Guitar tone · rock, pop

Coldplay guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 20 Coldplay songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: Fender American Vintage '65 Jazzmaster into Fender Hot Rod DeVille.

Guitars Coldplay used

Fender American Vintage '65 Jazzmaster4 songs
Fender Jaguar Reissue4 songs
Fender Classic Series '72 Telecaster Thinline3 songs
Fender Telecaster (likely 1970s or early 2000s model, as used by Jonny Buckland in studio)2 songs
Fender Jaguar (likely American Vintage Reissue, as seen in Jonny Buckland's studio gear for this era)1 song
Fender Telecaster (exact model not specified, but consistent with Jonny Buckland's studio use for this era)1 song
Fender Telecaster (likely early 2000s, Jonny Buckland's main studio guitar for A Rush of Blood to the Head era)1 song
Fender Telecaster (likely 1970s or 1990s reissue, maple neck, as used by Jonny Buckland in studio era)1 song

Amps Coldplay used

Fender Hot Rod DeVille3 songs
Fender Hot Rod Deville2 songs
Fender Hot Rod DeVille 2122 songs
Silvertone 1484 Twin Twelve2 songs
Fender Hot Rod DeVille 212 (studio, as captured in Quad Cortex and referenced in multiple rig rundowns for this era)1 song
Fender Hot Rod Deville combo1 song
Fender Hot Rod DeVille (most commonly used by Buckland in studio for this era, no evidence of Vox or Marshall on this track)1 song
Fender Hot Rod DeVille (studio, 2002 era; Buckland's main amp for Parachutes/A Rush of Blood to the Head sessions)1 song

29 Coldplay tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Yellow · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely late 90s/early 2000s, maple neck, as seen in studio and live photos from the 'Parachutes' era)	Marshall amplifier (exact model not confirmed, but Marshall is widely cited for 'Yellow' era studio and live use)	5
Adventure of a Lifetime · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Jaguar (likely American Vintage Reissue, as seen in Jonny Buckland's studio gear for this era)	Fender Hot Rod DeVille 212 (studio, as captured in Quad Cortex and referenced in multiple rig rundowns for this era)	3.5
Adventure of a Lifetime · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Telecaster (exact model not specified, but consistent with Jonny Buckland's studio use for this era)	Fender Hot Rod Deville combo	3.5
Adventure of a Lifetime · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Telecaster (likely 72 Thinline Reissue, maple neck, as used by Jonny Buckland in this era)	Fender Hot Rod DeVille 212	3.5
Charlie Brown · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Telecaster (likely 1970s or early 2000s, as used by Jonny Buckland on Mylo Xyloto era)	Vox AC30 (studio recording, as used by Jonny Buckland for Mylo Xyloto sessions)	5
Clocks · riff	Riff · clean	Fender American Vintage '65 Jazzmaster	Vox AC30 (likely 1990s/2000s reissue, as used by Jonny Buckland in studio era)	0
Don't Panic · solo	Solo · clean	Fender Telecaster (likely 1990s/early 2000s, maple neck, as seen in early Coldplay performances and studio photos)	Fender Hot Rod DeVille (most commonly associated with Jonny Buckland for Parachutes era studio recordings)	3
Fix You · riff	Riff · clean	Fender American Vintage '65 Jazzmaster	Fender Hot Rod Deville	3
Fix You · solo	Solo · clean	Fender '72 Thinline Telecaster	Marshall amplifier (exact model unknown, likely JCM series or similar)	2.5
Fix You · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender American Vintage '65 Jazzmaster	Fender Hot Rod DeVille	4
God Put a Smile Upon Your Face · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Jaguar Reissue	Silvertone 1484 Twin Twelve	6
In My Place · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Jaguar Reissue Electric Guitar	Fender Hot Rod DeVille combo	3.5
In My Place · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Jaguar Reissue	Fender Twin Reverb	4
Magic · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Classic Series '72 Telecaster Thinline	Fender Hot Rod DeVille	3.5
Magic · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Telecaster (likely 1970s or early 2000s model, as used by Jonny Buckland in studio)	Fender Hot Rod DeVille (likely, based on era and Buckland's studio use)	0
Shiver · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Telecaster (likely 1990s American Standard or similar, as used by Jonny Buckland on Parachutes)	Fender Hot Rod DeVille 212 (most likely, based on era and forum consensus for Parachutes studio recordings)	3
Sparks · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Classic Series '72 Telecaster Thinline	Fender amplifier (exact model unknown, likely Fender Twin Reverb or similar clean Fender amp)	0
Speed of Sound · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Jaguar Reissue	Fender Hot Rod DeVille 212 III	4
Talk · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Classic Series '72 Telecaster Thinline	Fender Hot Rod Deville	4
The Scientist · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Telecaster (likely 1970s or 1990s reissue, maple neck, as used by Jonny Buckland in studio era)	Fender Hot Rod DeVille (studio, 2002 era; Buckland's main amp for Parachutes/A Rush of Blood to the Head sessions)	3.5
The Scientist · clean	Clean · clean	Fender Precision Bass	Ampeg Classic Series (likely SVT head with 8x10 cabinet)	0
Trouble · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Jaguar Reissue	Fender Hot Rod DeVille	0
True Love · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Telecaster (likely American Standard or Deluxe, as used by Jonny Buckland in Ghost Stories era)	Fender Hot Rod DeVille (typical for Jonny Buckland in studio during Ghost Stories era)	3.5
Us Against the World · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Telecaster (likely 1960s reissue or American Standard, as used by Jonny Buckland in studio sessions of this era)	Fender Hot Rod DeVille 212	2.5
Violet Hill · riff	Riff · distorted	1978 Roland GR-500 Guitar Synth	Silvertone 1484 Twin Twelve	6.5
Warning Sign · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Telecaster (likely early 2000s, Jonny Buckland's main studio guitar for A Rush of Blood to the Head era)	Fender Hot Rod DeVille (most commonly used by Buckland in studio for this era, no evidence of Vox or Marshall on this track)	0
White Shadows · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Telecaster (likely 1970s or early 2000s model, as used by Jonny Buckland in studio)	Fender Hot Rod DeVille (studio standard for Coldplay's X&Y era, highly likely for 'White Shadows')	4
Yellow · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Telecaster (likely 1990s/early 2000s Standard or American Series, maple neck, single coils)	Fender Hot Rod DeVille 212 (60W 2x12 Tube Combo)	2.5
Yellow · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender American Vintage '65 Jazzmaster	Vox AC30 (studio recording, 2000 era, Parachutes sessions; Marshall amps also mentioned but less direct evidence for studio recording of 'Yellow')	4.5

Coldplay 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 Coldplay use?

Across 20 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Fender Hot Rod DeVille (3 songs), Fender Hot Rod Deville (2 songs), Fender Hot Rod DeVille 212 (2 songs), Silvertone 1484 Twin Twelve (2 songs).

What guitar did Coldplay use?

Most often: Fender American Vintage '65 Jazzmaster (4 songs), Fender Jaguar Reissue (4 songs), Fender Classic Series '72 Telecaster Thinline (3 songs), Fender Telecaster (likely 1970s or early 2000s model, as used by Jonny Buckland in studio) (2 songs).

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

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