Guitar tone · rock, blues

David Bowie guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 19 David Bowie songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: Gibson Les Paul Custom (early 1970s, likely 1968 model, as used by Mick Ronson) into Hiwatt DR103 Custom 100 Head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet (Fripp's known studio rig for 'Heroes').

Guitars David Bowie used

Gibson Les Paul Custom (early 1970s, likely 1968 model, as used by Mick Ronson)2 songs
Gibson ES-335TD CRS Country Rock Stereo2 songs
Gibson Les Paul Custom (Robert Fripp's main guitar for the solo section)1 song
Fender Stratocaster (early 1960s, likely stock, used by Stevie Ray Vaughan)1 song
Gibson Les Paul Custom (early 1970s, black finish, stock humbuckers)1 song
Fender Telecaster (exact model unspecified, likely early 1970s)1 song
1968 Gibson Les Paul Custom1 song
Fender Stratocaster (early 1960s, likely 1963 L-Series, owned by Stevie Ray Vaughan)1 song

Amps David Bowie used

Hiwatt DR103 Custom 100 Head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet (Fripp's known studio rig for 'Heroes')1 song
Fender Vibroverb (blackface, 1964, studio recording); possible use of Dumble Overdrive Special (per some sources, but not confirmed for this track)1 song
Marshall Major 200W head (KT88 tubes) into Marshall 4x12 cabinet1 song
Unknown 150W amp (likely British, possibly Hiwatt or Marshall, but not confirmed)1 song
Marshall Major 200W head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 1972)1 song
Marshall Major Model 1967 200-watt head1 song
Fender Vibroverb (1964 Blackface, 2x10 combo, SRV's main clean amp in 1983 sessions)1 song
Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (likely, based on Gabrels' 1996-97 rig and genre/era)1 song

28 David Bowie tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Let's Dance (2002 Remaster) · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster (early 1960s, likely 1962, owned by Stevie Ray Vaughan)	Fender Vibroverb (Blackface, 1964, 2x15), possibly with Dumble Steel String Singer for additional clean headroom	4.5
Ziggy Stardust (2012 Remaster) · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (early 1970s, likely 1968 model, as used by Mick Ronson)	Marshall Major 200W head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 1972)	6
"Heroes" (2017 Remaster) · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (Robert Fripp's main guitar for the solo section)	Hiwatt DR103 Custom 100 Head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet (Fripp's known studio rig for 'Heroes')	6
"Heroes" (2017 Remaster) · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson ES-335TD CRS Country Rock Stereo	Fender Twin Reverb (Silverface, late 1970s studio model)	4.5
China Girl · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (Stevie Ray Vaughan's main guitar for the session)	Fender Vibroverb (SRV's main studio amp for this era, likely used on the solo)	5
Diamond Dogs · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Telecaster (exact model unspecified, likely early 1970s)	Unknown 150W amp (likely British, possibly Hiwatt or Marshall, but not confirmed)	5.5
Fame · clean	Clean · clean	Fender Jazz Bass (1970s, likely passive, played by Willie Weeks or Emir Ksasan)	Ampeg SVT (1970s tube head, likely with 8x10 cab)	0
Fame · riff	Riff · clean	Gibson ES-335TD CRS Country Rock Stereo	Fender Twin Reverb (Silverface, early 1970s)	0
I'm Afraid of Americans V1 (Radio Edit) · riff	Riff · distorted	Parker Fly Deluxe (likely, Reeves Gabrels' main guitar for Earthling era sessions)	Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (likely, based on Gabrels' 1996-97 rig and genre/era)	7
Let's Dance · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (early 1960s, likely stock, used by Stevie Ray Vaughan)	Fender Vibroverb (blackface, 1964, studio recording); possible use of Dumble Overdrive Special (per some sources, but not confirmed for this track)	5.5
Let's Dance · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster 'The Hitmaker' (Nile Rodgers' 1960 Stratocaster with maple neck, hardtail bridge)	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus (studio), possible Fender Twin Reverb (studio, less likely)	0
Let's Dance (2002 Remaster) · solo	Solo · clean	Fender Stratocaster (early 1960s, likely 1963 L-Series, owned by Stevie Ray Vaughan)	Fender Vibroverb (1964 Blackface, 2x10 combo, SRV's main clean amp in 1983 sessions)	3.5
Let's Dance (2002 Remaster) · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (early 1960s, likely SRV's Number One or similar vintage Strat)	Fender Vibroverb (blackface, 1964) or Fender Super Reverb (mid-1960s); possible studio use of Dumble Steel String Singer for clean headroom	4
Moonage Daydream (2012 Remaster) · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom	Marshall 100-watt amplifier	6.5
Moonage Daydream (2012 Remaster) · riff	Riff · distorted	1968 Gibson Les Paul Custom (stripped finish, open-coil humbuckers)	Marshall Major 200W head with 4x12 cabinet	7
Moonage Daydream (Live on 3rd July 1973) · solo	Solo · distorted	1968 Gibson Les Paul Custom (stripped finish, blonde, with open-coil humbuckers)	Marshall amplifier head (likely Marshall Super Lead 1959, as per era and sources)	7
Rebel Rebel · riff	Riff · distorted	Hagstrom I Kent PB-24-G	Unknown (likely Marshall or Fender, but not confirmed for studio recording)	5.5
Rebel Rebel (1999 Remaster) · riff	Riff · distorted	1960s Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely refinished, possibly a Les Paul Custom or similar Les Paul-type guitar)	Ampeg V4 (most widely cited for the original studio recording, 1974 Diamond Dogs sessions)	5.5
Sound and Vision · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1962 reissue or vintage, as per session era and typical Bowie band gear)	Fender '65 Twin Reverb Reissue	3
Space Oddity (2015 Remaster) · riff	Riff · clean	12-string acoustic guitar (likely Hagstrom or Gibson B-45-12, but not definitively confirmed for riff section)	None (acoustic guitar, direct mic recording)	0
Starman (2012 Remaster) · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (early 1970s, likely 1971-72, Mick Ronson's main guitar for Ziggy Stardust era)	Marshall 100W Super Lead (Plexi, late 60s/early 70s, as used by Mick Ronson in studio for Ziggy Stardust sessions)	5.5
Starman (2012 Remaster) · clean	Clean · clean	Fender Precision Bass	Ampeg SVT (early 1970s tube head, likely with matching 8x10 cab)	0
Starman (2012 Remaster) · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (1972, Mick Ronson's main guitar for Ziggy Stardust sessions)	Marshall 100W Super Lead (Plexi, late 60s/early 70s, as used by Mick Ronson in studio)	5.5
The Man Who Sold the World · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul	Marshall stack	6
The Man Who Sold the World (2015 Remaster) · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (early 1970s, likely 1968 model, as used by Mick Ronson)	WEM (Watkins Electric Music) 200-watt tube amplifier with WEM 2x18 cabinets	6.5
Ziggy Stardust · riff	Riff · distorted	1968 Gibson Les Paul Custom	Marshall Major Model 1967 200-watt head	6.5
Ziggy Stardust (2002 Remaster) · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (early 1970s, black finish, stock humbuckers)	Marshall Major 200W head (KT88 tubes) into Marshall 4x12 cabinet	6
Ziggy Stardust (2012 Remaster) · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (early 1970s, likely 1968 model)	Marshall Major 200W head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet	6

David Bowie 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 David Bowie use?

Across 19 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Hiwatt DR103 Custom 100 Head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet (Fripp's known studio rig for 'Heroes') (1 song), Fender Vibroverb (blackface, 1964, studio recording); possible use of Dumble Overdrive Special (per some sources, but not confirmed for this track) (1 song), Marshall Major 200W head (KT88 tubes) into Marshall 4x12 cabinet (1 song), Unknown 150W amp (likely British, possibly Hiwatt or Marshall, but not confirmed) (1 song).

What guitar did David Bowie use?

Most often: Gibson Les Paul Custom (early 1970s, likely 1968 model, as used by Mick Ronson) (2 songs), Gibson ES-335TD CRS Country Rock Stereo (2 songs), Gibson Les Paul Custom (Robert Fripp's main guitar for the solo section) (1 song), Fender Stratocaster (early 1960s, likely stock, used by Stevie Ray Vaughan) (1 song).

How do I get David Bowie's tone on my amp?

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