Rose Classic Stratocaster with 3 Seymour Duncan Hot Rails pickups, chrome hardware, white tortoise pickguard and chrome hardware. (bridge pickup changed to black HR) (HCW, FOTD, half of IM)
Thrash Guitar:
-White HSS Mexican Stratocaster with black Floyd Rose (other half of IM)
Dance Of Death Tour
Main Guitar:
-California Series Stratocaster, 2 tone sunburst with rosewood fingerboard, white tortoise pickguard, Floyd Rose in chrome and 3 Hot Rails pickups
Backups:
-Cream Floyd Rose Classic Stratocaster with 3 Seymour Duncan Hot Rails pickups, chrome hardware, white tortoise pickguard and chrome hardware. (WD, Wrathchild, CIPWM, Trooper (he had some problems in Dortmund or wanted guitar on cable for Wrathchild and CIPWM))
-Black Floyd Rose Classic Stratocaster with 3 Seymour Duncan Hot Rails pickups, chrome hardware, white tortoise pickguard and chrome hardware. (bridge pickup changed to black HR) (No More Lies, Hallowed, LOTF)
Eddie Ripps Up Tour
Main Guitar:
-California Series Stratocaster, 2 tone sunburst with rosewood fingerboard, white tortoise pickguard, Floyd Rose in chrome and 3 Hot Rails pickups.
Backups:
-Cream Floyd Rose Classic Stratocaster with 3 Seymour Duncan Hot Rails pickups, chrome hardware, white tortoise pickguard and chrome hardware. (used only as a stand-by guitar)
-Black Floyd Rose Classic Stratocaster with 3 Seymour Duncan Hot Rails pickups, chrome hardware, white tortoise pickguard and chrome hardware. (bridge pickup changed to black HR) (DWYBO, The Trooper)
A Matter Of Life And Death Tour:
Main Guitar:
-California Series Stratocaster, 2 tone sunburst with rosewood fingerboard, white tortoise pickguard, Floyd Rose in chrome and 3 Hot Rails pickups
Backups:
-Cream Floyd Rose Classic Stratocaster with 3 Seymour Duncan Hot Rails pickups, chrome hardware, white tortoise pickguard and chrome hardware. (FTGGOG, Longest Day, BTATS (2007), The Legacy, Wrathchild, Trooper, Lord Of Light)
-Black Floyd Rose Classic Stratocaster with 3 Seymour Duncan Hot Rails pickups, chrome hardware, white tortoise pickguard and chrome hardware. (bridge pickup changed to black HR)(used only as a stand by)
Somewhere Back In Time Tour
Main Guitar:
-California Series Stratocaster, 2 tone sunburst with rosewood fingerboard, white tortoise pickguard, Floyd Rose in chrome and 3 Hot Rails pickups.
Backups:
-Cream Floyd Rose Classic Stratocaster with 3 Seymour Duncan Hot Rails pickups, chrome hardware, white tortoise pickguard and chrome hardware. (not used on the first leg of the tour) (RTTH, FOTD, IM, Wasted Years)
-Black Floyd Rose Classic Stratocaster with 3 Seymour Duncan Hot Rails pickups, chrome hardware, white tortoise pickguard and chrome hardware. (bridge pickup changed to black HR)(used only on the first leg of the tour, not used at all in 2009) (same songs as cream one)
-Fender Dave Murray Stratocaster prototype with Floyd Rose Tremolo (used only on 2009 leg of the tour) (COTD, Wasted Years, RTTH)
2010 Final Frontier Tour
Main Guitar:
-California Series Stratocaster, 2 tone sunburst with rosewood fingerboard, white tortoise pickguard, Floyd Rose in chrome and 3 Hot Rails pickups. (note: on a few shows this guitar was being repaired and Black Strat with Hot Rails was main guitar)
Backups:
-Cream Floyd Rose Classic Stratocaster with 3 Seymour Duncan Hot Rails pickups, chrome hardware, white tortoise pickguard and chrome hardware. (Ed Dorado)
-Tobacco Sunburst Les Paul Traditional (This Colours Don't Run)
Thrash Guitar:
-Fender Dave Murray Stratocaster with Floyd Rose Tremolo (prototype)(Iron Maiden)
2011 Final Frontier Tour
Main Guitar:
-California Series Stratocaster, 2 tone sunburst with rosewood fingerboard, white tortoise pickguard, Floyd Rose in chrome and 3 Hot Rails pickups
Backups:
-Cream Floyd Rose Classic Stratocaster with 3 Seymour Duncan Hot Rails pickups, chrome hardware, white tortoise pickguard and chrome hardware. (Encores)
-60's Les Paul Classic Sunburst (Talisman, Trooper, Coming Home, DOD)
-Gibson Les Paul Axcess (Floyd Rose Tremolo)
Maiden England Tour
Main Guitar:
-California Series Stratocaster, 2 tone sunburst with rosewood fingerboard, white tortoise pickguard, Floyd Rose in chrome and 3 Hot Rails pickups
Backups:
-Cream Floyd Rose Classic Stratocaster with 3 Seymour Duncan Hot Rails pickups, chrome hardware, white tortoise pickguard and chrome hardware (this guitar was being repaired for a few shows so the Black strat was used instead) (2012: Moonchild, CIPWM, NOTB, Phantom, RTTH, Running Free, 2013: Same minus Moonchild and CIPWM, 2014: Trooper, Revelations and Running Free)
-60's Les Paul Classic Sunburst (Aces, TETMD)
-Black Gibson Flying-V (used as Wireless guitar) (Wasted Years)
Note: During this tour were the middle pickups on the Cream and California Series strats
changed to Seymour Duncan JB jr's.


11802724_702279323217304_4825275268045537221_o.jpg

Photo: This is taken from Colin Price's FB page.
Left: Black Floyd Rose Classic Stratocaster which used to have 3 Seymour Duncan Hot Rails pickups (black one in the bridge), chrome hardware, white tortoise pickguard and chrome hardware now sports DiMarzios (PAF and SD)
Center: 1964 Stratocaster from the Early Days and the LAD concert. Used to have Kahler which was switched for Floyd Rose.
Right: Fender Dave Murray Stratocaster prototype with Floyd Rose

10857212_601765496602021_8941160373429958906_o.jpg

Dave's main axe (also from Colin Price's FBB))


So that is all for now from me. Hope you like it. Up next: The mighty H (hopefully this afternoon).

Up The Irons!


EDIT: I added on which songs the backup guitars were used. If the song isn't written by the backup guitar, then it was performed by the main guitar (I didn't bother to write the whole setlists). If a guitar is a backup but doesn't have any song written in brackets, that means that it usually wasn't used.
 
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Great work, Matic. This may be asking too much but can you also say during which songs in the tours, which guitar was used (or not used)?
 
Now we begin the journey through H's guitars. Before we begin I would like to suggest that the Holy Church Of Adrian Smith names His Majesty's 70's Les Paul Goldtop a holy object.

Anyway let's begin

Early days: -1981

Main Guitar:
-Early 70's Les Paul Deluxe Goldtop with white pickguard, mini humbuckers, later changed to DiMarzio soapbar Super Distortions - The Holy Goldtop
Backups:
-Hammer Explorer, sunburst
-Ibanez Destroyer II, Candy Apple Red
Beast On The Road
Main Guitars:
-Ibanez Destroyer II, Candy Apple Red
-The Holy Goldtop, now with '72 Gibson mini humbucker in the neck and white DiMarzio SD in the bridge
World Piece Tour:
Main Guitar:
-Ibanez Destroyer II, Candy Apple Red
-Early 70's Gibson SG in Brown with Bigsby Tremolo
Backup Guitars:
Dean Baby ML in Sunburst with DiMarzio SD in bridge
*Note* The Holy Goldtop is played by Bruce on Revelations and its bridge pickup is changed to black SD
-Gibson SG Junior, Black, HH configuration
World Slavery Tour:
Main Guitars:
-Lado Earth, Black, with black Floyd Rose tremolo and black Super Distortion in bridge (1984)
-Lado Earth, Silver Sunburst, with black Rockinger tremolo and black Super Distortion in bridge (1985)
-The Holy Goldtop
Somewhere On Tour:
Main Guitars:
-1986 Jackson Super-strat, white with black pickguard, H-S-H Jackson pickups, black Floyd Rose tremolo and a maple fingerboard
-1986 Jackson MIDI guitar, white without pickguard, with chrome Floyd, maple neck and built in Roland Guitar Synth Controller (HCW, SIASL, Walking On Glass)
Backup Guitar:
-White Jackson Soloist with 1 humbucker and 1 single coil
Seventh Tour Of A Seventh Tour
Main Guitars:
-1986 Jackson Super-strat, white with black pickguard, H-S-H Jackson pickups, black Floyd Rose tremolo and a maple fingerboard
-1988 Lado Laser MIDI guitar, blue sunburst, with black Floyd and built in Roland Guitar Synth Controller (CIPWM, The Clairvoyant (sometimes))
Backups:
-White Jackson Soloist with 1 humbucker and 1 single coil
The Untouchables:
-1986 Jackson Super-strat, white with black pickguard, H-S-H Jackson pickups, black Floyd Rose tremolo and a maple fingerboard
Accident Of Birth Tour:
-The Holy Goldtop, now with pickguard removed. Used for all drop D songs. (and Flight Of Icarus and Taking The Queen in standard)
-3 Tone Sunburst Fender Floyd Rose Classic Stratocaster with DiMarzio humbucker in bridge and two single coils in the neck and maple neck. This guitar will be called no. 1 Sunburst Strat (all standard songs)
Backups:
-White Jackson Soloist with 1 humbucker and 1 single coil.
Chemical Weddig Tour
Main Guitars:
-Jackson KV-2 with Duncan Distortions used for drop D songs
-The Holy Goldtop, used for both tunings
-no.1 Sunburst Strat, used for standard tuning
-Dean Baby ML with SD in bridge, used for drop C tuning on TCW (yes I think it's Drop C)
Ed Hunter Tour
Main Guitars;
-Jackson KV-2 with Duncan Distortions used for drop D songs
-no.1 Sunburst Strat, used for standard tuning
Backups: unknown (I guess guitar tech did a good job)
Brave New World Tour
Main Guitars:
-no.1 Sunburst Strat, used for standard tuning
-Cream HSS Stratocaster with maple neck, chrome Schaller Floyd Rose and a Fender Humbucker in bridge position, drop D
Backup Guitars
-New no.2 Sunburst Strat, same specifications as no.1 except the humbucker is a stock Fender one and the finish is darker around the edges
-Recently acquired stock black Les Paul Custom with gold hardware (Iron Maiden)
Give Me Ed... Tour
Main Guitars:
-no.1 Sunburst Strat, used for standard tuning
-Cream HSS Stratocaster with maple neck, chrome Schaller Floyd Rose and a Fender Humbucker in bridge position, drop D
Backup Guitars
-New no.2 Sunburst Strat, same specifications as no.1 except the humbucker is a stock Fender one and the finish is darker around the edges
-Stock black Les Paul Custom with gold hardware (Iron Maiden)
Dance Of Death Tour
Main Guitars:
-no.1 Sunburst Strat, used for standard tuning
-New no.2 Sunburst Strat, used for drop D
Back up Guitars:
-Cream HSS Stratocaster with maple neck, chrome Schaller Floyd Rose and a Fender Humbucker in bridge position, Drop D
-Stock black Les Paul Custom with gold hardware
-1986 Jackson Super-strat, white with black pickguard, H-S-H Jackson pickups, black Floyd Rose tremolo and a maple fingerboard, now with white SD in bridge, backup for standard tuning
Eddie Ripps Up Tour
Main Guitars:
-no.2 Sunburst Stratocaster, standard tuning
-Early 70's SG in brown, Bigsby tremolo removed after first few shows, peace sticker applied, drop D
Backups:
-no.1 Sunburst Stratocaster, standard tuning
-Cream HSS Strat, Drop D
A Matter Of Life And Death Tour:
Main Guitars:
-no.1 Sunburst Stratocaster, standard tuning
-Early 70's SG in brown, Bigsby tremolo, peace sticker applied, drop D
-Cream HSS Strat, Drop D
-Jackson Soloist Doubleneck, 12/6 in Red (COTD) (2007)
Backups:
-no.2 Sunburst Stratocaster, standard tuning
Somewhere Back In Time Tour
Main Guitars:
-White Jackson Signature with white pickguard, ebony fretboard, standard tuning
-White Jackson Signature with black pickguard, maple fretboard, drop D
-Early 70's SG in brown, Bigsby tremolo removed, peace sticker applied, drop D
-Jackson Soloist Doubleneck, 12/6 in Red (COTD)(2009)
Backups:
-Cream HSS Strat, Drop D
-no.1 Sunburst Stratocaster, standard tuning
2010 Final Frontier Tour
Main Guitars:
-The Holy Goldtop, at the beginning of tour used only on El Dorado, at the end used on at least 7 songs (ED, ROBB, TNOB, FOTD, IM, HBTN, RF), both tunings
-White Jackson Signature with white pickguard, ebony fretboard, standard tuning
-White Jackson Signature with black pickguard, maple fretboard, drop D
-Early 70's SG in brown, Bigsby tremolo, peace sticker applied, drop D
-Gold signature Jackson with white pickguard, drop D, used on Iron Maiden
Backups
-1986 Jackson Super-strat, white with new Signature pickguard, H-S-S pickups, black Floyd Rose tremolo and a maple fingerboard backup for standard tuning
-White Jackson Signature with black pickguard, maple fretboard, drop D
2011 Final Frontier Tour
Main Guitars:
-1986 Jackson Super-strat, white with new Signature pickguard, H-S-S pickups, black Floyd Rose tremolo and a maple fingerboard, standard tuning
-White Jackson Signature with black pickguard, maple fretboard, drop D
-The Holy Goldtop, both tunings
Backups:
-White Jackson Signature with white pickguard, ebony fretboard, standard tuning
-White Jackson Signature with black pickguard, maple fretboard, drop D
-Early 70's SG in brown, Bigsby tremolo, peace sticker applied, backup for The Holy Goldtop
Maiden England Tour
Main Guitars:
-The Holy Goldtop with reinstalled pickguard, both tunings
-White Jackson Signature with white pickguard, ebony fretboard, standard tuning
-White Jackson Signature with black pickguard, maple fretboard, drop D
-Early 70's SG in brown, Bigsby tremolo, peace sticker applied, drop D (backup in 2013, 2014)
-Black Les Paul Custom, stock (2014 leg), both tunings
-Ibanez Destroyer, a new one, Candy Apple Red, Drop D, used on Iron Maiden (2014)
Backups:
-1986 Jackson Super-strat, white with new Signature pickguard, H-S-S pickups, black Floyd Rose tremolo and a maple fingerboard, backup for standard tuning
-White Jackson Signature with black pickguard, maple fretboard, drop D

I'm sure I missed something... Let me know if I did.

Praise H and his Holy Goldtop!
 
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On The Final Frontier tour Adrian also used his Jackson San Dimas in gold a couple of times, I think.

This one:

adrian%252520smith%252520san%252520dimas%252520gold%2525202.jpg

Adrian_Eddie.jpg
 
Didn't Adrian use many more guitars on e.g. the World Slavery Tour (haven't checked Dave, but the same might be applied to him)?
At least, he carried around more:
[/spoiler]

By the way, I always liked this photo from 1983, although it doesn't state which were used ;) :
guitars2.jpg
 
Adriangear.jpg

That was what H owned before World Piece Tour, Dean Baby ML soon to be added. The other guitars in that group photo were probably picked up during the tour in pawn shops by both guitarists.
 
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kiskekaiadrian.jpg

A guitar owned by H that has never seen the stage (as didn't his white Flying V), Gibson Les Paul Standard in black with P-90's
 
What? Didn't know it expanded so much in the course of one year. :--)

In those days it was quite popular picking guitars in pawn shops, especcialy if you made some money touring. That's how Geddy Lee got his no. 1 Jazz Bass in the late 70's.
 
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