Guitar tone · other, math rock
American Football guitar tone: gear & amp settings
The gear and amp settings behind 3 American Football songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: Fender Jazzmaster (exact model unknown, likely late 90s MIJ/CIJ or vintage reissue, as used by Mike Kinsella and Steve Holmes on the debut album) into Marshall Valvestate 8080 (Steve Holmes, confirmed for first album rhythm/riff sections).
Guitars American Football used
- Fender Jazzmaster (exact model unknown, likely late 90s MIJ/CIJ or vintage reissue, as used by Mike Kinsella and Steve Holmes on the debut album)1 song
- Fender Jazzmaster1 song
- Fender Telecaster (likely American Standard or Classic Series '72 Telecaster Custom, as used by Mike Kinsella on LP1)1 song
- Fender Telecaster (likely late-90s American Standard or similar, as seen in era photos and interviews)1 song
Amps American Football used
- Marshall Valvestate 8080 (Steve Holmes, confirmed for first album rhythm/riff sections)1 song
- Fender Twin Reverb1 song
- Marshall Valvestate 80801 song
- Fender '65 Twin Reverb (studio recording, as per Equipboard and live videos from the era)1 song
4 American Football tones
| Song | Gain |
|---|---|
| Never Meant · riff | 0 |
| Stay Home · riff | 0 |
| Stay Home · riff | 4 |
| The Summer Ends · riff | 3.5 |
Get American Football's tone on your gear
Pick any American Football song and ToneAdapt adapts the original rig to your own guitar, amp, pickups and pedals.
Frequently asked questions
What amp did American Football use?
Across 3 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Marshall Valvestate 8080 (Steve Holmes, confirmed for first album rhythm/riff sections) (1 song), Fender Twin Reverb (1 song), Marshall Valvestate 8080 (1 song), Fender '65 Twin Reverb (studio recording, as per Equipboard and live videos from the era) (1 song).
What guitar did American Football use?
Most often: Fender Jazzmaster (exact model unknown, likely late 90s MIJ/CIJ or vintage reissue, as used by Mike Kinsella and Steve Holmes on the debut album) (1 song), Fender Jazzmaster (1 song), Fender Telecaster (likely American Standard or Classic Series '72 Telecaster Custom, as used by Mike Kinsella on LP1) (1 song), Fender Telecaster (likely late-90s American Standard or similar, as seen in era photos and interviews) (1 song).
How do I get American Football's tone on my amp?
Open any American Football song below to see the original gear and settings, then use ToneAdapt to adapt them to your own guitar, amp, pickups and pedals.