Guitar tone · rock

Aerosmith guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 20 Aerosmith songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: 1971 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe into Ampeg V-2 head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet.

Guitars Aerosmith used

1971 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe3 songs
1971 Gibson Les Paul Custom2 songs
Fender Esquire1 song
Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely late 50s reissue or Custom Shop, as per Perry's typical studio choices in this era)1 song
Fender Precision Bass1 song
Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely 1959 or early 60s, as per Joe Perry's main studio guitars of the era)1 song
Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely 1958 or 1959, used by Joe Perry and Brad Whitford on the riff section)1 song
1971 Gibson Les Paul Standard1 song

Amps Aerosmith used

Ampeg V-2 head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet2 songs
Marshall Plexi (likely 1959 Super Lead, as used by Aerosmith in mid-1970s)1 song
Marshall tube amp (exact model not specified for 'Jaded', but Marshall stacks are Perry's main studio amp for this era; likely JCM800 or similar)1 song
Ampeg SVT (early 1970s model, likely blue line or black line)1 song
Marshall Super Lead (likely 1959 SLP or JCM800, as used by Joe Perry in early 90s studio sessions)1 song
Marshall Plexi (likely 1959 Super Lead, as used by Aerosmith in early 1970s studio recordings)1 song
Marshall 1959 Super Lead (Plexi)1 song
Ampeg V-2 head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet (likely Celestion G12M25 speakers)1 song

28 Aerosmith tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Walk This Way · riff	Riff · distorted	1960 Gibson Les Paul Junior (double cutaway)	Ampeg V-2 head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet	5.5
Sweet Emotion · riff	Riff · distorted	1960 Gibson Les Paul Junior	Ampeg V-2 head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet (likely Celestion G12M25 speakers)	5.5
Angel · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely late 1950s reissue or original, as used by Joe Perry in the 1980s studio sessions)	Marshall amplifier (likely JCM800 or JMP, as per Aerosmith's 1980s studio gear and genre conventions)	6
Combination · riff	Riff · distorted	1971 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe	Ampeg V-2 head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet	5.5
Crazy · solo	Solo · distorted	Ernie Ball Music Man EVH	Marshall amplifier (exact model not specified, likely JCM800 or similar era-correct Marshall head)	6.5
Crazy · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (mid-1970s, likely 1959 or 1960 reissue, Joe Perry's main studio guitar for this era)	Marshall 1959SLP Plexi Super Lead (100W, late 1960s/early 1970s, cranked for overdrive)	5.5
Cryin' · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (early 90s, likely Burst or Custom Shop, as used by Joe Perry in studio)	Marshall amplifier (likely JCM800 or JCM900, as used by Joe Perry in early 90s studio sessions)	7
Cryin' · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul 'Billie' Custom	Marshall amplifier (exact model unknown, likely JCM800 or JCM900 series typical for Perry in early 90s)	6
Dream On · clean	Clean · clean	Fender Precision Bass	Ampeg SVT (early 1970s model, likely blue line or black line)	0
Dream On · riff	Riff · distorted	1971 Gibson Les Paul Standard	Marshall 1959 Super Lead (Plexi)	5.5
Dream On · riff	Riff · clean	1971 Gibson Les Paul Custom	Music Man HD-130 (studio recording, 1972)	3.5
Dream On · solo	Solo · distorted	1971 Gibson Les Paul Custom	Music Man HD-130 (studio recording, 1972 album session)	5.5
Dude (Looks Like a Lady) · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely 1970s or early 1980s, used by Joe Perry for riff sections on Permanent Vacation)	Marshall amplifier (likely JCM800 or similar, as used by Perry for distorted rhythm tones in this era)	6.5
Eat The Rich · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely 1959 or early 60s, as per Joe Perry's main studio guitars of the era)	Marshall Super Lead (likely 1959 SLP or JCM800, as used by Joe Perry in early 90s studio sessions)	6.5
Get It Up · riff	Riff · distorted	1971 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe	Marshall Super Lead 100 (Plexi, early 1970s, likely with Marshall 4x12 cabinet)	6.5
Jaded · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely late 50s reissue or Custom Shop, as per Perry's typical studio choices in this era)	Marshall tube amp (exact model not specified for 'Jaded', but Marshall stacks are Perry's main studio amp for this era; likely JCM800 or similar)	6
Jaded · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely late 50s reissue, possibly Joe Perry's signature or similar burst model)	Marshall amplifier (exact model unknown, likely JCM800 or similar, as per Perry's typical studio rig for this era)	5.5
Love In an Elevator · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (late 50s reissue or vintage, likely sunburst, as used by Joe Perry on 'Pump' album era)	Marshall JTM45 (reissue, EL34s, non-master volume, into Marshall 4x12 with Celestion G12-30 speakers)	6
Make It · riff	Riff · distorted	1970 Gibson Les Paul Junior	Ampeg V-4 (or V-2) head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet	5.5
Mama Kin · riff	Riff · distorted	1968 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop	Marshall Plexi (likely 1959 Super Lead, late 60s/early 70s)	5.5
Nobody's Fault · solo	Solo · distorted	1971 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe	Ampeg V-4 head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet (Celestion G12M25 speakers, likely Greenbacks)	7
Nobody's Fault · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely 1959, possibly Joe Perry's '59 Les Paul Standard VOS or similar vintage Les Paul)	Music Man HD-130 (studio, 1976 recording era)	6.5
Rag Doll · riff	Riff · distorted	Chandler Limited RH-2 Lap Steel Guitar	Marshall amplifier (exact model unknown, likely JCM800 or similar era-appropriate model)	5.5
Same Old Song and Dance · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely 1959 or 1960, as used by Joe Perry and Brad Whitford on early Aerosmith recordings)	Marshall 100-watt Super Lead half-stack (vintage, loaded with Celestion greenbacks)	6
Same Old Song And Dance (Single Version) · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely 1959 or early 1970s, Joe Perry or Brad Whitford's main guitar at the time)	Marshall 100-watt Plexi (likely Super Lead, late 60s/early 70s, as used on 'Get Your Wings' era recordings)	5.5
Sick As a Dog · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Esquire	Marshall Plexi (likely 1959 Super Lead, as used by Aerosmith in mid-1970s)	5.5
Train Kept a Rollin' · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely 1958 or 1959, used by Joe Perry and Brad Whitford on the riff section)	Marshall Plexi (likely 1959 Super Lead, as used by Aerosmith in early 1970s studio recordings)	6
Walk This Way · solo	Solo · distorted	1959 Fender Stratocaster with rosewood fretboard	Ampeg V-2 head (60-watt tube) into Marshall 4x12 cabinet	5.5

Aerosmith songs on popular amps

Exact settings ToneAdapt players use for these songs on their own amps.

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Frequently asked questions

What amp did Aerosmith use?

Across 20 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Ampeg V-2 head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet (2 songs), Marshall Plexi (likely 1959 Super Lead, as used by Aerosmith in mid-1970s) (1 song), Marshall tube amp (exact model not specified for 'Jaded', but Marshall stacks are Perry's main studio amp for this era; likely JCM800 or similar) (1 song), Ampeg SVT (early 1970s model, likely blue line or black line) (1 song).

What guitar did Aerosmith use?

Most often: 1971 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe (3 songs), 1971 Gibson Les Paul Custom (2 songs), Fender Esquire (1 song), Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely late 50s reissue or Custom Shop, as per Perry's typical studio choices in this era) (1 song).

How do I get Aerosmith's tone on my amp?

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