According to "Skids"' bassist Bill Simpson, Adamson's first real guitar was a Gibson Flying V. He is usually associated with the Yamaha SG2000 guitar, which he used extensively during the "Skids" years, as well as on the first two Big Country albums. He also used Fender Stratocasters in this period to achieve lighter tones. Around the time of "The Seer", Adamson began to lay his SG2000s aside and experimented with other models. Among these were several Les Pauls, a Gretsch Duo-Jet, and an ESP Model 901 Stratalike with humbucking pickups. Adamson also had several guitars made for him by the Glasgow guitar-maker Jimmy Moon.