Sonic Youth, the iconic experimental rock band known for redefining indie and noise rock, is once again opening its official Reverb shop—giving fans another chance to own a piece of music history. The online music gear platform Reverb will host this latest sale, marking the third time the band has partnered with the site since 2018.
The new shop will go live on May 21, and promises to offer an exciting array of instruments and equipment that played roles in Sonic Youth’s storied past. In previous rounds, more than 200 items were listed, including a Fender Telecaster used by the band and tape reels from recording sessions.
Among the most compelling items in this year’s collection is Lee Ranaldo’s first-ever guitar, a Hagstrom II. Though it mostly stayed within the confines of Ranaldo’s bedroom during his early playing days, it holds special meaning. Ranaldo recalled trading the Hagstrom and $60 to his drummer’s sister in exchange for a Fender Super Reverb amp—a pivotal moment that helped shape his sound and career.
“At some point, when my first band, The Fluks, was playing, I needed an amp, and I traded this guitar and like $60 to my drummer at that time, David Linton’s sister… That became my first target amp, and basically set the precedent for exactly what I wanted to play out of the rest of my life… This was responsible for me getting the first one, and it came back to me recently through David’s sister,” Ranaldo shared in a press release.
While there may be fewer of the infamous power tools Sonic Youth was known to use onstage, this year’s sale still includes a wide range of guitars, synths, pedals, keyboards, and professional audio equipment, all used during the band’s influential run.
Here are a few standout pieces:
Foxx Tone Machine: A fuzz pedal from Sonic Youth’s earliest days. Though the original purple velvet covering is gone, it now features a Confusion Is Sex sticker taped to its surface.
Ludwig Phase II Synthesizer: Once called “the sound of Washing Machine’s ‘Diamond Sea’” by Ranaldo, who also dubbed it “preposterously cool.”
Mu-Tron Bi-Phase: A favorite pedal of Ranaldo’s, used extensively on albums like A Thousand Leaves and Washing Machine.
Custom-built Parametric EQ: Gifted to Ranaldo by a former bandmate from The Fluks and used in Confusion Is Sex sessions.
Taylor 314ce acoustic guitar: Played by Ranaldo at Neil Young’s Bridge School benefit concerts. The guitar includes bridge pins recommended by Neil Young’s longtime guitar tech, Larry Cragg, and is paired with the violin/cello bow Ranaldo used during performances.
Urei Studio Monitors: Originally from The Knitting Factory, these were gifted to the band and later used at their personal studio, Echo Canyon.
Stamp pads: Quirky yet functional tools Ranaldo used while songwriting. He would press the pads onto his notebook to recreate the image of a guitar neck, allowing him to sketch chord shapes directly onto the page.
This curated collection not only highlights Sonic Youth’s innovative approach to music but also allows fans to own gear directly connected to their sonic evolution. Whether you’re a musician, gear collector, or lifelong fan, this shop opening is a rare opportunity to snag instruments and effects that helped shape one of alternative music’s most influential bands.
Mark your calendars for May 21—Sonic Youth’s Reverb shop will offer a direct line into the band’s rich, chaotic, and legendary legacy.
Related Topics
- Tommy Emmanuel Reveals He Can’t Read Music Despite Teaching at Berklee
- NAMM Welcomes Tariff Relief as U.S.-China Trade War Cools, but Industry Uncertainty Remains
- New Gloss Black Finish Unleashed for Scott Ian’s Signature Jackson Guitar
