Guitar tone · rock

Deep Purple guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 12 Deep Purple songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: 1968 Fender Stratocaster (rosewood fretboard, stock single-coil pickups) into Marshall Major 200W head (model 1967), into Marshall 4x12 cabinet.

Guitars Deep Purple used

1968 Fender Stratocaster (rosewood fretboard, stock single-coil pickups)1 song
1971 Fender Stratocaster (maple neck, scalloped fretboard, stock single coils)1 song
Fender Stratocaster (late 1960s, likely 1968-1969, maple neck, rosewood board, stock single coils)1 song
Fender Stratocaster (maple neck, stock single coils)1 song
Ernie Ball Music Man Steve Morse Signature (likely SM-Y2D or original model, as used by Steve Morse in 1996 studio sessions)1 song
Fender Stratocaster (early 1970s, maple neck, stock single coils, likely 1968-1971 model)1 song
Fender Stratocaster (CBS-era, likely 1971-1973, maple neck, stock single-coil pickups)1 song
Fender Stratocaster (early 1970s, likely 1968-71 CBS model, maple neck, scalloped fretboard)1 song

Amps Deep Purple used

Marshall Major 200W head (model 1967), into Marshall 4x12 cabinet2 songs
Marshall Major 200W head (model 1967, 4x12 cabinet, late 1960s/early 1970s version)1 song
Marshall Major 200W head into 4x12 cabinet (likely Celestion Greenbacks)1 song
Marshall Major head1 song
ENGL Steve Morse Signature (custom model, as referenced for studio recording era)1 song
Marshall Major 200W head (model 1967, non-master volume, EL34s, 4x12 cabinet, studio recording)1 song
Marshall Major 200W head (model 1967, non-master volume, EL34s, 4x12 cabinet)1 song
Marshall Major Model 1967 200-watt head ('The Pig')1 song

20 Deep Purple tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Smoke On the Water · riff	Riff · distorted	1968 Fender Stratocaster (rosewood fretboard, stock single-coil pickups)	Marshall Major 200W head (model 1967, 4x12 cabinet, late 1960s/early 1970s version)	6
Smoke on the Water · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (early 1970s, likely 1968-1971 model, maple neck, stock single coils)	Marshall Major 200W head (model 1967), 4x12 Marshall cabinets	6
Highway Star · solo	Solo · distorted	1971 Fender Stratocaster (maple neck, scalloped fretboard, stock single coils)	Marshall Major 200W head (model 1967), into Marshall 4x12 cabinet	6.5
Strange Kind of Woman (2002 Remix) · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (early 1970s, likely 1971 or 1972, maple neck, stock single coils)	Marshall Major 200W head (model 1967), likely with Marshall 4x12 cabinet	6
Black Night · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (late 1960s, likely 1968-1969, maple neck, rosewood board, stock single coils)	Marshall Major 200W head into 4x12 cabinet (likely Celestion Greenbacks)	6
Black Night · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (1968-69, maple neck, rosewood fretboard, stock single-coil pickups, likely with scalloped fretboard)	Marshall Major (200-watt, model 1967, 'Plexi' head, likely with Marshall 4x12 cabinet, Celestion speakers)	6.5
Burn · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (CBS-era, likely 1971-1973, maple neck, stock single-coil pickups)	Marshall Major 200W head (model 1967, non-master volume, EL34s, 4x12 cabinet)	6
Burn · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (CBS-era, likely 1971-1973, maple neck, stock single coils, scalloped fretboard not yet present)	Marshall Major 200W head (model 1967), likely with modified preamp, into Marshall 4x12 cabinet with Celestion speakers	7
Highway Star · riff	Riff · distorted	1971 Fender Stratocaster (maple neck, scalloped fretboard, stock single-coil pickups)	Marshall Major 200W head (model 1967), into Marshall 4x12 cabinet	7
Highway Star (2024 Remix) · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (maple neck, stock single coils)	Marshall Major head	6.5
Highway Star (2024 Remix) · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (early 1970s, likely 1968-71 CBS model, maple neck, scalloped fretboard)	Marshall Major Model 1967 200-watt head ('The Pig')	5.5
Lazy · solo	Solo · distorted	1961 Fender Stratocaster	Marshall Major (200W) head into a Marshall 4x12 cabinet (likely with Celestion G12H speakers)	6.5
Lazy · riff	Riff · distorted	1968 Fender Stratocaster (maple neck, stock single coils, late '60s model)	Marshall Major 200W (model 1967, 'Pig') head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet (Celestion G12H speakers)	6.5
Mistreated · riff	Riff · distorted	1971 Fender Stratocaster (rosewood fretboard, stock single coils, scalloped fretboard)	Marshall Major 200-watt head (customized with extra output stage, late '60s/early '70s model)	5.5
Perfect Strangers · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (1974, scalloped fretboard, Schecter F500T pickups)	Marshall JCM 2000 TSL (studio), possibly Marshall Major or Marshall JMP era heads	6
Pictures of Home · solo	Solo · distorted	1971 Fender Stratocaster (maple neck, stock single coils, scalloped fretboard)	Marshall Major 200-watt head (custom modded to ~280 watts, EL34 tubes) into Marshall 4x12 cabinet	7
Smoke on the Water (2024 Remaster) · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster (early 1970s, maple neck, stock single coils, likely 1968-1971 model)	Marshall Major 200W head (model 1967, non-master volume, EL34s, 4x12 cabinet, studio recording)	3.5
Smoke on the Water (2024 Remaster) · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1968, maple neck, stock single coils)	Marshall Major Model 1967 200-watt head	5.5
Smoke on the Water (2024 Remaster) · solo	Solo · distorted	1970 Fender Stratocaster Sunburst Maple	Marshall Major 200W head with 4x12 cabinet	6
Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming · riff	Riff · distorted	Ernie Ball Music Man Steve Morse Signature (likely SM-Y2D or original model, as used by Steve Morse in 1996 studio sessions)	ENGL Steve Morse Signature (custom model, as referenced for studio recording era)	5.5

Deep Purple 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 Deep Purple use?

Across 12 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Marshall Major 200W head (model 1967), into Marshall 4x12 cabinet (2 songs), Marshall Major 200W head (model 1967, 4x12 cabinet, late 1960s/early 1970s version) (1 song), Marshall Major 200W head into 4x12 cabinet (likely Celestion Greenbacks) (1 song), Marshall Major head (1 song).

What guitar did Deep Purple use?

Most often: 1968 Fender Stratocaster (rosewood fretboard, stock single-coil pickups) (1 song), 1971 Fender Stratocaster (maple neck, scalloped fretboard, stock single coils) (1 song), Fender Stratocaster (late 1960s, likely 1968-1969, maple neck, rosewood board, stock single coils) (1 song), Fender Stratocaster (maple neck, stock single coils) (1 song).

How do I get Deep Purple's tone on my amp?

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