What Instruments Did David Bowie Play

What Instruments Did David Bowie Play? David Robert Jones (known as Bowie from 1969 until his passing in 2016) was an extraordinary child prodigy. As a kid, he played numerous instruments such as the saxophone, guitar, ukulele, and piano.

Bowie developed an interest in art and design as he grew older, but music remained his main passion. He was heavily influenced by Elvis Presley, Little Richard, and Fats Domino.

What Instruments Did David Bowie Play?

Fender Telecaster

The Fender Telecaster was the original mass-produced solid-body electric guitar and has remained a beloved instrument ever since. Debuting in 1951, this revolutionary instrument revolutionized how we hear and play music forever.

Leo Fender, the founder of Fender Instruments, had the vision to create an instrument that could seamlessly transition between country and western music to blues and rock music. His team of engineers devised this revolutionary instrument which they named the Telecaster.

Thus, the Telecaster was an ideal guitar for rock & roll’s meteoric rise across America in the 1950s. It also served as a perfect canvas for musicians who ventured away from country music into more daring genres like jazz, rockabilly, and punk rock.

Telecasters have become iconic instruments, used by guitarists such as Jimmy Page, George Harrison, David Bowie, and Bob Dylan among many other notable artists.

The Fender Telecaster comes in a variety of models, from the standard American Deluxe to the Custom Artist Series and Thinline model. The American Deluxe features all the same features as its counterpart but adds a compound radius maple neck, N3 Noiseless Tele pickups, and a reconfigured S-1 switching system for enhanced sound possibilities.

The Fender Custom Shop has long been known for creating legendary instruments that are beloved by world-renowned endorsers such as James Burton, John 5, and Muddy Waters. Their Artist Series Telecaster models boast slightly higher quality construction than their Standard counterparts while remaining affordable.

Hagstrom I Kent PB-24-G

The Hagstrom I Kent PB-24-G was one of the earliest solid-body electric guitars made in Europe and David Bowie often played it. This red instrument featured a fiberglass top and vinyl back for easy playing.

This model is extremely rare, with only 999 made in this color. It boasts an amazing-sounding guitar in excellent condition despite some minor cracks to its fiberglass and vinyl exterior, but still plays very well. At this price point, it certainly can’t be beaten!

The PB-24-G was Hagstrom’s initial model sold under their Kent brand. The PB stood for pickup board, 24 meant two pickups/four switches, and G stood for guitar. These super slim necks featured rosewood fingerboards with dot inlays.

These instruments were sold in the U.K. through Selmer French instrument manufacturer, marked with a metal “K”.

In 1963 Buegeleisen and Jacobson began importing budget Hagstrom guitars to the United States, selling them under their label. These Kent guitars came in Series 500 and 600 models – both hollow-body and acoustic with single or double cutaway designs.

Between 1963 and ’64 Hagstrom shipped 2,425 Kent IB guitars to the U.K. Most likely these were just name changes, though logs in their database indicate they were “new.”

From 1964 to 1966 Hagstrom also produced 4,017 Futurama guitars for Selmer in the U.K. These guitars looked nearly identical to their Kent model counterparts but featured a lucite front and headstock shaped like the Futurama example pictured above.

Sennheiser MD441

Bowie often employed Sennheiser MD 441 dynamic microphones on his instruments, including tom-toms and hi-hats.

The Sennheiser MD 441 dynamic microphone delivers the sound quality of a condenser mic, yet can withstand high SPL levels. This makes it an ideal choice for use in loud recording environments.

This device offers exceptional rejection of off-axis noise, as well as being highly direct and quiet. Furthermore, its wide 30Hz-20kHz frequency response makes it ideal for drums, percussion instruments, electric guitars, and horns.

A bass roll-off switch and brilliance boost make the product even more versatile for various uses. The latter is especially helpful when recording vocals or other high-end instruments that need an extra burst of energy.

This dynamic microphone boasts a super-cardioid pickup pattern, which minimizes bleed from surrounding sources. Furthermore, it provides excellent side rejection.

Since 1966, the Sennheiser MD 441 dynamic microphone has been a renowned success in studios around the world and remains an ideal choice for vocals and guitar/bass cabs alike.

The MD 441 boasts a very low self-noise, so you can use it at high gain levels without fear of damage due to feedback. Furthermore, its hum-bucking coil design eliminates handling noise so the device can be placed close to its source without interference.

The MD 441 has been a classic model in Sennheiser’s catalog for six decades, providing users with an incredibly versatile dynamic mic that can do virtually everything a top-tier condenser can. Recently, however, its popularity is experiencing a comeback.

Martin D-28

David Bowie has played a variety of acoustic guitars over the years, but the Martin D-28 was his “all-time favorite”. It’s an East Indian rosewood dreadnought with a Sitka spruce top and mahogany sides and neck.

He appreciated how the D-28 sounded and found playing it effortlessly. Additionally, it was comfortable to hold and had a pleasant weight to it.

He often played this guitar alone on most of his albums, enjoying its tone and projection as well as its aesthetic appeal.

Since 1931, the D-28 has been the go-to acoustic guitar of choice for many discerning guitarists. It boasts a powerful voice and diverse tonal possibilities that make it suitable for all genres of music.

This 2017 D-28 has been given an upgrade, combining the heritage of this instrument with Martin’s latest innovations. Vintage appointments such as aged toner on the top, open-gear tuners, and a modern neck profile all contribute to creating this refreshed dreadnought’s stylish design.

What sets this new D-28 apart from other 14-fret dreadnoughts is its lack of scalloped bracing, in favor of forward-shifted bracing. This gives it a warm, earthy tone that’s hard to replicate.

Fender Jazz Bass

The Fender Jazz Bass is a 4-string electric bass guitar manufactured by the iconic music brand Fender. First released in 1974, it quickly gained notoriety for its offset design, slim neck profile, and legendary sound.

Clarence Leo Fender designed this iconic instrument, which has become one of the world’s most beloved instruments. Featuring a comfortable slim neck, curvaceous offset waist, and powerful midrange growl, this guitar will always remain one of Fender’s iconic masterpieces.

Bowie relied heavily on this bass during the early years of his career, and it proved an invaluable tool in crafting his music. Paired with his Jazzmaster guitar, it enabled him to craft a wide range of songs.

He played this instrument throughout his career, and it is still popular among musicians today. While its neck may be narrower and not as powerful as the Fender Precision Bass, it offers an excellent sound and a comfortable feel in your hand.

Gail Ann Dorsey was another notable jazz bassist who used the instrument, featured on David Bowie’s Let Love Rule album. She has collaborated with Lenny Kravitz and Gwen Stefani among others.

She is a multi-instrumentalist renowned for her versatile playing style. She has collaborated with many renowned musicians and earned herself an excellent reputation within the industry.

She was an accomplished bass player, capable of adapting her style to different genres of music. She’s collaborated with numerous artists such as David Bowie and Lenny Kravitz.