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Gary Moore
Gear & Tone AtlasVerified

Gary Moore

Belfast, United Kingdomblues rock, hard rock

Soaring vibrato and sustain bridging hard rock and emotional blues.

Photo: Tibban99 / CC BY 3.0

Guitarist Profile

Artistry & Style

Signature Techniques
long sustainintense vibratofast legato runs
Key Takeaway for Players
Vibrato is a signature as personal as a fingerprint.
Origin & Era

Belfast, United Kingdom

54.60° N, -5.93° W

Gear & Tone Atlas

Verified

Equipment & Sound

The instruments, pedals, amplifiers, and signal chain that shape the sound of Gary Moore.

What defines the sound

Signature Tone

Moore owned Peter Green's 1959 Les Paul and used Les Pauls and a Strat across his career, into Marshall amplifiers pushed by an overdrive such as a Tube Screamer. His tone is thick, midrange-rich and singing, with long sustain that supports his dramatic vibrato and bluesy phrasing. Bridging hard rock and blues, he relied on feel and dynamics over heavy processing.

From guitar to amp

Signal Chain

  1. guitarConfirmed

    Gibson Les Paul Standard

    Main guitar, including Peter Green's famous Les Paul.

  2. overdriveConfirmed

    Ibanez Tube Screamer

    Overdrive boost for sustain and midrange push.

  3. ampConfirmed

    Marshall

    Cranked Marshall for thick, sustaining lead tone.

Instruments

Gary Moore Guitars

On the board

Pedals & Effects

Ibanez Tube Screamer

Confirmed

Overdrive boost for sustain and midrange push.

overdrive
Sources
SourcesEquipboard

Amplification

Gary Moore Amps

Marshall

Confirmed

Cranked Marshall for thick, sustaining lead tone.

Sources

For players

How to Sound Like Gary Moore

Key tone ingredients

  • a Les Paul style guitar
  • a cranked Marshall
  • an overdrive boost
  • strong vibrato

Affordable alternatives

  • any humbucker guitar
  • a plexi modeller with a Tube Screamer style boost

Suggested effect settings

  • overdrive as a sustain boost
  • a little delay for space

Amp settings

  • pushed mids
  • moderate-high gain
  • loud for sustain

Playing technique tips

  • develop a wide, intense vibrato
  • phrase leads with emotion and space

What to avoid

  • scooped, fizzy gain
  • fast runs without feel

Verification

Sources

Every gear claim links to a source. Items marked probable or inspired-by are not fully confirmed.

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