Guitar tone · metal, rock

Dio guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 7 Dio songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: 1970s Gibson Les Paul Deluxe (wine red, mini-humbuckers, stock electronics) into Marshall JCM800 2203 head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 1983).

Guitars Dio used

1970s Gibson Les Paul Deluxe (wine red, mini-humbuckers, stock electronics)2 songs
Kramer Nightswan1 song
Yamaha BB20001 song
Charvel San Dimas (likely custom, 1980s, used by Craig Goldy live with Dio)1 song
Fender Precision Bass (likely late 70s/early 80s, passive)1 song
Gibson Les Paul Standard (Vivian Campbell's 'Holy Diver' Les Paul, 1978, black, stock DiMarzio X2N bridge pickup)1 song
1970s Gibson Les Paul Deluxe (wine red, 'Holy Diver Les Paul')1 song
Gibson Les Paul Standard (black, serial 72987537)1 song

Amps Dio used

Marshall JCM800 2203 head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 1983)1 song
Marshall 2555X Silver Jubilee1 song
1970s Ampeg SVT (tube head) + matching 8x10 cab1 song
Marshall JCM800 2203 (100W head, classic Dio live amp in the 1980s)1 song
Ampeg SVT (classic tube head, likely with 8x10 cab)1 song
Marshall JCM800 2203 head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 1982-1983)1 song
Marshall JCM800 2203 (100-watt head) into Marshall 4x12 with Celestion G12-65 speakers1 song
Marshall JCM800 2203 head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet1 song

13 Dio tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Holy Diver · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul (Vivian Campbell's original, maple top, mahogany body, brass nut, DiMarzio X2N bridge pickup)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (likely 100W head, 1982-83 era, with 4x12 cabinet)	7.5
Caught In the Middle · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (Vivian Campbell's 'Holy Diver' Les Paul, 1978, black, stock DiMarzio X2N bridge pickup)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (100-watt head) into Marshall 4x12 with Celestion G12-65 speakers	7.5
Don't Talk to Strangers · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard 50's	Marshall JCM800 2203 (likely, based on era, genre, and Campbell's known studio rig for Holy Diver)	7.5
Don't Talk to Strangers · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (early 1980s, likely 1978-1982 model)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (100W head, likely with matching 4x12 cabinet, studio recording)	7
Holy Diver · distorted	Distorted · distorted	Yamaha BB2000	1970s Ampeg SVT (tube head) + matching 8x10 cab	6
Holy Diver · solo	Solo · distorted	1970s Gibson Les Paul Deluxe (wine red, 'Holy Diver Les Paul')	Marshall JCM800 2203 head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet	8
Holy Diver · solo	Solo · clean	Gibson Les Paul Custom (1970s, black, stock for Vivian Campbell)	Marshall JCM800 2203	0
Man On the Silver Mountain (Live) · riff	Riff · distorted	Charvel San Dimas (likely custom, 1980s, used by Craig Goldy live with Dio)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (100W head, classic Dio live amp in the 1980s)	7
Push · riff	Riff · distorted	Kramer Nightswan	Marshall 2555X Silver Jubilee	7.5
Rainbow In the Dark · solo	Solo · distorted	1970s Gibson Les Paul Deluxe (wine red, mini-humbuckers, stock electronics)	Marshall JCM800 2203 head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 1983)	7.5
Rainbow In the Dark · distorted	Distorted · distorted	Fender Precision Bass (likely late 70s/early 80s, passive)	Ampeg SVT (classic tube head, likely with 8x10 cab)	6
Rainbow In the Dark · riff	Riff · distorted	1970s Gibson Les Paul Deluxe (wine red, mini-humbuckers, stock electronics)	Marshall JCM800 2203 head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 1982-1983)	7.5
The Last In Line · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (black, serial 72987537)	Marshall 100-watt head (likely JCM800, 1984 studio recording)	7.5

Dio 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 Dio use?

Across 7 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Marshall JCM800 2203 head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 1983) (1 song), Marshall 2555X Silver Jubilee (1 song), 1970s Ampeg SVT (tube head) + matching 8x10 cab (1 song), Marshall JCM800 2203 (100W head, classic Dio live amp in the 1980s) (1 song).

What guitar did Dio use?

Most often: 1970s Gibson Les Paul Deluxe (wine red, mini-humbuckers, stock electronics) (2 songs), Kramer Nightswan (1 song), Yamaha BB2000 (1 song), Charvel San Dimas (likely custom, 1980s, used by Craig Goldy live with Dio) (1 song).

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

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