Guitar tone · rock

Pixies guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 11 Pixies songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: Fender Precision Bass into Marshall JCM800 50-watt head.

Guitars Pixies used

Fender Precision Bass2 songs
Gibson Les Paul Standard2 songs
1965 Gibson ES-345 with Bigsby2 songs
1965 Gibson ES-345 (Bigsby-equipped, Varitone on position 3)2 songs
Fender American Professional II Telecaster1 song
Gibson Les Paul Custom '57 Reissue (black, with Bigsby vibrato)1 song
Fender Jazzmaster (likely 1965, as used by Joey Santiago on Surfer Rosa/Doolittle era)1 song
Fender Jazzmaster (likely 1960s model, as used by Joey Santiago on Bossanova sessions)1 song

Amps Pixies used

Marshall JCM800 50-watt head4 songs
Marshall JCM800 50-watt head into Marshall 4x12 cab2 songs
Peavey Mark IV or Peavey Combo 300 (solid state combo, late 1980s studio use highly likely)1 song
Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue1 song
Marshall JCM800 2205 (50-watt, two-channel)1 song
Vox AC30 (likely 1960s JMI, as used by Joey Santiago in studio for Doolittle)1 song
Marshall JCM800 (studio recording, typical for Pixies' Bossanova era)1 song
Ampeg SVT (likely blue-line or black-line, late 1970s/early 1980s studio rental standard)1 song

19 Pixies tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Where Is My Mind? (2007 Remaster) · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom '57 Reissue (black, with Bigsby vibrato)	Marshall JCM800 2205 (50-watt, two-channel)	4.5
Where Is My Mind? (2007 Remaster) · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom '57 Reissue (black, humbuckers)	Marshall JCM800 2205 50-watt head into Marshall 4x12 cab	5.5
Hey · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely late 70s/early 80s, humbuckers)	Marshall JCM800 50-watt head	5.5
Here Comes Your Man · riff	Riff · clean	Ovation Viper Electric Guitar	Unknown (studio amp not confirmed for this song/section)	0
All I Think About Now · riff	Riff · distorted	1965 Gibson ES-345 (Bigsby-equipped, Varitone on position 3)	Marshall JCM800 50-watt head	5.5
Bone Machine (2007 Remaster) · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard	Marshall JCM800 50-watt head into Marshall 4x12 cab	6.5
Brick Is Red (2007 Remaster) · riff	Riff · distorted	1965 Gibson ES-345 (Bigsby-equipped, Varitone on position 3)	Marshall JCM800 50-watt head	6
Gouge Away · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (late 1970s/early 1980s, likely black finish)	Marshall JCM800 (likely 2203 head, 4x12 cab, studio recording)	6.5
Hey · distorted	Distorted · distorted	Fender Precision Bass	Peavey Mark IV or Peavey Combo 300 (solid state combo, late 1980s studio use highly likely)	6
Hey · solo	Solo · distorted	1965 Gibson ES-345 with Bigsby	Marshall JCM800 50-watt head into Marshall 4x12 cab	5.5
Velouria · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Jazzmaster (likely 1960s model, as used by Joey Santiago on Bossanova sessions)	Marshall JCM800 (studio recording, typical for Pixies' Bossanova era)	5.5
Wave of Mutilation · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Jazzmaster (likely 1965, as used by Joey Santiago on Surfer Rosa/Doolittle era)	Vox AC30 (likely 1960s JMI, as used by Joey Santiago in studio for Doolittle)	5.5
Wave of Mutilation (UK Surf) · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Telecaster (likely 1970s or 1980s, as used by Joey Santiago on Doolittle sessions)	Vox AC30 (studio recording, as used by Pixies on Doolittle era sessions)	0
Wave of Mutilation (UK Surf) · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Telecaster (likely late 1970s or early 1980s, as used by Joey Santiago on Doolittle sessions)	Vox AC30 (as used by Joey Santiago in studio for Doolittle era, including 'Wave of Mutilation (UK Surf)')	4.5
Where Is My Mind? · riff	Riff · clean	Fender American Professional II Telecaster	Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue	0
Where Is My Mind? · solo	Solo · distorted	1965 Gibson ES-345 with Bigsby	Marshall JCM800 50-watt head into 4x12 cabinet	5.5
Where Is My Mind? · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard	Marshall JCM800 50-watt head with Marshall 4x12 cab	5.5
Where Is My Mind? (2007 Remaster) · clean	Clean · clean	Fender Precision Bass	Ampeg SVT (likely blue-line or black-line, late 1970s/early 1980s studio rental standard)	0
Where Is My Mind? (2007 Remaster) · riff	Riff · clean	1970s Gibson Les Paul Goldtop (pickup covers removed, stock electronics)	Marshall JCM800 50-watt head	3.5

Pixies 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 Pixies use?

Across 11 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Marshall JCM800 50-watt head (4 songs), Marshall JCM800 50-watt head into Marshall 4x12 cab (2 songs), Peavey Mark IV or Peavey Combo 300 (solid state combo, late 1980s studio use highly likely) (1 song), Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue (1 song).

What guitar did Pixies use?

Most often: Fender Precision Bass (2 songs), Gibson Les Paul Standard (2 songs), 1965 Gibson ES-345 with Bigsby (2 songs), 1965 Gibson ES-345 (Bigsby-equipped, Varitone on position 3) (2 songs).

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

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