What guitar did David Gilmour use on Shine On You Crazy Diamond?

Gilmour used his Fender Stratocaster for the lead parts on "Shine On You Crazy Diamond." While he owned several Stratocasters during this period, he was particularly known for using his black 1969 Strat for many Pink Floyd recordings.

How to get David Gilmour's Shine On You Crazy Diamond tone?

Start with a Stratocaster into a Fuzz Face and Colorsound Power Boost feeding a clean, powerful amp like a Hiwatt. The key element is the Binson Echorec delay, which created the signature spacious, multi-head echo that defines the tone.

What delay pedal did Pink Floyd use on Shine On You Crazy Diamond?

David Gilmour used a Binson Echorec 2 for the delays on "Shine On You Crazy Diamond." This Italian-made magnetic drum echo unit was crucial to achieving the warm, modulated delay effects heard throughout the song.

What amp did David Gilmour use on Wish You Were Here album?

Gilmour primarily used Hiwatt DR103 amplifiers during the recording of "Wish You Were Here," including "Shine On You Crazy Diamond." These 100-watt British amps were known for their exceptional clean headroom and punch.

Did David Gilmour use a compressor on Shine On You Crazy Diamond?

While compression was likely applied during mixing at Abbey Road Studios, Gilmour's pedalboard setup for this track focused primarily on the Fuzz Face and Colorsound Power Boost for sustain and dynamics. The sustained quality comes mainly from these pedals and his playing technique.

Where was Shine On You Crazy Diamond recorded?

"Shine On You Crazy Diamond" was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London with engineer Brian Humphries. The sessions took place during 1975 as part of the "Wish You Were Here" album recordings.

lead guitar from "shine on you crazy diamond" by pink floyd

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Tone Profile

The lead guitar tone is characterized by its smooth, sustained notes with a subtle, almost vocal-like quality, achieved through careful use of compression and delay. It’s a warm, slightly overdriven sound with a haunting, ethereal vibe.

Shop This Rig

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Fender Stratocaster(instrument)
Hiwatt DR103(amp)
Neumann U67(microphone)
Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face(processing)
Colorsound Power Boost(processing)
Binson Echorec 2(processing)

The Story

David Gilmour's iconic lead tone on "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" was built around his Fender Stratocaster fed through a Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face and Colorsound Power Boost into a Hiwatt DR103 amplifier. The signature spacious delay came from his Binson Echorec 2, an Italian-made magnetic drum echo unit that was central to many of Gilmour's most memorable tones. The track was recorded at Abbey Road Studios with engineer Brian Humphries, who captured the sound with what was likely a Neumann U67 microphone positioned to capture both the amp's direct sound and some room ambience.

Production Credits

Producer: Pink Floyd

Engineer: Brian Humphries

Recorded at: Abbey Road Studios

Signal Chain

Instrument: Fender StratocasterShop on Reverb

Amp: Hiwatt DR103Shop on Reverb

Microphone: Neumann U67Shop on Reverb

Processing: Dallas Arbiter Fuzz FaceShop on Reverb, Colorsound Power BoostShop on Reverb, Binson Echorec 2Shop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Start with a clean amp setting and add a fuzz face with moderate gain to simulate the initial overdrive.
Use a Colorsound Power Boost or similar clean boost pedal to push the amp and add sustain.
Experiment with the Binson Echorec or a tape delay emulator plugin to get the distinct echo patterns.
Adjust the EQ to emphasize the midrange frequencies for a vocal-like quality.
Use a compressor to even out the dynamics and enhance sustain, paying attention to the attack and release settings.

Original Gear

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Fender StratocasterShop on Reverb(guitar)
Hiwatt DR103Shop on Reverb(amp)
Neumann U67Shop on Reverb(mic)
Dallas Arbiter Fuzz FaceShop on Reverb(pedal)
Colorsound Power BoostShop on Reverb(pedal)
Binson Echorec 2Shop on Reverb(pedal)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Dunlop FFM3 Jimi Hendrix Fuzz Face MiniShop on Reverb$80-$100

Alternative to: Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face

Provides the same silicon transistor fuzz character as Gilmour's original, in a reliable modern package

Catalinbread Naga ViperShop on Reverb$150-$180

Alternative to: Colorsound Power Boost

Accurately recreates the treble booster circuit that gave Gilmour's tone its cutting sustain and midrange focus

Strymon El CapistanShop on Reverb$300-$350

Alternative to: Binson Echorec 2

Captures the warm, modulated delay character of the original Binson with multiple playback heads

Soundtoys EchoBoyPlugin Boutique$150-$200

Alternative to: Binson Echorec 2

Software emulation includes specific Binson models and allows precise control over the complex echo patterns

Reeves Custom 100Shop on Reverb$2000-$2500

Alternative to: Hiwatt DR103

Hand-wired recreation of the Hiwatt circuit by former Hiwatt engineer Dave Reeves' company, delivering the same clean headroom and punch

Universal Audio Hiwatt Custom 100 pluginPlugin Boutique$150-$200