Guitar tone · metal, rock

Opeth guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 24 Opeth songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: PRS Custom 24 into Laney VH100R.

Guitars Opeth used

PRS Custom 248 songs
PRS McCarty 5943 songs
Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely 1970s/1990s reissue, as used by Mikael Åkerfeldt on Still Life)1 song
PRS Custom 24 (likely 2002-2003 model, used by Mikael Åkerfeldt on Damnation)1 song
PRS P24 (white, open tuning for Ghost of Perdition)1 song
Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely 1970s or 1980s, as used by Mikael Åkerfeldt on Still Life)1 song
Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely 1970s or 1980s, as used by Mikael Åkerfeldt on Damnation)1 song
PRS Custom 221 song

Amps Opeth used

Laney VH100R6 songs
Peavey 5150 120-Watt Head4 songs
Marshall JVM410H3 songs
Laney GH100L2 songs
Laney VH100R 100-watt tube head1 song
Laney VH100L1 song
Marshall JVM410H (likely studio amp, JVM series used for Ghost Reveries era)1 song
Laney VH100R (studio recording amp for Damnation era, clean channel)1 song

36 Opeth tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Burden · solo	Solo · distorted	PRS Custom 22	Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (into Marshall 4x12 cab)	5.5
Deliverance · riff	Riff · distorted	PRS Singlecut	Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier 150W Solo Head (Multi-Watt) and Laney VH100L (blended, both into 4x12 Laney cabinets)	8.5
Ending Credits · riff	Riff · clean	PRS McCarty 594	Marshall JVM410H	5.5
Blackwater Park · riff	Riff · distorted	PRS Custom 24 (early 2000s, likely 2000 or 2001 model, used by both Mikael Åkerfeldt and Peter Lindgren for rhythm tracking on Blackwater Park)	Laney GH100L (Mikael) and Laney VH100R (Peter), both British tube heads	7.5
A Fair Judgement · solo	Solo · clean	PRS Custom 24 (likely 2001-2002, as used by Mikael Åkerfeldt on Deliverance/Damnation era)	Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier 150W Solo Head	0
Burden · riff	Riff · distorted	PRS McCarty 594	Laney VH100R	5
Ending Credits · riff	Riff · distorted	PRS Custom 24 (likely 2001-2002 model, as used by Mikael Åkerfeldt in studio at the time)	Laney VH100R	6
Windowpane · solo	Solo · distorted	PRS Custom 24 (late '80s, blue, with coil split)	Laney VH100R (studio recording era, as used on Damnation sessions)	3
A Story Never Told · solo	Solo · distorted	PRS SC245	Synergy modular amp system (Marshall JCM800 and Soldano modules into Friedman power amp)	6
Black Rose Immortal (2023 Abbey Road Remaster) · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard	Laney GH100L	8
Bleak · riff	Riff · distorted	PRS CE 24 (black, 1990s/early 2000s, used by Mikael Åkerfeldt for all of Blackwater Park)	Unknown exact model; likely Marshall JCM800 or similar high-gain British amp (no explicit source for amp model on this song/section, but Marshall is typical for Opeth in this era)	7.5
Deliverance · riff	Riff · clean	PRS Custom 24	Laney VH100L	0
Deliverance · solo	Solo · clean	PRS Custom 24	Marshall JVM410H	0
Deliverance · solo	Solo · distorted	PRS Custom 24	Marshall JVM410H	7.5
Ending Credits · solo	Solo · distorted	PRS Custom 24	Laney VH100R 100-watt tube head	6.5
Ending Credits · solo	Solo · clean	PRS Custom 24	Laney 100 watt head (likely VH100R or similar, as used by Opeth in early 2000s)	0
Epilogue · riff	Riff · distorted	PRS Custom 24 (likely 1990s model, as used by Mikael Åkerfeldt on 'My Arms, Your Hearse')	Peavey 5150 120-Watt Head	4.5
Face of Melinda (Remastered) · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely 1970s-1990s, as used by Mikael Åkerfeldt on Still Life)	Peavey 5150 120-Watt Head	6
Face of Melinda (Remastered) · riff	Riff · clean	Paul Reed Smith Custom 24	ENGL Savage 120	2.5
Ghost of Perdition · riff	Riff · distorted	PRS P24 (white, open tuning for Ghost of Perdition)	Marshall JVM410H (likely studio amp, JVM series used for Ghost Reveries era)	8
Heir Apparent · riff	Riff · distorted	PRS Custom 24 (likely 2008 model, as used by Fredrik Åkesson and Mikael Åkerfeldt on 'Watershed')	Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier + Marshall JVM410H (dual amp setup, quad-tracked, as per era and forum consensus for 'Watershed')	8
Hope Leaves · riff	Riff · clean	PRS Custom 24 (likely 2002-2003 model, used by Mikael Åkerfeldt on Damnation)	Laney VH100R	3
In Mist She Was Standing · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (early 90s, likely 1991-1994, as used by Mikael Åkerfeldt on 'Orchid')	Marshall JCM900 (most probable studio amp for 'Orchid' era heavy tones)	7.5
Master's Apprentices · riff	Riff · distorted	PRS Custom 24	Laney VH100R	8
Remember Tomorrow · solo	Solo · distorted	PRS Custom 24 (likely, based on Opeth's studio use in late 2000s)	Laney VH100R (likely, based on Opeth's studio rig for Watershed era)	6.5
Reverie / Harlequin Forest · riff	Riff · distorted	PRS Custom 24	Laney GH100L	7.5
Soldier of Fortune · riff	Riff · clean	PRS Custom 24	Laney VH100R	0
Sorceress · riff	Riff · distorted	PRS McCarty 594	Marshall JVM410HJS Joe Satriani Signature	7
The Drapery Falls · riff	Riff · clean	PRS Custom 24 (early 2000s, likely 1999-2000 model, used by Mikael Åkerfeldt in Blackwater Park sessions)	Fender Twin Reverb (used for cleans in Blackwater Park studio sessions)	0
The Drapery Falls · riff	Riff · distorted	PRS Custom 24 (1990s/early 2000s, likely stock pickups for Mikael Åkerfeldt and Peter Lindgren)	ENGL Powerball (studio recording, Blackwater Park sessions, 2000/2001)	7.5
The Leper Affinity · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely late 90s/early 2000s, used by Mikael Åkerfeldt on Blackwater Park)	Peavey 5150 (primary), ENGL Savage 120 (secondary, blended in studio), possible Laney VH100R (minor use)	8
The Moor (Remastered) · riff	Riff · clean	Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely 1970s/1990s reissue, as used by Mikael Åkerfeldt on Still Life)	Peavey 5150 120-Watt Head	0
The Moor (Remastered) · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely 1970s or 1980s, as used by Mikael Åkerfeldt on Still Life)	Peavey 5150 120-Watt Head	7.5
To Bid You Farewell · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely 1990s, used by Mikael Åkerfeldt in studio)	Laney GH100L (likely, based on Opeth's studio rig for 'Morningrise' era)	6
Windowpane · riff	Riff · clean	Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely 1970s or 1980s, as used by Mikael Åkerfeldt on Damnation)	Laney VH100R (studio recording amp for Damnation era, clean channel)	3
Windowpane · solo	Solo · clean	PRS McCarty	Laney VH100R	2.5

Opeth songs on popular amps

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

Burden on Boss Katana Air

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Frequently asked questions

What amp did Opeth use?

Across 24 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Laney VH100R (6 songs), Peavey 5150 120-Watt Head (4 songs), Marshall JVM410H (3 songs), Laney GH100L (2 songs).

What guitar did Opeth use?

Most often: PRS Custom 24 (8 songs), PRS McCarty 594 (3 songs), Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely 1970s/1990s reissue, as used by Mikael Åkerfeldt on Still Life) (1 song), PRS Custom 24 (likely 2002-2003 model, used by Mikael Åkerfeldt on Damnation) (1 song).

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

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