Sound and Gear of Dave Grohl – The Greatest Guitarists of All Time
Check the Gear of the Foo Fighters Frontman
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Sound and Gear of Dave Grohl - The Greatest Guitarists of All Time · Source: L Paul Mann / Alamy Stock Foto
This article is about Sound and Gear of Dave Grohl. But first, the man himself: Dave Grohl is a drumming icon of Nirvana, frontman of the Foo Fighters, creative jack-of-all-trades, and producer. He is one of the most influential rock musicians of our time. No virtuoso solos, no fiddly techniques. Just raw energy, powerful riffs and a sound that is beyond reproach.
And that’s what makes the sound and gear of Dave Grohl so exciting: It’s not a technical circus, but a toolbox for maximum impact. If you want to understand how to create a unique sound with relatively simple means, you should take a close look at the sound and gear of Dave Grohl, his guitars, amps, and effects. And that’s exactly what we’re going to do today.
All About Sound and Gear of Dave Grohl
As always, I welcome your comments on this article about the sound and gear of Dave Grohl. Especially since some of our more ardent readers may have raised their eyebrows at the mention of Dave Grohl as one of the best guitarists of all time (check out our articles about Bonamassa and Kirk Hammett). That’s fine, because this section thrives on the exchange of ideas. But I stand by my opinion: when you see Dave live, record his sound, and consider the body of work he has created, his name definitely deserves to be mentioned. If you want to read more on this topic, I highly recommend my article on “Books for Guitarists“. The Foo Fighters frontman is also featured.
So let’s get started – with the guitars, of course.
Sound and Gear of Dave Grohl: Guitars
When it comes to Sound and Gear of Dave Grohl, there’s one guitar that stands out as very special, unusual and hard to find: the Gibson Trini Lopez. For many years, it was only available as a niche model, but its modern signature version, the Gibson DG-335, is now the flagship of the sound and gear of Dave Grohl and is featured in every Foo Fighters set. Dave’s signature model is a direct homage to the 1960s original, tailored to the modern needs of one of the hardest working frontmen of our time.
But there are also other guitars in Dave Grohl’s arsenal, mostly from the Gibson camp. We have selected a few models for you, and acoustic fans will also find something to their liking.
Gibson DG-335: The signature model
The Gibson DG-335 is arguably the heart of the sound and gear of Dave Grohl. It combines the design of the Trini Lopez with modern components, including Grover tuners, Burstbucker pickups, and a solid center block design for high feedback resistance.
The guitar sounds fat, but remains wonderfully dynamic even when played aggressively. The great Pelham Blue finish makes this semi-hollow guitar a real eye-catcher, especially in an otherwise very classic “rock” setup.
Dave’s good nose for the Trini is also evident in the numerous signature variations that have been released. Gibson and its subsidiary Epiphone are in the process of making the Trini great again.
Gibson Explorer
In the early days of Foo Fighters, it was always a black Gibson Explorer. Always. For a short time in a cover band I bought an Explorer (exclusively for Foo Fighters songs). I never regretted it, and even Dave still reaches for the Explorer today, especially for harder songs with a lot of gain.
The iconic look is a perfect match for the early Foo Fighters style, and the massive construction delivers plenty of low end punch. Anyone who has heard One by One knows what the Explorer sounds like in the frontman’s hands.
Gibson Firebird and Les Paul Custom
The Firebird and a black Les Paul Custom are also part of Grohl’s collection. The latter is used more in the studio, when a particularly sustain-rich, dense sound is required.
The Firebird, on the other hand, shines with its unique look and rich overtones – ideal for guitar tracks with character. The mini humbuckers of the classic Firebirds give the sound a special kick. And from personal experience I can advise all Firebird players out there: Never, ever, ever sell a Firebird. You’ll regret it later.
Martin Acoustic Guitars
For acoustic songs like Times Like These and Wheels, Grohl relies on Martin guitars, often dreadnought models like the Martin D-28. Again, he stays true to his down-to-earth style (except for the price of the instruments): classic design, great sound, no frills. Typical of Martin, the sound remains powerful, dynamic and present even when unplugged. I’m always impressed by how well many of the Foo Fighters’ songs work acoustically. Is this the MTV Unplugged experience?
Sound and Gear of Dave Grohl: Amps
Dave Grohl’s massive sound is no accident – it’s the result of carefully selected amps that are anything but subtle. Basically, it’s a prime example of an aggressive rock setup with a few subtle touches:
Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier
In the early years of Foo Fighters, Grohl often relied on the Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier, a true high-gain monster with a legendary reputation that it has earned and deserved. Oh, Mesa, you guys just build awesome shit.
The amp delivers exactly what the sound and gear of Dave Grohl and the Foos need: aggressive mids, assertive highs, and enough bass to fill arenas. That’s what it’s all about, right?
For me, the Dual Rectifier is a much more appealing choice than the Triple Rectifier – somehow I feel more at home with the sound.
Marshall JCM800 2203: In the Beginning with the Foo Fighters
In the beginning, of course, was the legendary Marshall JCM800 2203. With 100 watts of tube power, the amp provided the raw, aggressive foundation Grohl needed for songs like This Is a Call and I’ll Stick Around.
Basically, the JCM800 delivers exactly what you’d expect from a DIY garage production like the Foo Fighters’ first album: pure rock power right out of the box. Not delicate, no. But awesome.
Vox AC30
Sometimes even Dave Grohl needs a little more “chime” – that British sparkle in the treble. When that happens (as it does on almost the entire album There’s Nothing Left to Lose), the band turns to the Vox AC30.
The AC30 is so common that you’ll find one in almost every studio (every studio?). On tracks like Learning to Fly, Grohl’s sense of arrangement and tone is evident: not every part has to sound full-on all the time – but it has to sound right.
Sound and Gear of Dave Grohl: Effects – Keep it Simple, Stupid
When you look at the sound and gear of Dave Grohl, one thing stands out: it’s not just his amps and guitars that are down-to-earth. His effects section is also surprisingly simple. Grohl prefers to rely on his hands, amps and guitars rather than an armada of effects pedals. As a result, Dave Grohl’s stompbox is the technical equivalent of jeans and a T-shirt.
Pro Co RAT
Obvious, right? The Pro Co RAT shows up in Grohl’s setup all the time. Especially in the early years of the Foo Fighters, he used the RAT for a more aggressive, slightly dirtier distortion than the amps alone could provide.
The classic RAT sound is somewhere between overdrive, distortion, and fuzz, and gives songs like This Is a Call and Wattershed a lot more oomph than tamer pedals would provide.
For fans of the very early Foo sound, the Pro Co Turbo Rat is also relevant: it was this pedal, along with the Marshall amp, that defined the early sound – at least according to Earnie Ball, the band’s guitar tech at the time.
MXR Phase 90
Use sparingly is the motto when it comes to phasing. The Foo Fighters frontman uses the MXR Phase 90 to make his guitar sound livelier and more spacious.
The iconic orange phaser provides smooth modulations that add a nice organic depth to the sound, especially on clean or slightly distorted parts. The effect tends to be subtle, highlighting individual passages rather than overpowering them.
Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man
For warm, slightly modulated delay sounds, Dave Grohl sometimes uses the Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man. This analog delay pedal produces smooth repeats and a characteristic, almost “floating” sound.
Ideal for melodic leads or atmospheric studio interludes, the Memory Man adds depth without distorting Grohl’s guitar sound.
Paired with the Explorer and Vox AC30, the Memory Man delivers the sound of Headwires.
Studio vs. Live: Two sides of the Sound and Gear of Dave Grohl
He takes a very different approach in the studio and on stage, though the sound and gear of Dave Grohl hasn’t changed as dramatically as you might expect.
In the Studio: Variety and Detail
Grohl takes a lot more liberty in the studio, using different guitars, amps and types of microphones. The goal seems to be to find the best possible sound for each song and to make each album sound new and different.
For example, for Wasting Light, Grohl and the Foo Fighters relied heavily on analog technology and tape recordings, with no digital trickery whatsoever.
Live: Rugged and Uncompromising
On stage, however, reliability and toughness have always been paramount. Here Dave reduces his setup to the essentials: his guitar, a few standard amps and the (really necessary) most important effects. Everything seems designed to deliver 100%, night after night, without any fuss.
Sound like Dave Grohl – Guitars for the Non-Rockstar Budget
If you want to be inspired by the sound and gear of Dave Grohl, you don’t have to have a rock star budget. Many of his guitars are true icons, but they can be replaced with affordable alternatives.
Epiphone Trini Lopez Standard
The much more affordable version of Grohl’s signature semi-hollow guitar is probably the most sought-after Epiphone signature guitar of all time. This is how you will get the sound and gear of Dave Grohl for less.
With original USA burst pickups, split diamond inlays and beautiful diamond holes, this Epiphone is a real eye-catcher. And it sounds great too! Our colleague Julian recently wrote about the Epiphone Trini: Epiphone Dave Grohl DG-335.
Epiphone Korina Explorer
If you’re into early Foo Fighters, the Explorer is for you. While the classic Gibson version is the “real deal,” the Epiphone Explorer delivers much of what’s important to the sound:
Korina body, Burstbucker pickups, and plenty of bite. While rumors of a new Signature Explorer are circulating, the Epiphone is the best way to get that Foo sound and feel.
Sound and Gear of Dave Grohl – Conclusion
Dave Grohl proves that guitar gear doesn’t have to be complicated to sound great. His approach is as simple as it is effective: good gear and maximum energy. This is 100% the sound and gear of Dave Grohl.
Whether on stage or in the studio, with Nirvana, the Foo Fighters or other projects, Grohl’s guitar sound remains unmistakable. And that’s why he’s undoubtedly one of the greatest guitarists of all time.
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