Guitar tone · rock, country

Elvis Presley guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 15 Elvis Presley songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: Gibson ES-295 into Ray Butts EchoSonic combo amp.

Guitars Elvis Presley used

Gibson ES-2954 songs
1952 Gibson ES-2952 songs
Gibson J-200 (1960, natural finish)1 song
Gibson Super 4001 song
Gibson ES-295 (1952 gold finish, stock P-90 pickups, trapeze tailpiece)1 song
Gibson ES-335 (likely, based on session player Reggie Young's known gear and era-appropriate studio practice)1 song
Fender Telecaster (likely 1953, James Burton's main studio guitar for Elvis in early 1970s)1 song
Gibson ES-335 (likely 1970s, session guitar for Stax recordings)1 song

Amps Elvis Presley used

Ray Butts EchoSonic combo amp3 songs
None (likely direct mic'ing or PA; if amplified, likely Fender Twin Reverb or similar clean amp of the era, but no direct evidence for this specific rehearsal)1 song
Ray Butts EchoSonic amplifier (with built-in tape echo)1 song
Ray Butts EchoSonic combo amp (with built-in tape delay)1 song
Fender Twin Reverb (blackface, likely 1960s model)1 song
Ray Butts EchoSonic (built-in tape echo, ~25 watts, 1x12 speaker)1 song
Fender silverface Twin Reverb (likely, based on Reggie Young's session amp choices and era)1 song
Fender Twin Reverb (blackface, early 1970s studio standard for Elvis sessions)1 song

17 Elvis Presley tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Can't Help Falling In Love · riff	Riff · clean	Alvino Rey custom pedal steel guitar	Ray Butts EchoSonic custom amplifier	0
Jailhouse Rock · riff	Riff · distorted	1952 Gibson ES-295	Fender Tweed Deluxe (5E3)	4.5
Burning Love · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Telecaster (likely 1953, James Burton's main studio guitar for Elvis in early 1970s)	Fender Twin Reverb (blackface, early 1970s studio standard for Elvis sessions)	4
Burning Love · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Telecaster (likely 1953, James Burton's main studio guitar at the time)	Fender Twin Reverb (blackface, studio amp at RCA Studio C, 1972)	4
Ghost Riders In the Sky (MGM Rehearsal 2) · riff	Riff · clean	Gibson J-200 (1960, natural finish)	None (likely direct mic'ing or PA; if amplified, likely Fender Twin Reverb or similar clean amp of the era, but no direct evidence for this specific rehearsal)	0
Heartbreak Hotel · riff	Riff · clean	Gibson ES-295	Ray Butts EchoSonic combo amp	0
Hound Dog · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson ES-295	Ray Butts EchoSonic combo amp (with built-in tape delay)	3.5
Hound Dog · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson ES-295	Ray Butts EchoSonic combo amp	3.5
Jailhouse Rock (First 'Stand-Up' Show - Live) · riff	Riff · distorted	Hagstrom Viking II (1967, black, semi-hollow, used by Elvis in '68 Comeback Special 'Stand-Up' Show)	Unknown (no direct evidence; likely period-correct tube combo, possibly Fender or Magnatone, but not confirmed for this show)	3.5
Merry Christmas Baby · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson ES-335 (likely, based on session player Reggie Young's known gear and era-appropriate studio practice)	Fender silverface Twin Reverb (likely, based on Reggie Young's session amp choices and era)	3.5
Promised Land · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson ES-335 (likely 1970s, session guitar for Stax recordings)	Fender Twin Reverb (silverface, studio recording at Stax, 1973)	4
Proud Mary (Live) · riff	Riff · clean	Gretsch Country Gentleman	Fender Twin Reverb (1970s silverface, live setup)	0
Return to Sender · riff	Riff · clean	Gibson J-200 (Scotty Moore, studio recording)	RCA Studio tube console (direct mic'd acoustic, no guitar amp used)	0
Runaway (Live) · riff	Riff · clean	Gibson ES-295	Ray Butts EchoSonic combo amp	2.5
Suspicious Minds · riff	Riff · clean	Gibson Super 400	Fender Twin Reverb (blackface, likely 1960s model)	0
That's All Right · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson ES-295 (1952 gold finish, stock P-90 pickups, trapeze tailpiece)	Ray Butts EchoSonic (built-in tape echo, ~25 watts, 1x12 speaker)	3
That's All Right (First 'Sit-Down' Show - Live) · riff	Riff · distorted	1952 Gibson ES-295	Ray Butts EchoSonic amplifier (with built-in tape echo)	3.5

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Frequently asked questions

What amp did Elvis Presley use?

Across 15 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Ray Butts EchoSonic combo amp (3 songs), None (likely direct mic'ing or PA; if amplified, likely Fender Twin Reverb or similar clean amp of the era, but no direct evidence for this specific rehearsal) (1 song), Ray Butts EchoSonic amplifier (with built-in tape echo) (1 song), Ray Butts EchoSonic combo amp (with built-in tape delay) (1 song).

What guitar did Elvis Presley use?

Most often: Gibson ES-295 (4 songs), 1952 Gibson ES-295 (2 songs), Gibson J-200 (1960, natural finish) (1 song), Gibson Super 400 (1 song).

How do I get Elvis Presley's tone on my amp?

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