Guitar tone · rock, Grunge / Alternative Rock / Hard Rock

Stone Temple Pilots guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 29 Stone Temple Pilots songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: 1978 Gibson Les Paul Standard into Marshall JCM800.

Guitars Stone Temple Pilots used

1978 Gibson Les Paul Standard7 songs
Gibson Les Paul Standard6 songs
Gibson Les Paul Special2 songs
PRS McCarty II (semi-hollow, gold finish, with piezo system)2 songs
1978 Gibson Les Paul Standard (sunburst)2 songs
1978 Gibson Les Paul Standard (Black, rewired controls, P-90 pickups)1 song
Gibson Les Paul Standard (early 1990s, likely studio instrument)1 song
Gibson Les Paul Standard (early 1970s, sunburst, likely with stock humbuckers)1 song

Amps Stone Temple Pilots used

Marshall JCM8002 songs
Demeter TGP-3 preamp → VHT 2150 power amp → Marshall 1960A 4x12 Cabinet (studio recording, 1992)1 song
'50s Supro combo amp with 10" speaker (studio recording, volume and tone maxed)1 song
Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (studio recording, early 1990s revision)1 song
Demeter TGP-3 preamp into VHT Classic power amp, Vox AC30 blended (studio recording, 1992)1 song
Likely Marshall JMP or Marshall Plexi (Dean DeLeo's main studio amps for 'Purple' era, no explicit source for this song/section)1 song
Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier1 song
Vox AC30 (set very clean and chimey)1 song

47 Stone Temple Pilots tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Plush · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard	Vox AC30 (wet/dry/wet rig, dry center) + Demeter TGP-3 preamp into VHT power amp (stereo) + Marshall 1960A 4x12 cabinets	6.5
Interstate Love Song · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely 1977 model, as used by Dean DeLeo on 'Purple')	VHT Classic (likely Pittbull) head with Demeter TGP-3 preamp, stereo into two 4x12 cabs with Celestion speakers, plus Vox AC30 (set clean) blended in	5
Creep · riff	Riff · distorted	PRS McCarty II (semi-hollow, gold finish, with piezo system)	Marshall 1960A 4x12 Cabinet (paired with Marshall head, likely JCM800 or JMP, but exact head not confirmed for this song)	5
Creep · riff	Riff · clean	PRS McCarty II (semi-hollow, gold finish, with piezo system)	Marshall 1960A 4x12 Cabinet (amp head not specified, likely Marshall head as per era/rig)	3
Dead & Bloated · riff	Riff · distorted	1978 Gibson Les Paul Standard (sunburst)	Demeter TGP-3 preamp into VHT Classic Stereo power amp, stereo into Marshall 1960A and 1960B 4x12 cabinets	7
Wicked Garden · riff	Riff · distorted	1978 Gibson Les Paul Standard (sunburst)	VHT Classic power amp with Demeter TGP-3 preamp (studio rig, stereo into two 4x12 cabs)	7
Army Ants · riff	Riff · distorted	1989 PRS Custom 24	1965 Fender Bassman	6.5
Art School Girl · clean	Clean · clean	Schecter Model‑T prototype (Jazz‑type) and G&L L2000 (used on Core era); for Tiny Music… era likely Schecter Model‑T bi‑amped rig	Bi‑amped: '67 Marshall Plexi guitar head into '69 Marshall keyboard 8×10 cab, and '59 Fender Bassman with custom 1×15 cab	0
Art School Girl · distorted	Distorted · distorted	Schecter Model‑T (P‑style) or similar custom P/J hybrid (studio rig used during Tiny Music… era)	Ampeg VT‑22 into 1970 Marshall 8×10 cab; also Ampeg B‑15N and Fender Bassman (studio blend)	6.5
Big Bang Baby · riff	Riff · distorted	1957 Gibson Les Paul TV Special	1966 Marshall 18-watt 2x10 combo	6
Big Empty (2019 Remaster) · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Telecaster (Cream, with Bigsby vibrato)	Vox AC30 (set very clean and chimey)	0
Coma · riff	Riff · distorted	PRS Custom 24 (early 90s, likely 1991-1992, as used by Dean DeLeo on 'Core')	VHT Classic (likely Pittbull 50 or Classic), stereo rig, with Demeter tri-modal preamp; Vox AC30 (set clean) blended in studio	7
Crackerman · riff	Riff · distorted	1978 Gibson Les Paul Standard	Demeter TGP-3 tube preamp into VHT Classic Stereo power amp	7
Creep · solo	Solo · distorted	1978 Gibson Les Paul Standard (sunburst finish)	VHT Classic power amp with Demeter TGP-3 preamp, stereo into two 4x12 cabinets (Celestion 25-watt speakers)	5.5
Dead & Bloated · riff	Riff · clean	1978 Gibson Les Paul Standard	Demeter TGP-3 preamp into VHT Classic Stereo power amp (studio rig, Core album era)	4
Down · riff	Riff · distorted	1978 Gibson Les Paul Standard	VHT 2150 power amp with Demeter TGP-3 preamp into Marshall 4x12 cabs; Vox AC30 blended for clarity	7.5
Interstate Love Song · clean	Clean · clean	Schecter Model-T (PJ configuration, passive, 1994 production)	Eden World Tour WT-800 (studio, 1994)	0
Interstate Love Song · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Telecaster (likely early 90s, single coil pickups)	Supro Super 1606 (small vintage combo, 8" speaker)	0
Interstate Love Song · distorted	Distorted · distorted	Gibson Thunderbird (used on majority of the record)	Ampeg VT22 combo (power section into Marshall 8x10 cab)	6.5
Interstate Love Song (2019 Remaster) · solo	Solo · distorted	1978 Gibson Les Paul Standard (Black, rewired controls, P-90 pickups)	'50s Supro combo amp with 10" speaker (studio recording, volume and tone maxed)	7.5
Interstate Love Song (2019 Remaster) · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard	Fender Twin Reverb	5
Interstate Love Song (Acoustic Version) · riff	Riff · clean	Martin D-15M (or similar mahogany dreadnought acoustic)	None (mic'd acoustic guitar, no amp used for acoustic version studio recording)	1
Interstate Love Song (Early Version) · solo	Solo · distorted	1978 Gibson Les Paul Standard (Black, rewired controls, P-90s likely swapped for humbuckers for solo)	'50s Supro amp with 10" speaker (studio, both volume and tone at 10)	7
Interstate Love Song (Early Version) · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Telecaster (exact model unknown, likely 1980s/early 1990s standard or reissue, as per studio use on 'Interstate Love Song')	Supro combo amp (exact model unknown, but confirmed for studio recording of this song's riff section)	5
Lady Picture Show · riff	Riff · distorted	1978 Gibson Les Paul Standard	Vox AC30 (studio), possibly Demeter TGP-3 preamp into VHT power amp (studio rig)	5
Meatplow · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard	Marshall JCM800 head into Marshall 1960A 4x12 cabinet	6
Only Dying (Demo) · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (early 1990s, likely studio instrument)	Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (studio recording, early 1990s revision)	7
Only Dying (Demo) · solo	Solo · clean	Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely late '80s, possibly '78 Sunburst as used on Core demos)	VHT 2100 Classic power amp + Demeter TGP-3 preamp (stereo) into Marshall 4x12 cabinets; Vox AC30 (clean, chimey, blended in studio)	0
Only Dying (Demo) · riff	Riff · distorted	Schecter S Series (early 80s, likely S-1 or S-2, as used by Dean DeLeo in Mighty Joe Young era)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (likely, based on era, genre, and Dean DeLeo's known studio use for early STP demos)	6
Only Dying (Demo) · riff	Riff · clean	Gibson Les Paul Special	Vox AC30	0
Piece of Pie · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (early 1970s, sunburst, likely with stock humbuckers)	Demeter TGP-3 preamp into VHT Classic power amp, Vox AC30 blended (studio recording, 1992)	7
Plush · solo	Solo · clean	Gibson Les Paul Standard	Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier	0
Plush · clean	Clean · clean	Schecter Model‑T (Jazz‑type prototype/Schecter Model‑T signature based on Fender Telecaster Bass)	Ampeg SVT (studio recording of Core album)	0
Plush · distorted	Distorted · distorted	1965 Fender Precision Bass	Ampeg SVT (early 1970s, likely blue line or black line)	6
Plush · riff	Riff · clean	Schecter PT (early 90s, likely with Seymour Duncan pickups)	Fender Twin Reverb (Blackface, studio recording)	0
Plush · solo	Solo · distorted	1978 Gibson Les Paul Standard	VHT Classic (with Demeter TGP-3 preamp) into stereo 4x12 cabs	6
Sex Type Thing · riff	Riff · distorted	1978 Gibson Les Paul Standard	Demeter TGP-3 preamp → VHT 2150 power amp → Marshall 1960A 4x12 Cabinet (studio recording, 1992)	7
Silvergun Superman (2019 Remaster) · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Telecaster with Bigsby (likely 1978 model, as used by Dean DeLeo on 'Purple' sessions)	Likely Marshall JMP or Marshall Plexi (Dean DeLeo's main studio amps for 'Purple' era, no explicit source for this song/section)	7
Silvergun Superman (2019 Remaster) · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Special	Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp	7
Sin · riff	Riff · clean	1978 Gibson Les Paul Standard	Demeter TGP-3 preamp into VHT Classic Stereo power amp	0
Still Remains (2019 Remaster) · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard	Marshall JCM800	6.5
Trippin' On a Hole In a Paper Heart · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster American Standard (red, single coil pickups)	Supro Super 1606 (vintage combo, 8" or 10" speaker, studio recording)	7
Trippin' On A Hole In A Paper Heart (Early Version) [2021 Remaster] · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Special (likely 1970s, P-90s) or Fender Stratocaster (debated, but Les Paul Special most likely for studio recording)	Marshall JMP or Marshall Super Lead (vintage 1970s, likely JMP 50 or 100 watt head)	7
Unglued · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (early 90s, likely black finish)	Demeter TGP-3 preamp into VHT Classic stereo tube power amp (driven), Vox AC30 (clean center, wet/dry/wet rig)	6.5
Unglued (2019 Remaster) · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard	Marshall JCM800	7
Vasoline · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely late 70s or early 80s, as used by Dean DeLeo in the studio for 'Purple')	Demeter TGP-3 preamp into VHT 2150 power amp, stereo, with Vox AC30 blended (studio recording, 1994)	7
Vasoline (2019 Remaster) · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Telecaster with Bigsby (likely 1960s, single coil or P-90 type pickups)	Supro Super 1606 (small combo, 8" speaker) and/or Vox AC10 (studio recording, not live rig)	6.5

Stone Temple Pilots 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 Stone Temple Pilots use?

Across 29 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Marshall JCM800 (2 songs), Demeter TGP-3 preamp → VHT 2150 power amp → Marshall 1960A 4x12 Cabinet (studio recording, 1992) (1 song), '50s Supro combo amp with 10" speaker (studio recording, volume and tone maxed) (1 song), Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (studio recording, early 1990s revision) (1 song).

What guitar did Stone Temple Pilots use?

Most often: 1978 Gibson Les Paul Standard (7 songs), Gibson Les Paul Standard (6 songs), Gibson Les Paul Special (2 songs), PRS McCarty II (semi-hollow, gold finish, with piezo system) (2 songs).

How do I get Stone Temple Pilots's tone on my amp?

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