Guitar tone · rock, other

Maroon 5 guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 8 Maroon 5 songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: James Valentine Signature Model (Ernie Ball Music Man James Valentine) into Matchless DC-30.

Guitars Maroon 5 used

James Valentine Signature Model (Ernie Ball Music Man James Valentine)2 songs
Fender Telecaster (likely American Standard or Custom Shop, as used by James Valentine in studio recordings of this era)1 song
Collings I-351 song
1995 Squier Stratocaster1 song
Fender Telecaster (likely American Standard or Deluxe, as used by James Valentine in studio sessions circa 2011-2012)1 song
James Valentine custom Ernie Ball Music Man (likely prototype or early production, HH configuration)1 song
Ernie Ball Music Man James Valentine Signature1 song
Fender American Telecaster (likely 2002-2003, pre-signature, as used by James Valentine in studio)1 song

Amps Maroon 5 used

Matchless DC-302 songs
Fender Twin Reverb (most commonly cited clean amp for Maroon 5 studio work in this era)1 song
Fender Deluxe Reverb (Blackface, likely reissue or vintage)1 song
Fender Hot Rod DeVille 212 (studio recording amp for Maroon 5 in this era, known from interviews and session photos)1 song
Fender Hot Rod DeVille 212 (studio recording, 2001-2002 era)1 song
Unknown exact model (not specified in sources); likely Fender-style clean amp based on artist's known preferences for studio work in this era1 song
Fender Hot Rod DeVille 212 (studio recording amp, as used on Songs About Jane era)1 song
Fender Hot Rod Deluxe (studio recording, as used on 'Songs About Jane' era)1 song

13 Maroon 5 tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Animals · riff	Riff · distorted	James Valentine Signature Model (Ernie Ball Music Man James Valentine)	Fractal Audio Systems AX8 Amp Modeler/Multi-FX Processor (likely using a modeled high-gain amp, e.g., Marshall or Mesa/Boogie)	6.5
Animals · solo	Solo · distorted	James Valentine Signature Model (Ernie Ball Music Man James Valentine)	Fender Hot Rod DeVille 212 (likely, based on era and artist's known studio rig)	6
Harder to Breathe · riff	Riff · distorted	James Valentine custom Ernie Ball Music Man (likely prototype or early production, HH configuration)	Fender Hot Rod DeVille 212 (studio recording, 2001-2002 era)	6
Animals · solo	Solo · clean	Fender Telecaster (likely American Standard or Custom Shop, as used by James Valentine in studio recordings of this era)	Fender Twin Reverb (most commonly cited clean amp for Maroon 5 studio work in this era)	0
Animals · riff	Riff · clean	1970s Fender Telecaster (parts guitar, likely alder body, maple neck, single coils)	Matchless DC-30	0
Maps · solo	Solo · distorted	Ernie Ball Music Man James Valentine Signature	Unknown exact model (not specified in sources); likely Fender-style clean amp based on artist's known preferences for studio work in this era	4.5
Moves Like Jagger (feat. Christina Aguilera) · riff	Riff · clean	Fender American Standard Stratocaster (likely, based on Maroon 5's gear during this era and the single-coil sound of the riff)	Fender Hot Rod DeVille (likely, based on Maroon 5's known studio amps for this album era)	0
One More Night · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender American Professional II Stratocaster	Fender Hot Rod Deluxe	3
Payphone (feat. Wiz Khalifa) · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Telecaster (likely American Standard or Deluxe, as used by James Valentine in studio sessions circa 2011-2012)	Fender Hot Rod DeVille 212 (studio recording amp for Maroon 5 in this era, known from interviews and session photos)	4
She Will Be Loved · riff	Riff · clean	Collings I-35	Fender Deluxe Reverb (Blackface, likely reissue or vintage)	0
This Love · solo	Solo · distorted	1995 Squier Stratocaster	Matchless DC-30	5.5
This Love · riff	Riff · clean	Fender American Telecaster (likely 2002-2003, pre-signature, as used by James Valentine in studio)	Fender Hot Rod DeVille 212 (studio recording amp, as used on Songs About Jane era)	3
This Love · riff	Riff · distorted	Ernie Ball Music Man Valentine (likely prototype or early production, as used by James Valentine on 'This Love' recording)	Fender Hot Rod Deluxe (studio recording, as used on 'Songs About Jane' era)	4

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Frequently asked questions

What amp did Maroon 5 use?

Across 8 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Matchless DC-30 (2 songs), Fender Twin Reverb (most commonly cited clean amp for Maroon 5 studio work in this era) (1 song), Fender Deluxe Reverb (Blackface, likely reissue or vintage) (1 song), Fender Hot Rod DeVille 212 (studio recording amp for Maroon 5 in this era, known from interviews and session photos) (1 song).

What guitar did Maroon 5 use?

Most often: James Valentine Signature Model (Ernie Ball Music Man James Valentine) (2 songs), Fender Telecaster (likely American Standard or Custom Shop, as used by James Valentine in studio recordings of this era) (1 song), Collings I-35 (1 song), 1995 Squier Stratocaster (1 song).

How do I get Maroon 5's tone on my amp?

Open any Maroon 5 song below to see the original gear and settings, then use ToneAdapt to adapt them to your own guitar, amp, pickups and pedals.