Guitar tone · rock, blues

Derek & The Dominos guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 7 Derek & The Dominos songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: 1956 Fender Stratocaster 'Brownie' into Fender Champ (1957, tweed), possibly Vibro Champ or Princeton in some sessions.

Guitars Derek & The Dominos used

1956 Fender Stratocaster 'Brownie'2 songs
1960 Fender Stratocaster 'Brownie'1 song
Eric Clapton: 'Brownie' 1956 Fender Stratocaster (3-tone sunburst). Duane Allman: 1957 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop, serial 7 3312 (traded shortly after these sessions for a '59 'burst).1 song
Fender Stratocaster (likely 1956, sunburst, maple neck, as used by Eric Clapton on the Layla sessions)1 song
Fender Stratocaster 'Brownie' (1956, maple neck)1 song
Gibson Les Paul (likely 1957 Goldtop or 1959 Standard, as used by Eric Clapton during Derek & The Dominos era)1 song
Fender Stratocaster 'Brownie' (1956, maple neck, used by Eric Clapton)1 song
1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard (converted to humbuckers, known as 'Beano Burst')1 song

Amps Derek & The Dominos used

Fender Champ (1957, tweed), possibly Vibro Champ or Princeton in some sessions1 song
Clapton: Fender Champ tweed (cranked). Allman: 50W Marshall head with 4x12 cab.1 song
Fender Tweed Deluxe (5E3, late 1950s model, cranked)1 song
Fender Champ (6V6GT tube, blackface, c.1960s)1 song
Fender Tweed Deluxe (5E3, late 1950s)1 song
Fender Tweed Deluxe (5E3)1 song
Fender Showman or Fender Twin Reverb (most likely Showman, as used in studio for Layla sessions)1 song
Fender Tweed Princeton combo amp (1950s, 12-watt), possibly Vibro Champ (5-watt) also used1 song

13 Derek & The Dominos tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Layla · riff	Riff · distorted	1960 Fender Stratocaster 'Brownie'	Fender Champ (1957, tweed), possibly Vibro Champ or Princeton in some sessions	6
Layla · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Stratocaster 'Brownie' (1956, maple neck, used by Eric Clapton)	Fender Tweed Princeton combo amp (1950s, 12-watt), possibly Vibro Champ (5-watt) also used	6
Layla · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster 'Brownie' (1960s, maple neck, single-coil pickups)	Fender Champ (5W, silverface, late 1960s/early 1970s, no built-in reverb)	2.5
Bell Bottom Blues · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster 'Brownie' (maple neck, 1956)	Fender Champ (studio recording, 1970)	5
Have You Ever Loved a Woman · riff	Riff · distorted	1956 Fender Stratocaster 'Brownie'	Fender Tweed Deluxe (5E3, late 1950s model, cranked)	7
I Looked Away · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster 'Brownie' (1956, maple neck)	Fender Tweed Deluxe (5E3, late 1950s)	6
I Looked Away · solo	Solo · distorted	1956 Fender Stratocaster 'Brownie'	Fender Tweed Deluxe (5E3)	7
Key to the Highway · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster 'Brownie' (1956)	Fender Champ (tweed, late 1950s) into Orange/Matamp 2x12 cabinet	4
Layla · riff	Riff · distorted	Eric Clapton: 'Brownie' 1956 Fender Stratocaster (3-tone sunburst). Duane Allman: 1957 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop, serial 7 3312 (traded shortly after these sessions for a '59 'burst).	Clapton: Fender Champ tweed (cranked). Allman: 50W Marshall head with 4x12 cab.	7
Layla · solo	Solo · clean	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1956, sunburst, maple neck, as used by Eric Clapton on the Layla sessions)	Fender Champ (6V6GT tube, blackface, c.1960s)	3
Layla · distorted	Distorted · distorted	Fender Precision Bass (late 60s, likely 1968-69, sunburst, rosewood board)	Ampeg B-15N Portaflex (studio tube combo, 1960s-early 70s model)	5
Little Wing · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul (likely 1957 Goldtop or 1959 Standard, as used by Eric Clapton during Derek & The Dominos era)	Fender Showman or Fender Twin Reverb (most likely Showman, as used in studio for Layla sessions)	5.5
Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad? · solo	Solo · distorted	1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard (converted to humbuckers, known as 'Beano Burst')	Fender Showman head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet	5.5

Derek & The Dominos songs on popular amps

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Frequently asked questions

What amp did Derek & The Dominos use?

Across 7 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Fender Champ (1957, tweed), possibly Vibro Champ or Princeton in some sessions (1 song), Clapton: Fender Champ tweed (cranked). Allman: 50W Marshall head with 4x12 cab. (1 song), Fender Tweed Deluxe (5E3, late 1950s model, cranked) (1 song), Fender Champ (6V6GT tube, blackface, c.1960s) (1 song).

What guitar did Derek & The Dominos use?

Most often: 1956 Fender Stratocaster 'Brownie' (2 songs), 1960 Fender Stratocaster 'Brownie' (1 song), Eric Clapton: 'Brownie' 1956 Fender Stratocaster (3-tone sunburst). Duane Allman: 1957 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop, serial 7 3312 (traded shortly after these sessions for a '59 'burst). (1 song), Fender Stratocaster (likely 1956, sunburst, maple neck, as used by Eric Clapton on the Layla sessions) (1 song).

How do I get Derek & The Dominos's tone on my amp?

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