Guitar tone · rock, Rock / Alternative rock

Kings of Leon guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 19 Kings of Leon songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: Gibson ES-325 into Vox AC30.

Guitars Kings of Leon used

Gibson ES-3259 songs
Gibson ES-1372 songs
Epiphone Sheraton II2 songs
Gibson 325 19721 song
Gibson ES-325 (Caleb Followill's main guitar during 'Only By The Night' era, likely used on 'Revelry' studio recording)1 song
Gibson Thunderbird (black) seen live; likely used for “Closer”1 song
Gibson ES-325 (semi-hollow, early 1970s, walnut finish)1 song
Gibson Les Paul Custom1 song

Amps Kings of Leon used

Vox AC303 songs
Selmer TruVoice Treble-N-Bass Fifty2 songs
Matchless DC-30 2x12 Combo Amp2 songs
Vox AC15C1-CM Limited Edition2 songs
Vox AC-151 song
Vox AC30 (studio recording, typical for Kings of Leon on 'Only By The Night')1 song
Ampeg SVT‑CL (tube head) with 8x10 or 4x10 cabs1 song
Vox AC30 (likely paired with a Fender Twin Reverb or similar, as per producer's notes on amp blending)1 song

26 Kings of Leon tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Sex On Fire · riff	Riff · distorted	Epiphone Sheraton II	Vox AC30 (studio emulation via Line 6 POD for lesson, but original likely a real AC30 or similar British combo per era and band history)	5.5
Sex On Fire · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson ES-137	Selmer TruVoice Treble-N-Bass Fifty	6
Use Somebody · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson ES-325	Matchless DC-30 2x12 Combo Amp	5
Molly's Chambers · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson ES-325 (semi-hollow, early 1970s, walnut finish)	Fender Hot Rod DeVille 212 (likely, based on era and band interviews; no explicit source for this song's studio amp)	5
Stormy Weather · clean	Clean · clean	Unknown	Unknown	0
Arizona · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson ES-325 (likely, based on era and band member's gear for 'Because of the Times')	Fender Hot Rod DeVille 212 (likely, based on studio rig for 'Because of the Times')	5.5
Beautiful War · riff	Riff · clean	Epiphone Sheraton II	Ampeg Reverberocket R-212R	3
Closer · distorted	Distorted · distorted	Gibson Thunderbird (black) seen live; likely used for “Closer”	Ampeg SVT‑CL (tube head) with 8x10 or 4x10 cabs	6.5
Cold Blue Dawn · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson 325 1972	Vox AC-15	6
Comeback Story · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson ES-325	Vox AC30	6
Crawl · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson ES-325 (likely, based on era and band member's main guitar for this album, but not directly confirmed for this song/section)	Selmer TruVoice Treble-N-Bass Fifty	6.5
Knocked Up · riff	Riff · clean	Gibson ES-325 (Caleb Followill's main guitar for 'Because of the Times' era studio recordings)	Fender Hot Rod DeVille 212 (studio, 'Because of the Times' sessions, clean tone)	3
Notion · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson ES-325 (Caleb Followill's main guitar for Only By The Night era, likely used on 'Notion' riff)	Vox AC30 (studio recording, as used on Only By The Night sessions)	5.5
Notion · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson ES-137	Vox AC30	6
Pyro · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson ES-325 (Caleb Followill's main studio guitar for 'Come Around Sundown' era, likely used on 'Pyro')	Vox AC30 (studio, as used by Caleb Followill on 'Come Around Sundown' sessions)	5.5
Pyro · riff	Riff · clean	Gibson ES-325 (or similar ES-335 style semi-hollow, likely used by Caleb Followill on 'Only By The Night' era recordings)	Vox AC30 (studio recording, 2010, Only By The Night era)	0
Revelry · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson ES-325 (Caleb Followill's main guitar during 'Only By The Night' era, likely used on 'Revelry' studio recording)	Vox AC30 (studio recording, typical for Kings of Leon on 'Only By The Night')	4
Sex On Fire · riff	Riff · clean	Gibson ES-325	Vox AC30	0
Supersoaker · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson ES-325	Vox AC15C1-CM Limited Edition	6
The End · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson ES-325	Vox AC15C1-CM Limited Edition	5
The Face · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson ES-325	Vox AC30 (likely paired with a Fender Twin Reverb or similar, as per producer's notes on amp blending)	5
Use Somebody · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson ES-325	Matchless DC-30 2x12 Combo Amp	5.5
Use Somebody · riff	Riff · clean	Gibson ES-325	Matchless DC-30	0
Wait for Me · riff	Riff · clean	Gibson Les Paul Custom	Vox AC30 (studio, as referenced for Kings of Leon's signature clean/rock tone)	3
Wait for Me · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard '60s	Vox AC30 (likely C2 or similar, as used in studio)	5.5
Waste a Moment · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson ES-325	Vox AC15	6

Kings of Leon 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 Kings of Leon use?

Across 19 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Vox AC30 (3 songs), Selmer TruVoice Treble-N-Bass Fifty (2 songs), Matchless DC-30 2x12 Combo Amp (2 songs), Vox AC15C1-CM Limited Edition (2 songs).

What guitar did Kings of Leon use?

Most often: Gibson ES-325 (9 songs), Gibson ES-137 (2 songs), Epiphone Sheraton II (2 songs), Gibson 325 1972 (1 song).

How do I get Kings of Leon's tone on my amp?

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