TAME IMPALA: Instruments and Gear

Tame Impala is a psychedelic rock/pop project created by multi-instrumentalist and composer Keven Parker. The Australian born musician is known for his creative guitar tones and dreamy synths that are often glued together with a rubbery baseline and a drum sound that Parker spends hours tweaking and obsessing over.

Parker has now released four studio albums and an EP. He is known for his love of gear and using an abundance of guitar pedals while onstage. He can also be seen switching instruments and engaging in live mixing during performances. Though he is often the sole composer and often the only instrumentalist in the band, Parker’s friends and bandmates join him to tour the world.

Below are some of Parker’s favorite and most used instruments. Pedals listed at bottom of article*

Guitars

Rickenbacker 335 1967 Jetglo

In most pictures of the bands live performances, Parker can be seen holding the Rickenbacker–his most used guitar. He originally purchased the guitar in Japan around 2009/2010 and laid down white gaffer tape on the instrument before painting it. In an interview, Parker noted that he has written most of his best songs on the guitar and would not sell it for anything.

Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster

This guitar was designed in part by alt rocker J Mascis who personally gave one to Parker. Parker uses this Fender guitar with a Roland GK-3 pickup and notably uses it to play the riff at the end of “Let it Happen”. The guitar has a unique feel to it with very high action and bulky frets.

Fender Deluxe Roadhouse Stratocaster

Parker has had this guitar for quite a while and can often be seen playing it during live performances—especially older ones. In footage that captures the making of Innerspeaker, Kevin often has this guitar in his hands.

Fender American Professional III

This guitar can be seen more recently as Parker plays it during Tame Impala’s Innerspeaker Wave House Concert where the band plays the album in its entirety.

Hagström Impala

This guitar can be seen in pictures of Parker’s studio as well as some live performances. The Mahogany body guitar was introduced in 1963 by the Swedish-based manufacturer.

Basses

Höfner Bass

Parker purchased this Höfiner bass—famously used by Paul McCartney—in Japan around the same time that he bought his Rickenbacker guitar. The musician often plays his basses through a reverb pedal which is fairly uncommon. This bass was used heavily throughout Tame Impala’s third album Currents.

Fender Classic Series Jazz Bass

This bass can often be seen onstage in the hands of one of Parker’s bandmates and he has had the instrument for years. He used it throughout his first album Innerspeaker.

Amps

Vox AC30

Parker’s main amp is the Vox AC30 which is a common amp used by everyone from The Beatles to Nirvana. The amp is known for its chimey sound and its ability to handle several pedals at once to deliver a well rounded tone.

Vox AC30 H2

Parker also has the Hand-Wired amp from the Vox Heritage Collection.

Roland KC-150

The Roland amp can sometimes be seen onstage with the band during live performances and especially earlier ones.

Seymour Duncan KTG-1 (King Tone Generator)

One of Parker’s most used assets is his Seymour Duncan preamp which is a very rare piece of equipment that the musician says he “runs everything through”.

Selmer Treble and Bass Head

Parker typically runs his pedals through this piece of equipment.

Fender FSR Blues Jr. III Butterscotch

This is a small 15 Watt amplifier that Parker has in his studio.

Drums

1966 Ludwig Blue Sparkle Super Classic

Parker spends tons of time creating and perfecting his drum sound and loves to play on the Ludwig kit that he used during the recording of both Lonerism and Currents though he has replaced the kick drum in recent years.

Synths

Roland Juno 106

The Juno 106 is responsible for much of Parker’s sound and can be heard all over Lonerism and is especially prominent in “Nangs”—the second song on Currents. The Synth was released in 1984 and provides a warm analog sound with six voice polyphony.

Korg MicroKORG synth/vocoder

Parker has used this small synth since the Innerspeaker era.

Moog Sub Phatty

This is a synth with a big sound and Parker can be seen using it to record an alternate version of the song “Powerlines” in the video “Currents in the Making”.

Sequential Circuits Pro One

Another synth that can be heard throughout Lonerism and seen in the music video for Lonerism’s song “Why won’t they talk to me?”.

Casio PT-50

This is a special synth for Parker because it was owned by his Dad who passed away from cancer. It can also be seen at the beginning of “Why won’t they talk to me?”.