• Guitars: Knowles’ main guitar is a 1982 Kohno Special nylon-string with a spruce top and Brazilian rosewood back and sides. Luthier Kirk Sand reshaped the neck and installed an L.R. Baggs RT pickup. The fingerboard was reshaped by luthier Paul McGill, who also installed taller, wider frets.

• Strings: D’Addario EJ44 Pro-Arté.

• Other: Knowles uses a NeckUp support to put his Kohno in the classical playing position without a footstool.