Updated 2/27/2018
Kurt Rosenwinkel is regarded as one of the most skilled and influential modern jazz guitarist. He has brought his unique improvisational abilities to use with many of the top jazz musicians today.
Kurt is a user of many effects and is always experimenting with new options to create the blissful tones he is known for. Read more to find out Kurt Rosenwinkel’s Gear.
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Guitars:
1. One of his most used guitars is a D’Angelico NYSS-3 which isn’t manufactured anymore, however the D’Angelico EX-SS is a similar styled guitar.
Excerpt from Guitar Player Interview talking about his guitar on his Star of Jupiter album:
“I only use the neck pickup on my D’Angelico NYSS-3, and the lead from that is split into two signal paths, each with its own volume and tone control and its own output jack. One output goes to the HOG, the other goes to my main signal path, and then the two are blended before they reach the amp. The pickup selector has been rewired to select either or both feeds from the pickup. On “Gamma Band” I had the selector in the middle, but I can also do things like flip to the HOG and play a chord swell, freeze that using the HOG’s freeze function, then flip to the guitar sound and play a distorted solo line over it—that sort of thing.”
2. D’Angelico Kurt Rosenwinkel (released 2017)
3. Godin ACS-SA used in a Masterclass in 2006.
![](http://www.jazzapparatus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/6685061725_02689bc33f_o-150x150.jpg)
by Tom Beetz
![](http://www.jazzapparatus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/19696565311_1b7791e7db_z-150x150.jpg)
by Bob Travis
4. Moffa Guitars – Kurt uses custom made guitars built by Italian luthier, Domenico Moffa as seen in the photos above and on the side. Kurt has about seven guitars built by this luthier.
![](http://www.jazzapparatus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/10561817_10152251773482066_7740068954954661942_n-150x150.jpg)
Kurt at Newport
5. Westville Guitar – Not the best photo of Kurt, but in it, he uses a Custom “Westville” guitar made by Masaki Nishimura from Tokyo. He now uses a Westville guitar and a Moffa guitar for his main guitars which he talks about in this January 2016 interview.
![](http://www.jazzapparatus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Kurt_Rosenwinkel_piano_Libor_Šmoldas_Quartet_jamsession_Starý_Pivovar_JazzfestBrno2010-150x150.jpg)
by Peter Stračina
6. Sadowsky Semi-Hollow Guitar
7. Ibanez Artcore – He appears to be using an Ibanez Artcore Expressionist or a similar model in this photo.
Amps:
Kurt mainly uses a Harry Colby modified Fender Twin Reverb.
He used a Pearl City Pearl Amp for his Star of Jupiter album which he talks about here.
Effect Pedals:
Kurt Rosenwinkel has used many effect pedals for his vast varieties of tone.
![Kurt Rosenwinkel Gear](http://www.jazzapparatus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/IMG_0209-225x300.jpg)
Kurt in NY
Pedals he uses or has used: Guitarplayer Interview
- Boss OC-3 Octave
- Boss TU-3 Tuner
- Boss CS-3 Compression
- Boomerang III Phrase Sampler
- Digitech Vocalist Live 3
- Digitech Whammy
- Dr. Scientrist Tremolessence
- Electro Harmonix HOG
- Electro Harmonix POG2 Polyphonic Octave Generator
- Empress Tremolo
- Empress ParaEq
- Ernie Ball Volume Pedal
- Eventide Timefactor
- GigRig The WetBox
- GigRig QuarterMaster 6
- Joe Meek FloorQ Optical Compressor
- Lehle D.Loop SGOS
- Lehle Parrallel L – He also has used other Lehle pedals which perform similar functions.
- Line 6 DL-4 Delay
- Line 6 EchoPark
- Line 6 Helix
- MXR M-109 6-Band Graphic EQ
- MXR 10 Band Graphic EQ
- Origin Effects Cali76 Limiting Amp
- Peterson Strobostomp
- ProCo RAT Distortion (1984)
- Strymon blueSky reverbrator
- Strymon TimeLine
- Strymon Ola Vibrato
- Strymon El Capistan deTape Echo
- Strymon Riverside Drive
- Strymon Zuma Power Supply
- TC Electronic Nova Delay
- TC Electronic Stereo Flanger Chorus
- TC Helicon Voicetone Mic Mechanic
- TC Helicon Voicelive Touch 2
- Voodoo Pedal Power
- Xotic X-Blender – Kurt has at least 4 or more of these.
Does he use a specific pick?