Jerry Cantrell played a 1992 Gibson Les Paul Standard on MTV Unplugged in 1996. The guitar was modified with Seymour Duncan Custom humbucker pickups and upgraded electronics to give it the distinctive sound that Jerry was known for. This modified Les Paul Standard was his mainstay for the performance, along with an acoustic Fender Stratocaster which he used as well.
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Jerry Cantrell’s Early Career
Jerry Cantrell has been a figure in the music scene for decades, but many don’t know that he began his career as an apprentice at Alice In Chains’ original recording studio. Under the tutelage of founder Layne Staley and producer Demri Parrott, Jerry honed his guitar skills playing live shows around Seattle. During this period, he and Staley developed the unique style of playing which later became known as “grunge” rock.
When it was time to record an acoustic set for MTV Unplugged in 1996, Jerry used a Gibson Les Paul Standard on most songs. As well as having a powerful sound capable of cutting through unamplified performance scenarios, this model provided him with much needed flexibility when it came to making subtle adjustments between verses or choruses while performing live. The Gibson Les Paul Standard is also renowned for its thick tone when using distortion pedals or overdriven amplifiers – something that gave Alice In Chains their signature sound during their heyday.
By 1998, however, Jerry had switched out the Gibson Les Paul Standard for another electric model from Fender – the Stratocaster Plus Deluxe Series. This particular model has become synonymous with grunge since then due to its light body weight and smooth neck pickup configuration which allowed Jerry to move up and down scales quickly during solo sections or other intricate parts of their songs. With its plethora of sounds available via various combinations of pickups and settings available within one single instrument made this guitar perfect for both stage performances as well as studio recordings.
Jerry Cantrell and Alice in Chains
Jerry Cantrell is a legendary musician who has been in the public eye for nearly three decades. He is best known as the lead guitarist of Alice In Chains, a pioneering Seattle-based grunge rock band formed in 1987. Cantrell was an integral part of the group’s success and helped propel them to worldwide fame with their 1992 MTV Unplugged performance.
The iconic performance saw Cantrell and the rest of Alice In Chains play six songs – including hits like “Would?” And “Rooster” – from their two albums Facelift (1990) and Dirt (1992). As far as what guitar he used during that performance, it appears that Jerry played a Gibson Les Paul Standard electric guitar. His choice of instrument wasn’t surprising at all; throughout his career, Cantrell has always preferred playing on Les Paul guitars due to their superior sound quality and feel when strumming chords. While he occasionally uses different guitars during live shows or studio recordings, it looks like this was his go-to axe for their MTV Unplugged session.
In addition to the iconic setlist they performed on MTV Unplugged, Alice In Chains also released five more studio albums after their 1994 album Jar Of Flies reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Alternative chart – four which included tracks recorded prior to vocalist Layne Staley’s death in 2002 – before disbanding in 2018 following a final tour that celebrated their 30th anniversary as a group. Throughout these three decades’ worth of music, Jerry Cantrell has continued relying on Gibson Les Pauls as his main weapon of choice to produce some of hard rock’s most memorable riffs and solos ever heard by ears around the world.
MTV Unplugged Performance
During the 1990s, MTV Unplugged was one of the most influential television shows for up-and-coming musicians. Artists from all genres were invited to perform their songs on acoustic instruments, often giving audiences a unique perspective on beloved hits.
In 1996, Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains fame was one such musician who appeared on the show, mesmerizing viewers with an intimate and raw version of “Would?” The song came out two years before as part of their major label debut album Dirt, but it felt like a totally different tune when Cantrell performed it live at MTV Unplugged.
For his performance on the show, Cantrell chose to use a custom PRS CE 24 guitar – an instrument he would continue using throughout many subsequent concerts and recordings in subsequent years. Its distinct sound added another layer of beauty to “Would?” As well as other classic tracks such as “Rooster” or “Them Bones”. While fans might not have noticed this important detail during that live performance in 1996, nearly 25 years later they can now admire its sheer power whenever watching recordings of that historic night.
The Guitars Jerry Cantrell Played on MTV Unplugged
Jerry Cantrell’s performance on MTV Unplugged in 1996 was nothing short of iconic. With the spotlight on him, the talented musician graced viewers with an unrivaled display of his expertise with six string instruments. Most notably, Cantrell played two different guitars for his performance; a Gibson Les Paul Standard and a Martin D-18.
The classic ’68 Gibson Les Paul Standard was used for all three Alice In Chains songs featured on the episode – “Down In A Hole”, “Angry Chair” and “Rooster”. The guitar had been previously modified by Cantrell himself to add one extra tone control knob as well as unique humbucker pickups which gave the instrument its signature sound. Moreover, this particular model also features mahogany body construction and maple top resulting in a deep and clear timbre.
For the rendition of Leadbelly’s cover “Where Did You Sleep Last Night”, Jerry employed a classic acoustic Martin D-18 guitar. This flagship dreadnought from the 1930s has become known for its powerful bass response balanced against sparkling trebles – making it ideal for fingerpicking style solos such as performed by Cantrell during his MTV Unplugged appearance. Although vintage models can cost upwards of several thousand dollars today, at that time they could be purchased relatively inexpensively in pawn shops or second hand stores.
Impact of Jerry Cantrell’s Guitar on the Music Industry
When Jerry Cantrell made his debut on MTV Unplugged, it was evident that he had chosen the right instrument for the job. Not only did his guitar exude a unique sound but also had a profound impact on the music industry in terms of performance and aesthetics. His choice of guitar was one of the biggest factors that shaped his successful career in music.
Cantrell’s selection of Gibson Les Paul Custom revealed an appreciation for classic rock ‘n’ roll instruments and pushed other performers to find their own signature tones and techniques. The popularity of this iconic model inspired millions of musicians worldwide who aspired to emulate its high-quality craftsmanship. Many leading brands began producing replicas of Cantrell’s favorite piece so that aspiring rockers could get closer to having their own version of it.
Cantrell’s performance on MTV Unplugged reignited interest in traditional electric guitars and served as an inspiration for many up-and-coming artists looking to make a name for themselves in the music industry. It is no surprise that this groundbreaking episode went down in history as one of MTV’s most memorable performances ever; testament to how influential Jerry Cantrell’s guitar was at the time and still continues to be today.
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