Guitar tone · rock
Status Quo guitar tone: gear & amp settings
The gear and amp settings behind 5 Status Quo songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: Vox Phantom VI into Marshall JCM900 combo.
Guitars Status Quo used
- Vox Phantom VI1 song
- Fender Telecaster (Rick Parfitt's white 1965 model, maple neck, single coil pickups)1 song
- Fender Telecaster (likely 1957 or 1960s, as used by Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt in studio recordings of this era)1 song
- Fender Telecaster (likely 1960s model, as used by Rick Parfitt in studio for clean tones)1 song
- Fender Telecaster (likely 1960s, as used by Rick Parfitt on Status Quo's 1990s covers/recordings)1 song
- Ovation Viper Electric Guitar1 song
- Fender Telecaster (likely 1957 or 1960s, as used by Francis Rossi in studio recordings of this era)1 song
- 1957 Fender Telecaster (custom green, maple neck, single-coil pickups)1 song
Amps Status Quo used
- Marshall JCM900 combo2 songs
- Vox AC301 song
- Marshall Super Lead (likely 1959 model, 100W Plexi head, paired with Marshall 4x12 cabinet); possible blend with Vox AC30 (live only, not confirmed for studio)1 song
- Marshall JCM800 (most likely, as Status Quo are known for using Marshall amps for their classic rock crunch in the studio during the 1980s and 2000s)1 song
- Marshall JCM800 (likely 2203 model, studio recording, 1977 era)1 song
- Marshall JCM800 (studio recording, Status Quo's typical amp for driven tones in late 2000s)1 song
- Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp1 song
8 Status Quo tones
| Song | Gain |
|---|---|
| Hold You Back · riff | 5.5 |
| Hold You Back · solo | 5.5 |
| It's Christmas Time · riff | 6.5 |
| It's Christmas Time · solo | 6 |
| Pictures of Matchstick Men · riff | 4.5 |
| Rockin' All Over the World · riff | 5.5 |
| You Never Can Tell (It Was a Teenage Wedding) · riff | 3.5 |
| You Never Can Tell (It Was a Teenage Wedding) · riff | 3.5 |
Get Status Quo's tone on your gear
Pick any Status Quo song and ToneAdapt adapts the original rig to your own guitar, amp, pickups and pedals.
Frequently asked questions
What amp did Status Quo use?
Across 5 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Marshall JCM900 combo (2 songs), Vox AC30 (1 song), Marshall Super Lead (likely 1959 model, 100W Plexi head, paired with Marshall 4x12 cabinet); possible blend with Vox AC30 (live only, not confirmed for studio) (1 song), Marshall JCM800 (most likely, as Status Quo are known for using Marshall amps for their classic rock crunch in the studio during the 1980s and 2000s) (1 song).
What guitar did Status Quo use?
Most often: Vox Phantom VI (1 song), Fender Telecaster (Rick Parfitt's white 1965 model, maple neck, single coil pickups) (1 song), Fender Telecaster (likely 1957 or 1960s, as used by Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt in studio recordings of this era) (1 song), Fender Telecaster (likely 1960s model, as used by Rick Parfitt in studio for clean tones) (1 song).
How do I get Status Quo's tone on my amp?
Open any Status Quo song below to see the original gear and settings, then use ToneAdapt to adapt them to your own guitar, amp, pickups and pedals.