Thom Yorke actually bought two of these prior to the recording of OK Computer – a sunburst Telecaster Custom and a black Deluxe model – both of which sport a vintage rainbow Apple sticker behind the bridge. O’Brien later further modified the guitar to include a Fernandes Sustainer system, which later proved to be the basis of his new signature Fender EOB Sustainer Strat.
O’Brien notoriously used a heavily modified Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster with a whole heap of reverb and modulation effects throughout ‘Lucky,’ in which he strums behind the nut to make the unsettling, discordant sounds heard at the start of the track. O’Brien also tends to use this guitar when playing OK Computer tracks live, particularly ‘Exit Music (For A Film),’ ‘Electioneering,’ and ‘No Surprises.’ While the guitar features its original Lace Sensor pickups, Radiohead’s guitar tech Plank added a kill-switch near the control knobs of the guitar, allowing Greenwood to create the stuttering effect heard in the solo of ‘Paranoid Android’. The guitar also features the slightly bizarre addition of a ball-end of a guitar string poking out of the pickguard, which was apparently present around the recording of OK Computer for Greenwood to hook his E string on to play high pitch, ghost notes otherwise inaudible on a traditional fretboard.Ī relatively obscure ’70s creation from Fender, Greenwood purchased his 1975 Starcaster immediately prior to the recording of OK Computer, and uses it on the album’s more mellow tracks including ‘Subterranean Homesick Alien,’ ‘Let Down,’ and album closer ‘The Tourist.’ Greenwood typically uses this live for Radiohead material written between 1995-2001, including ‘Pyramid Song,’ where he plays the guitar with a violin bow.Ī personal favourite of Ed O’Brien’s, this Fireglo Rickenbacker 360 was picked up to replace a natural 360 stolen along with the rest of the band’s gear in 1995, and was used by O’Brien to record almost every song on OK Computer.
Guitarsįavoured by Jonny Greenwood as his main guitar for close to 25 years, this Fender Telecaster Plus is frequently heard across OK Computer, and includes several modifications to help Greenwood achieve his signature unconventional sounds. To celebrate the album, we take a look at the huge lot of gear used to create the OK Computer. Read up on all the latest features and columns here.Īs well as being a cultural milestone, OK Computer plays host to some of the finest instrumental work performed by Radiohead across their entire career. More than 20 years after its release, OK Computer stands as a landmark moment in the history of contemporary music, combining technological innovation with intense feelings of isolation and despair to perfectly bookend one of the most tumultuous decades of the century.įusing electronic elements with the band’s pre-existing alt-rock sound, OK Computer showed a glimpse of just how much of an impact Radiohead would have on the music industry, with producer Nigel Godrich capturing the band’s collective prowess and individual talents in a way unmatched by other producers. Words by Mixdown Staff We take a look at the gear behind the '90s favourite