Guitar tone · metal

Judas Priest guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 27 Judas Priest songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: Hamer KK Downing Custom Mini V into Marshall JCM800 2203.

Guitars Judas Priest used

Hamer KK Downing Custom Mini V2 songs
Gibson Flying V (K.K. Downing) or Hamer Standard (Glenn Tipton) – likely Flying V for riff1 song
Gibson Les Paul Custom (Richie Faulkner's main studio guitar for Invincible Shield era)1 song
Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely 1970s/early 1980s, as used by Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing in this era)1 song
Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely 2017/2018 model, used by Richie Faulkner and Glenn Tipton on Firepower album)1 song
Hamer Standard (1982, bridge pickup)1 song
Fender Precision Bass1 song
Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely, as used by Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing on Nostradamus era)1 song

Amps Judas Priest used

Marshall JCM800 22038 songs
Marshall JCM800 2203 (studio recording, 1982)2 songs
Marshall JCM800 1959 Mk II Super Lead (studio, 1980 British Steel recording)1 song
Marshall JCM800 (re-amped in studio, as per Richie Faulkner interview)1 song
Marshall JMP 2203 100W head (classic Priest studio amp for Screaming for Vengeance era)1 song
Engl Invader 100 (studio, Firepower album sessions)1 song
Ampeg SVT (likely vintage, late 70s/80s model)1 song
Marshall JCM2000 DSL100 (likely, as used by Priest in studio and live in this era)1 song

37 Judas Priest tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Breaking the Law · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Flying V (K.K. Downing) or Gibson SG (Glenn Tipton)	Marshall JCM800 1959 Mk II Super Lead (100W, 4-input, non-master volume head)	7
Painkiller · riff	Riff · distorted	Hamer KK Downing Custom V or Hamer Glenn Tipton Custom (Painkiller era, studio recording)	Marshall JMP-1 Preamp into Marshall 9100 Monobloc Power Amp (studio, 1990)	8
Electric Eye · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Flying V (likely 1974 Medallion or late 70s model, as used by K.K. Downing on Screaming for Vengeance)	Marshall JMP 50 Watt Head (1978, as used by K.K. Downing in studio and confirmed auction provenance)	7.5
You've Got Another Thing Comin' · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (Glenn Tipton), Hamer Standard (K.K. Downing)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (studio recording, 1982)	8
Evil Never Dies · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely 2017/2018 model, used by Richie Faulkner and Glenn Tipton on Firepower album)	Engl Invader 100 (studio, Firepower album sessions)	7.5
Before the Dawn · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Flying V (late 1970s, K.K. Downing's main studio guitar)	Marshall JCM800 2203	5.5
Beyond the Realms of Death · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (1970s, likely black finish, as used by Glenn Tipton on Stained Class album)	Marshall JMP 2203 (100W Master Volume head, late 1970s, likely with Marshall 4x12 cabinet, Celestion speakers)	7
Beyond the Realms of Death · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Flying V (1978)	Marshall 1959SLP Plexi Super Lead Reissue	6.5
Bloodstone · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely 1970s/early 1980s, as used by Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing in studio)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (100W head, typical for Screaming for Vengeance era studio sessions)	7.5
Breaking the Law · solo	Solo · distorted	Hamer GT Custom (Glenn Tipton's main guitar for British Steel era)	Marshall JMP 2203 (100W, likely with EL34 tubes, as used in studio for British Steel)	7
Electric Eye · solo	Solo · distorted	Hamer Standard (K.K. Downing) or Fender Stratocaster (Glenn Tipton)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (studio, 1982 Screaming for Vengeance sessions)	8
Freewheel Burning · riff	Riff · distorted	Hamer GT Custom (Glenn Tipton) or Hamer KK Downing Custom (KK Downing)	Marshall JCM800 2203	8
Hell Bent for Leather · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (1970s, likely black finish, as used by Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing on the album)	Marshall JMP 2203 (100W, late 1970s, as used by Judas Priest in studio for 'Hell Bent for Leather')	7
Leather Rebel · riff	Riff · distorted	Hamer KK Downing Custom Mini V	Marshall JCM 900	7.5
Living After Midnight · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Flying V (K.K. Downing) or Hamer Standard (Glenn Tipton) – likely Flying V for riff	Marshall JCM800 1959 Mk II Super Lead (studio, 1980 British Steel recording)	7
Living Bad Dreams · riff	Riff · distorted	Hamer KK Downing Custom Mini V	Marshall JCM800 2203	8
Locked In · riff	Riff · distorted	Hamer Phantom GT (Glenn Tipton, studio recording 1985-86)	Marshall JCM800 2203	8
Metal Gods · riff	Riff · distorted	Hamer Standard (K.K. Downing) or Gibson Les Paul Custom (Glenn Tipton)	Marshall JMP 2203 (likely 100W, master volume, late 1970s/early 1980s)	7
Painkiller · distorted	Distorted · distorted	Fender Precision Bass	Ampeg SVT (likely vintage, late 70s/80s model)	7
Painkiller · solo	Solo · distorted	Hamer Custom GT (Glenn Tipton's signature, 24-fret, Kahler tremolo, EMG pickups)	Marshall JCM 800 2203 (modded, used in studio for Painkiller solo)	8
Panic Attack · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (Richie Faulkner's main studio guitar for Invincible Shield era)	Marshall JCM800 (re-amped in studio, as per Richie Faulkner interview)	8
Panic Attack · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Flying V 1979 Block Inlay	Marshall JCM 800 (re-amped via Quad Cortex DI, per producer interview)	7.5
Persecution · riff	Riff · clean	Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely, as used by Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing on Nostradamus era)	Marshall JCM2000 DSL100 (likely, as used by Priest in studio and live in this era)	0
Prisoner of Your Eyes · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely 1970s/early 1980s, as used by Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing in this era)	Marshall JMP 2203 100W head (classic Priest studio amp for Screaming for Vengeance era)	7
Rock Hard Ride Free · solo	Solo · distorted	Hamer KK Downing Custom (Flying V style, 1980s, likely with EMG or Dimarzio Super Distortion pickups)	Marshall JCM800 2203 100W head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet (Defenders of the Faith studio era standard)	7.5
Some Heads Are Gonna Roll · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely 1970s/early 80s, as used by Glenn Tipton on Defenders of the Faith)	Marshall JCM800 2203 head with 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 1983/1984)	7.5
The Hellion · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely 1970s/early 1980s, as used by Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing on Screaming for Vengeance)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (studio recording, 1982)	7
The Sentinel · solo	Solo · distorted	Hamer Phantom GT (Glenn Tipton signature, 1984, bridge humbucker)	Marshall JCM800 2203 head	8
The Sentinel · riff	Riff · distorted	1981 Hamer Standard (Explorer-style) with Kahler tremolo	Marshall JCM800 2203 head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet (Celestion G12-65 speakers)	7.5
The Sentinel (Live) · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Flying V (1980s, likely custom or standard, as used by Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing live in this era)	Marshall JCM 800 head with 4x12 Marshall cabinets (standard Priest live rig, 1984-1986)	7.5
Victim Of Changes · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely 1970s, as used by both K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton on 'Sad Wings of Destiny')	Marshall Super Lead 100 (Plexi, 1959 model, as used by Judas Priest in the mid-1970s)	6.5
Victim Of Changes · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Flying V (mid-1970s, likely 1976 model)	Marshall 1959SLP Plexi Super Lead Reissue (original: Marshall Plexi Super Lead 100W, late 1960s/early 1970s)	6.5
White Heat, Red Hot · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (1970s, likely black finish, as used by Glenn Tipton and KK Downing on Stained Class)	Marshall JMP 1959 Super Lead (100-watt, non-master volume, as used by Judas Priest in late 1970s studio recordings)	7.5
Worth Fighting For · riff	Riff · distorted	Hamer Standard (Glenn Tipton) or Gibson SG (KK Downing)	Marshall JCM800 2203	7.5
You've Got Another Thing Comin' · solo	Solo · distorted	Hamer GT Custom	Marshall JCM800 2203	7.5
You've Got Another Thing Coming · riff	Riff · distorted	Hamer Standard (1982, bridge pickup)	Marshall JCM800 2203	7
You've Got Another Thing Coming · solo	Solo · distorted	Hamer Glenn Tipton Custom (likely with Kahler tremolo, as used by Tipton in early 1980s studio work)	Marshall JCM800 2203	7.5

Judas Priest 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 Judas Priest use?

Across 27 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Marshall JCM800 2203 (8 songs), Marshall JCM800 2203 (studio recording, 1982) (2 songs), Marshall JCM800 1959 Mk II Super Lead (studio, 1980 British Steel recording) (1 song), Marshall JCM800 (re-amped in studio, as per Richie Faulkner interview) (1 song).

What guitar did Judas Priest use?

Most often: Hamer KK Downing Custom Mini V (2 songs), Gibson Flying V (K.K. Downing) or Hamer Standard (Glenn Tipton) – likely Flying V for riff (1 song), Gibson Les Paul Custom (Richie Faulkner's main studio guitar for Invincible Shield era) (1 song), Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely 1970s/early 1980s, as used by Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing in this era) (1 song).

How do I get Judas Priest's tone on my amp?

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