Josh Homme is the lead singer and guitarist of Queens of The Stone Age. He has been seen playing various guitars throughout his career, but he is most commonly associated with Gibson Les Pauls. He has used several different models over the years, including a Les Paul Standard from around 2001-2005, as well as a ’59 Reissue Les Paul Special and an American flag graphic Custom Shop ’58 Les Paul. Other instruments include Fender Telecasters and Stratocasters, Gretsch Falcons, Rickenbacker 330s and SGs.
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Josh Homme’s Guitar Collection: An Overview
Josh Homme is known as one of the most iconic and influential guitarists of the 21st century. With a vast array of sounds, tones, and styles at his disposal, he has crafted some of the most memorable riffs over the past two decades. When it comes to his own personal collection of instruments, what does Josh Homme use?
Homme’s main instrument is a Gibson Les Paul Standard from 1973 with an ebony finish. He refers to this guitar affectionately as “the black beauty.” This particular model was reissued in 2017 and was originally used by classic rock icons such as Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, and others. It has been seen in many live performances by Queens Of The Stone Age throughout their career but is not exclusive to them – Homme has also utilized this versatile axe for various other projects including Eagles Of Death Metal and Desert Sessions.
In addition to the Les Paul Standard, Josh has acquired various vintage models like an old Gibson ES-335 that he favors playing slide on in recent years; a 1968 Fender Telecaster Thinline which can be heard on several albums from QOTSA’s self-titled debut up until Era Vulgaris; and even more exotic guitars such as Gretsch White Falcon or D’Angelico New Yorker archtops which were used in sessions for Iggy Pop’s Post Pop Depression album. He also owns several different acoustic guitars including a Martin OMC-28E electro-acoustic that often appears during live shows when unplugged moments occur.
Overall Josh Homme has quite a few tools at his disposal when it comes time to craft beautiful music with his six strings. From classic shapes like the Telecaster Thinline or Les Paul Standard to bolder choices such as Gretsch White Falcons or even acoustics – there’s no doubt that each instrument contributes something special to Homme’s signature soundscape.
The Iconic Gibson Les Paul and Josh Homme’s Affinity for it
When it comes to guitar playing, few players have made as large an impact as Queens of the Stone Age frontman and guitarist Josh Homme. His style is recognized the world over and has left an indelible mark on rock music. Perhaps one of the most iconic guitars in his arsenal is the Gibson Les Paul, a model that he frequently uses both onstage and in studio recordings with Queens of the Stone Age.
The Gibson Les Paul is known for its excellent playability, tone versatility, and classic look. The design was introduced in 1952 by Ted McCarty and originally called “The Log” due to its solid block of mahogany rather than a traditional hollow body design like other popular models at the time. While there were many iterations released throughout the decades, it wasn’t until 1958 that it officially became known as the “Les Paul.” This particular iteration also included two humbucker pickups which helped give it its signature sound – rich mid-range tones with plenty of sustain and distortion when driven hard enough.
Josh Homme has been using Gibsons since his early days performing with Kyuss in 1989 but really adopted them full-time when forming Queens of The Stone Age more than a decade later. He’s often seen sporting a variety of different finishes including Translucent Goldtop, Natural Finish Bursted Top ’58 Reissue VOS, Antique Natural Finish’ 59 Reissue VOS ’59s, and even some Custom Shop models such as his Muriel ’57 Classic Goldtop Reissue VOS (Guitar World Magazine). Needless to say, this guitar plays an integral part in creating Josh Homme’s iconic sound – from arena rocking stomps to softer more atmospheric pieces – so much so that they’ve become synonymous with one another.
The Fender Telecaster and its Place in Homme’s Sound
Josh Homme is a well-respected rocker, lauded for his bluesy and grungy guitar riffs. His signature sound revolves around the Fender Telecaster – one of the most iconic guitars in music history. It’s got that twangy, crunchy sound which has become instantly recognizable among fans of Queens Of The Stone Age and Them Crooked Vultures.
The Telecaster was introduced in 1950 by Leo Fender, and has since been used by countless bands and solo acts to create various types of music from pop to heavy metal. For Josh Homme’s style specifically, it works perfectly; its versatility allows him to blend together hard-rocking chords with bluesy licks while still maintaining clarity over each note. He uses its two pickups to capture different tonal characteristics; switching between them he can get everything from mellow melodies to full on distortion that will make heads turn wherever you go.
Homme also makes use of alternate tunings such as drop D or Open G, both of which require a great deal more effort than standard tuning but give off an even beefier sound when strummed with a Telecaster. To top it all off, he takes advantage of the guitar’s vibrato bridge system which helps thicken up lead lines without needing any extra effects pedals or overdrives. All combined together these elements make for one helluva sound.
Rare and Custom Guitars in Homme’s Arsenal
Josh Homme has been known for his unique style and sound. For this reason, it is no surprise that the guitarist has a collection of rare and custom-made guitars in his arsenal. His signature guitar is an electric yellow PRS, but he also owns several vintage instruments such as a 1960 Fender Telecaster and 1958 Gibson Les Paul Junior. He also recently acquired a replica of Eddie Van Halen’s classic “Frankenstein” Stratocaster which was made by luthier John Bolin.
In addition to the high quality gear that he usually uses on stage, Josh Homme’s live performances often feature rare instruments like his custom 1959 Sunburst Stratocaster and 1966 Sunburst Jazzmaster. These guitars are incredibly hard to find in mint condition, yet Josh manages to make them sound great every night. He also frequently plays a Rickenbacker 330 Electric Guitar which gives him a truly unique tone when he plugs it into various effects pedals.
Josh Homme occasionally busts out some more esoteric guitars from time to time including the Roland G-303 Vintage Synth/Guitar Controller or even an Ovation Adamas acoustic-electric hybrid – both of which offer an intriguing array of sounds unlike anything else available today. Regardless of what instrument he chooses though, one thing remains certain: any guitar played by Josh Homme will turn heads wherever you go!
Effects Pedals and Amplifiers Used by Josh Homme in Live Performances
Josh Homme is a highly revered guitarist and founding member of Queens of the Stone Age. He has been integral to their sound, from the fuzzed out riffs in “No One Knows” to the intricate soloing in “Go With The Flow”. When it comes to achieving this tone live on stage, Homme draws upon several different effects pedals and amplifiers.
Homme’s pedalboard features a wide variety of effects, including overdrive/distortion, delay, reverb and modulation. His signature distortion comes from an Electro Harmonix Big Muff Pi. This particular model adds a level of grit and thickness that is unique to his sound. For delay he utilizes both analog and digital models – most notably the MXR Carbon Copy Analog Delay pedal which has become synonymous with QOTSA’s sound. Reverb is provided by an Electro Harmonix Cathedral Stereo Reverb Pedal which helps thicken up the mix without detracting from any other elements in it. For modulation he utilizes an Electro Harmonix POG2 Polyphonic Octave Generator for more subtle textural sounds within his solos or interludes between songs.
When it comes to amplification Josh relies heavily on vintage gear; specifically Fender Twin Reverbs & Marshall JTM45s amps paired with 4×12 cabinets loaded with either Celestion or JBL speakers. These amps are known for their natural warmth and dynamic range – something which suits his style perfectly as they can go from low volume chording all the way up to full-on leads at higher volumes whilst still retaining clarity across each note’s decay cycle.
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