Guitar tone · rock, funk

Red Hot Chili Peppers guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 59 Red Hot Chili Peppers songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: 1962 Fender Stratocaster into Unknown.

Guitars Red Hot Chili Peppers used

1962 Fender Stratocaster18 songs
Fender American Vintage '62 Stratocaster4 songs
Unknown3 songs
1960 Fender Custom Telecaster3 songs
Fender Stratocaster3 songs
Fender Stratocaster (likely 1962 reissue, as used by John Frusciante on Stadium Arcadium)3 songs
Fender Stratocaster (early 1960s, likely 1962 Sunburst)2 songs
1961 Gibson Les Paul SG Custom2 songs

Amps Red Hot Chili Peppers used

Unknown4 songs
Marshall JCM8004 songs
Gallien-Krueger 800RB3 songs
Marshall Major 200W head2 songs
Gallien-Krueger 2001RB2 songs
Marshall Silver Jubilee 25552 songs
Marshall Major (studio recording, Stadium Arcadium era)2 songs
Marshall Major Model 1967 200-watt head2 songs

118 Red Hot Chili Peppers tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Can't Stop · riff	Riff · distorted	1960 Fender Custom Telecaster	Marshall Major (studio recording, 2001/2002 era)	4
Under the Bridge · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster	Fender Twin Reverb	0
Californication · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster 1962 (rosewood fretboard, sunburst finish)	Marshall Major Model 1967 200-watt head	3.5
Dani California · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender American Vintage '62 Stratocaster	Marshall Major (studio recording, 2005-2006)	4.5
Scar Tissue · riff	Riff · distorted	1962 Fender Stratocaster	Marshall Major	3.5
Snow (Hey Oh) · riff	Riff · clean	1962 Fender Stratocaster	Marshall Silver Jubilee 25/50 (2555 head) into Marshall 4x12 cab	0
Scar Tissue · riff	Riff · clean	Fender American Vintage '62 Stratocaster	Fender Silverface Twin Reverb	2.5
Californication · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender 1962 Stratocaster	Marshall Major Model 1967 200-watt head	3.5
Suck My Kiss · riff	Riff · distorted	1962 Fender Stratocaster	Marshall Major and Marshall Super Bass (split signal, studio recording)	6
Otherside · riff	Riff · distorted	1955 Gretsch White Falcon	Marshall Silver Jubilee 2550	3.5
Can't Stop · riff	Riff · clean	1960 Fender Custom Telecaster	Marshall Major (studio recording, By The Way era)	0
Wet Sand · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender American Vintage '62 Stratocaster	Marshall Major (200W, late 60s/early 70s model, used in studio for Stadium Arcadium)	6
Californication · riff	Riff · clean	Fender American Vintage '62 Stratocaster	Fender Showman (Blackface, early 1960s, head into Marshall 4x12 cab)	0
Can't Stop · solo	Solo · distorted	1960 Fender Custom Telecaster	Marshall Major (studio recording, 2001-2002 era)	4
Give It Away · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (early 1960s, likely '62 reissue or vintage)	Marshall Major 200W + Marshall Super Bass 100W (studio blend, Blood Sugar Sex Magik era)	3.5
Scar Tissue · solo	Solo · distorted	Mid-1960s Fender Telecaster Custom	Fender Dual Showman	3.5
Soul to Squeeze · riff	Riff · clean	1962 Fender Stratocaster	Fender Twin Reverb (Blackface, early 1970s)	0
Wet Sand · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1962 reissue, as used by John Frusciante on Stadium Arcadium)	Marshall Major (studio recording, Stadium Arcadium era)	4
Dani California · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson SG 'The Fool' replica	Marshall Silver Jubilee 25/50	5.5
Wet Sand · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster (1962 reissue, likely with rosewood fretboard)	Marshall Major (studio recording, Stadium Arcadium era)	3
Aquatic Mouth Dance · clean	Clean · clean	1961 Fender Jazz Bass	Unknown	0
Black Summer · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1962 reissue, as used by John Frusciante on Unlimited Love sessions)	Marshall Major (primary), with Fender Silverface Twin Reverb and Marshall Jubilee blended (studio recording, 2021)	4
By the Way · clean	Clean · clean	Modulus Flea Bass (active, graphite neck, Lane Poor pickup, Aguilar OBP‑1 preamp)	Gallien‑Krueger 2001RB head into GK 410RBH and 115RBH cabinets	0
By the Way · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender 'Double Bound' Custom Telecaster (1959-1965)	Marshall Major (likely, as used by Frusciante on By the Way era studio recordings)	4
Dani California · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster (1962 reissue, sunburst, rosewood fretboard)	Marshall Major 200W head (studio recording, Stadium Arcadium era, 2005-2006)	0
Dark Necessities · clean	Clean · clean	Fender American Series Jazz Bass (2003–2008) with S-1 switching system	Unknown	0
Dark Necessities · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1960s reissue, as used by Josh Klinghoffer in studio)	Marshall Major 200 Watt head	5
Funky Monks · riff	Riff · distorted	1962 Fender Stratocaster	Marshall Major (likely 200W, as seen in Funky Monks documentary)	3.5
Give It Away · riff	Riff · clean	1962 Fender Stratocaster	Marshall JTM45	0
Otherside · solo	Solo · distorted	1961 Gibson Les Paul SG Custom	Marshall JCM800	5.5
Sick Love · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Jaguar (likely American Vintage Reissue, as used by Josh Klinghoffer on The Getaway sessions)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (studio recording, as per era and artist's known use on The Getaway)	5.5
Soul to Squeeze · solo	Solo · distorted	1962 Fender Stratocaster	Marshall Major (studio recording, 1992 era, Blood Sugar Sex Magik sessions)	4
Under the Bridge · riff	Riff · distorted	1962 Fender Stratocaster	Marshall Silver Jubilee 2555 (studio recording, 1991)	3
Around the World · riff	Riff · distorted	1966 Fender Jaguar (borrowed, vintage, used for entire song)	Marshall JTM-45 + Marshall Super Bass (run in stereo via Boss CE-1 preamp/splitter)	4.5
Around the World · clean	Clean · clean	Modulus Flea Bass (Silver Flake)	Ampeg SVT‑VR (recording) / Gallien‑Krueger 2001RB (live era)	0
Black Summer · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Stratocaster	Marshall JCM800	6
Californication · clean	Clean · clean	Modulus Flea Bass (sunburst, Lane Poor pickup)	Gallien-Krueger 2001RB-II Bass Amp Head	0
Californication · solo	Solo · clean	1962 Fender Stratocaster	Fender Showman	0
Can't Stop · distorted	Distorted · distorted	Fender Jazz Bass (stock orange, passive, 4-string)	Gallien-Krueger 2001RB (studio era), Acoustic 360/361 (possible studio use per Equipboard, but less likely for 'By the Way')	5.5
Can't Stop · clean	Clean · clean	Bright active bass (likely Music Man StingRay or Fender/Modulus Jazz-style active bass)	Ampeg-style (SVT) amp (studio blend of DI and amp)	0
Can't Stop · solo	Solo · clean	Fender American Vintage II 1962 Stratocaster	Marshall Major 200W ('The Pig')	4.5
Castles Made of Sand (Bonus Track) · riff	Riff · distorted	1962 Fender Stratocaster	Marshall Major (likely, based on Frusciante's studio rig for BSSM era; no direct source for this track, but consistent with era and sound)	3.5
Charlie · riff	Riff · distorted	1962 Fender Stratocaster (sunburst, rosewood fretboard)	Marshall Major (200W head, used in studio for Stadium Arcadium era)	4
Dani California · clean	Clean · clean	Fender Jazz Bass (Modulus Flea Bass also possible, but Jazz Bass most likely for studio recording in this era)	Gallien-Krueger 2001RB-II Bass Amp Head into Gallien-Krueger 410RBH cab (studio context, 2005/2006 era; Ampeg SVT not evidenced for this track)	0
Dani California · solo	Solo · clean	1955 Fender Stratocaster	Marshall Major Bass 200W Model 1978	0
Dark Necessities · distorted	Distorted · distorted	Fender Flea Signature Jazz Bass	Fender Rumble 200 (likely studio amp, possibly Acoustic 360 for warmth, but Rumble 200 is visually confirmed in video and on Equipboard for this era)	6
Dark Necessities · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Jazzmaster	Unknown (studio amp not confirmed for this track; likely Fender or Marshall based on era and artist's typical choices)	4
Dark Necessities · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1962 reissue, as used by Josh Klinghoffer in studio 2015-2016)	Fender Twin Reverb (blackface, likely 65 reissue or vintage, as used by Josh Klinghoffer in studio)	0
Dosed · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (early 1960s, likely 1962 Sunburst)	Marshall Major (studio recording, 2002 era)	5
Eddie · solo	Solo · clean	Fender Stratocaster (likely vintage 1960s, as per Frusciante's studio preference)	Marshall Major (studio recording, as per Frusciante's typical clean tone amp in this era)	3.5
Eddie · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1962, vintage spec, rosewood board)	Marshall Silver Jubilee 2555	5
Encore · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely American Standard or similar, as used by Josh Klinghoffer in this era)	Fender Twin Reverb (most commonly used by Klinghoffer for clean/riff sections in this era)	3
Factory of Faith · distorted	Distorted · distorted	Unknown	Unknown	6.5
Factory of Faith · clean	Clean · clean	Unknown	Unknown	0
Factory of Faith · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster	Marshall JCM800	4
Falling Into Grace · riff	Riff · distorted	Paul Reed Smith Custom 24 (mid-90s, likely 1995, as used by Dave Navarro on 'One Hot Minute')	Marshall JCM900 (studio recording, as used by Dave Navarro on 'One Hot Minute')	4.5
Fight Like A Brave · riff	Riff · distorted	1980s Gibson Les Paul Standard	Marshall JCM800 2203 head with 4x12 cabinet	6
Fight Like A Brave · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1970s, Hillel Slovak's main studio guitar for this era)	Marshall JMP 2203 (100W head, typical for Slovak's studio work in 1987)	6
Fortune Faded · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (early 60s, likely 1962 Sunburst Stratocaster)	Marshall Silver Jubilee 2550 head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet	6
Funky Monks · riff	Riff · clean	1962 Fender Stratocaster (sunburst, rosewood fretboard)	Marshall Major 200-watt head	2.5
Get Up and Jump · clean	Clean · clean	Music Man StingRay (black, early RHCP debut era)	Unknown (likely Gallien-Krueger in later years, but early era not documented)	0
Give It Away · solo	Solo · distorted	1962 Fender Stratocaster	Marshall Major (200-watt) and Marshall Silver Jubilee (100-watt) stacks	4.5
Give It Away · clean	Clean · clean	Music Man StingRay (early 1990s, 4-string, likely black/maple)	Gallien-Krueger 800RB (studio, early 1990s)	0
Goodbye Angels · clean	Clean · clean	Fender '61 Stack Knob Jazz Bass	Gallien-Krueger 2001RB	0
Hey · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1962 Sunburst/Rosewood or 1955 Sunburst/Maple, as used by Frusciante on Stadium Arcadium)	Marshall Silver Jubilee 2555 head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet	5
Hey · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1962 reissue or vintage, as used by John Frusciante on Stadium Arcadium)	Marshall Silver Jubilee 2555 (primary studio amp for Stadium Arcadium era, confirmed for 'Hey')	4
Higher Ground · riff	Riff · clean	1980s Fender Stratocaster (likely 1962 reissue, rosewood fretboard)	Marshall JCM800 2203 head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet	0
Higher Ground · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1962 reissue, rosewood fretboard, stock single coils)	Marshall JCM800 2205 head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet	6
Higher Ground · clean	Clean · clean	Music Man StingRay Special (1989, single bridge humbucker, active 2-band EQ)	Gallien-Krueger 800RB	0
Hump de Bump · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1962 reissue, as used by John Frusciante on Stadium Arcadium)	Marshall Major (studio), possibly blended with Fender Silverface Twin Reverb (based on Frusciante's known studio rig for Stadium Arcadium era)	3.5
I Could Die for You · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (early 1960s, likely 1962 Sunburst)	Marshall Major 200W head	3.5
I Could Die for You · clean	Clean · clean	Fender Jazz Bass (Flea's main bass during 'By the Way' era)	Gallien-Krueger 800RB (studio standard for Flea in early 2000s)	0
It's Only Natural · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1962 or 1955 reissue, as used by John Frusciante in this era)	Marshall Major or Marshall Silver Jubilee (typical for Frusciante's studio work in 2021-2022; exact model for this track not confirmed in sources)	4
Knock Me Down · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely late 60s/early 70s, rosewood board, stock single coils)	Marshall Major (200W) head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet	4.5
Knock Me Down (Remastered 2003) · clean	Clean · clean	1981 Music Man Cutlass I	Gallien-Krueger 800RB	0
Me And My Friends · clean	Clean · clean	Music Man StingRay (early 1980s, likely pre-EB, maple neck, single humbucker, active electronics)	Gallien-Krueger 800RB	0
Mellowship Slinky in B Major · riff	Riff · distorted	1962 Fender Stratocaster	Marshall Major (200W head) into Marshall 4x12 cabinet	3.5
Minor Thing · riff	Riff · distorted	1962 Fender Stratocaster	Marshall Major (studio), possibly Fender Tone Master blended	5
My Friends · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (Black, 1978-79 era, Dave Navarro's main guitar for 'One Hot Minute')	Marshall JCM900 4100 Dual Reverb Head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 1995)	4.5
Not the One · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1961 Fiesta Red or 1962 Sunburst, as used on Unlimited Love)	Marshall Silver Jubilee stack	3.5
Otherside · solo	Solo · clean	1961 Gibson Les Paul SG Custom	Marshall JCM800	3.5
Otherside · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1962 reissue, rosewood board, stock single coils)	Marshall JCM800 2203 head (studio recording, 1999)	0
Otherside · clean	Clean · clean	Fender Jazz Bass (Flea Signature or 1961 Shell Pink Jazz Bass)	Gallien-Krueger 2001RB	0
Parallel Universe · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (1954 or 1962, exact year uncertain)	Marshall JTM-45 and Marshall Super Bass (stereo setup via Boss CE-1 split)	4.5
Parallel Universe · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Custom Shop Telecaster	Marshall Major (200W) and/or Marshall Silver Jubilee	6
Quixoticelixer (Bonus Track) · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1962 reissue, as used by John Frusciante on By The Way sessions)	Marshall Major or Marshall Silver Jubilee (Frusciante's main amps for By The Way era studio recordings)	4
Readymade · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1962 reissue, as used by John Frusciante on Stadium Arcadium)	Marshall Major (studio recording, as per Frusciante's known rig for Stadium Arcadium era)	6
Road Trippin' · riff	Riff · clean	Martin 0-15	Fender 'Silverface' Dual Showman	0
Scar Tissue · solo	Solo · clean	Mid-1960s Fender Telecaster Custom	Marshall Major (studio recording, late 1990s era)	2.5
Scar Tissue · clean	Clean · clean	Fender Jazz Bass (likely 1961, passive, roundwounds)	Ampeg SVT Classic (studio, 1999 Californication sessions)	0
She's Only 18 · riff	Riff · distorted	1962 Fender Stratocaster	Marshall Major (200W, early 1970s model)	5.5
Sick Love · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely Josh Klinghoffer's main Strat, bridge pickup)	Marshall-style amp (exact model unknown, likely vintage Marshall or Marshall-inspired head)	3.5
Sick Love · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Jaguar (likely 1965 reissue, as used by Josh Klinghoffer on The Getaway sessions)	Fender Twin Reverb (likely Silverface, as used in The Getaway era studio sessions)	0
Sick Love · clean	Clean · clean	Fender Jazz Bass	Gallien-Krueger 800RB (studio standard for Flea in this era, likely used on The Getaway sessions)	0
Skinny Sweaty Man · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1970s, Hillel Slovak's main guitar at the time)	Marshall JCM800 2203 head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 1987)	5.5
Slow Cheetah · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster (likely American or vintage reissue, used by John Frusciante on Stadium Arcadium)	Marshall Major (primary amp for studio rhythm tones on Stadium Arcadium, blended with Fender Silverface Twin Reverb and Marshall JCM800 in some tracks)	0
Snow (Hey Oh) · riff	Riff · distorted	1962 Fender Stratocaster	Marshall Silver Jubilee 25/50 (2550 head) into Marshall 4x12 cab	4
Snow (Hey Oh) · solo	Solo · clean	1962 Fender Stratocaster	Marshall Major 200W ('The Pig')	0
So Much I · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Telecaster (mid-60s, likely 1965 or 1967, sunburst, rosewood neck, single-coil pickups)	Marshall Major 200W head	6
Someone · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1962 reissue, as used by John Frusciante on Unlimited Love era)	Marshall Major (studio), possibly Silver Jubilee or Fender Twin Reverb (live); for studio, Marshall Major is most likely	4
Soul to Squeeze · riff	Riff · distorted	1962 Fender Stratocaster	Marshall Major (studio recording, 1991-1992)	4.5
Soul to Squeeze · clean	Clean · clean	Unknown	Likely Mesa/Boogie Buster Bass 200 or Gallien-Krueger 800RB (period 1989–1995 Flea amp rigs)	0
Strip My Mind · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1962 reissue, as used by Frusciante on Stadium Arcadium)	Marshall Major (studio, Stadium Arcadium era)	3.5
Strip My Mind · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster ST-62	Marshall Valvestate 8080	0
Strip My Mind · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster ST-62	Marshall Silver Jubilee (studio, likely 2555 or 2555X reissue); Marshall Valvestate 8080 (used in some covers/demos)	3.5
Suck My Kiss · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (early 1960s, likely '62 Sunburst or '61 Fiesta Red, possibly fretless mod for solo)	Marshall Major (bass head) and Marshall Super Bass (guitar head), split with Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble; some solos may be direct-in to Neve desk	6
The Heavy Wing · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1962 vintage, sunburst, rosewood board)	Marshall Major (200W) and Marshall JMP 2204 (100W) heads into Marshall 4x12 cabinets	7
The Longest Wave · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Jaguar (2016 studio recording, likely American or Japanese model)	Fender Twin Reverb (likely, based on Josh Klinghoffer's known studio rig for The Getaway era)	2.5
The Zephyr Song · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1962 reissue, rosewood fretboard)	Marshall Major 200W (studio recording, paired with Fender Showman Blackface on some tracks)	0
The Zephyr Song · riff	Riff · distorted	1962 Fender Stratocaster (original or reissue, rosewood fretboard)	Marshall Major 200-watt head (studio recording, By the Way era)	4
This Velvet Glove · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (early 60s, likely 1962 Sunburst)	Marshall Major (studio recording, 1999 era)	5
True Men Don't Kill Coyotes · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (1970s)	Randall RG80 80W 1x12 Guitar Combo	5
Under the Bridge · solo	Solo · distorted	1966 Fender Jaguar	Marshall Silver Jubilee 2555	3.5
Universally Speaking · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1962 reissue, as used by John Frusciante on 'By the Way' album)	Fender Silverface Twin Reverb (studio recording, as per Frusciante's main amp for 'By the Way' era)	0
Walkabout · riff	Riff · distorted	PRS Custom 24 (likely 1990s model, as used by Dave Navarro on One Hot Minute)	Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (studio, as used by Navarro on One Hot Minute era)	3.5
Wet Sand · solo	Solo · clean	1962 Fender Stratocaster	Marshall Major	4
White Braids & Pillow Chair · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely vintage 1962 reissue, as used by John Frusciante in Unlimited Love sessions)	Marshall Major (studio amp used by Frusciante on Unlimited Love, per interviews and era context)	3.5
White Braids & Pillow Chair · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1962 or 1961 reissue, as used by John Frusciante on Unlimited Love sessions)	Fender Silverface Twin Reverb (used in studio for Unlimited Love era clean tones)	2.5

Red Hot Chili Peppers songs on popular amps

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Frequently asked questions

What amp did Red Hot Chili Peppers use?

Across 59 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Unknown (4 songs), Marshall JCM800 (4 songs), Gallien-Krueger 800RB (3 songs), Marshall Major 200W head (2 songs).

What guitar did Red Hot Chili Peppers use?

Most often: 1962 Fender Stratocaster (18 songs), Fender American Vintage '62 Stratocaster (4 songs), Unknown (3 songs), 1960 Fender Custom Telecaster (3 songs).

How do I get Red Hot Chili Peppers's tone on my amp?

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