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Last night was a triumph – one that went well beyond most of our expectations. But after spending my evening (and much of the morning) over blurry YouTube footage, it’s time for a proper deep dive into the guitars that saw some action in Cardiff.

This post will break down the instruments used by Noel, Gem, and Bonehead during the show. There were some expected choices, but also a few surprises – and some detective work went into figuring out Bonehead’s new additions for the tour.

Keep reading after the break… if you’re not afraid of spoilers!

LAST UPDATE: 12 September 2025

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For informational and non-commercial use only. Please do NOT publish this content elsewhere.
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Thanks!

NOEL GALLAGHER

What a joy it was to see Noel taking the lead on so many tracks again.
Say what you will, but his playing has a distinctive style that’s impossible to replicate: it just sounds like the real deal.

Update – For a complete analysis of Noel’s 2025 pedalboard, take a look at the full article. You might also be interested in the full description of Noel’s rack system.

Now then… onto the guitars!

GIBSON LES PAUL STANDARD (Black)
This is the new Les Paul that first appeared in the tour programme: a heavy-aged, Murphy Lab–finished model that’s most likely a custom build from Gibson. What makes it stand out is its pickup configuration: a pair of P-90s with nickel covers. That’s unusual for a Les Paul Standard, but it makes sense given Noel’s growing love for P-90s (see also: Casino #1, #2, and #3). It also echoes the vibe of his iconic ex–Johnny Marr 1978 Les Paul Custom.
A new dedicated page for this one is coming soon available here!

Update – It seems there are three different P90-equipped Les Pauls out on tour. Head over to the page for the full breakdown.

It was played on Hello (the opening track), Acquiesce and Bring It On Down.
Update – interestingly, starting from the final night at Heaton Park in Manchester (July 20), Noel used the P90 LP for Bring It On Down only.
Update #2 – starting from the penultimate night at Wembley, the black P90 LP was back for Hello and Acquiesce too.
Update #3 – during the Canada/US/Mexico leg of the Live ’25 tour, the black LP was not played.

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GIBSON ES-355 TDSV (No. 1)
Noel’s legendary “Number One” 355 – arguably the definitive Noel Gallagher guitar – made several appearances during the set. I still haven’t had the time to put together a proper deep-dive page for it – sorry about that.

It was played on Morning Glory, Fade Away, Supersonic, Little by Little, Stand By Me, Don’t Look Back in Anger, and Champagne Supernova

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GIBSON LES PAUL STANDARD (Cherry Sunburst)
A humbucker-equipped Les Paul was expected – and this one saw plenty of action last night. Noel last played it live in 2019, and while it’s hard to confirm whether it’s the exact same guitar, it does look very similar. In the early 2000s, various Sunburst LPs were his go-to guitars, so it could be one of those… but we’ll need more photos to say for sure.

Update – As expected, there appear to be at least two three different Cherry Sunburst Les Pauls in use. Noel is seen switching between nearly identical guitars between songs.

It was played on Some Might Say, Cigarettes & Alcohol, Roll With It, D’You Know What I Mean?, Slide Away, Live Forever, and Rock ’n’ Roll Star.
Update – Starting from the final night at Heaton Park in Manchester (July 20), Noel played a Sunburst LP in Hello and Acquiesce too.

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GIBSON J-150 (Blonde)
Noel’s current go-to acoustic and an expected choice for the tour. The more iconic Sunburst J-150 with the Adidas sticker appears to be fully retired at this point, with the Blonde model taking over as his main acoustic for the past few years. A nice surprise: Noel played the intro to D’You Know What I Mean? on acoustic before switching to the Cherry Sunburst Les Paul, clearly enjoying the chance to revisit that track after all these years.

Update – According to Bautista in the comments, there are two blonde J-150s in rotation – distinguishable by the varying wear patterns on their pickguards. I’ll take a closer look, but that certainly seems very likely!

The J-150 was played on Talk Tonight, Half the World Away, D’You Know What I Mean?, Cast No Shadow, Whatever, The Masterplan, and Wonderwall.

Update – A couple of backstage shots from the Wembley shows (thanks to Jacob!) have given us a full look at Noel’s touring guitar lineup.
We can clearly spot two Les Pauls with P-90s, three (!) Cherry Sunburst Les Pauls, his main ES-355 (#1), and what appears to be the Bigsby-equipped Natural ES-335 – likely serving as a backup for the 355.
On the acoustic rack, we can see the two Blonde J-150s along with a Vintage Sunburst J-150 as backup. It’s tough to say from the photo whether that one is Noel’s original or one of the signature models.

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GEM ARCHER

Gem’s choices rotated between a new addition and some familiar old favorites. I was half-expecting to see a Firebird in the mix, but surprisingly, he didn’t play one last night.

GIBSON TRINI LOPEZ (Ebony)
As seen in the tour programme, this is Gem’s main guitar for the tour. It looks like a recent Gibson Custom Shop reissue, finished in lightly aged Black/Ebony and equipped with a Bigsby B7. Needless to say, it looks absolutely stunning. Easily the best-looking guitar on stage last night.

It was played on Hello, Acquiesce, Some Might Say, Fade Away, Supersonic, Roll With It, Bring It On Down, Little by Little, Stand by Me, Slide Away, and Champagne Supernova.

GIBSON LES PAUL CUSTOM (Ebony)
This is a relatively recent addition to Gem’s arsenal – purchased just before the Council Skies tour in 2023 and used throughout the High Flying Birds gigs. It’s a gorgeous three-humbucker Les Paul Custom, equipped with a Bigsby B-7. According to a Guitar World interview, Gem bought it from one of his old Heavy Stereo bandmates and installed the Bigsby himself. The guitar is apparently a 1989 model and is another stunning choice!

It was played on Morning Glory, D’You Know What I Mean?, and Rock ’n’ Roll Star.

EPIPHONE SHERATON (Cherry Red)
This one was expected – it’s long been one of Gem’s favorite guitars. Interestingly, it actually belongs to Noel, though he’s never used it himself on stage. You can check out its dedicated page on the site for all the details. Gem has been playing this Sheraton regularly since 2005, and it’s clearly still a key part of his setup.

It was played on Cigarettes & Alcohol, Talk Tonight, Half the World Away, Live Forever, The Masterplan, and Don’t Look Back in Anger.

Update – There’s a strong chance the guitar in question is a modern replica built to match Noel’s original ’60s model. Though identical at first glance, subtle differences in the horns shape, pickguard placement, and headstock design suggest it’s not the original. Everything points toward a custom order crafted by Gibson. Thanks to reader Fiachra for spotting the different body shape!
Update #2 – Gem is using both Sheratons on tour: Noel’s original and the modern replica. Thanks to Bautista for the confirmation.

GIBSON TRINI LOPEZ (Cherry Red or Sparkling Burgundy)
Here’s where things get interesting. While watching YouTube clips from last night, I spotted what appears to be a second Trini Lopez – this one in red. Images are scarce, but it’s clearly a different guitar from the black model Gem played earlier in the set. It could be Noel’s Sparkling Burgundy Trini, or possibly one of the two that Andy Bell has been using with RIDE – maybe even the same one that was loaned to Noel in the early 2000s (check out all the details in the dedicated page). We’ll need clearer photos to confirm, so if you’ve got any leads, let me know!

It was played on Cast No Shadow, Whatever, Wonderwall and possibly a few other tracks – I may have mistaken it for the black one in some cases.

Update – Turns out Gem is using two different red Trini Lopez models. One is unmistakably Noel’s Sparkling Burgundy, seen during Cast No Shadow with a slide. The other is fitted with a Bigsby B7 – it could be a recent reissue, or maybe one of Andy’s.

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BONEHEAD

Writing a guitar list for… Bonehead? In Oasis? In 2025? Still doesn’t feel real – but here we are. And if you’re a gear geek, this part’s going to be especially interesting. Let’s dig into what Bonehead brought to the stage.

Update – For a complete analysis of Bonehead’s 2025 pedalboard, take a look at the full article.

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EPIPHONE RIVIERA “MATSUMOKU” (Antique Sunburst)
Everyone expected this one, right? The legendary 1984 Matsumoku Riviera – sister to Noel’s Wine Red model – that Bonehead played almost exclusively during his Oasis years.
Actually… what we saw on stage was an identical model built in 1983, which Bonehead purchased in April 2024 from In Bloom Guitars in Leeds. It serves as a spare to his original Riviera and he’s already played this one during the Definitely Maybe 30th anniversary tour with Liam.

It was played in Hello, Acquiesce, Morning Glory, Cigarettes & Alcohol, Fade Away, Supersonic, Bring It On Down, D’You Know What I Mean?, Rock ‘n’ Roll Star, Don’t Look Back in Anger, and Champagne Supernova.

Pictures of the actual guitar are available below – thanks to In Bloom Guitars.

Update – After some serious pixel peeping (yes, we’re now identifying wood grain from Instagram fan pics), it turns out Bonehead is playing his mighty 1984 Riviera after all – right alongside the 1983 spare.

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GIBSON ES-345 TDSV (Cherry Red)
So, who thought Bonehead would stick to just his Sunburst Riviera? I had the feeling something else was coming. Last month, a 1967 ES-345 appeared for sale at In Bloom Guitars in Leeds – the same store where he bought his spare Riviera. Word is, Bonehead bought that 1967 model, which had been converted from stereo to mono. It closely resembles the ES-345 Noel has used in the past. The guitar Bonehead played last night looked very similar, but not identical. For one, it had a stopbar tailpiece, which makes me doubt he would have modified an original ’67 so heavily. It’s possible he already had another 345 and bought the 1967 as a backup, but the main one is definitely an early ’60s model.

Update – On July 31, Bonehead confirmed on X/Twitter that his main ES-345 is a 1964 model.

It was played on Some Might Say, Roll With It, Little by Little, Stand by Me, Slide Away, Live Forever, and The Masterplan.

Below are two photos of the 1967 ES-345 Bonehead allegedly bought last month – again thanks to In Bloom Guitars. Bear in mind: this is not the exact guitar he is playing on stage.

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Update – Well, it turns out the grainy footage from the first night had me playing detective – and heading in the wrong direction. Clearer clips from the following shows have surfaced, and that Epiphone Casino that was described in the following section? Not a Casino at all. It’s something even better: a genuine piece of Oasis history! Huge thanks to Jack Michael in the comments, who was at the Cardiff show and had a clearer view.
I’ve decided to keep the bit about the Casino in the article though: it’s a gorgeous guitar, and who knows, maybe Bonehead will bring it out at some point during this tour!

EPIPHONE RIVIERA “MATSUMOKU” (Antique Sunburst, with Bigsby)
The guitar I initially mistook for a Casino is actually something far more special: it’s another Matsumoku Riviera – the very same guitar from the Definitely Maybe album cover and the Shakermaker video. This one has been around since before Oasis were even signed – and now it’s back on stage, being played live by Bonehead!
To mark the occasion, I’ve finally wrapped up the in-depth page dedicated to this guitar, a write-up that’s been sitting unfinished for years due to all the speculation it involved. It’s long and painfully detailed: you might like it… Check it out – and excuse the grainy YouTube screengrabs below. Big thanks to the tapers for capturing these moments!

It was played on Whatever and Wonderwall.

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EPIPHONE CASINO “TERADA” (Sunburst)
At first, I thought it was Bonehead’s Riviera – but then I noticed the Bigsby B7 vibrato. That detail made me pause, and it reminded me of a photo Bonehead had shared a few weeks back, showing a MIJ Casino. Turns out… it’s that one. After some digging, I found out it’s yet another recent purchase from In Bloom Guitars, who imported it directly from Japan. The guitar is a 1987 Casino, made at the Terada factory shortly after Matsumoku went bankrupt and ceased producing Epiphones. The Bigsby was added at a later date. It’s finished in a lighter, more amber-toned burst often referred to as Violin Burst – a color that closely resembles Royal Tan. Whatever you call it, it looks absolutely stunning. Thanks to Bonehead, In Bloom Guitars, and the original Japanese owner for sharing the photos you can see below.

It was played on Whatever and Wonderwall – and maybe more, if I didn’t mix it up with the Sunburst Riviera. Still on the lookout for better footage… or help from fellow guitar geeks!

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Update – Well… what if the Epiphone Casino is on the road after all? One of Bonehead’s recent Instagram posts reveals his full lineup. Starting from the right, we can see: two 12-string acoustics, followed by two 6-strings, then two Matsumoku Rivieras (main 1984 and 1983 spare?), the cherry ES-345, another Matsumoku Riviera (that could be the Bigsby-equipped Riviera), and finally – another semi-hollow with distinctly lighter sides. It might just be that Terada-made Casino…

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Update #2 – On July 30, Bonehead shared two better photos of his guitar rack. The semi-hollow with lighter sides is not the Casino as previously speculated: it’s actually another Matsumoku Riviera in Natural finish, a 1984 model he picked up a couple of years ago. Also visible on the rack are his acoustic guitars: two Martin 12-strings, a Martin D-28, and what appears to be a Gibson acoustic (a J-45?). Thanks to Bautista for the tip!

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TALKING ABOUT AMPS…

It feels right to say a few words about the amps chosen by the three (!) guitarists on stage. Their setups appear to match what we glimpsed during rehearsals, so here’s a quick recap of who’s using what.

NOEL GALLAGHER – He is sticking with the setup he used during the most recent High Flying Birds tours: two Hiwatt Custom 50 combo amps, paired with matching cabinets.

Update – On July 25, Noel’s official social media accounts shared photos of his pedalboard and backstage amp setup. The rig includes two Hiwatt Custom 50s, flanked by a pair of small Marshall combos that appear to be 20-watt Studio Vintage models. This mix of high-wattage amps with lower-wattage options is classic Noel: he’s long favored combining tones, having used 15-watt Fender Blues Juniors for years.

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GEM ARCHER – Gem’s setup appears to be identical to Noel’s: two Hiwatt Custom 50 combo amps, paired with matching cabinets. A first, considering he’s been loyal to Fender ’57 Twin reissues for years.

BONEHEAD – We’ll need confirmation from the amp experts out there, but it looks like Bonehead is playing through a set of Marshall Bluesbreakers – or at least something very similar, like the 1973x 2×12 combo amps. If you’ve got insights or a sharper eye, feel free to share!

Update – Bonehead just posted a photo of his amp setup on Instagram (thanks to Jaiden for the heads-up). The shot shows a different rig, mic’d up in the rear part of the stage – you can barely spot them at Noel’s right in the pic below. We have two Cornell Plexi 1×12 combos (one is a 2016 25th anniversary model, the other one is an older model), and two Marshall JCM900 2×12 combos (which look like 1990s versions).
The “Bluesbreakers” are mic’d too – so who knows what’s happening there. Nevertheless, Bonehead’s tone was absolutely thunderous.

Update #2 – Readers confirmed that Bonehead’s stage amps are 1973x combos. I still don’t know what’s happening backstage with the Cornells & the JCMs.

Update #3 – Thanks to a better pic posted by Bonehead on August 3, I now believe the 1973x combos on stage are for show only: they seem to have no cables plugged in, though they are still miked to maintain the stage appearance. Check out the pic and more in the article about Bonehead’s pedalboard.

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That’s it! Thanks for reading – and keep your eyes open as more footage surfaces. There’s definitely more to discover: oasis are back.

DISCLAIMER
This is a fansite. It is not affiliated with Noel Gallagher, his management or his record label.
For informational and non-commercial use only. Please do NOT publish this content elsewhere.
If you share or use this information, please provide proper credit and link to the website.
I appreciate your respect for the years of dedicated, freely available research!
Visit the “Info & About” page for contact details and more.
Thanks!