Foals - Gear Guide - Guitars, Pedals, Amps and more

If you’re reading this Foals Gear Guide then you’re probably wondering what gear Yannis Philippakis uses. Yannis is very much the lifeblood of the band - whether he’s leaping off balconies at their chaotic live shows or delivering those infamous plucky guitar lines.

Yannis Phillippakis is best associated with his custom Travis Bean models. These guitars are rare and can be very expensive but Yannis says this is part of what he loved about them. 

He’s said in the past that it doesn’t feel like you’re playing a toy - saying he likes the fact that it feels like a commitment and you’re playing something that has been crafted.Check out Yannis slaying his Travis Bean at their Glastonbury secret set:

While these guitars are incredible - we know they’re not realistic for many players out there - especially if you’re just picking up the guitar for the first time or simply can’t justify their weighty price tag. That’s why we’ve decided to look at some of the other guitars Yannis has played.  

Yannis has been seen using a Squier Vintage Modified Mustang - this versatile guitar is a great all-rounder and offers up an excellent tone for that Foals sound. Mustangs have been used by everyone from Kurt Cobain through to The 1975 over the years and is available to all budgets.

Yannis has also been seen using a few Gretsch Models during his time in Foals - he’s said his Country Gentleman has been a big help in the studio but has also been seen using a Special Run Duo Jet - two guitars that pack a depthful sound and unmistakable tone. Take a look at these options just below: 

Yannis used to rock the iconic Fender Telecaster back in his early days when the band performed as The Edmund Fitzgerald. Their sound was a lot more math rock driven then - but the Telecaster obviously played a part in sending Yannis on his way to greatness.

Yannis is a big fan of Hiwatt Amps and frequently uses Custom Heads. These are a go to for many professional touring guitarists including Mark Bowen from IDLES. The potent pairing of his Travis Bean guitar and a Hiwatt makes for quite the almighty sound in the live department. 

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. 

Yannis has also been seen playing a Fender Supersonic in the music video for Mountain At My Gates - this is a go to for professional guitarists across the planet and we’d wholeheartedly recommend taking a look if you’re after something that sounds incredible and will last the road.

Now we’ve covered off guitars and amps - the next natural step is taking a look at what pedals Yannis uses in Foals. Pedals are a massive part of capturing that rich and rewarding guitar tone that Foals have become known for - especially when Yannis locks in with Jimmy Smith.

We’ve highlighted three pedals for this blog from Yannis. First up is the Strymon Blue Sky Reverberator - this pedal was built by Strymon to deliver the sweetest reverbs around! We can vouch for this here at PMT - a highly versatile pedal which can pull out incredible reverb tones!

Next up we’ve got the MXR Phase 100 which is a great addition to any pedalboard. This is simply because it packs a massive spectrum of tones with ten stages of phasing. This is also a great pedal for keyboard players and bassists to boost your tonal palette.

Next up we’ve got the MXR Phase 100 which is a great addition to any pedalboard. This is simply because it packs a massive spectrum of tones with ten stages of phasing. This is also a great pedal for keyboard players and bassists to boost your tonal palette. 

For Jimmy Smith it’s a case of all things Jazzmaster and Jaguar. He dabbles in other guitars but when we’re really talking about the Foals sound - these are the main go to. 

Much like Yannis with the Mustangs - both are available to suit all levels and budgets - from beginner to pro. Below we take a look starting with Jazzmasters:

Next up we’ll take a look at the iconic offset Jaguar model and the varying price-points and levels - this is another versatile guitar which is legendary within the grunge genre. Dinosaur Jr’s J Mascis even has his own signature Squier model.

We’ve covered a few of the pedals that Yannis uses in Foals but now let’s take a look at some regular staples on the pedal board of Jimmy Smith. First up we’ve picked out the POG 2 which helps capture those depthful and rich smooth swells that Foals pull off so well. This pedal even made an appearance on The White Stripes’ Blue Orchid.

We’ve also cherry-picked the Earthquaker Devices Rainbow Machine for the purposes of this Foals Gear Guide. About as fun as its namesake - this pitch shifting modulator pedal offers up an immense amount of opportunity when it comes to crafting your tone.

The last one we’ve picked out from Jimmy Smith’s pedalboard is the Strymon Timeline Delay Pedal. Our team here at PMT have described this pedal as one big toy box for guitarists to play with and we’re sure Jimmy Smith would agree! Take a look just here:

Next up we’ll take a look at what amps Jimmy Smith uses in Foals. There’s a bit more variety in Jimmy Smith’s amp choices than Yannis but they’re all great. Below we’ve picked out three iconic amps that Foals use - from the VOX AC30 through to the Fender Princeton.

Foals have had a revolving door of bass players since original bassist Walter Gervers left the band in 2018. They’ve since had a fill in from Everything Everything’s Jeremy Pritchard and beyond that most recently Jagwar Ma’s Jack Freeman. 

We’ve highlighted the go to choices of each Foals bassist just below - they all opt for Fender Jazz Bass or Precision Bass though - usually in a classic sunburst finish. These are go-to professional level bass guitars all perfect for that iconic Foals tone!

Like with just about all Fender guitars - these basses are available at budget friendly pricepoints (usually within the Squier range) and also professional level ready to take to some of the world’s biggest stages just like Foals themselves!

Jack Bevan started playing drums at fourteen years old. His first ever kit was a Tama Grand Star Black which he’d seen Lars Ulrich playing and had to work in a supermarket to pay off. 

A few years ago Bevan got a Tama Star Kit which he says has a fantastic tone and sounds absolutely huge live - with the kick drum sounding like a rocket. He says Foals’ producers favour the older sixties sounding kits in the studio. 

To summarise our Foals Gear Guide - the band have a far reaching and expansive setup. Yannis sticks to a formula he’s rocked since the early days - which is mainly a trusty pairing of a Travis Bean guitar and Hiwatt Amps - though his pedalboard evolves with each album tour.

If you’re looking to capture the Foals sound with ease and accuracy you can do that with Jimmy Smith’s setup - Jazzmasters and Jaguars (for all budgets) and some fun pedals. This is an easier way to the Foals sound if you can’t obtain the more expensive guitars Yannnis uses.  

Despite having a revolving door of bass players - Foals bassists have all opted for the trusty Fender Jazz Bass or Fender Precision Bass over the years. Drummer Jack Bevan is very much a one brand man who sticks religiously to his Tama Kits - we can see why!

If you have any questions about any of the gear or equipment we’ve covered in this Foals Gear Guide then be sure to contact your nearest PMT Store - we can help and advise based on your budget, style and sound ambitions across all areas of your required setup.