Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
(opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)
  • Guitars
  • Amps
  • Pedals
  • Drums
  • Synths
  • Software
  • Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Recording
  • Buyer’s guides
  • Live
  • DJ
  • Advice
  • Acoustic
  • Bass
  • About us
  • More
    • Reviews
Magazines
  • Computer Music
  • Electronic Musician
  • Future Music
  • Keyboard Magazine
  • Guitarist (opens in new tab)
  • Guitar Techniques (opens in new tab)
  • Total Guitar (opens in new tab)
  • Bass Player (opens in new tab)
More
  • Best free lo-fi plugins
  • Top EQ plugins
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Free music samples
  • Best free music-making software

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Total Guitar

Buy their sound: Jeff Beck

By Total Guitar
published 29 July 2014

One budget and one blowout gear list

  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
Introduction
(Image credit: Roger Ressmeyer/CORBIS)

Introduction

Jeff Beck has long been one of the pantheon of greats, yet he remains an enigma. Here we look at two rigs that will give you the base for Beck’s legendary tone: one on a budget and one that will require significant saving power.

Beck has used Fender Esquires, a 1956 Gretsch 6128 Duo Jet, Les Pauls; he even used a Jackson Soloist on 1985’s Flash. Yet, he’s always been synonymous with Strats, favouring his white ’93 Custom Shop above all else.

You’ll find Marshall and Fender amps in his backline, too. But remember: the gear is just a fraction of the story. The rest is in his head and hands, just out of reach for we mere mortals.

Of course, you should really do it the hard way, so also check out How to play like Jeff Beck.

Page 1 of 12
Page 1 of 12
Squier Deluxe Hot-Rails Strat
Street price: £255/$299

Squier Deluxe Hot-Rails Strat

BUDGET: A versatile electric with a vintage feel and plenty of attitude from its Duncan Designed pickups.

Page 2 of 12
Page 2 of 12
Fender Mustang II V2
Street price: £164/$199

Fender Mustang II V2

BUDGET: With heaps of onboard modelling software, the Mustang’s a versatile choice.

Page 3 of 12
Page 3 of 12
Electro-Harmonix Soul Food Boost/Overdrive
Street price: £50/$67

Electro-Harmonix Soul Food Boost/Overdrive

BUDGET: This is a great approximation of Jeff’s Klon Centaur, at barely a 10th of the price.

Page 4 of 12
Page 4 of 12
Dunlop GCB95F Cry Baby Classic
Street price: £115/$109

Dunlop GCB95F Cry Baby Classic

BUDGET: This Cry Baby wah has a similar sweep and harmonic response to the very first Cry Babys.

Page 5 of 12
Page 5 of 12
Johnson's Baby Powder
Street price: £1/$3

Johnson's Baby Powder

BUDGET: Jeff always has a bottle on stage to stop his hands from gumming up.

Total spend on budget rig: £585/$677*

*(approx. based on web prices)

Page 6 of 12
Page 6 of 12
Fender Jeff Beck Stratocaster
Street price: £1,550/$1,600

Fender Jeff Beck Stratocaster

BLOWOUT: Jeff’s signature Strat has a fat C-shaped neck, is wired with dual-coil ceramic Noiseless pickups, and sounds incredible.

Page 7 of 12
Page 7 of 12
Fender Blues Deluxe Reissue
Street price: £629/$780

Fender Blues Deluxe Reissue

BLOWOUT: It lacks a little gain, but articulates the Strat’s tone perfectly, has reverb, and all-valve Fender soul.

Page 8 of 12
Page 8 of 12
Fulltone Clyde Deluxe
Street price: £229/$231

Fulltone Clyde Deluxe

BLOWOUT: This flexible wah features three modes, plus a 60s-style inductor for authentic vintage tones.

Page 9 of 12
Page 9 of 12
MXR Carbon Copy M169 Delay
Street price: £135/$150

MXR Carbon Copy M169 Delay

BLOWOUT: Jeff has been known to use both the M169 and a Way Huge Aqua-Puss - we’d go for the MXR.

Page 10 of 12
Page 10 of 12
Wampler Euphoria Overdrive
Street price: £179/$200

Wampler Euphoria Overdrive

BLOWOUT: A truly gorgeous transparent overdrive that can even be used as a volume/treble boost.

Page 11 of 12
Page 11 of 12
The Accidental Vegetarian: Delicious Food Without Meat
Street price: £6.99/$12

The Accidental Vegetarian: Delicious Food Without Meat

BLOWOUT: After all that effort to find an alternative to his Klon Centaur, you might as well copy his diet and go vegetarian.

Total spend on blowout rig: £2,728.99/ $3650.50*

*(approx. based on web prices).

Page 12 of 12
Page 12 of 12
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
Total Guitar
Total Guitar
Social Links Navigation

Total Guitar is Europe's best-selling guitar magazine.

Every month we feature interviews with the biggest names and hottest new acts in guitar land, plus Guest Lessons from the stars.

Finally, our Rocked & Rated section is the place to go for reviews, round-ups and help setting up your guitars and gear.

Subscribe: http://bit.ly/totalguitar (opens in new tab)

  1. Warm Audio Centavo
    1
    Warm Audio Centavo Professional Overdrive Pedal review
  2. 2
    The Oberheim DMX drum machine is set to ride again as Behringer wheels out its BMX “homage”
  3. 3
    A firmware update for the cut-price Yamaha DX9 synth makes it more like a DX7
  4. 4
    Fender and session ace Michael Landau team up for the Coma Stratocaster – a bespoke electric guitar for all occasions
  5. 5
    Bruce Foxton of The Jam's 11 career-defining songs: "Start isn’t exactly the same as Taxman... otherwise I’m sure Paul McCartney would have thought about suing us!"
  1. Behringer BMX drum machine
    1
    The Oberheim DMX drum machine is set to ride again as Behringer wheels out its BMX “homage”
  2. 2
    Warm Audio Centavo Professional Overdrive Pedal review
  3. 3
    Bad Bunny sued by ex-girlfriend for $40m after sampling voice memo in 2022's most successful album
  4. 4
    A firmware update for the cut-price Yamaha DX9 synth makes it more like a DX7
  5. 5
    Fender and session ace Michael Landau team up for the Coma Stratocaster – a bespoke electric guitar for all occasions

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab).

  • About Us (opens in new tab)
  • Terms and conditions (opens in new tab)
  • Privacy policy (opens in new tab)
  • Cookies policy (opens in new tab)
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers (opens in new tab)

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.