Guitar tone · rock, metal

Scorpions guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 24 Scorpions songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: Gibson Flying V into Marshall JCM800 2205 50-Watt Amplifier Head.

Guitars Scorpions used

Gibson Flying V2 songs
Gibson Flying V (likely 1970s/1980s reissue, as used by Rudolf Schenker on studio recordings)1 song
Gibson Thunderbird II (non-reverse, single pickup)1 song
Gibson Explorer (likely 1980s model, as used by Rudolf Schenker on studio recordings)1 song
Fender Stratocaster (likely late 1980s, Matthias Jabs or Rudolf Schenker's studio guitar)1 song
Gibson Flying V (likely 1970s, as used by Rudolf Schenker on Blackout album)1 song
Fender Stratocaster (Matthias Jabs, likely 1980s model, used for solos on 'Still Loving You')1 song
Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely 1970s/early 1980s, used by Matthias Jabs on studio recording)1 song

Amps Scorpions used

Marshall JCM800 2205 50-Watt Amplifier Head4 songs
Marshall JCM8002 songs
Marshall JCM800 (Master Volume variant)2 songs
Marshall JCM800 2203 head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet2 songs
Marshall JCM800 2203 head with 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 1984)2 songs
Marshall JCM800 2203 head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 1980s equipment used for re-recorded version per interview)1 song
Unknown (touring bassist uses EBS TD660 amp, but studio amp for 1983 recording not documented)1 song
Marshall JCM800 (studio recording, 1989-1990 era)1 song

37 Scorpions tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Rock You Like a Hurricane · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Flying V (likely 1970s/early 1980s model, as used by Rudolf Schenker on the original recording)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (100W head, classic 1980s Scorpions amp, confirmed by multiple sources for this era and song)	7.5
Still Loving You · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (Matthias Jabs, likely 1970s-early 80s, used for solos on 'Love at First Sting')	Marshall JCM800 2205 50-Watt Amplifier Head	7.5
Still Loving You · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Flying V (likely 1970s/early 1980s model, Rudolf Schenker's main guitar for this era and album)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (vintage 1980s, as used on 'Love at First Sting' album sessions)	6.5
Rock You Like a Hurricane · distorted	Distorted · distorted	Gibson Thunderbird II (non-reverse, single pickup)	Unknown (touring bassist uses EBS TD660 amp, but studio amp for 1983 recording not documented)	6.5
The Sails of Charon (2015 Remaster) · solo	Solo · distorted	1975 Fender Stratocaster with maple fingerboard	1972 Marshall model 1959T Super Lead Tremolo 100-watt head into Marshall 1960B 4x12 cabinet (likely Celestion G12M 25W 55Hz speakers)	6.5
Wind of Change · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Rudolf Schenker Flying V	Marshall JCM800 2205 50-Watt Amplifier Head	7
Lust or Love · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1970s, Matthias Jabs or Rudolf Schenker, humbucker bridge mod possible but not confirmed for this track)	Marshall JMP MKII Super Lead 100W (studio, 1983-1984 era)	6.5
No One Like You · riff	Riff · distorted	1978 Gibson Explorer	Marshall JCM800 2203 head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet (Celestion speakers, likely G12-65 or G12T-75)	7
No One Like You · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (Matthias Jabs' modified 1970s Stratocaster, likely with a humbucker in the bridge position)	Marshall JMP MKII Super Lead 100W	8
Rock You Like a Hurricane · clean	Clean · clean	Unknown	Unknown	0
Still Loving You · solo	Solo · clean	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1970s-early 1980s, used by Matthias Jabs for clean parts in studio)	Marshall JCM800 (studio recording, 1983-1984 era, Love at First Sting sessions)	0
Still Loving You (Re-Recorded) · riff	Riff · clean	Gibson Flying V (likely 1970s/1980s reissue, as used by Rudolf Schenker on studio recordings)	Marshall JCM800 2203 head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 1980s equipment used for re-recorded version per interview)	0
Always Somewhere · riff	Riff · clean	Gibson Les Paul Standard	Marshall JCM800	4.5
Always Somewhere · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Flying V (likely 1970s model, as used by Rudolf Schenker on 'Lovedrive')	Marshall JCM800 (likely 2203 head, as used by Scorpions on 'Lovedrive' era)	4.5
Bad Boys Running Wild · riff	Riff · distorted	Dommenget Strat-style (Matthias Jabs custom, likely used for studio recording on Love at First Sting)	Marshall JCM800 2203 head with 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 1984)	7
Big City Nights · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Flying V (likely 1970s/1980s, as used by Matthias Jabs on studio recordings)	Marshall JCM800 2203 head with 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 1984)	7.5
Blackout · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Explorer (Matthias Jabs, studio recording, 1982)	Marshall JCM800 2203 head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet	7.5
Holiday · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Flying V	Marshall amplifier (exact model not confirmed, likely JMP or JCM800 era head)	4
I Can't Explain · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1970s-early 1980s, as used by Matthias Jabs in studio sessions of this era)	Marshall JCM800 2203 head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, early 1980s)	6.5
Lady Starlight · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely 1970s/early 1980s, as used by Matthias Jabs and Rudolf Schenker in this era)	Marshall JMP 2203 (likely, based on Scorpions' studio use in early 1980s)	5
Life's Like a River · solo	Solo · distorted	1970s Fender Stratocaster (Uli Jon Roth's main guitar on In Trance era)	Marshall 100W Super Lead (Plexi, late 1960s/early 1970s, likely JMP or Super Lead 1959)	7
Living for Tomorrow (Live) · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Explorer 90 (Matthias Jabs signature, used live in early 1990s)	Marshall JCM800 (Master Volume variant, 100W head, live rig)	7.5
Passion Rules the Game · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Explorer 90	Marshall JCM800 (Master Volume variant)	7.5
Rhythm of Love · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely 1980s, used by Rudolf Schenker for rhythm on 'Rhythm of Love')	Marshall JCM800 (studio recording, 1987-88 era, as used by Scorpions on 'Savage Amusement')	6
Rock You Like a Hurricane · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (Matthias Jabs, likely 1970s/early 80s, with single humbucker in bridge position)	Marshall JCM800 2203 100W Head (studio recording, 1983-1984)	7.5
Send Me an Angel · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster (likely late 1980s, Matthias Jabs or Rudolf Schenker's studio guitar)	Marshall JCM800 (studio recording, 1989-1990 era)	0
Still Loving You · riff	Riff · clean	Gibson Flying V (Rudolf Schenker, 1984 era, studio recording)	Marshall JCM800 2203 head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet	0
Still Loving You (Re-Recorded) · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Flying V	Marshall JCM800	7
Still Loving You (Re-Recorded) · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (Matthias Jabs, likely 1980s model, used for solos on 'Still Loving You')	Marshall JCM800 2205 50-Watt Amplifier Head	7.5
Tease Me Please Me · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1970s or 1980s, as used by Matthias Jabs in studio)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (studio recording, Crazy World era)	7.5
The Zoo · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely 1970s/early 1980s, used by Matthias Jabs on studio recording)	Marshall JMP 2203 (100W, late 1970s/early 1980s, classic Scorpions studio amp)	6.5
Virgin Killer · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (1970s, likely late-60s/early-70s model, maple neck, stock single coils)	Marshall Plexi (Super Lead 1959, 100W, likely with 4x12 cabinet, late 60s/early 70s model)	7
When the Smoke Is Going Down · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Flying V (likely 1970s, as used by Rudolf Schenker on Blackout album)	Marshall JCM800 (studio recording, early 1980s)	6
Wind of Change · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster (likely late 1980s/early 1990s, used by Rudolf Schenker for clean parts in studio)	Marshall JCM800 (vintage 1980s head, used in studio for 'Crazy World' album)	0
Wind of Change · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely late 1970s or early 1980s, as used by Matthias Jabs on studio recording)	Marshall JCM800 2205 50-Watt Amplifier Head	4.5
Wind Of Change · solo	Solo · clean	Fender Stratocaster	Vox AC30	5
Wind of Change (Re-Recorded) · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Explorer (likely 1980s model, as used by Rudolf Schenker on studio recordings)	Marshall JCM800 (Master Volume variant)	7.5

Scorpions 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 Scorpions use?

Across 24 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Marshall JCM800 2205 50-Watt Amplifier Head (4 songs), Marshall JCM800 (2 songs), Marshall JCM800 (Master Volume variant) (2 songs), Marshall JCM800 2203 head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet (2 songs).

What guitar did Scorpions use?

Most often: Gibson Flying V (2 songs), Gibson Flying V (likely 1970s/1980s reissue, as used by Rudolf Schenker on studio recordings) (1 song), Gibson Thunderbird II (non-reverse, single pickup) (1 song), Gibson Explorer (likely 1980s model, as used by Rudolf Schenker on studio recordings) (1 song).

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

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