Guitar tone · rock, blues

Santana guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 25 Santana songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: PRS Santana II into Mesa/Boogie Mark I.

Guitars Santana used

PRS Santana II5 songs
Yamaha SG20004 songs
1968 Gibson SG Special3 songs
Gibson Les Paul Standard (early 1970s, likely 1968-1971 model)1 song
PRS Santana Signature (early 1990s model)1 song
Yamaha SG-2000 (with Gibson humbuckers)1 song
1961 Gibson SG Special1 song
1971 Gibson SG Special1 song

Amps Santana used

Mesa/Boogie Mark I13 songs
Mesa Boogie Mark I2 songs
Fender Twin Reverb (blackface, late 1960s)2 songs
Mesa/Boogie Mark I (early prototype, snakeskin-covered, 100-watt head, likely with Altec 417-8A speaker cabinet)1 song
Fender Twin Reverb (likely with Altec speaker mod)1 song
Mesa/Boogie Mark I Combo (prototype, early snakeskin model, as used in studio 1971)1 song
Mesa/Boogie Mark I (1970s original, snakeskin combo, Santana's primary studio amp for this era)1 song
Mesa/Boogie Mark I (prototype, early model, late 1960s/early 1970s)1 song

40 Santana tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Europa (Earth's Cry Heaven's Smile) · riff	Riff · distorted	Yamaha SG2000	Mesa/Boogie Mark I	6.5
Smooth (feat. Rob Thomas) · riff	Riff · distorted	PRS Santana Signature (late 1990s model, likely 1998-1999, mahogany body, rosewood fretboard)	Mesa/Boogie Mark I (head, likely with Tone Tubby 1x12 cab as per era)	6.5
Black Magic Woman · riff	Riff · distorted	1968 Gibson SG Special	Fender Twin Reverb (blackface, cranked)	5.5
Corazón Espinado (feat. Maná) · riff	Riff · distorted	PRS Santana II	Mesa/Boogie Mark I	6
Smooth (feat. Rob Thomas) · solo	Solo · distorted	PRS Santana Signature (late 90s model, likely Brazilian rosewood neck, 24-fret, tremolo bridge)	Dumble Overdrive Reverb (primary for studio), Mesa/Boogie Mark I (possible secondary, but Dumble confirmed in video)	6
Flor d'Luna (Moonflower) · solo	Solo · distorted	Yamaha SG2000	Mesa/Boogie Mark I	6
Samba Pa' Ti · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson SG Special (late 1960s, P-90 pickups, cherry finish)	Mesa/Boogie Mark I (prototype, early version, combo)	6
(Da Le) Yaleo · solo	Solo · distorted	PRS Santana II	Mesa/Boogie Mark I	7
Black Magic Woman · solo	Solo · clean	Gibson Les Paul Special (1959, likely refinished, P-90s) or Yamaha SG (early prototype, humbuckers)	Fender Twin Reverb (x2, studio recording, clean channel, 1969-1970 era)	0
Black Magic Woman · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson SG Special (1968, stock P-90s, cherry finish)	Fender Princeton Reverb (blackface, modded for higher gain, mic'd in studio)	6
Black Magic Woman · riff	Riff · clean	Gibson Les Paul Special (late 1950s, P-90 pickups)	Mesa/Boogie Mark I (early prototype, snakeskin covering)	0
Black Magic Woman / Gypsy Queen · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (late 1960s, likely 1968-69, with PAF humbuckers)	Mesa/Boogie Mark I (prototype, early model, late 1960s/early 1970s)	5.5
Black Magic Woman / Gypsy Queen · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Special (P-90s) or Gibson SG	Hot-rodded Fender Twin Reverb	6.5
Corazón Espinado (feat. Mana) · solo	Solo · distorted	PRS Santana Signature (late 1990s/early 2000s model, likely with mahogany body and maple top)	Mesa/Boogie Mark I (classic Santana studio amp, used on Supernatural era)	6.5
Corazón Espinado (feat. Maná) · solo	Solo · distorted	PRS Santana II	Mesa/Boogie Mark I	6.5
Do You Remember Me · riff	Riff · distorted	PRS Santana Signature (early 2000s model, likely Brazilian rosewood neck, mahogany body, 24-fret)	Mesa/Boogie Mark I (combo, likely with EV speaker, classic Santana studio amp)	6
Europa (Earth's Cry Heaven's Smile) · riff	Riff · clean	Yamaha SG-2000 (with Gibson humbuckers)	Mesa/Boogie Mark I	0
Europa (Earth's Cry Heaven's Smile) · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson L6-S	Mesa/Boogie Mark I	6.5
Evil Ways · riff	Riff · distorted	1968 Gibson SG Special	Fender Twin Reverb (blackface, late 1960s)	4.5
Flor d'Luna (Moonflower) · riff	Riff · distorted	Yamaha SG2000 Double Cutaway Neck-Thru Electric Guitar	Mesa/Boogie Mark I	6
I Love You Much Too Much · riff	Riff · distorted	1971 Gibson SG Special	Mesa/Boogie Mark I	6
I Love You Much Too Much · solo	Solo · distorted	Yamaha SG2000	Mesa/Boogie Mark I (early snakeskin head, modded for high gain)	7.5
Into the Night (feat. Chad Kroeger) · riff	Riff · distorted	PRS Santana II	Mesa/Boogie Mark I	6
Jungle Strut · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson SG Special (early 1970s, likely 1968-1971, as used by Santana on Santana III)	Mesa/Boogie Mark I Combo (prototype, early snakeskin model, as used in studio 1971)	6.5
Life Is a Lady / Holiday · riff	Riff · distorted	Yamaha SG2000	Mesa/Boogie Mark I	5
Luz Amor y Vida · solo	Solo · distorted	PRS Santana Signature (early 1990s model)	Mesa Boogie Mark I	6.5
Maria Maria (feat. The Product G&B) [Radio Mix] · solo	Solo · distorted	PRS Santana Signature (late 90s/early 2000s, mahogany body, rosewood fretboard, Santana humbuckers)	Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ Head	6.5
Maria Maria (feat. The Product G&B) [Radio Mix] · riff	Riff · distorted	PRS Santana Signature (likely 1990s/early 2000s model)	Mesa/Boogie Mark I	4.5
Maria Maria (feat. The Product G&B) [sped up] · solo	Solo · distorted	PRS Santana Signature (late 90s model, likely 1998-1999, mahogany body, rosewood fretboard)	Mesa/Boogie Mark I (combo or head, classic Santana studio amp for Supernatural era)	5.5
Oye Como Va · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson SG Special (early 1970s, likely 1968-1970, stock P-90s)	Mesa/Boogie Mark I (prototype, early production, snakeskin-covered, 100-watt head)	6
Oye Como Va · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson SG Special (early 1970s, likely 1968-1970, stock P-90s, cherry red finish)	Mesa/Boogie Mark I (prototype, early production, combo, no master volume, 1x12 speaker)	6.5
Samba Pa Ti · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson SG Special (late 1960s, red, with P90 pickups)	Fender Twin Reverb (blackface, late 1960s)	6
Samba Pa Ti · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson SG Special (early 1970s, likely 1968-1970 model)	Mesa/Boogie Mark I	5
Song of the Wind · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (early 1970s, likely 1968-1971 model)	Mesa/Boogie Mark I (early prototype, snakeskin-covered, 100-watt head, likely with Altec 417-8A speaker cabinet)	6.5
Soul Sacrifice · solo	Solo · distorted	1968 Gibson SG Special	1967 Fender Twin Reverb (Blackface)	6
Soul Sacrifice (Live at The Woodstock Music & Art Fair, August 16, 1969) · riff	Riff · distorted	1961 Gibson SG Special	Fender Twin Reverb (likely with Altec speaker mod)	7
Sunshine of Your Love (feat. Rob Thomas) · solo	Solo · distorted	PRS Santana Signature (likely 2000s-2010s model, double humbucker, used by Santana on studio recordings in this era)	Mesa/Boogie Mark I (1970s original, snakeskin combo, Santana's primary studio amp for this era)	7
Sunshine of Your Love (feat. Rob Thomas) · riff	Riff · distorted	PRS Santana Signature (likely 2000s model, double humbucker, used by Santana in this era for studio recordings)	Mesa/Boogie Mark I (1970s original or reissue, Santana's main studio amp for this era and style)	6.5
The Game of Love (feat. Michelle Branch) [Main/Radio Mix] · riff	Riff · clean	PRS Santana II	Mesa Boogie Mark I	0
The Game of Love (feat. Michelle Branch) [Main/Radio Mix] · solo	Solo · distorted	PRS Santana II (early 2000s, likely custom for Carlos Santana)	Mesa/Boogie Mark I (studio recording, as per Santana's known studio rig for this era)	6

Santana 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 Santana use?

Across 25 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Mesa/Boogie Mark I (13 songs), Mesa Boogie Mark I (2 songs), Fender Twin Reverb (blackface, late 1960s) (2 songs), Mesa/Boogie Mark I (early prototype, snakeskin-covered, 100-watt head, likely with Altec 417-8A speaker cabinet) (1 song).

What guitar did Santana use?

Most often: PRS Santana II (5 songs), Yamaha SG2000 (4 songs), 1968 Gibson SG Special (3 songs), Gibson Les Paul Standard (early 1970s, likely 1968-1971 model) (1 song).

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

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