Guitar tone · funk, other

Stevie Wonder guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 7 Stevie Wonder songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: Fender Precision Bass into Fender Twin Reverb (likely, based on era/session standards and genre; no direct citation found).

Guitars Stevie Wonder used

Fender Precision Bass2 songs
Fender Stratocaster (likely 1970s, Michael Sembello's main guitar at the time)1 song
Fender Telecaster (likely, based on Motown session standards and era; no direct source for exact model on this track)1 song
Music Man StingRay (likely 1970s/early 80s, 4-string)1 song
Fender Precision Bass (likely late 1970s model, played by Nathan Watts)1 song
Moog Minimoog Model D (synth bass, not electric bass guitar)1 song
Hohner Clavinet C (keyboard, not guitar) for main riff; no guitar used in original studio riff section1 song
Fender Precision Bass (likely 1970s, played by Nathan Watts)1 song

Amps Stevie Wonder used

Fender Twin Reverb (likely, based on era/session standards and genre; no direct citation found)1 song
Fender Twin Reverb (likely, based on Motown studio gear and era; no direct source for exact amp on this track)1 song
Ampeg SVT Classic + 8x10 cabinet1 song
Ampeg SVT (classic tube head, likely with matching 8x10 cab)1 song
Ampeg B-15 (likely), or direct to console1 song
Direct Input (DI), possibly through Orange amp for some keys, but synth bass is DI1 song
Direct-in or studio preamp for Clavinet; no guitar amp used on original riff1 song
Ampeg SVT (1970s tube head, likely with matching 8x10 cab)1 song

12 Stevie Wonder tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Superstition · riff	Riff · clean	Hohner Clavinet C (keyboard, not guitar) for main riff; no guitar used in original studio riff section	Direct-in or studio preamp for Clavinet; no guitar amp used on original riff	1.5
Superstition · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul (likely Custom or Standard, humbuckers, used by Jeff Beck on Stevie Wonder's 'Superstition' studio recording riff section)	Fender black-panel amp with JBL speakers (likely Fender Twin Reverb or Vibroverb, as described for this era/session)	3.5
Contusion · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1970s, Michael Sembello's main guitar at the time)	Fender Twin Reverb (likely, based on era/session standards and genre; no direct citation found)	4.5
Do I Do (Single Version) · distorted	Distorted · distorted	Music Man StingRay (likely 1970s/early 80s, 4-string)	Ampeg SVT Classic + 8x10 cabinet	4.5
Do I Do (Single Version) · clean	Clean · clean	Fender Precision Bass (likely late 1970s model, played by Nathan Watts)	Ampeg SVT (classic tube head, likely with matching 8x10 cab)	0
I Wish · clean	Clean · clean	Fender Precision Bass	Ampeg B-15 (likely), or direct to console	0
Isn't She Lovely · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Telecaster (likely, based on Motown session standards and era; no direct source for exact model on this track)	Fender Twin Reverb (likely, based on Motown studio gear and era; no direct source for exact amp on this track)	0
Sir Duke · clean	Clean · clean	Fender Precision Bass (likely 1970s, played by Nathan Watts)	Ampeg SVT (1970s tube head, likely with matching 8x10 cab)	0
Sir Duke · distorted	Distorted · distorted	Fender Precision Bass	Alembic F-2B preamp (direct), possibly with amp-mic blend	5.5
Superstition · distorted	Distorted · distorted	Moog Minimoog Model D (synth bass, not electric bass guitar)	Direct Input (DI), possibly through Orange amp for some keys, but synth bass is DI	5
Superstition · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Les Paul (exact model unknown, likely early 1970s Standard or Custom)	Fender black-panel Vibroverb with JBL speakers	4
Visions · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster (exact model unknown, likely early 1970s or late 1960s based on era and Stevie Wonder's session players)	Fender Twin Reverb (likely Silverface, early 1970s studio model)	0

Stevie Wonder songs on popular amps

Exact settings ToneAdapt players use for these songs on their own amps.

Get Stevie Wonder's tone on your gear

Pick any Stevie Wonder song and ToneAdapt adapts the original rig to your own guitar, amp, pickups and pedals.

Match a tone on the web iPhone app Android app

Frequently asked questions

What amp did Stevie Wonder use?

Across 7 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Fender Twin Reverb (likely, based on era/session standards and genre; no direct citation found) (1 song), Fender Twin Reverb (likely, based on Motown studio gear and era; no direct source for exact amp on this track) (1 song), Ampeg SVT Classic + 8x10 cabinet (1 song), Ampeg SVT (classic tube head, likely with matching 8x10 cab) (1 song).

What guitar did Stevie Wonder use?

Most often: Fender Precision Bass (2 songs), Fender Stratocaster (likely 1970s, Michael Sembello's main guitar at the time) (1 song), Fender Telecaster (likely, based on Motown session standards and era; no direct source for exact model on this track) (1 song), Music Man StingRay (likely 1970s/early 80s, 4-string) (1 song).

How do I get Stevie Wonder's tone on my amp?

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