Guitar tone · rock, Psychedelic pop / synth‑pop / disco / psychedelic rock

Tame Impala guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 16 Tame Impala songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster into Unknown.

Guitars Tame Impala used

Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster3 songs
Fender Precision Bass DI (minimal processing)1 song
Höfner 1761 song
Fender Jaguar (likely Japanese reissue, as used by Kevin Parker in studio)1 song
Fender American Vintage '65 Jaguar1 song
Fender Stratocaster (likely Japanese or Mexican, as used by Kevin Parker on InnerSpeaker era recordings)1 song
1960s Japanese Teisco/Maton-style guitar (exact model unknown, likely Teisco or Maton Sapphire, as seen in early Tame Impala photos and live videos from the era)1 song
Fender Roadhouse Stratocaster (2000s Mexican, stock pickups)1 song

Amps Tame Impala used

Unknown2 songs
Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus2 songs
Vox AC30H2 combo2 songs
Vox AC30 (studio recording, typical for Tame Impala solos)1 song
Roland GR-55 Guitar Synthesizer (used as amp/synth processor for studio tone), possible DI with preamp1 song
Vox AC30H2 combo (studio recording, as confirmed for InnerSpeaker era)1 song
Fender '65 Twin Reverb Reissue1 song
Vox AC30 (most likely, based on Kevin Parker's studio amp choices for early Tame Impala recordings)1 song

29 Tame Impala tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Let It Happen · riff	Riff · distorted	Hagström Impala	Vox AC30 (likely standard, not hand-wired, as per studio photos/interviews)	5
Let It Happen · solo	Solo · distorted	Rickenbacker 335	Unknown model (likely solid-state or digital amp, as Kevin Parker often uses amp sims or DI in studio)	6
New Person, Same Old Mistakes · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender American Vintage '65 Jaguar	Roland GR-55 Guitar Synthesizer (used as amp/synth processor for studio tone), possible DI with preamp	5.5
Elephant · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson SG	Fender Deluxe Vintage Modified 40w tube amp	7.5
Mind Mischief · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely Japanese or Mexican, stock single coils, as used by Kevin Parker on Lonerism)	Fender solid-state combo amp (model not definitively confirmed, but small Fender amp referenced in covers and forums; likely a Champion or Frontman series)	6.5
The Boat I Row · clean	Clean · clean	Unknown	Unknown	0
Alter Ego · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Deluxe Roadhouse Stratocaster	VOX AC30H2 (handwired cream, studio recording)	5
Apocalypse Dreams · riff	Riff · clean	Höfner 176	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	3
Dracula · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely Japanese or Mexican, as per Kevin Parker's typical studio use for Lonerism-era recordings)	Vox AC30 (standard, not hand-wired, as seen in studio photos and cited for Lonerism era)	5
Dracula · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Japanese Jaguar (likely CIJ/MIJ, as used by Kevin Parker on early Tame Impala recordings)	Vox AC30 (studio recording, as used by Kevin Parker on 'Lonerism' era, which includes 'Dracula')	6
Elephant · riff	Riff · distorted	Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster	Fender '65 Twin Reverb Reissue	7
Expectation · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely Japanese or Mexican, as used by Kevin Parker on InnerSpeaker era recordings)	Vox AC30H2 combo (studio recording, as confirmed for InnerSpeaker era)	6
Half Full Glass of Wine · riff	Riff · distorted	1960s Japanese Teisco/Maton-style guitar (exact model unknown, likely Teisco or Maton Sapphire, as seen in early Tame Impala photos and live videos from the era)	Vox AC30 (most likely, based on Kevin Parker's studio amp choices for early Tame Impala recordings)	6.5
Half Full Glass of Wine · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Roadhouse Stratocaster with American rosewood neck	Vox AC30H2 combo	6
It Is Not Meant to Be · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Roadhouse Stratocaster (2000s Mexican, stock pickups)	Vox AC30 (likely 2000s reissue, studio recording)	3.5
It Is Not Meant to Be · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Roadhouse Stratocaster (likely 2000s Mexican model, as used by Kevin Parker on Innerspeaker)	Vox AC30 (studio, Innerspeaker era, as per interviews and studio photos)	4
Keep On Lying · solo	Solo · distorted	Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster	Seymour Duncan KTG-1 guitar preamp (direct-in, no traditional amp)	7
Let It Happen · clean	Clean · clean	Fender Precision Bass DI (minimal processing)	Unknown	0
Let It Happen · distorted	Distorted · distorted	Fender Precision Bass (Pawn Shop Mustang or PBass type, likely passive, short-scale possible)	Unknown studio amp (likely Ampeg SVT or similar vintage-style tube amp, but not confirmed)	7
Let It Happen · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster (likely Japanese or Mexican, as used by Kevin Parker on Currents era studio recordings)	Vox AC30 (studio recording, likely standard or hand-wired model, as used on Currents)	2.5
Loser · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Jaguar (likely Japanese reissue, as used by Kevin Parker in studio)	Vox AC30 (studio recording, typical for Tame Impala solos)	6
Loser · riff	Riff · clean	Rickenbacker 330	Roland JC-120	0
Loser · solo	Solo · clean	Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster	Vox AC30H2 combo	0
Loser · clean	Clean · clean	Gibson EB-3	Amp sim (Waves Maserati plugin, studio DI), no specific amp model confirmed	0
Loser · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (exact model not confirmed, but highly likely based on Kevin Parker's studio use and tone)	Unknown combo amp (likely Fender or Roland Jazz Chorus, but not confirmed for this recording)	5
Lucidity · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Road Worn '60s Stratocaster	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	5
Mind Mischief · clean	Clean · clean	Unknown bass guitar	Unknown bass amp	0
One More Hour · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Roadhouse Stratocaster (likely, based on Kevin Parker's studio use for The Slow Rush era, but not confirmed for this track)	Vox AC30 (likely, as Kevin Parker is known to use this in studio, but not confirmed for this song/section)	5.5
Solitude Is Bliss · riff	Riff · distorted	Rickenbacker 335 (likely 335 or 330, as used by Kevin Parker on Innerspeaker era recordings)	Vox AC30 (likely, based on Innerspeaker studio photos and interviews)	5.5

Tame Impala 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 Tame Impala use?

Across 16 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Unknown (2 songs), Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus (2 songs), Vox AC30H2 combo (2 songs), Vox AC30 (studio recording, typical for Tame Impala solos) (1 song).

What guitar did Tame Impala use?

Most often: Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster (3 songs), Fender Precision Bass DI (minimal processing) (1 song), Höfner 176 (1 song), Fender Jaguar (likely Japanese reissue, as used by Kevin Parker in studio) (1 song).

How do I get Tame Impala's tone on my amp?

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