BREAKING NEWS: ‘I’d Get Very Frustrated’: Iron Maiden’s Adrian Smith Reveals Why He Ditched Gibson Les Paul for Jacksons

BREAKING NEWS: ‘I’d Get Very Frustrated’: Iron Maiden’s Adrian Smith Reveals Why He Ditched Gibson Les Paul for Jacksons

In a surprising revelation that has fans of heavy metal buzzing, Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith has opened up about one of the most pivotal changes in his musical career—his decision to switch from using a Gibson Les Paul to Jackson guitars. In a recent interview, Smith explained the frustrations that led to the move, offering new insight into his creative process and the evolution of his sound over the years.

Smith, who has been with Iron Maiden since 1980, is known for his powerful, intricate guitar work that has helped shape some of the band’s most iconic tracks. However, despite his longstanding relationship with Gibson’s Les Paul, he admitted that there came a point where the instrument no longer suited his needs.

“I was using a Les Paul for a long time,” Smith began. “But honestly, I started getting very frustrated with it. It was a great guitar, don’t get me wrong, but I just found that I wasn’t getting the response I wanted. The sound wasn’t as clear as I needed it to be for some of the faster, more intricate riffs we were working on at the time. The Les Paul was heavy, and it just wasn’t playing as well as I wanted it to.”

Smith, known for his fast and precise playing, found that the weight and tone of the Les Paul were impeding his ability to execute the kind of fast, fluid solos he was becoming known for in Iron Maiden’s growing catalog of hits. He described how, as the band’s music evolved, his playing style became more complex, and he needed a guitar that could keep up with the demands of their ever-growing sound.

“Don’t get me wrong, the Les Paul has a lot of history and weight in rock music, but I was at a point where I needed something that was a bit more comfortable, something that responded better to the kinds of sounds I was going for,” Smith explained. “It wasn’t about the tone—it was about what I could do with it. I needed something that would keep up with me.”

The decision to move to Jackson guitars was not a spontaneous one, but rather the result of years of experimentation and frustration with traditional equipment. Smith had played a variety of guitars over the years, but it was his encounter with Jackson’s custom designs that finally clicked.

“I picked up a Jackson, and it was like a breath of fresh air. It was lighter, faster, and more responsive. The neck felt like it was made for me,” Smith recalled. “I could get the precise tone I wanted, and the playability was out of this world. Suddenly, I wasn’t fighting the instrument anymore—I could just play.”

Jackson guitars, known for their sleek design and precision craftsmanship, quickly became Smith’s go-to choice. His shift to Jackson not only changed his physical playing experience but also marked a shift in the way he approached songwriting and performance. The ease of play allowed him to explore more intricate riffs and solos, taking Iron Maiden’s music in new and exciting directions.

“The comfort level was just something I’d never experienced before. That made all the difference,” Smith said. “I could hit the notes I wanted to hit, and more importantly, I could focus on the music instead of fighting with the gear. It’s not that the Les Paul wasn’t a good guitar—it just wasn’t the right fit for the direction I wanted to go in.”

This change also came at a time when Smith and his bandmates were experimenting with a heavier, more complex sound. Iron Maiden’s albums from the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, including Seventh Son of a Seventh Son and Fear of the Dark, reflected that growth, with Smith’s contributions taking center stage in some of the band’s most intricate guitar work.

Smith’s transition to Jackson guitars has since become part of his signature sound. While the band continues to play a mix of their older and newer material, the Jacksons have become a hallmark of his playing style, and they’ve helped him refine his voice within the band. He now uses custom Jackson models, with his signature design featuring a combination of the iconic Jackson style and his own personal modifications for optimal playability.

“I don’t think I could go back to the Les Paul now,” Smith concluded. “It’s funny, because people have asked me about it before. But once you find the right tool for the job, you stick with it. The Jacksons just work for me, and they’re what I use to get my sound across to the fans.”

Adrian Smith’s shift from Gibson to Jackson was a pivotal moment in his career, one that not only influenced his own playing but also helped define Iron Maiden’s sound for decades to come. Fans of the band can now look back at those critical years and appreciate how Smith’s evolution as a guitarist directly contributed to the band’s ongoing legacy.