IDLES Gear Guide - Get The Post Punk Sound

If you've been to an IDLES live show or seen their performances online - it's obvious that guitarists Lee Kiernan and Mark Bowen are huge fans of Fender.

But what Fender guitars do they use and what does that contribute to their tone? Below we'll explore some of their guitar choices which have helped them own festival mainstages and high-profile television slots.

Lee Kiernan is a vital piece of the IDLES puzzle - but what guitar does he play? Lee is most often seen playing the iconic Fender Telecaster. He usual rocks it in a shell pink (see video below) or a custom shop gold glitter finish.

Lee Kiernan has also been a massive fan of the student and offset Fender models. In the earlier days he was seen using a Fender Duo Sonic in Capri Orange which he eventually auctioned off for charity.

These days he seems to have switched that out with a Fender Mustang in a shell pink finish. He only uses one pickup with the neck pickup removed - his reasoning behind this is that more pickups mean more wiring, which means more stuff to break. With the chaotic nature of their live shows, this makes perfect sense!

If you want to know what amps IDLES use then we've got you covered. Lee specifically favours Marshall Amps.

He opts for 100 Watt JCM 800's because of their amazing headroom. This is great for the IDLES sound as it means he can slam them with plenty of gain.

He also plays through the following: 1959HW, 1936V, 1960AV and 1960BV.

It's time we moved onto the other chaotic guitar force in IDLES - Mark Bowen. Much like his attire (or lack thereof) - another consistent factor in his dynamic is the road-worn ‘71 Fender Stratocaster.

There's a reason why the Stratocaster is one of the most iconic guitars of all time - it's a true icon and can pretty much lend itself to any genre. Much like the other Fender guitars, there are Strats available to suit any budget:

Mark Bowen is a big fan of Hiwatt Amps for both the live environment and the studio. He uses them because of the vast amount of different amount of gain stages that Hiwatt can handle. They're particularly ideal for IDLES because they allow you to be really loud and clean but then chuck a load of gain at them.

Bowen used to use the SA 212 Custom 50 but now he uses two custom 100 amps now they're playing much bigger stages. He explained to Hiwatt that he utilises a 'Two Amp Situation: "One offers big warm bass tones which are low and driving but keeping the harsh tones. The other offers treble and mid." Check out Bowen talking about these choices here:

He also said that the insane headroom of these amps means that you can hear pedal detail with real clarity. He said the rich and full sound of the insanely loud DR103 affected their writing process.

We currently don't have any Hiwatt stock available but if you're looking to purchase one of these amps don't hesitate to get in touch with the sales team here at PMT and we can do our best to help.

Bowen has also been seen using a VOX AC30 in the past which we'd fully recommend to just about any guitarist. There's a good reason why these are a staple for guitarists across the world - they're an infamous backline name!

We often get asked what pedals IDLES use here at PMT. The answer is a lot! But luckily we've pulled together a nice list of their go-to choices for you to look at.

Lee Kiernan recently told Marshall, "I use so many pedals because as soon as you start using one you end up acquiring more and more and more, then you want to find out what each pedal does and how many pedals you need to make it all work."

• MXR Smartgate
• Boss VB-2W Waza Craft Vibrato Pedal
• Death By Audio Echo Dream 2 Delay
• Death By Audio Reverberation Machine Reverb
• Death By Audio Evil Filter EQ
• JHS Haunting Mids EQ
• JHS Pedals Colour Box Pre-amp / EQ
• EarthQuaker Devices Acapulco Gold V2
• EarthQuaker Devices Organizer V2 Pedal
• Earthquaker Devices Data Corrupter 
• Moog Delay Pedal
• Electro Harmonix POG 2 
• ABY Baby AB Box
• Strymon Flint Tremolo and Reverb Pedal 
• Katana Clean Boost 
• MF Chorus (Out Of Print) Boss Chorus Pedal (Alternative)
• Boss Volume Pedal 
• Boss Chromatic Tuner

We realise this list is likely to change as the band evolve and they might add and takeaway as their live show and sound changes. If you have any more information on what pedals IDLES use then feel free to let us know in the comments on this blog.

The Boss VB-2W Waza Craft Vibrato Pedal offers up a unique texture and sound to any setup. This features a new vibrato mode and a real-time control function so you can enjoy sublime expressive vibrato performance.

Next up we'll look at what bass guitar Adam Devonshire uses to capture that menacing and violent IDLES bass tone. Much like the guitars - it's a case of all things Fender.

Adam Devonshire plays a Fender Jazz Bass. He says, "Fender means a lot to me. They're the most playable guitars that I've come across. The Jazz Bass in-particular is so versatile that I'd struggle to play anything else now."

Needless to say, the Fender Jazz Bass is an icon. It was the second bass model that Leo Fender brought to the table and it quickly went on to become one of the most popular bass guitars on the planet across a variety of genres. Luckily there are options available no matter what your budget or level might be.

If you're wondering what drums IDLES use then you're in the right place. Jon Beavis is a true driving force when it comes to the IDLES sound but what equipment does he use?

If you're wondering what drums IDLES use then you're in the right place. Jon Beavis is a true driving force when it comes to the IDLES sound but what equipment does he use?

Jon Beavis has always been a fan of Yamaha kits and his current setup is a Yamaha Live Custom Hybrid Oak kit - check it out in action below:

The Custom Hybrid Oak is a pioneering kit in many ways and it's capable of delivering that mammoth punch that IDLES need for live performance.

These kits utilise technology born from Yamaha PHX hybrid design, such as a phenolic hyper-core sheet, revolutionary YESS III mounting technology and breakthrough finishing techniques.

• Zildjian 18″ and 20″ K Dark Thin crash cymbals
• Zildjian 21" K crash ride 
• Zildjian 14" master sound hi-hats

Jon Beavis has also said he uses Gibraltar hardware and Protection Racket Cases. Two names that we would also wholesomely recommend here at PMT.

To wrap things up with this IDLES Gear Guide - the Bristol post-punk force are a band who have a very firm idea on the equipment they use. For the most part, this is Fender for guitars, Marshall and Hiwatt for amps, along with Yamaha for drums.

So hopefully we've answered any questions you might have about what equipment IDLES use. Live and studio setups are constantly evolving and changing so if you have any further or new information then don't hesitate to let us know.

If you require more information or help on any of the guitars, drums or accessories you've seen in this gear guide then visit PMT Online or call into your nearest PMT Store and speak to one of our friendly experts.