Guitar tone · rock, Pop rock / Pop

5 Seconds of Summer guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 14 5 Seconds of Summer songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: Gibson ES-335 into Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier 100W 3-channel Solo Head (Multi-Watt).

Guitars 5 Seconds of Summer used

Gibson ES-3351 song
Fender Standard Stratocaster Electric Guitar1 song
Gibson Les Paul Standard (2010s, likely Ebony or Cherry Sunburst finish)1 song
Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely 2010s reissue, Michael Clifford's main studio guitar for this era)1 song
Gibson Les Paul Standard (2010s, likely Cherry Sunburst or Goldtop, as seen in official videos and live performances)1 song
Fender Telecaster (likely MIJ or MIM, as used by Michael Clifford in early 5SOS studio recordings)1 song
Fender Precision Bass 1983 Special1 song
Fender American Professional Telecaster (likely, based on artist's main studio guitar for this era)1 song

Amps 5 Seconds of Summer used

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier 100W 3-channel Solo Head (Multi-Watt)1 song
Unknown (no explicit source for amp model on 'More' studio recording)1 song
Marshall JCM900 100W Head with Marshall 1960A 4x12 Cabinet1 song
Marshall JCM900 (studio recording amp, typical for 5SOS pop-punk/rock sound in 2015)1 song
Marshall JCM900 (studio recording, as referenced in interviews and live rig photos from the 2014 album era)1 song
Vox AC30 (studio standard for early 2010s pop-rock, no direct source for this song but matches era/genre/artist typical studio use)1 song
Ampeg SVT (live) and Fender Bassman (studio/recording)1 song
Fender Hot Rod DeVille (likely, based on artist's studio amp for this era)1 song

17 5 Seconds of Summer tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
American Idiot · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Junior (P90) or similar single-cut guitar with P90/humbucker	Marshall-style amp (likely Marshall JCM800 or DSL, as per Green Day/5SOS covers)	7
Caramel · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Michael Clifford Signature Melody Maker	Unknown (no direct source for studio amp; likely clean amp based on genre and cover analysis)	4.5
Castaway · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely Player or American Standard, as seen in live and promo photos from the era)	Unknown model (no explicit studio amp info found; live, digital amp/cab sims or direct-in are used, see Equipboard/Reddit)	6
Chest · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson ES-335	Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier 100W 3-channel Solo Head (Multi-Watt)	6.5
Don't Stop · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely 2010s, Michael Clifford's main studio guitar for this era)	Marshall JCM900 (studio recording, 2014 era, typical for pop-punk/modern rock records)	7
English Love Affair · riff	Riff · clean	Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely 2010s, Michael Clifford's main studio guitar for early 5SOS recordings)	Marshall JCM900 (typical for 5SOS studio clean tones, 2010s era)	0
Ghost of You · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender American Professional Telecaster (likely, based on artist's main studio guitar for this era)	Fender Hot Rod DeVille (likely, based on artist's studio amp for this era)	5
Good Girls · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (2010s, likely Cherry Sunburst or Goldtop, as seen in official videos and live performances)	Marshall JCM900 (studio recording, as referenced in interviews and live rig photos from the 2014 album era)	6.5
Gotta Get Out · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Telecaster (likely MIJ or MIM, as used by Michael Clifford in early 5SOS studio recordings)	Vox AC30 (studio standard for early 2010s pop-rock, no direct source for this song but matches era/genre/artist typical studio use)	5
I'm Scared I’ll Never Sleep Again · clean	Clean · clean	Fender Precision Bass 1983 Special	Ampeg SVT (live) and Fender Bassman (studio/recording)	0
I'm Scared I’ll Never Sleep Again · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Player Series Telecaster (likely, based on band's known gear for this era)	Fender Hot Rod DeVille (likely, based on 5SOS studio rig for 2020s recordings)	6.5
More · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Standard Stratocaster Electric Guitar	Unknown (no explicit source for amp model on 'More' studio recording)	6.5
She Looks So Perfect · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Telecaster	Vox AC30	6.5
She's Kinda Hot · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (2010s, likely Ebony or Cherry Sunburst finish)	Marshall JCM900 100W Head with Marshall 1960A 4x12 Cabinet	7
She's Kinda Hot · riff	Riff · clean	Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely 2010s reissue, Michael Clifford's main studio guitar for this era)	Marshall JCM900 (studio recording amp, typical for 5SOS pop-punk/rock sound in 2015)	0
Youngblood · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Telecaster (exact model unknown, likely American Standard or Deluxe, as used by Luke Hemmings during the Youngblood era)	Amp model unknown (likely amp/cab simulator or preamp pedal direct to interface; no evidence of traditional amp used in studio or live for this song)	5.5
Youngblood · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Telecaster (exact model unknown, likely American Standard or Deluxe, as used by Luke Hemmings in studio era)	Amp model unknown (likely direct or amp sim; no evidence of traditional amp in studio or live for this song/era)	0

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Frequently asked questions

What amp did 5 Seconds of Summer use?

Across 14 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier 100W 3-channel Solo Head (Multi-Watt) (1 song), Unknown (no explicit source for amp model on 'More' studio recording) (1 song), Marshall JCM900 100W Head with Marshall 1960A 4x12 Cabinet (1 song), Marshall JCM900 (studio recording amp, typical for 5SOS pop-punk/rock sound in 2015) (1 song).

What guitar did 5 Seconds of Summer use?

Most often: Gibson ES-335 (1 song), Fender Standard Stratocaster Electric Guitar (1 song), Gibson Les Paul Standard (2010s, likely Ebony or Cherry Sunburst finish) (1 song), Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely 2010s reissue, Michael Clifford's main studio guitar for this era) (1 song).

How do I get 5 Seconds of Summer's tone on my amp?

Open any 5 Seconds of Summer song below to see the original gear and settings, then use ToneAdapt to adapt them to your own guitar, amp, pickups and pedals.