Guitar tone · rock
Beastie Boys guitar tone: gear & amp settings
The gear and amp settings behind 3 Beastie Boys songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: Gibson Les Paul Standard (exact model not confirmed, but Les Paul is highly likely based on era and genre conventions) into Marshall JCM800 2203/2204 (Brit 2204 model referenced for this song, consistent with 1980s hard rock recording practices).
Guitars Beastie Boys used
- Gibson Les Paul Standard (exact model not confirmed, but Les Paul is highly likely based on era and genre conventions)1 song
- B.C. Rich Warlock (Kerry King's personal guitar, likely used for the session)1 song
- Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely 1970s/early 1980s, as used by Kerry King for session work)1 song
- Sampled guitar riff from Led Zeppelin's 'When the Levee Breaks' (originally a Gibson Les Paul Standard, likely 1959, by Jimmy Page)1 song
Amps Beastie Boys used
- Marshall JCM800 2203/2204 (Brit 2204 model referenced for this song, consistent with 1980s hard rock recording practices)1 song
- Marshall JCM800 2203 (likely, based on Kerry King's known rig at the time and genre/era)1 song
- Marshall JCM800 2203 head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet1 song
- Sampled amp sound from Led Zeppelin's 'When the Levee Breaks' (originally Marshall Super Bass, 100W, 1971, by Jimmy Page)1 song
4 Beastie Boys tones
| Song | Gain |
|---|---|
| No Sleep Till Brooklyn · riff | 7 |
| Fight for Your Right · riff | 7 |
| Fight for Your Right · solo | 7.5 |
| Rhymin' & Stealin' · riff | 6 |
Beastie Boys songs on popular amps
Exact settings ToneAdapt players use for these songs on their own amps.
Get Beastie Boys's tone on your gear
Pick any Beastie Boys song and ToneAdapt adapts the original rig to your own guitar, amp, pickups and pedals.
Frequently asked questions
What amp did Beastie Boys use?
Across 3 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Marshall JCM800 2203/2204 (Brit 2204 model referenced for this song, consistent with 1980s hard rock recording practices) (1 song), Marshall JCM800 2203 (likely, based on Kerry King's known rig at the time and genre/era) (1 song), Marshall JCM800 2203 head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet (1 song), Sampled amp sound from Led Zeppelin's 'When the Levee Breaks' (originally Marshall Super Bass, 100W, 1971, by Jimmy Page) (1 song).
What guitar did Beastie Boys use?
Most often: Gibson Les Paul Standard (exact model not confirmed, but Les Paul is highly likely based on era and genre conventions) (1 song), B.C. Rich Warlock (Kerry King's personal guitar, likely used for the session) (1 song), Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely 1970s/early 1980s, as used by Kerry King for session work) (1 song), Sampled guitar riff from Led Zeppelin's 'When the Levee Breaks' (originally a Gibson Les Paul Standard, likely 1959, by Jimmy Page) (1 song).
How do I get Beastie Boys's tone on my amp?
Open any Beastie Boys song below to see the original gear and settings, then use ToneAdapt to adapt them to your own guitar, amp, pickups and pedals.