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Samantha Fish has emerged as one of the most dynamic blues rock guitarists of her generation, captivating audiences with her powerful playing style and authentic approach to the blues. Since bursting onto the scene in 2026, she has built an impressive collection of guitars and gear that reflects her diverse musical influences and relentless pursuit of the perfect tone.
From her iconic Arctic White Gibson SG to her custom Delaney signature models and even a cigar box guitar, Samantha’s gear choices tell a story of artistic evolution and sonic exploration. Her setup combines vintage classics with modern innovations, creating a unique voice in the blues rock landscape that has earned her recognition among the best guitarists of all time.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through every piece of equipment in Samantha Fish’s rig, from her primary electric guitars and amplifiers to her effects pedals and specialty instruments. We’ll explore how each piece contributes to her signature sound, discover the stories behind her gear acquisitions, and provide insights into how you can achieve similar tones with your own setup.
Whether you’re a longtime fan looking to understand her equipment better or a guitarist seeking inspiration for your own rig, this in-depth analysis will give you everything you need to know about Samantha Fish’s guitars and gear, including specifications, usage contexts, and the evolution of her sound over the past decade.
Samantha Fish’s Arctic White Gibson SG stands as the cornerstone of her entire rig, serving as her primary instrument since 2015. This iconic guitar, featuring stock ’57 Classic humbuckers, provides the thick, aggressive tones that have become synonymous with her blues rock style. The SG’s lightweight mahogany body and dual-cutaway design allow for the aggressive stage performance style that Samantha is known for, while the classic Gibson construction ensures reliability during her heavy touring schedule.
What makes this SG particularly special is how Samantha has made it her own through extensive playing rather than modifications. Ordered online in 2015, the guitar arrived as a standard production model but has developed its own character through years of road wear and Samantha’s distinctive playing approach. The stock pickups deliver the perfect balance of warmth and bite for her style, with enough output to drive her Category 5 amps into natural overdrive while maintaining clarity for intricate blues passages.
In studio recordings, particularly on albums like “Wild Heart” and “Kill or Be Kind,” the SG provides the foundation for Samantha’s rhythm parts and leads. Its ability to transition from clean, chiming tones to thick, saturated overdrive makes it incredibly versatile for the range of material she performs. Live, the SG is her go-to for heavier blues rock numbers and slide work, with the guitar’s natural sustain and feedback characteristics adding to the intensity of her performances.
For aspiring blues guitarists looking to replicate Samantha’s core tone, a Gibson SG with vintage-style humbuckers represents the essential starting point. The combination of mahogany body, set neck construction, and dual humbuckers creates the thick, singing tones that define her sound, while the guitar’s ergonomic design supports the physical playing style required for her high-energy performances.
Samantha Fish’s collection includes two distinct Fender Jaguars, each serving specific sonic purposes in her musical palette. The Fender Jaguar Classic Player Special in white features V-Mod single-coil pickups that provide brighter, more articulate tones compared to her Gibson SG. This guitar excels on tracks requiring cleaner tones with enhanced treble response, particularly on R&B-influenced material from her “Chills & Fever” album.
Her Surf Green Fender Jaguar Vintera Series represents a significant departure from her usual setup, featuring Atomic humbuckers that bridge the gap between traditional Jaguar chime and SG-style thickness. This model has become increasingly important in her recent work, especially on songs requiring a blend of vintage surf aesthetics with modern blues rock power. The Vintera’s shorter scale length and unique switching options provide tonal variations that add depth to her recorded work.
The contrast between these two Jaguars showcases Samantha’s nuanced approach to tone selection. The Classic Player with its single-coils delivers the glassy, percussive tones perfect for cleaner blues passages and R&B rhythms, while the Vintera with humbuckers provides a warmer, fuller sound that complements rather than duplicates her SG’s character. This strategic approach allows her to cover wider sonic territory without carrying duplicate-sounding instruments.
Both Jaguars see regular use in different contexts – the Classic Player often appears on songs requiring brighter tones and more pronounced midrange scoop, while the Vintera serves as an alternative when she wants humbucker thickness but with Jaguar-style articulation. This thoughtful approach to guitar selection demonstrates Samantha’s understanding of how different instruments serve different musical purposes within her repertoire.
The collaboration between Samantha Fish and luthier Mike Delaney has produced two signature models that represent some of the most unique instruments in her collection. The Delaney SF-1 “Fish-o-caster” features a striking natural finish with a custom fish-shaped f-hole design that instantly identifies it as Samantha’s signature model. This semi-hollow construction delivers the warm, resonant tones of a traditional semi-hollow body while maintaining the focused response needed for high-volume stage performance.
Perhaps even more distinctive is the Delaney Samantha Fish 512, a black quilt semi-hollow model specifically designed for open D slide tuning. This guitar demonstrates Samantha’s commitment to having purpose-built instruments for specific musical applications. The 512’s construction and pickup selection are optimized for slide work, providing the smooth sustain and even response necessary for bottleneck techniques while eliminating the feedback issues that can plague semi-hollow guitars at high volumes.
Both Delaney models showcase the close collaboration between artist and luthier, with each detail serving a specific musical purpose. The Fish-o-caster’s unique f-hole design isn’t merely cosmetic – it influences the instrument’s acoustic properties and resonance characteristics. The 512’s electronics are tailored specifically for slide work, with pickup positions and controls optimized for the frequencies most prominent in bottleneck playing.
These signature guitars represent more than just endorsement deals; they’re tools developed through years of touring and recording experience. Each model addresses specific needs in Samantha’s musical arsenal, from the Fish-o-caster’s versatility across different musical styles to the 512’s specialization for slide work. This level of thoughtful instrument design demonstrates Samantha’s deep understanding of how guitar construction influences tone and playability.
Samantha Fish’s guitar collection extends well beyond traditional electric guitars, incorporating several specialty instruments that contribute unique colors to her musical palette. The most distinctive of these is her Stogie Cigar Box Guitar in American Cigars Red finish, a 4-string instrument with P-90 pickup that has become a signature element of her live performances. This primitive-looking instrument delivers raw, raunchy tones that perfectly suit certain blues numbers, adding authenticity and visual interest to her stage show.
The 1956 Danelectro Baritone in Silver Sparkle finish serves as Samantha’s baritone guitar, with its 29.75-inch scale length providing deeper pitch capabilities without sacrificing playability. This instrument appears on select recordings where its extended range adds weight to blues passages and creates foundation for arrangements. The baritone’s lipstick pickups deliver the classic Danelectro tone – bright yet hollow – that cuts through mixes while maintaining a vintage character.
Samantha’s Gibson Firebird in Cherry Red represents another departure from her more conventional instruments. With its unique reverse body design and mini-humbuckers, the Firebird provides tones that sit between her SG and Jaguar models – brighter than the SG but fuller than the Jaguars. This guitar has become increasingly important in her recent work, especially on material from her “Faster” album where its distinct tonal characteristics add variety to her guitar sounds.
Her acoustic instruments, while used less frequently in her blues rock context, include a Taylor K24ce with natural koa finish and Expression System 2 electronics. This high-end acoustic appears on recordings requiring authentic acoustic tones and serves as her primary acoustic guitar for singer-songwriter material and intimate performances. The K24ce’s koa construction provides bright, clear tones that complement her voice and playing style.
These specialty instruments demonstrate Samantha’s commitment to having the right tool for every musical situation. Rather than relying on one or two guitars for all applications, she maintains a diverse collection that allows her to select instruments specifically suited to each song’s requirements. This thoughtful approach to gear selection contributes significantly to the depth and variety of her recorded and live work.
Category 5 Amplifiers form the foundation of Samantha Fish’s amplification setup, with two primary configurations serving different venue sizes and acoustic requirements. The Category 5 Andrew, a 50-watt 2×12 combo amp, serves as her primary amplifier for most club and theater venues. This boutique amplifier delivers the perfect balance of clean headroom and natural overdrive, providing the foundation for Samantha’s expressive playing dynamics.
For larger venues and outdoor festivals, Samantha employs the Category 5 Camille head paired with a 4×12 cabinet configuration. This setup provides increased power and projection necessary for bigger spaces while maintaining the tonal characteristics of the smaller Andrew combo. The Camille’s enhanced headroom allows for cleaner tones at higher volumes, while still delivering the natural tube breakup that defines her core sound.
Both amplifiers share similar tonal characteristics, with emphasis on warm midrange, smooth highs, and tight low-end response. This consistency ensures that Samantha’s core tone remains recognizable regardless of venue size. The amps are typically set with the gain around 2-3 o’clock for natural overdrive, with additional gain coming from her pedals for heavier passages. This approach allows her to use the guitar’s volume control for dynamic range, rolling back for cleaner tones and pushing forward for increased saturation.
The choice of Category 5 amplifiers reflects Samantha’s preference for boutique, hand-wired equipment that provides reliability and tonal consistency night after night. These amps are known for their durability and consistent performance, essential qualities for an artist with Samantha’s heavy touring schedule. The amplifiers’ responsive nature allows for expressive playing dynamics, with subtle changes in picking attack and guitar volume creating significant tonal variations.
For guitarists seeking to replicate Samantha’s core tone, the key elements include quality tube amplification with natural overdrive characteristics, sufficient clean headroom for dynamic playing, and speakers that provide smooth high-frequency response without harshness. While exact Category 5 amplifiers may be difficult to acquire, similar results can be achieved with other quality boutique or vintage-style tube amplifiers.
Samantha Fish’s pedalboard represents a carefully curated collection of effects that enhance rather than define her core tone. Her signal chain begins with a Dunlop Volume Pedal, placed first in the chain for volume swells and level control. This strategic placement allows for smooth volume adjustments without affecting the interaction of subsequent pedals with the amplifier’s input stage.
The primary drive section features an Analog Man King of Tone overdrive pedal, a highly regarded boutique unit that provides transparent overdrive with minimal coloration. This pedal serves as Samantha’s main gain boost, adding sustain and thickness to her core amplifier tones. Notably, the red channel of this pedal is not functioning, a testament to the extensive road use this equipment has seen. Complementing the King of Tone is a JHS Mini Foot Fuzz, which provides heavier distortion for more aggressive passages and solos.
For modulation effects, Samantha employs a Boss PS-5 Super Shifter, which she prominently features on songs like “Bulletproof” from the “Kill or Be Kind” album. This harmony and pitch shifter adds unique textures to certain passages, creating harmonized lines and octave effects that expand her musical vocabulary. The PS-5’s versatility makes it an essential part of her sound for specific songs while remaining unused for much of her blues repertoire.
Time-based effects include both an MXR Carbon Copy analog delay and a Line 6 DL-4 delay modeler. The Carbon Copy provides warm, vintage-style delay for standard echo effects, while the DL-4 offers expanded capabilities including reverse delay and longer delay times. This dual-delay approach allows Samantha to access both simple, classic delay sounds and more complex rhythmic textures as needed.
Additional effects include an Electro-Harmonix POG octave generator for special effects and a JHS Tidewater Tremolo, primarily used with her baritone guitar. For acoustic performances, she employs an LR Baggs Para Acoustic D.I. preamp, providing EQ and amplification for her Taylor acoustic guitar. This comprehensive yet focused pedalboard demonstrates Samantha’s preference for quality over quantity, with each effect serving specific musical purposes.
Samantha Fish’s gear has evolved significantly throughout her career, reflecting her musical growth and changing artistic requirements. In her early years (2011-2014), she relied primarily on a 2011 Fender Telecaster with Lindy Fralin humbuckers and more basic amplification. This period, including albums like “Runaway” and “Black Wind Howlin’,” featured a more traditional blues approach with straightforward gear choices.
The acquisition of her Gibson SG in 2015 marked a significant turning point in both her sound and career trajectory. This period, coinciding with the “Wild Heart” album, saw Samantha embracing a heavier blues rock style, with the SG becoming her primary instrument. The introduction of Category 5 amplifiers around this time provided the foundation for her current core tone, which has remained consistent while expanding to include additional instruments and effects.
Between 2017-2019, Samantha’s gear expanded significantly to include her Delaney signature models and Fender Jaguars. This period, encompassing “Belle of the West” and “Chills & Fever,” demonstrated her exploration of different tonal territories, from country blues to R&B. The addition of specialty instruments like the cigar box guitar and Danelectro baritone expanded her sonic palette while maintaining consistency with her core amplifier setup.
Recent years (2020-2024) have seen further refinement of her gear, with the Gibson Firebird joining the collection and increased use of effects pedals for specific songs. The “Faster” album showcased this expanded approach, with more varied guitar sounds and effects usage while maintaining the foundation established with the SG and Category 5 amplifiers. Throughout this evolution, Samantha has demonstrated a thoughtful approach to gear acquisition, adding instruments and effects that serve specific musical purposes rather than accumulating equipment for its own sake.
This evolution reflects Samantha’s artistic journey from traditional blues to her current blend of blues rock, Americana, and roots music. Each gear addition has served to expand her musical vocabulary while maintaining the core elements that define her sound. This balanced approach to gear evolution has allowed her to grow as an artist while maintaining a recognizable sonic identity.
Samantha Fish’s approach to gear selection reveals a thoughtful philosophy that prioritizes musical functionality over brand loyalty or market trends. Rather than seeking out the most expensive or prestigious equipment, she focuses on instruments and amplifiers that serve specific musical purposes. Each piece in her collection addresses a particular tonal need or playing situation, demonstrating a practical approach to gear accumulation based on musical requirements rather than collector impulse.
The consistency of her core setup – the Gibson SG and Category 5 amplifiers – reflects Samantha’s understanding of the importance of reliable, predictable equipment for professional touring. While she enjoys experimenting with different guitars and effects, she maintains a foundation of gear that she knows will perform consistently night after night. This balance between experimentation and reliability is essential for musicians with heavy touring schedules.
For aspiring guitarists, Samantha’s gear selection offers several valuable lessons. First, the importance of finding core equipment that works for your specific style and sticking with it long enough to truly master its nuances. Second, the value of adding instruments and effects gradually based on specific musical needs rather than attempting to acquire everything at once. Finally, the recognition that expensive gear doesn’t automatically produce great music – the most important element is how the equipment serves your artistic vision.
Samantha’s success as one of the leading successful guitarists in modern blues rock stems not from having the most extensive or expensive gear collection, but from thoughtfully selecting equipment that enhances her musical expression. Her gear tells a story of artistic growth and refinement, with each addition serving a purpose in her evolving musical narrative. This thoughtful approach to equipment selection provides a model for guitarists at all levels seeking to build their own ideal rigs.
Ultimately, Samantha Fish’s guitars and gear represent tools in service of her artistic vision rather than ends in themselves. Her approach demonstrates that the best gear is not necessarily the most expensive or prestigious, but rather the equipment that best serves your musical expression. This philosophy, combined with her exceptional talent and dedication, has established her as one of the most important voices in modern blues rock guitar.
Samantha Fish primarily plays a Gibson SG in Arctic White, which she acquired in 2015. She also uses Fender Jaguars (Classic Player and Vintera models), custom Delaney signature guitars (SF-1 and 512), and specialty instruments including a cigar box guitar and Danelectro baritone.
Samantha Fish uses Category 5 amplifiers as her primary setup. She has a Category 5 Andrew 50-watt 2×12 combo for smaller venues and a Category 5 Camille head with 4×12 cabinet for larger spaces. These boutique tube amps provide the foundation for her signature blues rock tone.
Yes, Samantha Fish uses a Stogie Cigar Box Guitar in American Cigars Red finish. This 4-string instrument with P-90 pickup has become a signature part of her live performances, adding raw, authentic blues tones to select songs in her repertoire.
Samantha’s pedalboard includes a Dunlop Volume Pedal, Analog Man King of Tone overdrive, JHS Mini Foot Fuzz, Boss PS-5 Super Shifter, MXR Carbon Copy delay, Line 6 DL-4 delay modeler, Electro-Harmonix POG octave generator, and JHS Tidewater Tremolo. She also uses an LR Baggs Para Acoustic D.I. for her acoustic guitar.
Yes, Samantha Fish is primarily a songwriter who writes or co-writes most of her material. She has collaborated with songwriters like Jim McCormick but maintains creative control over her music, which reflects in her thoughtful approach to gear selection that serves her artistic vision.
Samantha Fish has two signature models with Delaney Guitars: the SF-1 ‘Fish-o-caster’ with a custom fish f-hole design, and the Model 512 semi-hollow designed specifically for open D slide tuning. Both guitars reflect her specific playing needs and musical preferences.
