Noel Gallagher's Guitar Gear on (What's the Story) Morning Glory?

Oasis - (What's the Story) Morning Glory? (1995)

(What's the Story) Morning Glory? is the second studio album from Britpop superstars, Oasis and unashamedly wears its 1960s influences on its sleeve, with songwriting that harks back to the glory days of bands such as The Kinks and the Beatles.

The songwriting on (What's the Story) Morning Glory? leans a little more into slower songs with huge, anthemic choruses, compared to the high energy rock 'n' roll of their first album, Definitely Maybe, released the previous year. 

Noel Gallagher is noted as the sole songwriter for 11 of the album's 12 tracks; the only exception being "Hello", on which he shares a writing credit with Gary Glitter and Mike Leander, due to the use of an excerpt from 1973's "Hello, Hello, I'm Back Again".

Is (What's the Story) Morning Glory? a concept album?

There's an intriguing theory about the meaning behind the title to this album, and how the songs are all tied together. It states that (What's the Story) Morning Glory? charts the first 12 months after Noel met the love of his life in San Francisco in 1994, with each song referencing specific events.

The theory goes on to claim that the tracks are all matched up to B-sides. And there's even a Beatles connection. Check out the video below for more.

What made Oasis so unique?

Oasis are one of the bestselling artists of all time - as of 2024, they have sold over 75 million records worldwide, and ticket sales for their highly anticipated 2025 reunion tour, the Oasis Live '25 Tour, sold out almost instantly.

Between chief songwriter Noel's '60s pop sensibilities, his brother and frontman Liam Gallagher's out-and-out rock 'n' roll persona, and the band's catalogue of stadium-filling anthems, Oasis left their mark on the UK music scene during the 1990s and 2000s.

Self-confessed Beatles nuts, Noel channelled '60s culture and '70s Glam Rock riffs during the writing process for the album. As well as the refrain in "Hello" taken from Gary Glitter's "Hello, Hello, I'm Back Again", "Don't Look Back in Anger" seems to closely imitate the piano intro from Lennon's "Imagine", while "She's Electric" unashamedly rips the Beatle's descending harmonies at the end of "With A Little Help From My Friends". Noel has even confessed that the title of "Wonderwall" was borrowed from George Harrison's epic double album - although its working title was something entirely different. Watch the video above for further details.

Noel claims that Johnny Marr has always been one of his guitar heroes, and they became friends early in Noel's career. Johnny lent Noel several of his vintage Gibson guitars over the years. Noel was also inspired by Paul Weller, who he invited to play the solos on "Champgne Supernova", which he duly did using his white Gibson SG plugged into a Vox AC30.

This unique mashup of influences, combined with Liam's snarling, nasally vocals and iconic stance (which apparently was to help him sing by opening up his airways, rather than just making him look cool...) gave Oasis their own sound; a sound that would change the face of British music, heavily influence '90s pop culture, and inspire countless thousands of youngsters to get out there and play music.

Noel Gallagher with his Epiphone Riviera at Cardiff International Arena on the (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? Tour in Cardiff, Wales, UK on 18 March 1996. Credit: Rob Watkins / Alamy Stock Photo 

Noel Gallagher's Guitars on (What's the Story) Morning Glory?

The Epiphone Les Paul Standard had shaped the band's formative years, and when it came to getting something a bit more serious for Definitely Maybe's recording sessions, fellow Mancunian Johnny Marr (of The Smiths fame) stepped in and lent Noel his 1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard, formerly owned by The Who's Pete Townshend.

But by the time of second album, (What's the Story) Morning Glory?, Noel instead gravitated towards hollow and semi-hollow bodied guitars.

Due to his love of the Beatles, Noel had grown fond of the Epiphone Casino, the hollow-bodied, P90-loaded guitar that Paul McCartney, John Lennon and George Harrison were all fond of. However, Noel did not end up choosing a Casino and instead he (and Bonehead) opted for the semi-hollow, humbucker-loaded Epiphone Riviera, of which there is still a signature model available in the Epiphone catalogue.

Noel then acquired arguably his most recognisable guitar - the Union Jack-adorned Epiphone Sheraton II, kitted out with mini-humbuckers and a Frequensator tailpiece, while the signature model instead featured full-sized humbuckers and a Tune-O-Matic tailpiece.

Although Noel is known for his love of semi-hollow guitars, there is one interesting outlier in his collection that was used on "Wonderwall" and "Don't Look Back in Anger", and that is a 1965 Fender Stratocaster that he purchased off Johnny Marr. 

It is known that around 1994, Noel had purchased a 1967 Gibson non-reverse Firebird, which he modded from its three-P90 configuration to a twin humbucker setup, loading it with a pair of Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates. 

The P90 pickups that were removed from the Firebird found their way into a black Les Paul Custom that previously belonged to Johnny Marr and was famously used on The Smiths' song, "The Queen is Dead". This guitar, now loaded with P90s, was used for the intro lead bends on the song "(What's The Story) Morning Glory?"

The album also features a heavy acoustic guitar presence. Gallagher was extremely fond of Gibson acoustics, having started his career with an Epiphone EJ-200 before eventually moving to the Gibson J-150 and J-200. The Gibson J-150 is the guitar you hear on the earworm intro of "Wonderwall".

Noel Gallagher's amps on (What's the Story) Morning Glory?

The majority of amps used by Noel throughout this album, and in fact, most of Oasis' recording career, have always been from British brands as this is a sound he prefers over the more mid-scooped American sound.

Noel used this Vox AC30, from circa 1964, in the studio during the WTSMG  sessions. It was hired from Harris Hire in Beckenham. Credit: Reverb

The predominant amps featured on throughout (What's the Story) Morning Glory? are the Vox AC30 and a Marshall Bluesbreaker combo. Much of Oasis' early output was recorded with Noel's Marshall Valvestate 8080 combo and a WEM Dominator MkIII, and as these were Noel's personal amps, there's a strong chance they would have appeared somewhere on the recording.

By this point, Noel had also started using JCM900s and an Orange OR120, the latter of which was used for a few sections. All the amps were miked with a combination of a Shure SM57 and Neumann U87.

This Orange OR120 was used by Noel Gallagher during the WTSMG sessions and subsequent tours. Credit: Matt's Guitar Shop / Reverb

What Pedals did Noel Gallagher Use on (What's The Story) Morning Glory?

One thing that is certain about Noel's tone through the (What's The Story) Morning Glory? sessions is that he prefers a more stripped back, organic sound. 

And although he tended to let the amps do the heavy lifting, there are instances where Noel used various effects for texture or to take the tone somewhere else.

Over the years, there has been plenty of documented coverage of Noel's live pedalboard, but very little is known about what he used during the recording sessions for the album. As he owns a number of pedals that he has publicly declared a fondness for, it's safe to assume they most likely made at least one studio appearance.

One pedal Noel has always credited for helping create his sound since the early days is the SIB Echodrive. This is actually a delay pedal with a preamp, Noel does not use the delay; he just uses the preamp to push his amps a little harder and achieve a little extra gain.

The main 3 pedals Noel was using around the WTSMG era were the Vox V847 wah, an Ibanez TS9 Tubescreamer (believed to have been used for his lead tones due to its very prominent and thick mid-range boost), and a Boss DD-3 Delay.

Get Noel Gallagher's (What's the Story) Morning Glory? guitar tone

Guitar

A semi-hollow guitar with humbuckers is an essential starting point. Epiphone offer a range of affordable semi-hollows including the Dot, Riviera and Sheraton. The latter two are also available with mini-humbuckers for a slightly brighter tone. 

If your budget can stretch to it, Epiphone still offers a Noel Gallagher signature model Riviera.

Amp

Noel's (What's the Story) Morning Glory? guitar tone is based around the Vox and Marshall combination, with a few extra amps sprinkled in when needed. If you're chasing this sound on a budget, a Vox AC10 or AC15 is a great mid-priced way of getting into that tonal ball park.

For the very budget conscious tone chasers, you could also consider the Vox Cambridge 50, which is a Vox modelling amp that contains models of classics from the brand such as the AC30, as well as others including a Marshall Plexi-style amp.

The Orange Crush range will also scratch that British-amp itch at wallet-friendly prices, but is completely solid-state, unlike Noel's Marshall Valvestate, which had a valve in the preamp section combined with a solid-state power section.

Up the budget and it's hard to look past a Marshall DSL, which is completely valve-driven and offers a wide range of classic Marshall sounds.

If money isn't an issue in pursuit of Noel's sound - perhaps you're in a tribute band, a wedding band or just love what he does! - then you should go for either a Vox AC30 or Marshall Bluesbreaker. Perhaps invest in a pair of earplugs, too!

Pedals

Noel uses guitar pedals like seasoning to add extra textures and flavours to his core sound. Try a low-gain overdrive or clean boost to push your amp a little further.

[product=raygun-fx-vintage-booster]
There's a connection here, as this affordable boost pedal has been used by Tim Smith of Noel Gallaghers’ High Flying Birds. It's a simple but effective tool to get some great overdriven sounds from your amp.
[/product]

[product=drunk-beaver-big-grunge]
Based on the rare Boss Power Driver PW-2 (referred to by some as the "Oasis pedal"), all the dirt is generated by overdriving the op-amp rather than by clipping diodes, so you get a really nice amp-like response.
[/product]

If you wish to replicate the function of Noel's beloved SIB Echodrive, you could consider an Xotic EP Booster, which mimics the preamp of an Echoplex Tape Delay unit.

[product=drunk-beaver-lighthouse]
Alternatively, try this delay pedal with a toggle to emulate the voicing of the Echoplex EP-3 preamp. It won't provide additional gain but the sound is to die for!
[/product]

For leads, the classic Ibanez TS9 will fill out your single note runs with its full midrange. Alternatively, check out the Boss SD1.

[product=formula-b-4558-od]
The 4558 OD features the same Texas Instruments RC4558P chip found in some of the earliest examples of the TS808. If you've never done the whole Tubescreamer-Marshall thing then you're missing out big time...stick it in front of your amp and cry with joy!
[/product]

[product=kma-machines-logan-transcend-drive]
The Logan puts control of the midrange in your hands. Set it up like a Tubescreamer, or use the Mids footswitch to kick in a mid-boost for solos only. It does clean boost, amp-like breakup, indie clang and full-on rock without breaking a sweat.
[/product]

Oasis' (What's the Story) Morning Glory? track listing

1. "Hello"
2. "Roll With It"
3. "Wonderwall"
4. "Don’t Look Back In Anger"
5. "Hey Now!"
6. "Untitled (The Swamp Song 1)"
7. "Some Might Say"
8. "Cast No Shadow"
9. "She’s Electric"
10. "Morning Glory"
11. "Untitled (The Swamp Song 2)"
12. "Champagne Supernova"

NB: The vinyl version of the album included "Bonehead's Bank Holiday" as an additional track, inserted between "Untitled" and "Some Might Say".