Guitar tone · rock

Def Leppard guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 21 Def Leppard songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: Ibanez DT-555 Destroyer (with retrofitted Kahler vibrato) into Marshall JCM800 2203.

Guitars Def Leppard used

Ibanez DT-555 Destroyer (with retrofitted Kahler vibrato)2 songs
Gibson Les Paul Standard (Steve Clark, 1979-1980 era, likely with DiMarzio Super Distortion bridge pickup)1 song
Jackson PC1 'Chameleon'1 song
Jackson Soloist (Phil Collen's main guitar on Hysteria sessions, likely used for solos)1 song
Jackson Soloist (custom, Phil Collen signature, HSS or HH configuration likely)1 song
Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely Steve Clark, 1979-1980 studio recording)1 song
Jackson PC1 (Phil Collen signature, likely used on studio recording)1 song
Fender Stratocaster (exact model not specified, likely late 1970s or early 1980s, used by Phil Collen for the clean arpeggiated riff)1 song

Amps Def Leppard used

Marshall JCM800 22032 songs
Marshall JMP 2203 Master Lead 100W Head1 song
Scholz Rockman X100 (rackmount), possibly blended with Gallien-Krueger 250ML1 song
Scholz Rockman X100 headphone amp (studio recording, not a traditional amp; used for all main distorted tones on Hysteria including 'Love Bites' solo)1 song
Scholz Rockman X100 (primary studio amp for Hysteria era, including 'White Lightning')1 song
Marshall JCM800 (2203) or Rockman X100 (clean mode possible, but JCM800 more likely for studio clean in 1980)1 song
Marshall JMP head (studio), possibly Metropoulos Metroplex (studio/live blend)1 song
Marshall JCM800 2203 (studio recording, Pyromania era, 1982-1983)1 song

30 Def Leppard tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Hysteria · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (white, with Kahler tremolo, three pickups)	Scholz Research & Development Rockman X100 Headphone Amp	6
Photograph · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster (exact model unspecified, but confirmed as Stratocaster for riff section)	Marshall amplifier (exact model not specified; likely Marshall JCM800 or similar, as used during Pyromania sessions)	0
Photograph · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (exact model not specified, likely late 1970s or early 1980s, used by Phil Collen for the clean arpeggiated riff)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (studio recording, Pyromania era, 1982-1983)	5.5
Pour Some Sugar On Me · riff	Riff · distorted	Jackson Soloist (silver and black crackle finish) for intro riff, Fender Stratocaster ('Felix', black 1978 with Ibanez Destroyer humbucker) for main riff	Tom Scholz Rockman X100 Headphone Amp (studio recording direct to desk)	8
Animal · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1980s American Standard or custom, coil-tapped)	Scholz Rockman X100 (primary for rhythm/riff), Gallien-Krueger 250ML (used for some clean/feedback parts)	5.5
Hysteria · riff	Riff · clean	Gibson Les Paul Custom (Steve Clark, studio recording, 1986-87)	Scholz Rockman X100 Headphone Amp (studio direct-in), sometimes Gallien-Krueger GK 250ML	0
Too Late for Love · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (Steve Clark) and Fender Telecaster with DiMarzio Super Distortion T (Phil Collen)	Marshall JMP 2203 Mk II Master Lead 100w	7
Gods of War · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (Steve Clark and Phil Collen, 1987 studio recording)	Marshall JCM800 (studio recording, Hysteria era)	7.5
Rock of Ages · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (Steve Clark) and Hamer Standard/Jackson Superstrat (Phil Collen)	Rockman X100 headphone amp (studio recording, direct-in), with possible Marshall JCM800 2203 and various cabs for layering	7.5
Switch 625 · solo	Solo · distorted	Ibanez Destroyer (late 1970s, likely stock pickups, used by Steve Clark on High 'n' Dry album)	Marshall JMP 100-watt head (likely 2203 or 1959 model, used in studio for High 'n' Dry era)	7.5
Animal · solo	Solo · distorted	Ibanez DT-555 Destroyer (with retrofitted Kahler vibrato)	Tom Scholz Rockman (original version, rackmount headphone amp/DI preamp, used for almost all guitar tracks on 'Hysteria')	6.5
Armageddon It · riff	Riff · distorted	Jackson PC1 'Chameleon'	Scholz Rockman X100 (rackmount), possibly blended with Gallien-Krueger 250ML	7
Armageddon It · solo	Solo · distorted	Ibanez DT-555 Destroyer (with retrofitted Kahler vibrato)	Tom Scholz Rockman X100 (studio headphone amp/amp simulator, used for nearly all Hysteria solos)	7
Die Hard the Hunter · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (Steve Clark, Phil Collen also used a Charvel DK24 on some tracks, but Les Paul is primary for riff)	Marshall JMP 2203 Mk II Master Lead 100w (studio, Pyromania era)	7.5
High 'N' Dry (Saturday Night) [Remastered 2018] · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard	Marshall JCM800 2203	7
Hysteria · solo	Solo · distorted	Jackson Soloist (custom, Phil Collen signature, used for solos on Hysteria album)	Scholz Rockman X100 headphone amp (used as preamp/amp simulator for recording, direct to desk)	6.5
Hysteria (Live) · riff	Riff · distorted	Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2	Marshall JCM800 2203	5.5
Hysteria (Live) · solo	Solo · distorted	Jackson PC1 (Phil Collen Signature, Sustainer-equipped, HSS configuration)	Fractal Audio Axe-Fx III (amp modeling, live rig)	6.5
Kick · riff	Riff · distorted	Jackson PC1 (Phil Collen signature, likely used on studio recording)	Marshall JMP head (studio), possibly Metropoulos Metroplex (studio/live blend)	7
Lady Strange · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely 1970s/early 1980s, used by Steve Clark)	Marshall JMP 2203 (100W head, likely with 4x12 cabinet, classic for early Def Leppard studio recordings)	7
Love Bites · solo	Solo · distorted	Jackson Soloist (Phil Collen's main guitar on Hysteria sessions, likely used for solos)	Scholz Rockman X100 headphone amp (studio recording, not a traditional amp; used for all main distorted tones on Hysteria including 'Love Bites' solo)	7.5
Love Bites · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (gunmetal blue, SSS, Bill Lawrence pickups, Kahler tremolo, as used by Steve Clark on 'Love Bites' studio recording)	Rockman X100 headphone amp (studio recording, built-in compression, EQ, chorus; not a traditional amp), Gallien-Krueger amp used for some overdubs	7.5
Love Bites · riff	Riff · clean	Jackson PC1 (Phil Collen signature, used on Hysteria sessions)	Marshall JMP-1 Tube MIDI Guitar Preamp into Crate Power Block and Marshall 4x12 cabinet	0
Pour Some Sugar On Me (Live) · riff	Riff · distorted	Jackson Phil Collen PC Supreme (live, 2022 tour era)	Fractal Audio Axe-FX III (modeling Marshall JCM800/Marshall 9200 Dual MonoBloc power amp into ENGL 4x12 cabs)	7
Rock Brigade · riff	Riff · clean	Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely Steve Clark, 1979-1980 studio recording)	Marshall JCM800 (2203) or Rockman X100 (clean mode possible, but JCM800 more likely for studio clean in 1980)	0
Switch 625 · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (Steve Clark, 1981 studio recording)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (100w head, likely with Marshall 4x12 cabinet)	7
Tomorrow · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely 1980s model, as used by Phil Collen and Steve Clark on Adrenalize sessions)	Scholz Rockman X100 headphone amp (used as preamp/amp simulator for studio recording)	7
Wasted · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (Steve Clark, 1979-1980 era, likely with DiMarzio Super Distortion bridge pickup)	Marshall JMP 2203 Master Lead 100W Head	7
White Lightning · riff	Riff · distorted	Jackson Soloist (custom, Phil Collen signature, HSS or HH configuration likely)	Scholz Rockman X100 (primary studio amp for Hysteria era, including 'White Lightning')	7
Women · riff	Riff · distorted	Jackson Soloist (Phil Collen) or Gibson Les Paul Custom (Steve Clark)	Scholz Rockman X100 (studio), Marshall JCM800 (possible live reference, but not confirmed for studio)	7

Def Leppard 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 Def Leppard use?

Across 21 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Marshall JCM800 2203 (2 songs), Marshall JMP 2203 Master Lead 100W Head (1 song), Scholz Rockman X100 (rackmount), possibly blended with Gallien-Krueger 250ML (1 song), Scholz Rockman X100 headphone amp (studio recording, not a traditional amp; used for all main distorted tones on Hysteria including 'Love Bites' solo) (1 song).

What guitar did Def Leppard use?

Most often: Ibanez DT-555 Destroyer (with retrofitted Kahler vibrato) (2 songs), Gibson Les Paul Standard (Steve Clark, 1979-1980 era, likely with DiMarzio Super Distortion bridge pickup) (1 song), Jackson PC1 'Chameleon' (1 song), Jackson Soloist (Phil Collen's main guitar on Hysteria sessions, likely used for solos) (1 song).

How do I get Def Leppard's tone on my amp?

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