Guitar tone · rock

Journey guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 23 Journey songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: PRS NS-15 Neal Schon Signature Model into Blackstar Series One 100 100W Tube Guitar Amp Head.

Guitars Journey used

PRS NS-15 Neal Schon Signature Model3 songs
1977 Gibson Les Paul Pro Deluxe (black, Floyd Rose, active electronics, humbucker bridge, P-90 neck)1 song
Gibson Les Paul with P90 pickups1 song
PRS NS-15 Neal Schon Signature Prototype (semi-hollow, Floyd Rose, Seymour Duncan Custom Custom bridge pickup, Fernandes Sustainer)1 song
1977 Gibson Les Paul Pro Deluxe (black, Floyd Rose, active electronics, P90 pickups, serial 06 115596)1 song
Gibson Les Paul (likely 1970s/early 1980s Standard or Custom, humbuckers)1 song
Gibson Les Paul Standard (late 1970s/early 1980s, likely sunburst finish)1 song
PRS Custom 24 (likely 1990s model, as used by Neal Schon in this era)1 song

Amps Journey used

Blackstar Series One 100 100W Tube Guitar Amp Head2 songs
Blackstar Series One 1002 songs
Marshall JMP (likely 2203 or 2204, live rig, 1981 Escape Tour)1 song
Marshall amp head (likely JMP or JCM800 era, exact model not specified for studio recording)1 song
Marshall JMP 2203 100W head (likely, as used on 'Escape' sessions and confirmed by period interviews and gear rundowns)1 song
Marshall amplifier (model not specified, likely JMP or JCM800 era, as per 1970s/early 1980s Journey studio use)1 song
Marshall JMP 2203 100W head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 1979/1980 era)1 song
PRS Archon (studio, 2024 remaster era); Blackstar Series One 100 (live backup)1 song

34 Journey tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Who's Crying Now · solo	Solo · distorted	1977 Gibson Les Paul Pro Deluxe (black, Floyd Rose, active electronics, yellow Ferrari sticker, serial 06 115596)	Marshall amplifier (exact model not specified, likely JMP or JCM800 era head used in studio for Escape album)	7
Don't Stop Believin' (2022 Remaster) · solo	Solo · distorted	1977 Gibson Les Paul Pro Deluxe (black, Floyd Rose, active electronics, P90 pickups, serial 06 115596)	Marshall JMP 2203 100W head (likely, as used on 'Escape' sessions and confirmed by period interviews and gear rundowns)	7
Don't Stop Believin' (2024 Remaster) · riff	Riff · distorted	1977 Gibson Les Paul Pro Deluxe (modified with Floyd Rose tremolo and active electronics)	Marshall amplifier (exact model not specified, likely JMP or JCM800 era head, used in studio for Escape album)	6
Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) [2024 Remaster] · riff	Riff · distorted	1981 Gibson Les Paul Custom (Black Beauty, stock humbuckers)	Marshall JMP 2203 (100-watt head, late 1970s/early 1980s, likely with Marshall 4x12 cabinet, Celestion speakers)	7
Stone in Love · riff	Riff · distorted	1977 Gibson Les Paul Pro Deluxe (black, Floyd Rose, active electronics, P90 pickups)	Roland Cube 40 (solid-state combo, early 1980s model, used in studio for 'Stone in Love' riff)	6
Don't Stop Believin' · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (late 1970s/early 1980s, black finish, stock humbuckers)	Marshall JMP 2203 100-watt head (late 1970s/early 1980s, likely with Marshall 4x12 cabinet, Celestion speakers)	6.5
Faithfully (2024 Remaster) · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul (likely Custom or Supreme, with Floyd Rose, as used by Neal Schon on Journey's 1980s recordings)	Marshall amplifier (likely JMP or JCM800, as used by Neal Schon in the early 1980s studio recordings)	6.5
Any Way You Want It (2024 Remaster) · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (late 1970s/early 1980s, likely sunburst finish)	Marshall JMP 2203 100W head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 1979/1980 era)	6.5
Who's Crying Now (2022 Remaster) · solo	Solo · distorted	1977 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	5
Anytime · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Les Paul (likely 1970s/early 1980s Standard or Custom, humbuckers)	Marshall amplifier (model not specified, likely JMP or JCM800 era, as per 1970s/early 1980s Journey studio use)	7
Ask the Lonely (2024 Remaster) · riff	Riff · distorted	PRS NS-15 Neal Schon Signature Model	Blackstar Series One 100	6
Don't Stop Believin' · solo	Solo · distorted	1977 Gibson Les Paul Pro Deluxe (black, modified with Floyd Rose and active electronics)	Marshall amplifier (likely JMP or JCM800, as used in studio in early '80s)	7
Don't Stop Believin' (2024 Remaster) · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard	Marshall JCM800	6
Don't Stop Believin' (Live at The Summit, Houston, Texas, November 5, 1981) · solo	Solo · distorted	1977 Gibson Les Paul Pro Deluxe (black, with Floyd Rose tremolo, active electronics, yellow Ferrari sticker)	Marshall JMP 2203 Mk II Master Lead 100w head into 4x12 cabinet	7.5
Don't Stop Believin' (Live at The Summit, Houston, Texas, November 5, 1981) · riff	Riff · distorted	1977 Gibson Les Paul Pro Deluxe (black, Floyd Rose prototype, active electronics, yellow Ferrari sticker)	Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp	6
Don't Stop Believin' (Live In Houston, 1981) · riff	Riff · distorted	1977 Gibson Les Paul Pro Deluxe (black, Floyd Rose, active electronics, humbucker bridge, P-90 neck)	Marshall JMP (likely 2203 or 2204, live rig, 1981 Escape Tour)	6
Faithfully · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely black, 1970s/early 80s era)	Marshall JMP 2203 (100W, late 70s/early 80s, likely modded for more gain)	7
Faithfully (2024 Remaster) · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Supreme (custom, Trans Ebony B finish, Floyd Rose tremolo)	EVH 5150III 100S 100-Watt Tube Head	6.5
I'll Be Alright Without You (2024 Remaster) · riff	Riff · distorted	PRS NS-15 Neal Schon Signature Model	Blackstar Series One 100 100W Tube Guitar Amp Head	5
I'll Be Alright Without You (2024 Remaster) · solo	Solo · distorted	PRS NS-15 Neal Schon Signature Prototype (semi-hollow, Floyd Rose, Seymour Duncan Custom Custom bridge pickup, Fernandes Sustainer)	Blackstar Series One 100	6
I'll Be Alright Without You (2024 Remaster) · riff	Riff · clean	PRS NS-15 Neal Schon Signature Model	PRS Archon (studio, 2024 remaster era); Blackstar Series One 100 (live backup)	3
Lights (2024 Remaster) · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard '60s (1978)	Marshall 1959SLP Plexi Super Lead Reissue	4.5
Open Arms (2024 Remaster) · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely 1970s/1980s, as used by Neal Schon on classic Journey ballads)	Fender Blackface Deluxe (heavily modified, with JBL and Altec speakers, vibrato disconnected, as described by Neal Schon for classic Journey studio tones)	5.5
Send Her My Love · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (late 70s/early 80s, likely black finish)	Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (studio recording, 1983)	6.5
Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul with P90 pickups	Marshall amp head (likely JMP or JCM800 era, exact model not specified for studio recording)	7
Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) [2024 Remaster] · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster (Neal Schon spec, Fernandes Sustainer, Roland synth pickup, DiMarzio Fast Track 2 neck, Seymour Duncan Custom Custom bridge)	Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (studio, 1983 recording era)	7
Stone in Love · solo	Solo · distorted	1979 Gibson Les Paul Custom	Marshall JMP 2203 100-watt head	7.5
Stone In Love (2022 Remaster) · riff	Riff · distorted	Custom Super Strat (Neal Schon, 1981 recording)	Soldano SLO-100	6.5
Trial By Fire · solo	Solo · distorted	PRS Custom 24 (likely 1990s model, as used by Neal Schon in this era)	Blackstar Series One 100 100W Tube Guitar Amp Head	6.5
Who's Crying Now · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (late 70s/early 80s, likely black finish, stock humbuckers)	Marshall JMP 2203 100W head (studio recording, early 80s)	6.5
Who's Crying Now (2022 Remaster) · solo	Solo · clean	Gibson Les Paul	Roland Cube 60 1x12 combo	0
Who's Crying Now (Live In Houston, 1981) · solo	Solo · distorted	1977 Gibson Les Paul Pro Deluxe (black, Floyd Rose, active electronics, yellow Ferrari sticker)	Randall RG100ES solid-state head	6.5
Who's Crying Now (Live In Houston, 1981) · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely black, as used by Neal Schon in 1981 live performances)	Fender Twin Reverb (Silverface, late 1970s/early 1980s model, as cited for this live performance)	5.5
Why Can't This Night Go On Forever · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Les Paul (likely Custom or Standard, as used by Neal Schon in the 1980s studio recordings)	Marshall amplifier (likely JMP or JCM800, as used by Neal Schon on 1980s Journey studio recordings)	7

Journey 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 Journey use?

Across 23 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Blackstar Series One 100 100W Tube Guitar Amp Head (2 songs), Blackstar Series One 100 (2 songs), Marshall JMP (likely 2203 or 2204, live rig, 1981 Escape Tour) (1 song), Marshall amp head (likely JMP or JCM800 era, exact model not specified for studio recording) (1 song).

What guitar did Journey use?

Most often: PRS NS-15 Neal Schon Signature Model (3 songs), 1977 Gibson Les Paul Pro Deluxe (black, Floyd Rose, active electronics, humbucker bridge, P-90 neck) (1 song), Gibson Les Paul with P90 pickups (1 song), PRS NS-15 Neal Schon Signature Prototype (semi-hollow, Floyd Rose, Seymour Duncan Custom Custom bridge pickup, Fernandes Sustainer) (1 song).

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

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