Bristol post-punks IDLES have had a meteoric rise to fame in the last few years. But what equipment do IDLES use to stand out from the crowd? We take a look at what IDLES play in this Gear Guide.

Welcome to this IDLES Gear Guide

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.

What guitar does Lee Kiernan play?

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.

Telecaster - Budget-friendly

SQUIER AFFINITY TELECASTER, MN, ARCTIC WHITE
SQUIER AFFINITY TELECASTER, MN, ARCTIC WHITE

Telecaster - Mid-level

FENDER VINTERA 50S TELECASTER MN SONIC BLUE
FENDER VINTERA 50S TELECASTER MN SONIC BLUE

Telecaster - Professional 

FENDER AMERICAN PERFORMER TELECASTER MN VINTAGE WHITE
FENDER AMERICAN PERFORMER TELECASTER MN VINTAGE WHITE

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!

Duo Sonic - Mid-level 

FENDER OFFSET-SERIES DUO SONIC CAPRI ORANGE
FENDER OFFSET-SERIES DUO SONIC CAPRI ORANGE

Mustang - Budget-friendly 

SQUIER CLASSIC VIBE 60S MUSTANG IL SONIC BLUE
SQUIER CLASSIC VIBE 60S MUSTANG IL SONIC BLUE

Mustang - Mid-level 

FENDER MUSTANG OFFSET SERIES GUITAR OLYMPIC WHITE
FENDER MUSTANG OFFSET SERIES GUITAR OLYMPIC WHITE
Fender American Performer Mustang RW FB Vintage White
Fender American Performer Mustang RW FB Vintage White

What amps does Lee Kiernan use?

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: 1959HW1936V, 1960AV and 1960BV.

MARSHALL 1960 AV ANGLED CABINET
MARSHALL 1960 AV ANGLED CABINET

What guitar does Mark Bowen play?

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:

Budget-friendly 

SQUIER BULLET STRATOCASTER TREM HSS LAUREL FB, BROWN SUNBURST
SQUIER BULLET STRATOCASTER TREM HSS LAUREL FB, BROWN SUNBURST

Mid-level

Fender Player Stratocaster HSS PF 3-Colour Sunburst
FENDER PLAYER STRATOCASTER HSS PF 3-COLOUR SUNBURST
THE FENDER AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL STRATOCASTER RW, 3-TONE SUNBURST
THE FENDER AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL STRATOCASTER RW, 3-TONE SUNBURST

What amps does Mark Bowen use?

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!

VOX AC30C2 CUSTOM COMBO VALVE AMP
VOX AC30C2 CUSTOM COMBO VALVE AMP

What pedals do IDLES use?

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."

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.

BOSS VB-2W WAZA CRAFT VIBRATO PEDAL
BOSS VB-2W WAZA CRAFT VIBRATO PEDAL

What Bass Guitars Do IDLES Use?

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.

What Bass Does Adam Devonshire play?

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.

Budget-friendly 

SQUIER CLASSIC VIBE 60S JAZZ BASS IL DAPHNE BLUE
SQUIER CLASSIC VIBE 60S JAZZ BASS IL DAPHNE BLUE

Professional

FENDER PLAYER SERIES JAZZ BASS IN BUTTERCREAM - THE ACTUAL BASS ADAM USES!
FENDER PLAYER SERIES JAZZ BASS IN BUTTERCREAM - THE ACTUAL BASS ADAM USES!

Professional

FENDER AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL JAZZ BASS, MN, OLYMPIC WHITE
FENDER AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL JAZZ BASS, MN, OLYMPIC WHITE

What Drums Do IDLES 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?

What drums does Jon Beavis play?

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.

Professional level 

YAMAHA LIVE CUSTOM HYBRID OAK 4 PIECE ROCK SHELL PACK IN NATURAL
YAMAHA LIVE CUSTOM HYBRID OAK 4 PIECE ROCK SHELL PACK IN NATURAL

What other equipment does Jon Beavis use to capture the IDLES sound?

Yamaha Recording Custom 14 x 6.5 Inch Aluminium Snare

YAMAHA RECORDING CUSTOM 14 X 6.5 INCH ALUMINIUM SNARE
YAMAHA RECORDING CUSTOM 14 X 6.5 INCH ALUMINIUM SNARE

Ludwig Hammered Brass Snare 

LUDWIG HAMMERED BLACK BEAUTY 14 X 5 SNARE DRUM
LUDWIG HAMMERED BLACK BEAUTY 14 X 5 SNARE DRUM

Zildjian

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

 Vater Extended Play 5B sticks

VATER HICKORY 5B
VATER HICKORY 5B

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

Protection Racket 

PROTECTION RACKET 24 DELUXE CYMBAL CASE
PROTECTION RACKET 24 DELUXE CYMBAL CASE

IDLES Gear Guide in summary

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.