Guitar tone · rock

EXTREME guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 14 EXTREME songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: Washburn N4 (early model, alder body, maple neck, ebony fretboard) into Randall RG100ES solid-state head.

Guitars EXTREME used

Washburn N4 (early model, alder body, maple neck, ebony fretboard)4 songs
Washburn N44 songs
Washburn N4 (early prototype, likely Kahler tremolo, Bill Lawrence L500 bridge pickup)1 song
Washburn N4 (early model, alder body, Bill Lawrence L500 bridge pickup, Seymour Duncan 59 neck pickup)1 song
Washburn N4 (early 1990s model, alder body, maple neck, ebony fretboard)1 song
Washburn N4 (early 1990s, alder body, Bill Lawrence L500 bridge pickup, Seymour Duncan 59 neck pickup)1 song
Martin D-28 (1990) acoustic1 song
Nuno Bettencourt Washburn N41 song

Amps EXTREME used

Randall RG100ES solid-state head4 songs
Marshall JCM800 2203 (likely, based on era and Nuno's known studio rig for debut album)1 song
Marshall JCM800 2203 head (likely studio, 1990 era)1 song
Marshall 1959SLP Super Lead (likely with Marshall 4x12 cab, Celestion speakers)1 song
Marshall 1959SLP Super Lead (modded, likely with a variac)1 song
Marshall 1959SLP Super Lead (likely modded, as per Nuno's typical studio rig of the era)1 song
None (direct mic'd acoustic guitar, no amp used on studio recording)1 song
Marshall 1959SLP Super Lead (likely with a 4x12 cab, as per Nuno Bettencourt's typical studio setup for Extreme's III Sides to Every Story era)1 song

21 EXTREME tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Decadence Dance · riff	Riff · distorted	Washburn N3 (early Nuno Bettencourt signature, maple fretboard, as seen in 'Decadence Dance' video and confirmed by Nuno)	Marshall 1959 Super Lead (Plexi, likely modded, as used by Nuno during 'Pornograffitti' era studio sessions)	7.5
Cupid's Dead (Horn Mix) · riff	Riff · distorted	Washburn N4 (Nuno Bettencourt signature, early 1990s version)	Randall RG100ES solid-state head	7
Am I Ever Gonna Change · solo	Solo · distorted	Washburn N4	Marshall (likely 100W Super Lead or JCM800, as used by Nuno Bettencourt in the 1990s studio recordings)	7.5
Am I Ever Gonna Change · riff	Riff · distorted	Washburn N4	Marshall 1959SLP Super Lead (likely with Marshall 4x12 cab, Celestion speakers)	7
BANSHEE · riff	Riff · distorted	Washburn N4	Marshall 1959SLP Super Lead (modded, likely with a variac)	7
BANSHEE · solo	Solo · distorted	Nuno Bettencourt Washburn N4	Randall RG100ES	7.5
Cupid's Dead · solo	Solo · distorted	Washburn N4 (early 1990s model, alder body, maple neck, ebony fretboard)	Marshall 1959SLP Super Lead (likely modded, as per Nuno's typical studio rig of the era)	7.5
Cupid's Dead · riff	Riff · distorted	Washburn N4 (early 1990s, alder body, Bill Lawrence L500 bridge pickup, Seymour Duncan 59 neck pickup)	Randall RG100ES solid-state head	7
Decadence Dance · solo	Solo · distorted	Washburn N3 (early signature, maple fretboard, as seen in 'Decadence Dance' video, 1990)	Marshall JCM800 2203 head into Marshall 4x12 cab (Celestion G12T-75 speakers)	7.5
Flight of the Wounded Bumblebee (Live) · solo	Solo · distorted	Washburn N4 'Bumblebee' Custom (Nuno Bettencourt signature, live Eddie Van Halen tribute finish)	Peavey Classic 50 (combo, live setup)	7
Get the Funk Out · solo	Solo · distorted	Washburn N4 (early model, alder body, maple neck, ebony fretboard)	Marshall JCM800 2203 head (likely studio, 1990 era)	7
He-Man Woman Hater · solo	Solo · distorted	Washburn N4 (early model, likely alder body, Bill Lawrence L500 bridge pickup, Seymour Duncan 59 neck pickup)	Marshall JCM2000 DSL 100 Head	7
He-Man Woman Hater · riff	Riff · clean	Washburn N4 (early model, alder body, maple neck, ebony fretboard)	Marshall JCM800 2203 head (likely with Marshall 4x12 cab, studio recording)	0
He-Man Woman Hater · riff	Riff · distorted	Washburn N4 (early model, alder body, maple neck, ebony fretboard)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (likely, based on era and interviews; not the later Randall signature or JCM2000)	7
King of the Ladies · riff	Riff · distorted	Washburn N4	Marshall 1959SLP Super Lead (likely with a 4x12 cab, as per Nuno Bettencourt's typical studio setup for Extreme's III Sides to Every Story era)	7
More Than Words · riff	Riff · clean	Martin D-28 (1990) acoustic	None (direct mic'd acoustic guitar, no amp used on studio recording)	0
Mutha (Don't Wanna Go To School Today) · solo	Solo · distorted	Washburn N4 (early prototype, likely Kahler tremolo, Bill Lawrence L500 bridge pickup)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (likely, based on era and Nuno's known studio rig for debut album)	7.5
Play With Me · riff	Riff · distorted	Washburn N4 (early model, alder body, maple neck, ebony fretboard)	Randall RG100ES solid-state head	8
Play With Me · solo	Solo · distorted	Washburn N4 (likely early prototype or production, alder body, Floyd Rose, reverse headstock, ebony fretboard)	Marshall JCM 800 2203 (studio, late 1980s; live: JCM 2000 DSL, but studio is JCM 800 per era and interviews)	8
Rest In Peace · riff	Riff · distorted	Washburn N4 (early model, alder body, Bill Lawrence L500 bridge pickup, Seymour Duncan 59 neck pickup)	Randall RG100ES solid-state head	7
RISE · solo	Solo · distorted	Washburn N4 (likely Padauk or Alder body, as used by Nuno Bettencourt in studio)	Marshall JCM2000 DSL (unmodded, studio use)	7

EXTREME songs on popular amps

Exact settings ToneAdapt players use for these songs on their own amps.

Cupid's Dead on Hotone Ampero II Stage

Get EXTREME's tone on your gear

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Frequently asked questions

What amp did EXTREME use?

Across 14 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Randall RG100ES solid-state head (4 songs), Marshall JCM800 2203 (likely, based on era and Nuno's known studio rig for debut album) (1 song), Marshall JCM800 2203 head (likely studio, 1990 era) (1 song), Marshall 1959SLP Super Lead (likely with Marshall 4x12 cab, Celestion speakers) (1 song).

What guitar did EXTREME use?

Most often: Washburn N4 (early model, alder body, maple neck, ebony fretboard) (4 songs), Washburn N4 (4 songs), Washburn N4 (early prototype, likely Kahler tremolo, Bill Lawrence L500 bridge pickup) (1 song), Washburn N4 (early model, alder body, Bill Lawrence L500 bridge pickup, Seymour Duncan 59 neck pickup) (1 song).

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

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