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Steve Hackett stands as one of progressive rock’s most innovative guitarists, known for his pioneering work with Genesis and a distinctive solo career spanning decades. His approach to guitar playing revolutionized the instrument’s role in rock music.
Steve Hackett is the renowned guitarist known for his work with Genesis and innovative guitar techniques. His signature sound combines vintage guitars like the Les Paul Goldtop with effects pedals and Marshall amplification, creating a tone that has influenced generations of players.
What makes Hackett particularly special is his fearless experimentation with gear and technique. He pioneered two-handed tapping in rock music long before it became mainstream, and his use of volume pedal swells created atmospheric textures that defined Genesis’ most ambitious compositions.
This comprehensive guide explores every aspect of Steve Hackett’s equipment, from his prized 1957 Les Paul Goldtop to his custom Fernandes models, the effects that shape his sound, and the techniques that make his playing instantly recognizable.
Steve Hackett’s electric guitar collection represents the perfect blend of vintage classics and modern innovations, with each instrument playing a crucial role in his sonic palette. His guitars have evolved significantly throughout his career, yet certain models remain constants in his arsenal.
Hackett’s most famous guitar is undoubtedly his 1957 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop, purchased in 1972 during his early days with Genesis. This instrument became his primary choice during the band’s classic progressive rock era and featured prominently on albums like “Selling England by the Pound” and “Wind and Wuthering.”
The Goldtop’s PAF pickups provided the warm, rich tones that characterized Hackett’s early work. Its sustain and clarity made it perfect for both delicate passages and powerful solos. Hackett once described finding this guitar as a life-changing moment, saying it immediately felt like an extension of his musical ideas.
Notable performances with the Goldtop include the iconic solos in “Firth of Fifth” and “The Musical Box,” where the guitar’s natural harmonics and sustain helped create some of progressive rock’s most memorable moments. The guitar remained Hackett’s primary choice through the “Trick of the Tail” album in 1976.
In later years, Hackett gravitated toward Fernandes Burny Les Paul models, particularly black versions equipped with the Fernandes Sustainer system. This modern innovation became crucial to his sound, allowing infinite sustain without the need for extreme amplifier volumes.
The sustainer system electromagnetic driver creates feedback-like sustain at any volume, enabling Hackett to achieve the singing tones that characterize his solo work. This technology proved especially valuable during acoustic performances and smaller venues where achieving natural sustain was challenging.
Hackett’s preference for the black Fernandes models reflects both practical and aesthetic considerations. The guitars offer the familiar Les Paul feel and tone while adding modern versatility through the sustainer. These guitars featured prominently on albums like “Out of the Tunnel’s Mouth” and continue to be his primary electric choice in live performances.
Beyond his primary choices, Hackett has utilized several other electric guitars throughout his career. A black Fender Stratocaster made appearances during the late Genesis period, particularly on tracks like “Please Don’t Touch” where its brighter tone complemented certain musical passages.
Schecter Strat-style guitars also found their way into his collection, often used for their tremolo systems and different tonal characteristics. These guitars provided contrast to the warmer Les Paul tones, expanding Hackett’s sonic options both in the studio and live.
For specific recording projects, Hackett has occasionally reached for other models, always selecting the instrument that best serves the musical context rather than brand loyalty. This practical approach to gear selection demonstrates his focus on musical expression over equipment status.
While known primarily for electric guitar work, Steve Hackett’s acoustic and world instrument collection reveals his diverse musical interests and contributes significantly to his unique sound. These instruments add texture and cultural depth to his compositions.
Hackett’s 1973 Yairi nylon string guitar represents one of his most significant acoustic instruments. This Japanese-made classical guitar features prominently on Genesis tracks like “Blood on the Rooftops,” where its warm, intimate tone creates the perfect backdrop for Hackett’s fingerstyle playing.
The nylon string guitar allows Hackett to explore classical influences within rock contexts. His ability to blend classical techniques with progressive rock compositions helped define Genesis’ distinctive sound during the mid-1970s. The Yairi’s cedar top and rosewood back and sides provide the balanced tone and projection necessary for both recording and performance.
Hackett’s approach to nylon string guitar incorporates classical techniques learned through years of study, yet applied with rock sensibility. This combination results in unique compositions that bridge genres and appeal to diverse audiences.
Hackett’s collection includes several 12-string guitars, notably a Zemaitis model often used in collaboration with Mike Rutherford during Genesis performances. These instruments create the rich, orchestral textures that characterize tracks like “The Cinema Show” and “Supper’s Ready.”
Beyond Western instruments, Hackett incorporates various ethnic instruments into his music. These include instruments from different cultures that add authentic flavor to compositions like “The Air-Conditioned Nightmare” and other pieces inspired by world music traditions.
This diverse collection of acoustic and ethnic instruments reflects Hackett’s interest in global musical traditions. Rather than treating these instruments as novelties, he integrates them thoughtfully into compositions, using their unique characteristics to enhance emotional impact and cultural authenticity.
Steve Hackett’s effects chain and amplification choices have evolved significantly throughout his career, yet certain elements remain constant. His approach to effects prioritizes musicality over complexity, using each device purposefully to achieve specific tonal goals.
Hackett’s modern pedalboard centers around several key effects that create his signature sound. The Boss PS-6 Harmonist appears twice in his setup—one set to double his guitar line and another providing subtle chorusing effects. This layering technique adds depth and movement to his playing without overwhelming the core guitar tone.
The Digitech Whammy Pedal provides pitch-shifting capabilities essential for certain solos and special effects. Hackett uses this sparingly but effectively, creating dramatic pitch bends and harmonies that enhance emotional climaxes in his music.
For distortion and overdrive, the Tech21 Sansamp GT2 serves as his primary drive pedal. This versatile unit模拟s various amplifier tones, allowing Hackett to achieve consistent distortion sounds regardless of the amplifier he’s using. The Sansamp’s responsiveness and dynamic range make it ideal for both recording and live performance.
The Vox Wah V847 remains Hackett’s wah pedal of choice, used for expressive filtering and rhythmic effects. Its smooth sweep and musical voice quality complement his playing style, whether used subtly for tone shaping or more aggressively for classic wah effects.
Delay and time-based effects come from the Line6 DL4 Delay Modeler. This versatile unit provides various delay types and settings, from short slapback echoes to long ambient swells. Hackett’s mastery of delay timing creates the atmospheric passages that characterize much of his solo work.
During his Genesis years, Hackett relied more heavily on fuzz pedals and earlier effects. The Colorsound and Tonebender fuzz pedals provided the aggressive distortion needed for early progressive rock compositions. These fuzz units, combined with volume pedal swells, created the dynamic range that defined Genesis’ most ambitious pieces.
The Roland GR-300 Guitar Synthesizer represented Hackett’s early exploration of synth-like guitar tones. This system, which tracks pitch and generates synthesizer sounds, appeared on several Genesis tracks and continued to influence his approach to guitar processing.
For more information on wah pedals similar to Hackett’s choice, check out our comprehensive wah pedal guide. Those interested in fuzz pedals like those used in Hackett’s early Genesis days can explore our fuzz pedal recommendations.
Hackett’s current live setup typically includes two Marshall 1987x 50-watt heads driving two Marshall 1960A cabinets. This classic combination provides the power and headroom necessary for large venues while maintaining the tonal characteristics that complement his playing style.
The Marshall 1987x, based on the classic Plexi design, delivers the warm overdrive and tight low end that pairs perfectly with Hackett’s Les Paul-style guitars. Its simple control layout allows quick adjustments during performances, while its robust construction ensures reliability for touring.
For smaller venues or specific recording situations, Hackett sometimes uses a Peavey Classic 50 combo amplifier. This versatile unit provides different tonal options while maintaining the warm character needed for his style. The ability to switch between different amplifiers demonstrates Hackett’s practical approach to gear selection.
For those looking to achieve similar tones with modern amplifiers, our guitar amp guide offers various options that can approximate Hackett’s sound. Players seeking Les Paul-style guitars like Hackett’s primary choice might explore our electric guitar recommendations.
Steve Hackett’s innovative techniques have influenced countless guitarists across multiple genres. His approach combines classical fingerstyle with rock sensibilities, creating a distinctive style that balances technical proficiency with emotional expression.
Hackett pioneered two-handed tapping in rock music long before it became popularized by other players. His early use of this technique can be heard on Genesis tracks like “The Musical Box” and “Supper’s Ready,” where he incorporated tapping as a melodic device rather than just a show of technical prowess.
What sets Hackett’s tapping apart is its musicality and integration into compositions. Rather than using tapping as an isolated technical display, he weaves it naturally into solos and melodies, creating seamless transitions between picked and tapped passages. This musical approach to technique has inspired generations of players to view tapping as an expressive tool rather than just a novelty.
Hackett’s mastery of volume pedal swells creates the atmospheric passages that characterize much of his work. By slowly increasing volume with his foot while maintaining consistent picking dynamics, he produces smooth, cello-like tones that enhance emotional impact.
This technique appears throughout Genesis’ catalog, particularly on pieces like “Firth of Fifth” where gradual volume increases create dramatic tension and release. Hackett’s precise control over volume pedal dynamics allows him to shape notes and phrases with the expressiveness of a vocalist or wind instrument.
Combining fingerstyle picking with traditional rock techniques gives Hackett access to a wide tonal palette. His classical training informs his approach to fingerpicking on both nylon and steel-string guitars, while rock sensibilities drive his use of picks and hybrid picking techniques.
This versatility allows Hackett to move seamlessly between delicate fingerstyle passages and aggressive picked phrases within the same composition. The ability to blend these techniques creates the dynamic range that defines his playing style.
Steve Hackett’s equipment has evolved significantly from his early Genesis days through his extensive solo career. This evolution reflects both technological advancements and his changing musical priorities, yet certain constants reveal his core tonal preferences.
During Hackett’s time with Genesis, his gear centered around the 1957 Les Paul Goldtop and early fuzz pedals. This combination created the warm, saturated tones that defined the band’s progressive rock sound. The relatively simple signal chain—guitar, fuzz, volume pedal, and amplifier—produced immediate, responsive tones that suited the band’s live performances.
The Roland GR-300 guitar synthesizer represented Hackett’s most significant gear experiment during this period. Used on tracks like “The Waiting Room” and “Afterglow,” this system expanded the guitar’s role beyond traditional tones, incorporating synthesizer-like textures into Genesis’ compositions.
Hackett’s early solo work saw gradual experimentation with different guitars and effects. The Fender Stratocaster appeared more frequently during this period, offering brighter tones for certain compositions. Effects chains became more complex as technology advanced, though Hackett maintained his preference for musical simplicity.
The introduction of digital effects in the 1980s expanded Hackett’s sonic palette. Digital delays and reverbs offered new possibilities for atmospheric playing, though he often combined these with analog effects to maintain warmth and character.
Hackett’s current setup represents the perfect balance between vintage warmth and modern versatility. The Fernandes sustainer-equipped Les Pauls provide infinite sustain without compromising core tone, while modern digital effects offer reliability and consistency for touring.
The dual Marshall amplifier setup provides sufficient power and flexibility for large venues while maintaining the classic rock tones that define his sound. This setup has remained relatively stable in recent years, reflecting Hackett’s satisfaction with the tonal possibilities it offers.
Steve Hackett’s influence extends far beyond his specific equipment choices. His innovative techniques and musical approach have inspired generations of players across multiple genres, from progressive rock to metal and beyond.
Tribute bands seeking to replicate Hackett’s sound face unique challenges due to the vintage nature of some of his equipment. The 1957 Les Paul Goldtop, in particular, represents an aspirational goal that few can realistically acquire. Modern alternatives with similar tonal characteristics include various Les Paul reissues and inspired models from quality manufacturers.
For those seeking to replicate Hackett’s acoustic sound, acoustic-electric guitar recommendations can provide similar versatility and tonal qualities to his Yairi nylon string model.
Players inspired by Hackett but working with modern budgets have several options for achieving similar tones. Various manufacturers offer Les Paul-style models with sustainers, while effects pedal companies produce units that can approximate his signature sounds.
For those interested in compression as part of achieving Hackett’s dynamic control, our compressor pedal guide offers options that can complement volume pedal techniques.
Steve Hackett is widely regarded as an exceptional guitarist who pioneered two-handed tapping in rock music and created innovative guitar techniques that influenced generations of players. His work with Genesis and as a solo artist demonstrates remarkable technical skill, musical creativity, and emotional expressiveness that has earned him recognition as one of progressive rock’s most important guitarists.
Steve Hackett uses both picks and fingerstyle techniques depending on the musical context. He often combines traditional picking with fingerstyle passages and hybrid picking techniques, allowing him to access a wide tonal palette. His classical training informs his fingerstyle approach, while rock sensibilities drive his use of picks.
Steve Hackett currently uses two Marshall 1987x 50-watt heads driving Marshall 1960A cabinets for live performances. During his Genesis years, he often used similar Marshall amplification. For smaller venues and recording, he sometimes uses a Peavey Classic 50 combo amplifier. His amplifier choices prioritize warm overdrive and sufficient headroom for his dynamic playing style.
Steve Hackett’s most famous guitar is his 1957 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop, purchased in 1972. This guitar featured prominently on classic Genesis albums like ‘Selling England by the Pound’ and ‘Wind and Wuthering,’ and was used for iconic solos in songs like ‘Firth of Fifth’ and ‘The Musical Box.’ The Goldtop’s warm, sustaining tone helped define his early sound.
Steve Hackett’s approach to gear emphasizes musical expression over equipment obsession. His choices reflect a practical sensibility, selecting tools that serve the music rather than collecting instruments for their own sake. This mindset offers valuable lessons for players at all levels.
For those inspired by Hackett’s sound, remember that technique and musicality ultimately matter more than specific equipment. Focus on developing expressive dynamics, exploring various techniques, and finding gear that complements your personal musical voice rather than attempting exact replication of another player’s setup.
Hackett’s legacy continues through his ongoing recording and touring, as well as through the countless guitarists he has influenced across multiple genres. His innovative approach to both gear and technique ensures his place as one of rock’s most important and forward-thinking guitarists.
