Guitar tone · metal, rock

Mötley Crüe guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 21 Mötley Crüe songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: Gibson Les Paul Custom (late 1970s/early 1980s, likely black finish) into Marshall JCM800 2203 (100W head, likely with Marshall 4x12 cabinet, studio recording 1983).

Guitars Mötley Crüe used

Gibson Les Paul Custom (late 1970s/early 1980s, likely black finish)2 songs
Gibson Les Paul Custom (early 1970s, likely black finish, as used by Mick Mars in studio 1983-84)1 song
1972 Gibson Les Paul Custom1 song
Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely 1970s-early 80s, black finish, stock humbuckers)1 song
Fender Stratocaster (HH pickup configuration, likely with Floyd Rose, as per Mick Mars' rig in the 'Shout at the Devil' era)1 song
Gibson Les Paul Custom (late 1970s, black, likely DiMarzio Super Distortion bridge pickup)1 song
Fender Stratocaster (likely custom or Super Strat, HH or HSS configuration, bridge humbucker)1 song
Gibson Les Paul Custom (late 1970s/early 1980s, black finish, as used by Mick Mars live in 1987)1 song

Amps Mötley Crüe used

Marshall JCM800 2203 (100W head, likely with Marshall 4x12 cabinet, studio recording 1983)1 song
Marshall JMP 2203 (Jose Arredondo-modded, 100W head, late '70s/early '80s)1 song
Marshall Super Lead (Plexi) or Marshall modded by Jose Arredondo (multiple heads used in studio, see source 9)1 song
Marshall JCM800 (studio recording, 1983)1 song
Marshall JMP 2203 (100W, late 1970s/early 1980s, likely through Marshall 4x12 cabinet with Celestion speakers)1 song
Marshall JMP 2203 (100W, likely modded, early 1980s)1 song
Marshall JCM800 (modded, possibly Jose-modded), layered with Rivera Bonehead and Soldano SLO-100 in studio1 song
Marshall JCM 800 2203 head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet (live rig, 1987 tour)1 song

33 Mötley Crüe tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Kickstart My Heart · riff	Riff · distorted	Kramer Baretta (custom, early 1980s, likely with Floyd Rose tremolo)	Marshall Super Lead (Plexi) 100-watt head, Jose Arredondo modded (multiple heads from late 60s/early 70s, blended with Hiwatt and Garnet for low end)	8
Girls, Girls, Girls · riff	Riff · distorted	Kramer Tele Custom (Girls Girls Girls graphic, likely with Seymour Duncan JB bridge humbucker)	Marshall Plexi 1959SLP (Jose Arredondo-modded), blended with Vox AC30 and Hiwatt (studio recording)	7.5
Live Wire · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (late 1970s/early 1980s, likely black finish)	Marshall JMP 2203 (100W, likely modded, early 1980s)	7.5
Dr. Feelgood · riff	Riff · distorted	1972 Gibson Les Paul Custom (black, likely with modifications)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (Jose modded), possibly blended with Soldano SLO-100	7.5
Home Sweet Home · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely 1970s-early 80s, black finish, stock humbuckers)	Marshall Super Lead (Plexi) or Marshall modded by Jose Arredondo (multiple heads used in studio, see source 9)	7
Looks That Kill · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (1970s, modified with DiMarzio Super Distortion bridge pickup)	Marshall JMP 2203 (modded, late 1970s/early 1980s, likely with Jose or Lee Jackson mod)	8
Wild Side · riff	Riff · distorted	BC Rich Warlock (mid-80s, likely custom, with humbuckers)	Marshall JCM800 2203 head	7.5
Shout at the Devil · riff	Riff · distorted	1970s Fender Stratocaster 'Isabella' (white, heavily modified, likely with DiMarzio Super Distortion humbucker in bridge)	Marshall Super Lead (Plexi) head, modded by Jose Arredondo, into Marshall 1960BV 4x12 cabinets	8
Knock 'Em Dead, Kid · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (early 1970s, heavily modified)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (100W head) into Marshall 4x12 cabinet (Celestion speakers)	8
Take Me to the Top · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (late 1970s, black, likely DiMarzio Super Distortion bridge pickup)	Marshall JMP 2203 (100W, late 1970s/early 1980s, likely through Marshall 4x12 cabinet with Celestion speakers)	7
Ten Seconds to Love · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely 1970s or early 1980s, as used by Mick Mars on Shout at the Devil)	Marshall Super Lead 1959 (Jose Arredondo-modded, as used on Shout at the Devil sessions)	7.5
Too Young to Fall In Love · riff	Riff · distorted	1972 Gibson Les Paul Custom	Marshall JMP 2203 (Jose Arredondo-modded, 100W head, late '70s/early '80s)	7.5
All In the Name Of... · riff	Riff · distorted	Kramer Tele Custom	Marshall JCM800 2203	7.5
Dr. Feelgood · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely custom or Super Strat, HH or HSS configuration, bridge humbucker)	Marshall JCM800 (modded, possibly Jose-modded), layered with Rivera Bonehead and Soldano SLO-100 in studio	7
Girls, Girls, Girls · solo	Solo · distorted	Kramer Tele Custom (Girls Girls Girls graphic, likely with humbuckers)	Marshall Plexi 1959SLP (studio blend with Vox AC30 and Hiwatt, but Marshall Plexi is primary for solo)	7.5
Home Sweet Home · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (early 1970s, black, likely stock)	Marshall Super Lead (Plexi, late 60s/early 70s, Jose Arredondo-modded head, multiple cabs blended)	7.5
Home Sweet Home (Demo) · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom	Marshall amplifier (exact model not specified, likely JCM800 or JMP era based on 1980s studio use)	7
Kickstart My Heart · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (HH configuration, likely Charvel-style Superstrat as used by Mick Mars in late 1980s studio sessions)	Marshall JCM800 (studio recording, 1989)	7
Kickstart My Heart · riff	Riff · clean	Kramer Custom Tele-style (likely with Floyd Rose, as per era and live/studio photos)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (studio, late 1980s sessions for Dr. Feelgood)	0
Live Wire · riff	Riff · clean	Gibson Les Paul Custom (early 1970s, likely black finish)	Marshall Super Lead 1959 (likely modded, late 1970s/early 1980s model)	0
Looks That Kill · solo	Solo · distorted	1970s Fender Stratocaster (heavily modified, likely with DiMarzio Super Distortion humbucker in bridge)	Marshall JCM800 2203 head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet (likely 1960BV or similar, as per era and sources)	7.5
Louder Than Hell · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (early 1980s, likely black finish, as used by Mick Mars in studio)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (100W head, studio recording, 1985)	7.5
Red Hot · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (HH pickup configuration, likely with Floyd Rose, as per Mick Mars' rig in the 'Shout at the Devil' era)	Marshall JCM800 (studio recording, 1983)	7
Same Ol' Situation (S.O.S.) · riff	Riff · distorted	Charvel San Dimas (custom, likely late-80s, as used by Mick Mars on Dr. Feelgood sessions)	Marshall JCM 800 2203 (100W head, studio recording, late 1980s)	7.5
Shout at the Devil · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Les Paul (likely 1970s Custom, heavily modified, possibly with DiMarzio Super Distortion bridge pickup)	Marshall 100-watt Super Lead (1970s, run through two Marshall 4x12 cabinets, no pedals, amp cranked, Furman PQ-3 parametric EQ in studio signal chain possible)	8.5
Shout at the Devil · distorted	Distorted · distorted	B.C. Rich Warlock Bass	Ampeg SVT-CL Classic	7
Take Me to the Top · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (late 1970s/early 1980s, black, likely stock)	Marshall JMP 2203 100-watt head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet (Celestion speakers, studio recording)	7.5
Take Me To The Top (Leathür Records Version) · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (late 1970s/early 1980s, likely black finish)	Marshall JMP 100-watt head (likely 2203 or 1959, late 1970s/early 1980s, into Marshall 4x12 cabinet)	7
ten seconds to love live at tacoma · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1970s or early 1980s, heavily modified by Mick Mars)	Marshall Plexi 1959SLP (100-watt head) into Marshall 4x12 cabinets with Celestion Vintage 30 speakers	8.5
Ten Seconds to Love live tacoma 1987 · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (late 1970s/early 1980s, black finish, as used by Mick Mars live in 1987)	Marshall JCM 800 2203 head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet (live rig, 1987 tour)	7.5
Too Fast for Love · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (black, late 1970s/early 1980s, as used by Mick Mars on the original recording)	Marshall JMP 2203 (100W head, likely into Marshall 1960 4x12 cabinet)	7.5
Too Young to Fall In Love · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (early 1970s, likely black finish, as used by Mick Mars in studio 1983-84)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (100W head, likely with Marshall 4x12 cabinet, studio recording 1983)	7.5
Wild Side · riff	Riff · clean	BC Rich Warlock (custom, early/mid-80s, likely with DiMarzio Super Distortion humbucker in bridge)	Marshall JCM800 2203 head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 1986)	0

Mötley Crüe songs on popular amps

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Frequently asked questions

What amp did Mötley Crüe use?

Across 21 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Marshall JCM800 2203 (100W head, likely with Marshall 4x12 cabinet, studio recording 1983) (1 song), Marshall JMP 2203 (Jose Arredondo-modded, 100W head, late '70s/early '80s) (1 song), Marshall Super Lead (Plexi) or Marshall modded by Jose Arredondo (multiple heads used in studio, see source 9) (1 song), Marshall JCM800 (studio recording, 1983) (1 song).

What guitar did Mötley Crüe use?

Most often: Gibson Les Paul Custom (late 1970s/early 1980s, likely black finish) (2 songs), Gibson Les Paul Custom (early 1970s, likely black finish, as used by Mick Mars in studio 1983-84) (1 song), 1972 Gibson Les Paul Custom (1 song), Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely 1970s-early 80s, black finish, stock humbuckers) (1 song).

How do I get Mötley Crüe's tone on my amp?

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