Guitar tone · metal, rock

Dokken guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 16 Dokken songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: ESP Kamikaze 1 into Marshall JCM800 2205 50-Watt Amplifier Head.

Guitars Dokken used

ESP Kamikaze 12 songs
ESP Kamikaze (George Lynch signature, custom shop, 1985-86 era)1 song
Charvel San Dimas (likely custom, 1980s, George Lynch signature or similar)1 song
Fender Precision Bass (likely 1970s or early 1980s, played by Jeff Pilson)1 song
ESP Kamikaze (George Lynch signature, 1985-86, maple body, Floyd Rose, single humbucker)1 song
J. Frog 'Bones' custom guitar (ESP sticker applied for video, but J. Frog build)1 song
1986 Kramer Pacer Deluxe1 song
ESP Kamikaze (custom, early version, or ESP Tiger)1 song

Amps Dokken used

Marshall JCM800 2205 50-Watt Amplifier Head3 songs
Marshall JCM800 22032 songs
Marshall JCM800 2203 (likely modded, 100W head)1 song
Marshall JCM800 2203 (100W, likely modded, 1980s)1 song
Marshall JCM800 2203 (100W head, 1980s, likely with 4x12 cabinet)1 song
Ampeg SVT (classic tube head, likely with matching 8x10 cab)1 song
Marshall JCM800 2203 (100W head, likely modded, used in studio for 'Under Lock and Key')1 song
Marshall JCM800 2203 head1 song

25 Dokken tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
In My Dreams · riff	Riff · distorted	ESP Kamikaze (George Lynch signature, custom shop, 1985-86 era)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (100W, likely modded, 1980s)	7.5
In My Dreams · solo	Solo · distorted	ESP Kamikaze (custom shop, Dokken era, maple neck, poplar body, Floyd Rose, Seymour Duncan Distortion humbucker)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (modded, 100-watt head, Marshall 4x12 cab, 1985-86 studio recording)	7.5
It's Not Love · riff	Riff · distorted	ESP Kamikaze 1	Marshall JCM800 2203 (likely modded, 100W head)	7.5
Night By Night · riff	Riff · distorted	ESP Kamikaze (George Lynch signature, Dokken-era custom build)	Marshall JCM800 2205 50-Watt Amplifier Head	7.5
Alone Again · distorted	Distorted · distorted	Fender Precision Bass (likely 1970s or early 1980s, played by Jeff Pilson)	Ampeg SVT (classic tube head, likely with matching 8x10 cab)	6
Alone Again · riff	Riff · clean	Charvel San Dimas (early 80s, maple neck, likely with Seymour Duncan humbucker in bridge, single coil in neck)	Marshall JCM800 2205 50-Watt Amplifier Head	0
Alone Again · riff	Riff · distorted	Charvel San Dimas (early 80s, custom, likely with maple neck)	Marshall JCM800 2205 50-Watt Amplifier Head	7.5
Alone Again · solo	Solo · distorted	ESP Kamikaze (custom shop, Dokken era, likely prototype or early signature)	Randall RG80-112SC 2-Channel 80-Watt 1x12" Solid State Combo	8
Breaking the Chains · solo	Solo · distorted	ESP E-II Eclipse (early 1980s, bridge pickup)	Marshall JCM800 2203	7
Breaking the Chains · riff	Riff · distorted	ESP M-1 (early 80s, custom, single humbucker configuration)	Randall RG80-112SC 2-Channel 80-Watt 1x12" Solid State Guitar Combo	7
Cry of the Gypsy · riff	Riff · distorted	ESP Kamikaze 1	Marshall JCM800 2203	7.5
Dream Warriors · solo	Solo · distorted	J. Frog 'Bones' custom guitar (ESP sticker applied for video, but J. Frog build)	Marshall JCM800 2203 head	7.5
Dream Warriors · riff	Riff · clean	ESP Kamikaze (J. Frog custom, 'Mom' guitar, as seen in Dream Warriors video and era)	Marshall JCM800 2203 head (studio, 1987 era; Lynch's main amp for Under Lock and Key and Back for the Attack sessions)	0
Dream Warriors · riff	Riff · distorted	Pre-ESP Tiger Strat-style (heavy maple body, single humbucker)	Marshall 100-watt Plexi (purple, owned by Aspen Pittman, Groove Tubes, rented for session)	8
Heaven Sent · solo	Solo · distorted	ESP Kamikaze (George Lynch signature, 1987 era, likely prototype or early production)	Randall RG-80 1x12 Combo (solid state, studio recording, Back for the Attack era)	7
Into the Fire · riff	Riff · distorted	Charvel Superstrat (custom, likely maple neck, Floyd Rose, single humbucker)	Randall RG-80 (solid state head, 1983-84) with Echoplex preamp boost	8
Jaded Heart · solo	Solo · distorted	Charvel San Dimas (likely custom, 1980s, George Lynch signature or similar)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (100W head, 1980s, likely with 4x12 cabinet)	7.5
Jaded Heart · riff	Riff · distorted	ESP Kamikaze (George Lynch signature, 1985 era, likely Kamikaze 1 or ESP M-1 Custom)	Marshall JCM800 2203 head (1980s, likely modded for extra gain, with Marshall 4x12 cabinet, Celestion speakers)	7.5
Kiss of Death · riff	Riff · distorted	ESP Kamikaze 1 (George Lynch signature, custom shop, 1986-87 era)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (100W head, modded, late 1980s studio recording)	7.5
Lightnin' Strikes Again · riff	Riff · distorted	Charvel Custom Shop (tobacco sunburst, flame maple top, ebony fretboard, poplar body)	Marshall JCM900 head with Marshall cabinet	7.5
Mr. Scary · riff	Riff · distorted	ESP Kamikaze (custom, early version, likely maple body, maple neck, Floyd Rose, single bridge humbucker)	Marshall 1959 Super Lead 100-watt Plexi (un-modded, likely with variac and/or outboard boost for gain)	7.5
Mr. Scary (Live in Japan, 1988) · riff	Riff · distorted	ESP Kamikaze (custom, early version, or ESP Tiger)	Marshall 1968/1969 Plexi Super Lead 100-watt (un-modded), likely with Marshall 4x12 cabinet loaded with Celestion speakers	8
Tooth and Nail · riff	Riff · distorted	1986 Kramer Pacer Deluxe	Randall RG100ES solid-state head	7.5
Unchain the Night · riff	Riff · distorted	ESP Kamikaze (George Lynch signature, 1985-86, maple body, Floyd Rose, single humbucker)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (100W head, likely modded, used in studio for 'Under Lock and Key')	7.5
Unchain the Night · riff	Riff · clean	ESP Kamikaze (early prototype, likely Strat-style with maple neck, single humbucker)	Marshall JCM800 2203 100W head (studio, 1985 Under Lock and Key sessions)	0

Dokken 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 Dokken use?

Across 16 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Marshall JCM800 2205 50-Watt Amplifier Head (3 songs), Marshall JCM800 2203 (2 songs), Marshall JCM800 2203 (likely modded, 100W head) (1 song), Marshall JCM800 2203 (100W, likely modded, 1980s) (1 song).

What guitar did Dokken use?

Most often: ESP Kamikaze 1 (2 songs), ESP Kamikaze (George Lynch signature, custom shop, 1985-86 era) (1 song), Charvel San Dimas (likely custom, 1980s, George Lynch signature or similar) (1 song), Fender Precision Bass (likely 1970s or early 1980s, played by Jeff Pilson) (1 song).

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

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