Guitar tone · rock

Queens of the Stone Age guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 33 Queens of the Stone Age songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: Gibson Marauder into Peavey Series 260 Standard PA.

Guitars Queens of the Stone Age used

Gibson Marauder7 songs
Maton BB12006 songs
Maton BB1200 JH5 songs
Gretsch G6134 Spectra Sonic3 songs
Ovation Ultra GP3 songs
Maton MS5002 songs
Gretsch G6143 Spectra Sonic2 songs
Fender Precision Bass (likely, but not 100% confirmed for this track)1 song

Amps Queens of the Stone Age used

Peavey Series 260 Standard PA7 songs
Ampeg VT-404 songs
Ampeg V-43 songs
Orange OR1202 songs
Peavey Decade (solid-state combo, studio recording, as cited by Josh Homme for Songs for the Deaf bass tracks)1 song
Ampeg SVT (likely SVT-II or SVT Classic, all-tube head) into Ampeg 8x10 cab1 song
Peavey Decade (transistor combo, 1980s model)1 song
Ampeg V-4 (1970s tube head, used in studio for Era Vulgaris sessions, including 'Make It Wit Chu')1 song

50 Queens of the Stone Age tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
No One Knows · riff	Riff · distorted	Gretsch G6131T-HT Duo Jet (likely, but not 100% confirmed for this track; Homme is known to have used a Gretsch Duo Jet for the main riff on 'No One Knows')	Peavey Standard 260 PA head, Ampeg VT-40, Tube Works RT2100 (studio blend, as per engineer and multiple sources)	7
My God Is the Sun · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Marauder	Peavey Series 260 Standard PA	7.5
Go with the Flow · riff	Riff · distorted	Gretsch G6136T White Falcon	Peavey Decade (solid-state combo, 1980s model)	7.5
Song for the Dead · riff	Riff · distorted	Gretsch G6134 Spectra Sonic	Ampeg V4	7.5
Go With the Flow · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Marauder	Peavey Decade (solid-state combo, studio recording)	7.5
I Sat by the Ocean · riff	Riff · distorted	Echopark Model J	Unknown (likely vintage tube amp, possibly Ampeg V-4 or similar, but not confirmed for this recording)	6
Little Sister · riff	Riff · distorted	Gretsch G6134 Spectra Sonic	Peavey Series 260 Standard PA	7
3's & 7's · riff	Riff · distorted	Maton BB1200 JH	Ampeg V-4 (1970)	7
Avon · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Marauder	Peavey Series 260 Standard PA	7.5
In My Head · riff	Riff · distorted	Gretsch G6134 Spectra Sonic	Peavey Decade (original 1980s solid-state combo)	7
Sick, Sick, Sick · riff	Riff · distorted	Ampeg Dan Armstrong Plexi Electric Guitar	Unknown (likely vintage tube amp, possibly Ampeg or custom, but not confirmed for this recording)	8
You Think I Ain't Worth a Dollar, But I Feel Like a Millionaire · riff	Riff · distorted	2000s Yamaha AES1500 (Josh Homme's main guitar for Songs for the Deaf sessions, likely used for riff section)	Ampeg V4 (1970s, used by Josh Homme for Songs for the Deaf studio recording)	8.5
God Is In The Radio · riff	Riff · distorted	Gretsch G6143 Spectra Sonic	Peavey Series 260 Standard PA	7
Mexicola · riff	Riff · distorted	Gretsch G6131T Duo Jet (likely, or Gretsch G6143 Spectra Sonic as sometimes cited for early QOTSA)	Peavey Series 260 Standard PA	7.5
3's & 7's · solo	Solo · distorted	Maton BB1200 JH	Orange OR120 (studio, likely blended with Ampeg V-4 for mids and punch)	7
Avon · solo	Solo · distorted	Ovation Ultra GP	Ampeg VT-40	7
Burn the Witch · riff	Riff · distorted	Maton BB1200	Peavey Decade (studio recording, as seen in era photos and referenced in gear rundowns for Lullabies to Paralyze sessions)	6
First It Giveth · riff	Riff · distorted	Ovation Ultra GP	Ampeg V-4	7.5
Go with the Flow · clean	Clean · clean	Fender Precision Bass (likely, but not 100% confirmed for this track)	Peavey Decade (solid-state combo, studio recording, as cited by Josh Homme for Songs for the Deaf bass tracks)	0
Go with the Flow · riff	Riff · clean	Maton BB1200	Orange OR120	0
Go With the Flow · distorted	Distorted · distorted	Fender Precision Bass (likely, as used by Nick Oliveri on 'Songs for the Deaf' era)	Ampeg SVT Classic (studio standard for QOTSA, era-appropriate, and referenced in multiple QOTSA tone discussions)	6.5
Gonna Leave You · riff	Riff · distorted	Gretsch G6143 Spectra Sonic	Peavey Series 260 Standard PA	6.5
How to Handle a Rope (A Lesson in the Lariat) · riff	Riff · distorted	Ovation Ultra GP	Ampeg VT-40	7
I Appear Missing · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Telecaster	Ampeg VT-40	8
I Appear Missing · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Marauder	Greedtone JHI-100 Amp Head	7
I Never Came · riff	Riff · clean	Yamaha SA503 TVL Electric Guitar	Ampeg V-4 (studio, Lullabies to Paralyze era, 2004-2005)	0
I Sat by the Ocean · solo	Solo · distorted	Maton BB1200	Peavey Decade (solid state combo, late 1970s/early 1980s)	7
I Think I Lost My Headache · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Marauder	Peavey Series 260 Standard PA	6.5
If I Had a Tail · riff	Riff · distorted	Maton MS500 (Josh Homme's main studio guitar for ...Like Clockwork era, likely used on 'If I Had a Tail')	Ampeg VT-40 (primary amp for Josh Homme on ...Like Clockwork studio sessions)	7
If Only · riff	Riff · distorted	Maton BB1200	Ampeg V-4	6.5
In My Head · solo	Solo · distorted	Maton BB1200 JH	Greedtone JHI-100	7
Little Sister · solo	Solo · distorted	Maton MS500	Peavey 260 Standard PA head	7
Make It Wit Chu · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Telecaster (likely American Standard or Custom Shop, as seen in studio and confirmed by multiple sources for this song/era)	Ampeg V-4 (1970s tube head, used in studio for Era Vulgaris sessions, including 'Make It Wit Chu')	6
Make It Wit Chu · riff	Riff · clean	Gretsch G6136 White Falcon (likely), or Gretsch G6129T Silver Jet	Ampeg V-4 (1970s model), possibly Orange OR120 (studio, Era Vulgaris 2007)	3.5
Make It Wit Chu · riff	Riff · distorted	Gretsch G6136 White Falcon (likely, but not 100% confirmed for this track; Josh Homme is known to use this model in studio for Era Vulgaris era riff sections)	Ampeg V-4 (studio recording amp for Era Vulgaris, as cited for Homme's main riff tones on this album)	6
My God Is the Sun · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Marauder	Ampeg V-4 (1970s) and/or Peavey Series 260 Standard PA (studio blend likely, Ampeg V-4 primary for leads)	7.5
No One Knows · distorted	Distorted · distorted	Fender Precision Bass (likely 1970s reissue or vintage)	Ampeg SVT (likely SVT-II or SVT Classic, all-tube head) into Ampeg 8x10 cab	7
No One Knows · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Sub-Sonic Baritone (studio recording, 2002, as referenced for main and solo sections; some sources mention custom Bilt baritone or Gretsch G5265 Jet Baritone as alternates, but Sub-Sonic is most cited for this era/track)	Ampeg V4 (studio recording, 2002; Peavey Decade also used for overdubs, but Ampeg V4 is primary for main solo tone)	6.5
No One Knows (Live at Brixton Academy 2005) · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard	Orange Rockerverb 100 (live), with possible Peavey Decade and Ampeg VT-40/Ampeg V-4B blended in rig	7
Paper Machete · riff	Riff · distorted	Echopark Esperanto Z	Ampeg V-4 (studio, likely with Orange OR120 or Peavey Decade Too as secondary/alternate amp)	7
Regular John · riff	Riff · distorted	Maton BB1200	Orange OR120	7.5
Song for the Dead · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Marauder	Ampeg V-4	7.5
Song for the Dead · riff	Riff · clean	Maton BB1200	Ampeg V-4 (studio), possibly Orange Matamp OR120 (live, but Ampeg V-4 is more cited for studio clean sections)	0
Song for the Deaf · riff	Riff · distorted	Maton BB1200 DLX	Ampeg VT-40 (studio), Ampeg V-4B (also used on album), Orange Matamp OR120 (sometimes layered)	7
Suture Up Your Future · riff	Riff · distorted	Maton BB1200 JH	Ampeg VT-40	6.5
The Evil Has Landed · riff	Riff · distorted	Echopark 9-string (GBE strings doubled, similar to a 12-string for riff)	Unknown high-headroom clean amp (possibly Ampeg V4 or similar, as per Homme's Villains-era studio use, but not confirmed for this track)	7
The Fun Machine Took a Shit and Died · riff	Riff · distorted	Maton MS500	Peavey Decade (transistor combo, 1980s model)	8
The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Marauder Custom	Peavey Decade (10-watt solid state combo)	6.5
The Sky Is Fallin' · riff	Riff · distorted	Yamaha AES1500B	Echopark Vibramatic 23	7
The Way You Used To Do · riff	Riff · distorted	Maton BB1200 JH	Peavey Decade (original 1980s solid-state combo, likely miked in studio)	7

Queens of the Stone Age 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 Queens of the Stone Age use?

Across 33 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Peavey Series 260 Standard PA (7 songs), Ampeg VT-40 (4 songs), Ampeg V-4 (3 songs), Orange OR120 (2 songs).

What guitar did Queens of the Stone Age use?

Most often: Gibson Marauder (7 songs), Maton BB1200 (6 songs), Maton BB1200 JH (5 songs), Gretsch G6134 Spectra Sonic (3 songs).

How do I get Queens of the Stone Age's tone on my amp?

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