Billy Squier - The Stroke - Guitar Lesson

Fender Telecaster

Squier used the Telecaster for tighter, more cutting rhythm tones, its single-coil snap providing articulate definition that contrasted with his Les Paul's thick crunch on tracks requiring clearer attack.

Gibson Les Paul Standard

His primary instrument through the classic era, the late '70s Les Paul Standard with stock humbuckers delivered the thick, sustaining crunch defining hits like 'Lonely Is The Night' and 'The Stroke.'

Gibson Les Paul Custom

While not explicitly his main axe, a Custom would complement Squier's palette with similar humbucker warmth and sustain, offering slightly different tonal character for studio layering and alternative voicings.

Gibson ES-335

The semi-hollow ES-335 gave Squier cleaner, more resonant studio tones with natural airiness, perfect for arpeggiated sections and smoother passages requiring less saturation than his solid-body work.

Marshall JCM800

Cranked hard in isolation booths for power-tube breakup, the JCM800 was fundamental to Squier's tone, delivering that compressed-but-punchy character with natural saturation while maintaining palm-mute definition.

MXR Carbon Copy Analog Delay

This analog delay matches Squier's subtle approach to effects, adding space to his lead lines without obvious repeats, complementing his amp-driven philosophy where tone comes primarily from cranked tubes.