In a hurry?  

If you’re after a quick rundown of Sam Fender’s gear without traipsing through the entire article, save yourself a scroll.  

What guitars does Sam Fender play?

1. Fender American Professional Jazzmaster  

Sam Fender uses an American Pro Jazzmaster as his go-to guitar. The series was discontinued in 2020, but there’s no doubt that it saw Sam Fender through his rise to stardom.

You can see it in action in his 2019 rendition of “Play God” for BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge. He also plays it on a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Atlantic City” in 2018, the artist who inspired his sound. This Jazzmaster seems to be a sentimental one in Sam Fender’s collection – and for the right reasons; it saw him through his early career.  

2. 1959 Fender Jazzmaster  

Having the original ’59 Fender Jazzmaster as part of your collection is enough to make any guitarist envious. It’s a special guitar, featuring a gold scratch plate and a classic sunburst finish, along with a packet of 1959 strings from New Brunswick, according to his interview with Premier Guitar.  

You won’t see this one in live performances, that’d be far too risky. If you’re after that vintage surfy snap from the early days of the Jazzmaster like Sam Fender, check out the Fender Custom Shop 1959 Jazzmaster – it’s brimming with vintage charm and comes in at a fraction of the price of an original ’59.

3. Fender Stratocaster  

There are two Strats that deserve mention from Sam Fender’s collection. The first is “Tina,” an American Pro Strat finished in the classic Olympic White. Fender plays this at various points throughout his Manchester Ritz performance.

The second is a Powder Blue Custom Shop Strat gifted to him by Elton John following a collaboration at Elton John’s AIDS Foundation Oscar viewing party in 2020. Nothing screams friendship like someone giving you a Custom Shop guitar. While we can’t have Elton John pick one out for you, there are plenty of Strats for you to browse on our website.

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4. Martin 000-X1AE  

For his Ladbible acoustic session, Fender plays a beautifully expressive Martin acoustic. The 000-X1AE features the solid Sitka spruce top with HPL back and sides typical of the Martin X-series.   

5. Gibson Les Paul Goldtop  

In recent renditions of “Arms Length” at Coachella and Dublin 3Arena, Fender can be seen playing a Gibson Les Paul Goldtop. This provides a tonal richness that’s harder to achieve on a Jazzmaster, adding a Springsteen-style chug while getting the snappiness needed for the riff between the G and B strings.  

6. Gretsch White Falcon  

It’s good to see the tradition of the White Falcon being kept alive by modern artists like Sam Fender. He can be seen playing this stunner in his 2022 Emirates Stadium performance of “Mantra”. The hollowbody design of the Falcon adds some lovely depth to Fender’s tone while achieving the iconic trebly twang thanks to Filter’Tron pickups.  

7. Martin D-28  

In his Dublin 3Arena performance of “Wild Long Lie”, Sam Fender uses what looks like a Martin D-28 during the first half of the song to nail the delicate fingerpicked passages. He moves onto his Gibson Les Paul Goldtop in the second half as the tempo and intensity pick up.  

8. Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster  

Yet another Jazzmaster in Sam Fender’s collection is his ‘sonic weapon’ – the American Pro II Jazzmaster, upgraded in all the right places. Improvements include rolled fingerboard edges, “non-stick” satin necks, and an ergonomic sculpted neck heel.

9. Fender Jaguar  

Ticking another offset off the list is Sam Fender’s use of the Jag, which adds more bite than can be achieved by the Jazzmaster. He uses a Classic ‘60s Jag in Fiesta Red on his live performance of “That Sound”, although you can achieve that iconic bite on any Jaguar. If you want a ’60s-inspired Jag, the Fender Made in Japan 2025 model is a great choice, offering vintage appointments and modern playability.  

10. Gibson Les Paul Traditional Bigsby  

You can’t go wrong with a Gibson Les Paul, especially when it’s fitted with a traditional Bigsby. As with many of the guitars on this list, it’s shrouded in mystery, as it’s only visible on a one-off Instagram post. Nevertheless, we can see Sam Fender jamming out in a studio setting with this beauty. 

11. The “Geordie” Jazzmaster

Finishing off Sam Fender’s eclectic guitar collection is what I like to call the “Geordie” Jazzmaster. This one was a personal gift from Fender, featuring a custom Newcastle UTD-inspired pattern thanks to the awesome refinishing work of the RF Custom UK team. It combines two of Sam Fender’s favourite things: Jazzmasters and Newcastle United.

Sam Fender’s amps   

1. Fender ’65 Twin Reverb 

The Fender ’65 Twin Reverb is Sam Fender’s amp of choice. With this beast, he musters up all the tube power he needs to unleash stadium-shaking anthems while capturing classic Fender clean tones for more delicately picked passages.  

3. Fender Mini ’65 Twin Amp 

Whether it’s a joke or not, seeing a Fender Mini ’65 at the top of his stack on an old Instagram post not only affirms his love for Fender Twin amps, but also presents an affordable, small-scale entry into Sam Fender’s tone.  

3. Fender ’68 Custom Princeton Reverb  

Running his American Pro Jazzmaster through a Fender ’68 Custom Princeton Reverb, Sam Fender played his nostalgic song “Leave Fast” at TRNSMT in 2018. This might’ve just been a one-off, but this compact 12W tube amp made for the perfect solo performance vibe.  

Sam Fender’s pedals  

1. Electro-Harmonix EH-4600 Small Clone 

The Electro-Harmonix Small Clone is Sam Fender’s “go-to” pedal. With its simple one-knob control, it’s – in Fender’s own words – “idiot proof.” There’s no denying the importance of this pedal. “Pretending That You’re Dead” (2021) is just one example of his iconic chimey chorus.  

2. Strymon BigSky  

We have the music video for “Leave Fast” to thank for the view we get of the wonderful BigSky on Sam Fender’s pedalboard. It’s the industry standard of reverb pedals, covering the full range of reverb from hall to shimmer, giving Fender plenty of tones to tinker with. 

3. Boss TU-3 Chromatic Tuner  

When you’re playing to a crowd of thousands, staying in tune is super important. Sam Fender uses the Boss TU-3 chromatic tuner to meet professional tuning standards – with a 21-segment LED meter, it offers precision in an instant.

4. Fulltone OCD Obsessive Compulsive Drive  

We already know that Sam Fender likes to keep his pedalboard simple, and the Fulltone OCD ticks the box. This overdrive pedal only features three knobs – volume, tone, and drive – and operates with classic stombox controls, so he musters up all the drive he needs at the flick of a switch.  

5. Mooer Yellow Compressor Pedal 

Sam Fender achieves his tight, controlled sound with a compressor pedal. While he chops and changes compressors, one he has been known to use is the Mooer MCS2 Yellow comp pedal, an affordable, no-nonsense pedal that produces a polished sound.  

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Want to sound like Sam Fender?  

Here are three setups that’ll give you the alt-rock indie sound of Sam Fender. You’ll be smashing out bangers and writing songs in no time with these rigs!  

Beginner  

If you’re after Sam Fender’s sound without breaking the bank, Squier is a great place to start.

Squier guitars offer super affordable Jazzmasters that deliver balanced sound and that crucial alternative style. If you’re a young guitarist or you simply want a small size, the Squier Mini Jazzmaster is perfect.  

In terms of amps, you won’t need full tube power at this level. Instead, the Fender Frontman 20G Guitar Amp or Fender Champion II 25 Guitar Amplifier Combo with Effects offer affordable alternatives with plenty of tonal adjustment options, and they reach decent volumes. 

Finally, when it comes to pedals, you’ll want something simple, which is perfect considering Sam Fender opts for no-nonsense pedals anyway!

I’d recommend the SubZero Space And Time Digital Reverb Pedal – it’ll give you that thick shimmering tone heard in many of his tracks.  

Intermediate  

When you’re ready to take your Sam Fender-inspired tone to the next level, you’ll want to upgrade your Jazzmaster.

Any of the Player II Jazzmasters are fantastic next steps. Made in Mexico, they offer solid specs such as rolled fingerboard edges, vintage-style tremolos, and Alnico single-coil pickups.  

In terms of amps, the Fender Champion II 50 Guitar Amplifier Combo with Effects keeps things affordable and features built-in reverb, chorus, delay, and tremolo – you can sculpt a Sam Fender-style tone from the amp alone.  

Since your amp provides a lot in the way of effects, you’ll want a pedal that sends the most refined signal into it.

The MXR Super Comp Compressor Pedal does just that. This nifty little super comp perfects your tone to professional standards.  

Professional

At a pro level, you’ll need the Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster, the same guitar Fender uses.

With V-Mod II pickups, a deep “C” maple neck, and a rosewood board, it plays beautifully.  

Now you’re ready to unleash pure tube power, and there’s no better option than the Fender 68 Custom Twin Reverb. It gives you all the rock tones and reverb you’ll need to recreate Sam Fender’s sound perfectly.

Rounding off this setup, we have the Electro Harmonix Small Clone Analog Chorus, also used by the man himself, so you can’t really go wrong.

The Small Clone provides the chimey chorus effect heard in many of Fender’s songs. Combine that with the reverb from the ’68 Custom Twin amp and the warmth of the Jazzmaster, and you’re good to go.

FAQs  

Is Sam Fender a good guitarist?  

Sam Fender is an excellent guitar player. He picked up his first guitar when he was eight, so he’s had plenty of time to hone his skills.  

What is Sam Fender’s biggest hit?  

Sam Fender’s biggest hit is “Seventeen Going Under”, released in 2021. It reached the third spot in the UK charts and received triple platinum certification. The song was also voted “Hottest Record of the Year 2021” by BBC Radio One listeners. It’s a belter of a track – if you haven’t heard it yet, go and give it a listen.  

What strings does Sam Fender use?  

Sam Fender uses D’Addario strings, and has done so since “day one,” a preference passed on by his dad. He specifically likes the  NYXL 13-56 medium wound 3rd strings – saying that they “always survived” his rock shows when he was younger, even when he pushed them to their limits when playing leads.  

Final thoughts  

From Jazzmasters and Fender amps to the Small clone and Strymon BigSky, the Geordie artist’s gear mainly consists of a few core pieces and brands (namely Fender).

If you’re looking for inspiration for your own setup, or just a Fender superfan, hopefully this article has given you a solid insight into the guitars Sam Fender plays as well as the amps and pedals that make up his wider rig.