Johnny Depp Rocks: Johnny's Guitars 2

(updated 4/15/12)

(Click all images to enlarge)

* "He's got one of the best guitar collections, very eclectic."
- Keith Richards, on Johnny's collection, 2007

This gallery and information section is an attempt to compile all of the guitars, basses, and other stringed instruments we've seen with Johnny Depp. I don't know a whole lot about guitar types, so I'm looking for any assistance in identifying the various makes and models of these instruments. If you can help, please:

info@johnnydepprocks.com or comment to the blog. Don't forget to click on the images to enlarge.

Special thanks to Laura, Maggy, Claudia, shamanart, GL Wilson, Keni Lee, Kris, taip, Deppd'Tante, Barbara T., and especially Bluetele Mike for help in finding details on many of these models. Thanks also to all the great folks at Deppography!

For photos and info about Johnny's Electric Guitars and Basses, please visit Page 1!

Acoustic Guitars and Miscellaneous Instruments

Keith Richards mentions in a 2010 BBC Radio 2 interview that Johnny's guitar collection goes back to the 15th Century. Here is just a small sampling of some of the acoustic guitars and other stringed instruments that we've spotted with Johnny.

Gretsch Guitar seen in Cry-Baby

It's not as hard to identify a guitar when it says right on it what it is! This is a vintage Gretsch Synchromatic archtop guitar.
Vintage Gretsch Synchromatic from the Guitar Museum
Ezine: The Beginning of Vintage Gretsch Guitars
Memorabilia 1951 Gretsch Catalog (to give an idea of a similar model, check out image #11)

Guitar seen in Chocolat

One guitar forum identified this archtop guitar as a Gretsch Model 35. However, a Bluesbox Collection web page (see link below) indicates that the Gretsch Model 35 was a direct competitor of the Gibson L5 model. The inlays in the fretboard look more like the Gibson to me.
Chocolat movie review - Acoustic Guitar Forum
Blue Book Publications - information on Model 35
Bluesbox Collection - Gretsch model 35 (possibly refinished- the description mentions that it would have originally been in a sunburst finish, as in the case of the Chocolat guitar)
Gibson L-5
guitarseminars.com Discussion of the Chocolat guitars

Gibson Style O Guitar

One of Johnny's newest guitars-- this vintage acoustic archtop model was given to Johnny on his 46th Birthday in San Juan on June 9, 2009. Johnny was also presented with a red Corvette, which was used in the filming of The Rum Diary. We will see if the guitar also makes an appearance in the movie. The Style O was manufactured by Gibson between 1902 and 1925 or later.

Style O - Vintage Guitars Info
Style O - National Music Museum
Style O - The Mandolin Archive

Gibson Master Museum Collection Pirates Of The Caribbean guitar

This awesome guitar was custom designed for Johnny by Gibson Master Builder Ren Ferguson in about 2006, around the time of Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest filming. It was built at Gibson's Bozeman, Montana plant. It is a J-200 body style, and is worth an estimated $100,000. Ferguson was inspired by a line from Curse Of The Black Pearl: "Depp says, 'A ship is more than a keel, a hull, a deck and sails – what it is is freedom.' The line struck a chord with Ferguson, who believes that a guitar is more than just spruce, mahogany and some lacquer; it is also freedom."

Information on and more photos of this custom Gibson guitar can be found:

Gibson Acoustic's Master Museum Collection (see slides 19-26 for closeup images of the details)
About master guitar builder Ren Ferguson in Jan. 8, 2006 Bozeman Daily Chronicle
October 2008 Premier Guitar article on Ren Ferguson (containing additional photos)
October 2008 Montana Standard article on Ferguson and the Custom Shop

Acoustic Guitar seen at Hunter S. Thompson tribute

Johnny played slide guitar at a tribute to Thompson in Louisville, KY in 1996. Not much detail can be seen, but there is a pickguard, there are decorative inlays in the fretboard, and there is a symbol and logo on the headstock that may say Gibson.

Acoustic Guitar seen in Platoon

Note the S.F. carved in a heart. This presumably stands for Sherilyn Fenn, with whom Johnny was involved when Platoon was filmed. There is also a peace sign carved into the guitar (most easily seen in the crop above and the 3rd screen cap).

Acoustic Guitar with black pickguard

Seen in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas stills.

Acoustic guitar with black pickguard

Seen in Tom Petty's Into The Great Wide Open video in 1991. Pickguard is further from the sound hole, and the finish is lighter in color than the Fear and Loathing guitar, and has white edges.

Acoustic Guitar seen in Chocolat DVD extras

Another Acoustic Guitar from Chocolat still

This one is clearly different than the one above. Note the lighter wood color and the different headstock.

Acoustic Guitar seen in Once Upon A Time In Mexico DVD extras

This one looks different yet. The decoration of the sound hole looks different, as does the bridge. There may be some markings on the 3rd fret? (Or is that a pick?)

Spanish Acoustic Guitar

Johnny was spotted at Matt Umanov Guitars in New York City on November 18, 2011. He reportedly purchased this Spanish guitar.

Gibson L-O Guitar played at Voices For Justice Concert

Johnny played this guitar at the Voices For Justice concert in Little Rock, AR, on August 28, 2010. He used the same guitar for all of his performances this night. Mike E. ID's this as a Gibson L-O model that was probably from the early 1930's. The color, wear, and fret markings as well as the logo on the headstock distinguish it from other acoustic guitars on this page. I believe it is the same guitar that is spotted on Johnny's yacht, the Vajoliroja, in a photo spread that was published in Boats International USA in March of 2009, as well as the yacht's official brochure.

Gibson L-O guitar
Gibson L-O guitar headstock

(row 1: Voices For Justice concert, August 28, 2010, with Eddie Vedder and Patti Smith)
(row 2: Vajoliroja Boats International USA spread; brochure photo from vajoliroja.com)

Black Acoustic Guitar

Seen in the 2006 Johnny Cash video, God's Gonna Cut You Down.

Black Gibson Acoustic Guitar

This one has a different neck than the guitar above. It was spotted in Johnny's private office during an interview with Larry King in October, 2011. A brief closeup shows a sticker identifying it as a Gibson made in Kalamazoo, MI.

(row 1: photos and behind the scenes)
(row 2: HQ caps by Deppd'tante)

New Acoustic Guitar seen in My Valentine Video

This beautiful guitar was played by Johnny the Paul McCartney-directed video of his song, My Valentine, in April of 2012. I would love any information anyone may have about this model.

New Assorted Acoustic Guitars

Johnny was seen playing a couple of different acoustic guitars when he jammed with some friends at SXSW in 2012.

Acoustic Resonator Guitars

These may be National Duolian or Triolian Resonator Guitars. Members of one guitar forum were referring to a triolian. These dobro-type resonator guitars were made from 1930-1938. Johnny plays two such guitars in the motion picture, Chocolat, and is seen playing one during a 2009 François-Marie Banier photoshoot. There is also one visible in the background in a 2010 interview Johnny did with Entertainment Tonight for The Tourist.

The National Guitar Page
National Duolian Resonator - Vintage Guitars Info
National Duolian Squareneck - Elderly Instruments
National Triolian guitar - Elderly Instruments
Republic Guitars site
Duolian/Triolian body - Is There A Difference? - Acoustic Guitar Forum
National Guitar Differences - Acoustic Guitar Forum
guitarseminars.com Discussion about the Chocolat guitars

(row 1: Chocolat screen caps and stills featuring first resonator guitar)
(row 2: 2009 Banier photoshoot; 2010 Entertainment Tonight interview. Possibly the same guitar as in row 1)
(row 3: Chocolat screen caps and stills featuring a second guitar)

Resonator Guitar

This is another resonator guitar, seen in the 2003 Mark Seliger photoshoot. It looks to my untrained eye somewhat like a Recording King Style O Resonator guitar.

Recording King Style-O Resonator Guitar on Elderly Instruments

Acoustic Guitar seen in 2003 Mark Seliger photo shoot

Stella Acoustic Guitar
(unpictured)

In her interview with Johnny for the January 2011 issue of Vanity Fair, Patti Smith mentions that, in Johnny's trailer on the London set of Pirates 4, "There is an old Stella acoustic guitar that he cannot resist picking up and strumming quietly."

See the Vanity Fair snippet here.
Image of a Stella headstock.

Updated Cigar Box Guitar(s)

These unusual guitars have seen carried by Johnny or his assistant since 2009. One was used by Johnny in a photoshoot for the New Zealand Herald TimeOut supplement in 2010. It was also spotted in a 2010 Entertainment Tonight interview promoting The Tourist. This type of guitar is made from cigar boxes or similar materials. They often have a resonator and 4 strings, and may be tuned like a ukulele or tenor guitar.

Visit Keni Lee Burgess' YouTube channel to hear some music played on cigar box guitars and other resonator guitars. Keni Lee also sells instructional CDs and a music CD, Good & Evil, on eBay.

One or more of these guitars are "Cigfiddles" made by L.A.-based luthier Matty Baratto. Johnny has also given these guitars as gifts to friends including Ralph Steadman and Steven Tyler. Bill Carter, Joey Malone and Bruce Witkin also play various models, including an 8 string and a bass model.

Baratto Cigfiddles
Baratto Cigfiddle gallery
Cigarboxguitar.com
Cigar box guitar on Wikipedia
Daddy Mojo custom Cigar Box Guitars
Cigar Box Nation

(row 1: cigar box guitar with lighter finish seen in July (Paris) and August (Nice) of 2009)
(row 2: cigar box guitar with darker finish seen in 2010 Entertainment Tonight interview; striated finish in 2010 Peter Mountain photoshoot)
(row 3: another guitar with darker finish and extra holes seen in Paris in November of 2011; at SXSW in 2012, both Johnny and Marcus Mumford strum a double neck model)

Just for fun

I wonder if Johnny kept this tissue box from Cry-baby in his collection!

Johnny loves guitars of all sizes

Johnny at the Austin Film Festival, October 22, 2011

For photos and info about Johnny's Electric Guitars and Basses, please visit Page 1!