Guitar tone · rock

Poison guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 10 Poison songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: B.C. Rich Ironbird into Marshall JCM800 (likely 2203 or 2204 model, era-appropriate).

Guitars Poison used

B.C. Rich Ironbird1 song
B.C. Rich Gunslinger (USA, 1980s, as seen in 'Nothin' But a Good Time' music video)1 song
Fender Telecaster (Richie Kotzen signature or similar, as used on Native Tongue sessions)1 song
Kramer Baretta (likely 1987-88, single humbucker, Floyd Rose, maple neck)1 song
Kramer Baretta (1980s, likely with Floyd Rose tremolo)1 song
Fender Telecaster (Richie Kotzen signature, likely used on studio recording)1 song
Gibson SG Standard1 song
BC Rich ST III (mid-80s, likely stock pickups, as used by C.C. DeVille on Poison's debut album sessions)1 song

Amps Poison used

Marshall JCM800 (likely 2203 or 2204 model, era-appropriate)1 song
Randall RG100ES solid-state head (studio recording, late 1980s)1 song
Marshall JCM800 2210 (studio recording, 1993)1 song
Marshall JCM800 2203 (100W head, 4x12 cab, likely with Celestion speakers)1 song
Marshall JCM800 (1980s, likely 2203 or 2204 head)1 song
Marshall JCM800 (likely, based on era, genre, and Kotzen's known studio use in Poison)1 song
Marshall JCM800 2203 100W head into Marshall 1960A 4x12 cabinet1 song
Marshall JTM45 (studio), possibly blended with Crate G-60 for added top end1 song

15 Poison tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Fallen Angel · riff	Riff · distorted	B.C. Rich Ironbird	Marshall JCM800 (likely 2203 or 2204 model, era-appropriate)	7.5
Life Goes On · riff	Riff · distorted	Kramer Baretta (likely, as used by C.C. DeVille in late 80s/early 90s Poison studio recordings)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (typical for C.C. DeVille and hair metal era Poison studio recordings)	7
Talk Dirty to Me · riff	Riff · distorted	Kramer Baretta (likely 1985-1986, single humbucker, Floyd Rose, maple neck)	Marshall JCM800 2203 head (likely 100w, 1980s, with 4x12 cabinet)	7.5
Body Talk · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Telecaster (Richie Kotzen signature, likely used on studio recording)	Marshall JCM800 (likely, based on era, genre, and Kotzen's known studio use in Poison)	7.5
don't you ever leave me hanoi rocks · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson SG Standard	Marshall JCM800 2203 100W head into Marshall 1960A 4x12 cabinet	7
Every Rose Has Its Thorn · solo	Solo · distorted	Kramer Baretta (1980s, likely with Floyd Rose tremolo)	Marshall JCM800 (1980s, likely 2203 or 2204 head)	7
Every Rose Has Its Thorn · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul (likely custom or Standard, as seen in era photos and videos)	Marshall JCM 800 head	4.5
Every Rose Has Its Thorn · riff	Riff · clean	Ovation 1612 Custom Balladeer (acoustic-electric)	Direct to mixing console (no amp), possibly with DI box	0
Life Goes On · solo	Solo · distorted	Kramer Baretta (likely 1980s model, as used by C.C. DeVille in this era)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (most commonly associated with C.C. DeVille and Poison studio recordings in late 80s/early 90s)	7
Look But You Can't Touch · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely 1980s, as used by C.C. DeVille on 'Open Up and Say... Ahh!')	Marshall JCM800 2203 (100W head, classic for 80s hair metal and Poison's studio work)	7.5
Nothin' But a Good Time · riff	Riff · distorted	B.C. Rich Gunslinger (USA, 1980s, as seen in 'Nothin' But a Good Time' music video)	Randall RG100ES solid-state head (studio recording, late 1980s)	8
Nothin' But a Good Time · solo	Solo · distorted	Kramer Baretta (likely 1987-88, single humbucker, Floyd Rose, maple neck)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (100W head, 4x12 cab, likely with Celestion speakers)	7.5
Ride the Wind · riff	Riff · distorted	Kramer Baretta (likely 1980s model, as used by C.C. DeVille in Poison's studio recordings of this era)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (1980s, typical for C.C. DeVille and Poison studio recordings)	7
Talk Dirty to Me · solo	Solo · distorted	BC Rich ST III (mid-80s, likely stock pickups, as used by C.C. DeVille on Poison's debut album sessions)	Marshall JTM45 (studio), possibly blended with Crate G-60 for added top end	7.5
Until You Suffer Some (Fire and Ice) · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Telecaster (Richie Kotzen signature or similar, as used on Native Tongue sessions)	Marshall JCM800 2210 (studio recording, 1993)	0

Poison 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 Poison use?

Across 10 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Marshall JCM800 (likely 2203 or 2204 model, era-appropriate) (1 song), Randall RG100ES solid-state head (studio recording, late 1980s) (1 song), Marshall JCM800 2210 (studio recording, 1993) (1 song), Marshall JCM800 2203 (100W head, 4x12 cab, likely with Celestion speakers) (1 song).

What guitar did Poison use?

Most often: B.C. Rich Ironbird (1 song), B.C. Rich Gunslinger (USA, 1980s, as seen in 'Nothin' But a Good Time' music video) (1 song), Fender Telecaster (Richie Kotzen signature or similar, as used on Native Tongue sessions) (1 song), Kramer Baretta (likely 1987-88, single humbucker, Floyd Rose, maple neck) (1 song).

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

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