Gear

Toby has had a long association with Gibson Guitars

In fact since he was 10-years-old

He was a regular sight at shows around the world with his trademark Dr Martens boots and a Gibson Firebird that looked way too big for him.

It was a video shot by photographer Roald Jungård of Toby performing with blues star Ronnie Baker Brooks in Denmark that took the internet by storm – the Facebook video now has over 119 Million views.

At that point he was the youngest Gibson artist and the brand made sure he had a guitar wherever he travelled.

On one occasion Toby was performing in Memphis and was staying at the Gracelands Hotel.

A large package arrived at the hotel – a loaner Gibson Firebird and Toby still has the postal label that reads:

Toby Lee, Gracelands Hotel, Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee , 38116, USA

The decade long association with Gibson has allowed Toby to meet and perform with a host of icons including Slash, Peter Frampton, Billy Gibbons, Jimmy Page, Joe Bonamassa, Tony Iommi, Sir Brian May, Jared James Nichols and many more.

In 2021, Toby was asked to be a mentor for the Gibson Generation Group G3 – a two-year program dedicated to developing the next generation of music creators.

The program encourages young players to pursue a career in music by providing monthly mentorships, artist relations support, instrument loans, collaborative promotions, performance opportunities and global marketing campaigns.

For the current Class of 2025, US guitarist and songwriter Emily Wolfe and Toby are mentors for the artists from the US, UK, India, The Netherlands and Singapore.

Click here to find out more about the program.

Most recently, Toby was involved in the opening of the official Gibson Garage in London. He had the role of performing the National Anthem as rock legend Jimmy Page cut the ribbon watched by Sir Brian May, Tony Iommi, Gibson CEO Cesar Gueikien and the national press.

Gibson 335 Custom

The story behind my beautiful 335 Custom all began when I was in California with Gibson in 2019

I was out for dinner with the Gibson team and Cesar Gueikian asked me to describe my dream guitar including what finish, neck profile, pickups and accessories.

On a return trip to the USA four months later, I was on a tour of the Gibson factory in Nashville and during the tour, I spotted the most incredible guitar on display. Looking closer I realised my name was on the headstock. Gibson had built the guitar to my exact specification!

It’s now a very well travelled guitar and has flown with me for shows in the USA, Denmark, Norway and here in the UK.

It was also the guitar I played on stage with Joe Bonamassa at the Royal Albert Hall and again with Joe on the Keeping the Blues Alive Mediterranean cruise.

This guitar is incredibly special to me and will always be the prized possession in my collection.

Gibson Firebird V 1964

Back in 2020 I bought two guitars from a wonderful guy called Mick in the UK – a 1976 Gibson Firebird and a 1976 Gibson Explorer – the Firebird became the video star for  my first single “The Search for Happiness” 

When I went to collect these guitars, Mick showed me another Firebird he had tucked away – a 1964 Firebird V.

It was way out of my price range but I told him one day I would return to buy it.

Mick very kindly loaned it to me for recording sessions which made me want it even more.

I slowly sent money over but realised I needed to do something drastic to make the guitar mine.

So my prized 1963 Volkswagen Beetle “Herbie” was advertised for sale.

To cut a long story short, Herbie went to a new owner and “Micky” the Firebird became mine.

Gibson Les Paul – Spike

Spike the Facebook Marketplace special is the latest addition to my touring rig. I was looking to build a custom guitar to use on the road and spotted a goldtop Gibson Les Paul body and neck on Facebook and picked it up for the bargain price of £200.

I spoke to my friend Andy Finch of Spikes Vintage Restorations – a high class vehicle restoration shop in the UK and he offered to paint the guitar in my signature red with cream racing stripes – and what an amazing job he did!

I met MJ from Seymour Duncan Pickups on Joe’s cruise and she offered to create a set of hand wound pickups for the guitar.

The combination of a P90 in the neck and a humbucker in the bridge is the perfect set up for me.

The wiring and build was carried out by my regular guitar tech, Chris Panks near my home in Cornwall.

Needless to say, Spike features heavily as my go to gigging guitar and sounds absolutely incredible.

Blackstar St. James TL50 6L6 Toby Lee Signature 2-Channel 50-Watt 2×12″ Guitar Amp Half Stack Red

Toby has used many amps over the years from Peavey Classics to Marshall stacks and also with a great Canadian boutique company called Oxygen.

In 2019 Toby played a Blackstar amp at the NAMM show in California and was instantly hooked.

After returning from the US Toby had meetings with Blackstar at their Northampton headquarters and that was the start of a wonderful friendship.

Toby is a big fan of Jared James Nichols and has always loved the sound of his HT-20 MkII – Blackstar surprised Toby with a HT-20 in his signature red colour scheme and this amp travelled everywhere with Toby and the band.

At long last, he had found the sound he had been searching for.

Toby was also involved in the early stages of the Blackstar St James range which retained the sound he wanted in an incredible lightweight package.

Blackstar announced a Toby Lee signature St James 6L6 which is a total honour for Toby – and of course, it’s red!

The Toby Lee St James is available to buy worldwide so why not try one out – you will not be disappointed.

Toby uses it in the studio and also at all his live gigs around the world – even Jools Holland carries one on the truck for Toby to use at every show.

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