The Guitar That Transformed Kevin Shields’ Career

During the 1980s and 1990s, various rock subgenres emerged as artists began pushing the boundaries of contemporary music. From the punk-driven sounds of post-punk and new wave, the late ’80s and ’90s heralded the rise of even more niche genres like grunge and nu-metal. It was also during this time that the shoegaze movement began to take shape.

Although bands like Slowdive and Lush were early pioneers, it’s the Irish group My Bloody Valentine that is often credited with officially founding shoegaze rock. Their dreamy and textured sound, characterized by innovative recording techniques, solidified their status as one of the most influential bands in rock, despite never reaching mainstream success.

Integral to the band’s unique sound is lead guitarist and vocalist Kevin Shields. Renowned for his groundbreaking approaches to creating ethereal and distorted guitar tones, Shields played a crucial role in shaping the musical identity of My Bloody Valentine. Among the many instruments he experimented with, one guitar stands out as his favorite. Every guitarist has that special weapon, after all.

In a 2018 interview with Rolling Stone, Shields recounted that it took nearly five years for him to discover the guitar that suited him best while working with My Bloody Valentine. After trying various Fender and Gibson replicas, he finally found his “Excalibur” when a friend loaned him a 1964 Fender Jazzmaster. This instrument would go on to define the sound of the band’s seminal 1991 album, Loveless, allowing Shields to incorporate innovative warbling and tuning effects.

“It felt like a new toy,” Shields said. “I was fascinated by how it transformed my playing.” He first used the Jazzmaster in the spring of 1988 while recording an album for Creation Records. His friend Bill Carey had lent him the guitar, which, along with Carey’s Gretsch, played a pivotal role in the band’s sound during that session.

Reflecting on the experience, Shields noted, “They’d booked us three or four days in the studio, and I discovered the tremolo arm during that time. The first track I recorded with it was ‘Thorn,’ followed by ‘Slow.’ I later realized just how exceptional that Jazzmaster was.” Though Carey’s still owns that legendary instrument, Shields has since built up his own collection. When asked how many guitars he had, he noted modestly, “Not that many good ones. Maybe about 12, possibly 14.”