Guitar tone · rock, punk
Joy Division guitar tone: gear & amp settings
The gear and amp settings behind 7 Joy Division songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: 1970s Gibson SG Standard into Vox AC30 (1970s, likely Top Boost model).
Guitars Joy Division used
- 1970s Gibson SG Standard3 songs
- 1977 Gibson SG Special1 song
- Shergold Masquerader (likely 6-string, as used by Bernard Sumner in Joy Division studio recordings)1 song
- Eko Ranger 12 (12-string acoustic, Italian-made, used by Bernard Sumner on studio recording)1 song
- Gibson SG Standard1 song
- Yamaha BB12001 song
- Hondo Rickenbacker 4001 copy1 song
- 1978 Gibson Les Paul Custom1 song
Amps Joy Division used
- Vox AC30 (1970s, likely Top Boost model)2 songs
- Vox AC30 (1970s model, likely Top Boost circuit)1 song
- Vox UL7301 song
- Vox AC30 (most likely, based on era, band, and forum consensus for Joy Division studio recordings)1 song
- Marshall amplifier (exact model unknown, likely JMP or similar late-70s/early-80s model, used in studio for electric parts; acoustic likely direct or mic'd)1 song
- Vox AC301 song
- Hiwatt DR103 (custom 100W head) into Marshall 4x12 guitar cab1 song
- Vox solid-state bass amp (model unspecified, likely Defiant or similar 1970s/early 80s Vox bass head)1 song
10 Joy Division tones
| Song | Gain |
|---|---|
| Disorder · solo | 4.5 |
| A Means to an End (2020 Digital Master) · riff | 5.5 |
| Atmosphere · riff | 3.5 |
| Dead Souls · riff | 4.5 |
| Disorder · clean | 0 |
| Disorder · distorted | 6 |
| Disorder · riff | 4.5 |
| Interzone (2019 Digital Master) · riff | 5.5 |
| Love Will Tear Us Apart (2020 Remaster) · riff | 0 |
| Shadowplay · riff | 5 |
Get Joy Division's tone on your gear
Pick any Joy Division song and ToneAdapt adapts the original rig to your own guitar, amp, pickups and pedals.
Frequently asked questions
What amp did Joy Division use?
Across 7 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Vox AC30 (1970s, likely Top Boost model) (2 songs), Vox AC30 (1970s model, likely Top Boost circuit) (1 song), Vox UL730 (1 song), Vox AC30 (most likely, based on era, band, and forum consensus for Joy Division studio recordings) (1 song).
What guitar did Joy Division use?
Most often: 1970s Gibson SG Standard (3 songs), 1977 Gibson SG Special (1 song), Shergold Masquerader (likely 6-string, as used by Bernard Sumner in Joy Division studio recordings) (1 song), Eko Ranger 12 (12-string acoustic, Italian-made, used by Bernard Sumner on studio recording) (1 song).
How do I get Joy Division's tone on my amp?
Open any Joy Division song below to see the original gear and settings, then use ToneAdapt to adapt them to your own guitar, amp, pickups and pedals.