Guitar tone · country, rock

Sturgill Simpson guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 5 Sturgill Simpson songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: Fano PX6 into 1955 Fender Tweed Deluxe.

Guitars Sturgill Simpson used

Fano PX61 song
Fender Telecaster (likely 1950s/60s reissue or vintage, as per Simpson's known use for this era and genre)1 song
Fender Telecaster1 song
Fender Telecaster (likely 1960s reissue or vintage, used by Sturgill Simpson on Metamodern Sounds in Country Music)1 song
Sho-Bud Lloyd Green model pedal steel guitar1 song
1974 Fender Telecaster1 song
Unknown solidbody electric (likely Fender Stratocaster or Gibson Les Paul, model not confirmed for studio recording)1 song

Amps Sturgill Simpson used

1955 Fender Tweed Deluxe2 songs
Fender Vibrolux Reverb (likely, based on era, genre, and Simpson's known studio amp choices for High Top Mountain)1 song
Unknown1 song
Fender Silverface Champ (customized with larger speaker, used in studio for Metamodern Sounds in Country Music)1 song
Custom 'Charmer' (Fender Tweed Deluxe replica, heavily modified) + Silverface Fender Champ (hot-rodded with larger speaker)1 song
Unknown (no explicit source for amp model on studio recording; likely tube amp based on genre/era, possibly Marshall or Fender type)1 song

7 Sturgill Simpson tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Life Ain't Fair and the World Is Mean · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Telecaster (likely 1950s/60s reissue or vintage, as per Simpson's known use for this era and genre)	Fender Vibrolux Reverb (likely, based on era, genre, and Simpson's known studio amp choices for High Top Mountain)	3.5
Life Ain't Fair and the World Is Mean · solo	Solo · clean	Fender Telecaster	Unknown	4
Life of Sin · riff	Riff · distorted	Sho-Bud Lloyd Green model pedal steel guitar	1955 Fender Tweed Deluxe	5
Ronin · solo	Solo · distorted	Fano PX6	1955 Fender Tweed Deluxe	6.5
Ronin · riff	Riff · distorted	Unknown solidbody electric (likely Fender Stratocaster or Gibson Les Paul, model not confirmed for studio recording)	Unknown (no explicit source for amp model on studio recording; likely tube amp based on genre/era, possibly Marshall or Fender type)	6.5
Sea Stories · riff	Riff · distorted	1974 Fender Telecaster	Custom 'Charmer' (Fender Tweed Deluxe replica, heavily modified) + Silverface Fender Champ (hot-rodded with larger speaker)	3.5
You Can Have the Crown · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Telecaster (likely 1960s reissue or vintage, used by Sturgill Simpson on Metamodern Sounds in Country Music)	Fender Silverface Champ (customized with larger speaker, used in studio for Metamodern Sounds in Country Music)	4.5

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Frequently asked questions

What amp did Sturgill Simpson use?

Across 5 researched songs, the amps that come up most are 1955 Fender Tweed Deluxe (2 songs), Fender Vibrolux Reverb (likely, based on era, genre, and Simpson's known studio amp choices for High Top Mountain) (1 song), Unknown (1 song), Fender Silverface Champ (customized with larger speaker, used in studio for Metamodern Sounds in Country Music) (1 song).

What guitar did Sturgill Simpson use?

Most often: Fano PX6 (1 song), Fender Telecaster (likely 1950s/60s reissue or vintage, as per Simpson's known use for this era and genre) (1 song), Fender Telecaster (1 song), Fender Telecaster (likely 1960s reissue or vintage, used by Sturgill Simpson on Metamodern Sounds in Country Music) (1 song).

How do I get Sturgill Simpson's tone on my amp?

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