Heart’s Nancy Wilson, one of the first prominent female guitar players in hard rock, is preparing to sell her gear on Reverb. Since the ‘70s, Wilson has been one of the world’s most celebrated shredders—thanks to hit songs like “Barracuda,” “Crazy On You,” “All I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You,” and more, she's left a lasting mark on music.
In partnership with Definitive Authentic, she’s now passing on the gear she’s used along the way in The Official Nancy Wilson of Heart Reverb Shop, which opens October 19.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer’s shop will be full of rare, vintage, and prototype guitars that have been played all over the world. There are workhorse acoustics, oddities she’s picked up during her career, and plenty of well-used electrics.
Among the gear the shop will include is a Gibson SG from the late ‘60s—this guitar became Wilson's ax of choice for live versions of “Barracuda.” It also became well known by Heart fans for the two Marine Corps stickers on the back.
Along with the SG, the shop also includes:
- A 1957 Fender Stratocaster that’s been on stages around the world. “It’s got all the good dirt in the sound of it from the ‘50s,” said Wilson. “There’s something about the older models that have that dirty sound. It’s because they’re all grown up and are big characters.”
- A Late 70’s David Petschulat mini Les Paul, which is only one of several made according to Wilson. “It’s very teeny tiny. It was on stage with me, and Howard Leese has had one too. It’s also the star of the cover of Heart’s album Greatest Hits Live.”
- A 1980s Paul Reed Smith 12-string prototype with a dragon inlay that Wilson claims is one-of-a-kind. “This is one of the coolest guitars I’ve ever owned,” she said. “It came with me all over the [latest] Heart Tour. I played the first song of the tour of this guitar, ‘Rockin’ Heaven Down.’”
- A Duncan Quattro from the mid ‘80s that accompanied Wilson during many stadium shows. “During certain songs it was on a stand that I played along with a keyboard part,” she said. “On other songs, it was the all-purpose dive-bombing ‘80s-style guitar.”
- A TV Jones Spectrasonic with a red and white finish with a Bigsby vibrato that, according to Wilson, was also often used to play “Barracuda” live frequently.