Guitar tone · rock
Sammy Hagar guitar tone: gear & amp settings
The gear and amp settings behind 4 Sammy Hagar songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: 1980s Gibson Explorer (likely red, as seen in music video and period photos) into Marshall JCM800 2203 head with 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 1984).
Guitars Sammy Hagar used
- 1980s Gibson Explorer (likely red, as seen in music video and period photos)1 song
- Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely, based on era and Hagar's known gear for 'Heavy Metal')1 song
- Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely 1970s/early 1980s, sunburst finish)1 song
- Gibson Explorer (early 1980s, red finish)1 song
Amps Sammy Hagar used
- Marshall JCM800 2203 head with 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 1984)1 song
- Marshall JMP 100-watt head (likely, based on era, genre, and typical Hagar studio setup; no evidence of Crate or Blackstar for this 1981 recording)1 song
- Crate amplifier (exact model unknown, likely solid-state or hybrid, as referenced for this era by Hagar)1 song
- Marshall JMP 2203 100-watt head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet1 song
4 Sammy Hagar tones
| Song | Gain |
|---|---|
| I'll Fall In Love Again · riff | 6 |
| Heavy Metal · riff | 7 |
| I Can't Drive 55 · riff | 7 |
| There's Only One Way to Rock · riff | 7 |
Get Sammy Hagar's tone on your gear
Pick any Sammy Hagar song and ToneAdapt adapts the original rig to your own guitar, amp, pickups and pedals.
Frequently asked questions
What amp did Sammy Hagar use?
Across 4 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Marshall JCM800 2203 head with 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 1984) (1 song), Marshall JMP 100-watt head (likely, based on era, genre, and typical Hagar studio setup; no evidence of Crate or Blackstar for this 1981 recording) (1 song), Crate amplifier (exact model unknown, likely solid-state or hybrid, as referenced for this era by Hagar) (1 song), Marshall JMP 2203 100-watt head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet (1 song).
What guitar did Sammy Hagar use?
Most often: 1980s Gibson Explorer (likely red, as seen in music video and period photos) (1 song), Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely, based on era and Hagar's known gear for 'Heavy Metal') (1 song), Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely 1970s/early 1980s, sunburst finish) (1 song), Gibson Explorer (early 1980s, red finish) (1 song).
How do I get Sammy Hagar's tone on my amp?
Open any Sammy Hagar song below to see the original gear and settings, then use ToneAdapt to adapt them to your own guitar, amp, pickups and pedals.