Guitar tone · rock

Boston guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 11 Boston songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: 1970s Gibson Les Paul Goldtop into Scholz Rockman X100 (rackmount headphone amp/processor, used for Boston's 'Third Stage' album studio recordings).

Guitars Boston used

1970s Gibson Les Paul Goldtop3 songs
1970s Gibson Les Paul Standard2 songs
Scholz custom-built guitar (likely based on Gibson Les Paul or Yamaha SG, as used by Tom Scholz in the 1980s studio recordings)1 song
1970 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe Goldtop (modded, mini-humbuckers, stripped finish)1 song
1968 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe (modded, likely with DiMarzio Super Distortion pickups)1 song
1970 Gibson Les Paul Standard1 song
Gibson Les Paul Standard1 song
Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely 1968, Tom Scholz's main studio guitar)1 song

Amps Boston used

Scholz Rockman X100 (rackmount headphone amp/processor, used for Boston's 'Third Stage' album studio recordings)1 song
Scholz Rockman prototype (pre-production, rackmount unit)1 song
Tom Scholz custom home-built amp (Marshall-based circuit, used for Boston's first two albums)1 song
Marshall Super Lead 100 (1970s, likely modded, into custom Scholz speaker cabs)1 song
Marshall Super Lead Plexi (1959 model, modded with Power Soak/attenuator)1 song
Scholz Rockman (studio unit, original version, 1976)1 song
Scholz Rockman (original rackmount unit, not pedal version)1 song
Marshall Super Lead 100-watt head (1970s, likely JMP or Plexi variant)1 song

15 Boston tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Cool the Engines · riff	Riff · distorted	Scholz custom-built guitar (likely based on Gibson Les Paul or Yamaha SG, as used by Tom Scholz in the 1980s studio recordings)	Scholz Rockman X100 (rackmount headphone amp/processor, used for Boston's 'Third Stage' album studio recordings)	7
More Than a Feeling · riff	Riff · distorted	1970 Gibson Les Paul Standard	Marshall Super Lead Plexi (1959 model, modded with Power Soak/attenuator)	6
Peace of Mind · solo	Solo · distorted	1970s Gibson Les Paul Goldtop	Custom modified Marshall 1959 Super Lead (plexi, 100W, late 1960s/early 1970s, with Scholz's own mods)	6.5
A Man I'll Never Be · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Goldtop (1957, with DiMarzio Super Distortion bridge pickup, modified by Tom Scholz)	Marshall Super Lead (1959 model, modded by Scholz), possibly with Power Soak	5.5
Amanda · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely 1968, Tom Scholz's main studio guitar)	Scholz Rockman (original rackmount unit, not pedal version)	6
Don't Look Back · solo	Solo · distorted	1970 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe Goldtop (modded, mini-humbuckers, stripped finish)	Tom Scholz custom home-built amp (Marshall-based circuit, used for Boston's first two albums)	7
Don't Look Back · riff	Riff · distorted	1968 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe (modded, likely with DiMarzio Super Distortion pickups)	Marshall Super Lead 100 (1970s, likely modded, into custom Scholz speaker cabs)	6.5
Feelin' Satisfied · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Goldtop (1957 reissue, heavily modified by Tom Scholz)	Scholz Rockman (prototype modules: Distortion Generator, Sustainor, EQ, Chorus/Delay)	5
Highway to Hell · riff	Riff · distorted	—	—	2.5
Hitch a Ride · solo	Solo · distorted	1970s Gibson Les Paul Standard	Scholz Rockman prototype (custom preamp, likely Marshall Plexi for power amp section)	6.5
More Than a Feeling · riff	Riff · clean	Gibson Les Paul Standard	Scholz Rockman (studio unit, original version, 1976)	0
More Than a Feeling · solo	Solo · distorted	1970s Gibson Les Paul Standard	Marshall Plexi (Super Lead 1959, modded, with Power Soak attenuator)	6.5
Peace of Mind · riff	Riff · distorted	1970s Gibson Les Paul Goldtop	Marshall Super Lead (Plexi) with custom Scholz modifications and Power Soak	6.5
Rock & Roll Band · riff	Riff · distorted	1970s Gibson Les Paul Goldtop	Scholz Rockman prototype (pre-production, rackmount unit)	6.5
Walkin' at Night · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Goldtop (early 1970s, likely 1957 reissue or original)	Marshall Super Lead 100-watt head (1970s, likely JMP or Plexi variant)	6

Boston 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 Boston use?

Across 11 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Scholz Rockman X100 (rackmount headphone amp/processor, used for Boston's 'Third Stage' album studio recordings) (1 song), Scholz Rockman prototype (pre-production, rackmount unit) (1 song), Tom Scholz custom home-built amp (Marshall-based circuit, used for Boston's first two albums) (1 song), Marshall Super Lead 100 (1970s, likely modded, into custom Scholz speaker cabs) (1 song).

What guitar did Boston use?

Most often: 1970s Gibson Les Paul Goldtop (3 songs), 1970s Gibson Les Paul Standard (2 songs), Scholz custom-built guitar (likely based on Gibson Les Paul or Yamaha SG, as used by Tom Scholz in the 1980s studio recordings) (1 song), 1970 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe Goldtop (modded, mini-humbuckers, stripped finish) (1 song).

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

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