Play electric guitar like Chris Shiflett

Want to sound like Chris Shiflett? No problem, here in our guide you will learn everything about the guitars, amplifiers, effects and accessories used by your idol Chris Shiflett. We show you equipment from all price ranges with which you can sound just like Chris Shiflett. You can also discover visually matching accessories in Chris' style. Have fun browsing!

About Chris Shiflett

Chris Shiflett was born in Santa Barbara, California. He has two older brothers, Mike and Scott, who also became a musician - as bassist in the punk rock band Face to Face. Chris started playing guitar when he was 11 years old. As a promising young footballer, he also played for the American Youth Soccer Organisation from 1982-1984. However, under pressure to decide on a career, he joined his first band at the age of 14.

Chris began his music career in a band called Lost Kittenz. He later became the lead guitarist in the San Francisco Bay Area punk rock band No Use for a Name. When a friend told him in 1999 that Guns N' Roses were looking for a new guitarist, Chris asked him to get him an audition with the Foo Fighters instead, who, after recording their third studio album There Is Nothing Left to Lose as a trio, held an open audition to hire another guitarist alongside Dave Grohl. When he was offered the job, he quickly parted ways with No Use for a Name and joined the Foo Fighters.
After his employment, Chris Shiflett played on the tour for There Is Nothing Left to Lose and on all subsequent studio albums, starting with the fourth album One by One. One of his favourite songs that he plays with the Foo Fighters is All My Life, which comes from this very album.

In addition to his main activity with the Foo Fighters, Chris also plays in his side projects Me First And The Gimme Gimmes, Jackson United and Viva Death with his brother Scott. Chris has appeared in numerous projects under the name Jake Jackson. He played in the cover band Chevy Metal together with the late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins. They played songs by classic rock bands such as Black Sabbath, Queen, ZZ Top and the Rolling Stones. In 2010, he formed a new country-orientated side project, Chris Shiflett & the Dead Peasants, which released a self-titled album in July. He also released three solo albums to date.
From October 2013 to December 2022, Chris hosted the weekly podcast Walking the Floor with Chris Shiflett. A total of 215 episodes of the programme were produced. In June 2023, he announced a new guitar-based podcast called Shred with Shifty.

Affordable electric guitars for Chris Shiflett fans

Chris mostly plays high-quality Fender and Gibson guitars, and his collection includes a large number of custom shop models. If you don't want to spend a fortune on a new guitar, we have a selection of affordable models for you to copy Chris' sound and style.

High-end and signature electric guitars of Chris Shiflett

About Chris' guitars

Like his Foo Fighters colleague Dave Grohl, Chris also has a penchant for Gibson guitars. His collection includes several Les Pauls, Explorers, Firebirds and even an ES-335. Chris also owns several signature models from Fender, which he plays alongside the Gibson models, especially at his gigs with the Foo Fighters. His collection also includes several Strats and Teles. Chris also favours guitars from Gretsch and Duesenberg. Here we have put together a selection of Chris Shiflett's high-end guitars.

Expert opinion

One of Chris' favourite guitars is his signature guitar from Fender, which is modelled on a 70s Telecaster Deluxe. With its classic alder body and two P-90 pickups, this guitar covers a wide range of sounds that Chris uses in his many different projects. Most of his sounds can be easily reproduced with this guitar.

Alternative high-end electric guitars for the Foo Fighters sound

It doesn't always have to be Fender or Gibson, other manufacturers also produce high-quality guitars with which Chris Shiflett's sound can be reproduced and which are in no way inferior to the originals of better-known manufacturers. Below we have a selection of such guitars for you:

Chris Shiflett's ampliefiers and speaker cabinets

Chris has several different amps, including Fender, Mesa/Boogie and Friedman, but he shares his favourite with fellow guitarist Dave Grohl: the Vox AC30, which Chris owns in a particularly high-quality hand-wired version.

„My VOX AC30 Hand-Wired give me the sound I've been looking for for ages. They deliver everything from crashing fireworks to the finest nuances.”

Chris Shiflett on his amplifiers

Chris Shifflet's effects pedals

In addition to his amplifiers, Chris also has a whole range of effects pedals that are responsible for his versatile sounds. Most of them are made by Strymon and are very expensive, but also of exceptional quality. There are also some other effects pedals on Chris' board that are a little more affordable.

Finally, the matching accessories

Mit dem folgenden Zubehör kannst du deinen Look und Sound perfektionieren und noch mehr wie Chris Shiflett klingen. Whether it's sides, straps, picks or other accessories, you'll find everything a Foo Fighters and Chris Shiflett fan's heart desires here!