Guitar tone · metal

Mastodon guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 20 Mastodon songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: Gibson Les Paul Custom (Bill Kelliher) or Gibson Flying V (Brent Hinds) into Marshall JCM800 2203.

Guitars Mastodon used

Gibson Les Paul Custom (Bill Kelliher) or Gibson Flying V (Brent Hinds)3 songs
Gibson Les Paul Custom (Brent Hinds, likely for riff section)1 song
Gibson Les Paul Custom (Bill Kelliher) or Gibson Les Paul Standard (Brent Hinds)1 song
Gibson Les Paul Custom (Bill Kelliher) or Gibson Les Paul Standard (Brent Hinds), likely with Lace Dissonant Aggressor or Burstbucker pickups1 song
ESP LTD Bill Kelliher BK-6001 song
ESP LTD BK-600 Bill Kelliher Signature1 song
Rickenbacker 40031 song
Fender Jazz Bass (likely American Standard, early 2000s)1 song

Amps Mastodon used

Marshall JCM800 22032 songs
Marshall JMP (vintage, ex-AC/DC, blended with Diezel VH4; primary for riff section per interview)1 song
Marshall JCM800 2203 (studio recording, 2004 era)1 song
Orange Thunderverb 200 (Bill Kelliher) or Marshall JCM800 (Brent Hinds) — likely Orange Thunderverb 200 for main riff1 song
Diezel Herbert + Marshall JCM800 (blended, studio recording)1 song
Marshall JCM800 Lead Series (1977/1978, 100-watt, through Marshall 1960B 4x12 with 20-watt Celestions)1 song
Ampeg SVT Classic (likely vintage, 1970s model)1 song
Ampeg SVT Classic with 8x10 cab (studio, 2004)1 song

23 Mastodon tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Blood and Thunder · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (Bill Kelliher) or Gibson Flying V (Brent Hinds)	Marshall JCM800 2203	7.5
The Motherload · riff	Riff · distorted	ESP LTD Bill Kelliher BK-600	Diezel Herbert + Marshall JCM800 (blended, studio recording)	7.5
Curl of the Burl · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Flying V Silverburst (Brent Hinds, studio recording)	Marshall JMP (Bill Kelliher) and Metropoulos Metro (Brent Hinds), both into Marshall 4x12 cabinets	7.5
Aqua Dementia · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (Bill Kelliher) or Gibson Les Paul Standard (Brent Hinds)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (studio recording, 2004 era)	8
Bedazzled Fingernails · riff	Riff · distorted	Mozer Custom Chariot	Marshall JCM800 (1980s, UK touring amp) with Kerry King signature amp (live backup/possible blend)	8
Blood and Thunder · distorted	Distorted · distorted	Rickenbacker 4003	Ampeg SVT Classic (likely vintage, 1970s model)	8
Blood and Thunder · clean	Clean · clean	Fender Jazz Bass (likely American Standard, early 2000s)	Ampeg SVT Classic with 8x10 cab (studio, 2004)	0
Crusher Destroyer · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely 1970s or 1980s, as used by Bill Kelliher and Brent Hinds on 'Remission')	Marshall JCM800 2203 (cranked, as cited for early Mastodon recordings)	8.5
Divinations · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (Bill Kelliher) or Gibson SG (Brent Hinds)	Marshall JCM800 (studio recording, Crack the Skye era, most likely for riff section)	8
Ghost of Karelia · riff	Riff · distorted	First Act Custom Shop Lola 12-string	Diezel Herbert + Diezel G4 + Marshall JCM800 (all on simultaneously, blended)	8
Gigantium · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (Bill Kelliher) or Gibson Les Paul Standard (Brent Hinds), likely with Lace Dissonant Aggressor or Burstbucker pickups	Orange Thunderverb 200 (Bill Kelliher) or Marshall JCM800 (Brent Hinds) — likely Orange Thunderverb 200 for main riff	8
Jaguar God · riff	Riff · distorted	ESP Bill Kelliher Signature Eclipse (likely with Lace Dissonant Aggressor humbuckers)	Friedman Butterslax 100W Head	7.5
March of the Fire Ants · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (Bill Kelliher) or Gibson Flying V (Brent Hinds)	Orange Thunderverb 200 (Bill Kelliher) or Marshall JCM800 (Bill Kelliher, alternate), Marshall JMP (Brent Hinds, alternate)	8.5
Megalodon · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (Brent Hinds) or Gibson Les Paul Silverburst (Bill Kelliher)	Marshall JCM800 (likely studio amp for Leviathan era)	7.5
More Than I Could Chew · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (Brent Hinds, likely for riff section)	Marshall JMP (vintage, ex-AC/DC, blended with Diezel VH4; primary for riff section per interview)	8.5
North Side Star · riff	Riff · distorted	ESP LTD BK-600 Bill Kelliher Signature	Marshall JCM800 Lead Series (1977/1978, 100-watt, through Marshall 1960B 4x12 with 20-watt Celestions)	6.5
Oblivion · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Flying V (2009)	Marshall JCM800 2203	7.5
Octopus Has No Friends · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom Silverburst (Bill Kelliher) or Gibson Flying V (Brent Hinds)	Marshall JCM800 (Bill Kelliher) or Orange Thunderverb 50 (Brent Hinds)	7.5
Teardrinker · riff	Riff · distorted	ESP Sparrowhawk (Bill Kelliher signature)	Friedman Butterslax 100-watt head (Bill Kelliher signature), Marshall JCM800 (used in combination for rhythm)	8.5
The Last Baron · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom	Orange Thunderverb 200	8
The Motherload · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (Brent Hinds, studio recording)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (studio recording)	8
The Wolf Is Loose · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (Bill Kelliher) or Gibson Flying V (Brent Hinds)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (studio recording era, both guitarists)	8
Your Ghost Again · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom Silverburst (Bill Kelliher signature, likely used for riff section on 'Your Ghost Again')	Friedman Butterslax (Bill Kelliher signature head) into Marshall 4x12 and/or Friedman 4x12 cabinet	7.5

Mastodon songs on popular amps

Exact settings ToneAdapt players use for these songs on their own amps.

Aqua Dementia on Fender Mustang Micro

Get Mastodon's tone on your gear

Pick any Mastodon song and ToneAdapt adapts the original rig to your own guitar, amp, pickups and pedals.

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Frequently asked questions

What amp did Mastodon use?

Across 20 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Marshall JCM800 2203 (2 songs), Marshall JMP (vintage, ex-AC/DC, blended with Diezel VH4; primary for riff section per interview) (1 song), Marshall JCM800 2203 (studio recording, 2004 era) (1 song), Orange Thunderverb 200 (Bill Kelliher) or Marshall JCM800 (Brent Hinds) — likely Orange Thunderverb 200 for main riff (1 song).

What guitar did Mastodon use?

Most often: Gibson Les Paul Custom (Bill Kelliher) or Gibson Flying V (Brent Hinds) (3 songs), Gibson Les Paul Custom (Brent Hinds, likely for riff section) (1 song), Gibson Les Paul Custom (Bill Kelliher) or Gibson Les Paul Standard (Brent Hinds) (1 song), Gibson Les Paul Custom (Bill Kelliher) or Gibson Les Paul Standard (Brent Hinds), likely with Lace Dissonant Aggressor or Burstbucker pickups (1 song).

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

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