Guitar tone · rock, blues

The Allman Brothers Band guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 23 The Allman Brothers Band songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: 1957 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop into Marshall 1959SLP Plexi Super Lead Reissue.

Guitars The Allman Brothers Band used

1957 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop3 songs
1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard Cherry Sunburst2 songs
1961 Gibson Les Paul SG1 song
Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely 1957-1959, used by Dickey Betts)1 song
Gibson Les Paul Standard (early 1970s, likely 1957-1959 model or similar reissue)1 song
Gibson Les Paul Standard (1957 Goldtop, Duane Allman) or 1958/59 Les Paul Standard (Dickey Betts)1 song
Gibson Les Paul Standard (Duane Allman, slide solo)1 song
1958 Gibson Les Paul Standard (tobacco sunburst, Duane Allman's main guitar at Fillmore East)1 song

Amps The Allman Brothers Band used

Marshall 1959SLP Plexi Super Lead Reissue2 songs
Marshall 50-watt Plexi (model 1987, likely with 4x12 cabinet)2 songs
1968 Marshall JMP 50-watt head with 4x12 cabinet1 song
Marshall 100-watt Super Lead head (Plexi, late 1960s/early 1970s)1 song
Marshall 50-watt Plexi (model 1987 or similar, early 1970s studio recording)1 song
Marshall JMP 50-watt Plexi (model 1987, 1969 era, likely 4x12 cab, Duane Allman); Marshall JMP 50-watt or 100-watt Plexi (Dickey Betts); possible Fender Twin Reverb for some parts1 song
Fender Twin Reverb (blackface, 1960s/early 1970s studio model)1 song
Marshall Plexi 50-watt head into two Marshall 4x12 cabinets (Celestion speakers likely, possibly JBL-D120 or Cerwin-Vega as per era sources)1 song

34 The Allman Brothers Band tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Blue Sky · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (1957 Goldtop, converted to humbuckers, Dickey Betts' guitar)	Marshall JMP 50-watt head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet (circa 1971, studio recording)	4.5
Jessica · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (1957 Goldtop or early 1970s Standard, humbuckers)	Marshall Plexi 1959SLP head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet with JBL D120F speakers	4
You Don't Love Me (Live at the Fillmore East, 1971) · riff	Riff · distorted	1957 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop (converted to humbuckers, aka 'Hot 'Lanta')	Marshall 50-watt Plexi (model 1987, non-master volume, likely with open-back 4x12 cab)	6
Blue Sky · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (Duane Allman) or Gibson Les Paul Goldtop (Dickey Betts)	Fender Brownface Super Amp	4.5
Black Hearted Woman · riff	Riff · distorted	1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard Cherry Sunburst	Marshall 1987 50-watt Plexi head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet (Celestion or JBL D120 speakers, exact speaker model debated)	6
Don't Want You No More · solo	Solo · distorted	1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard Cherry Sunburst	Marshall 50-watt Plexi (model 1987, non-master volume, 1969 era)	5.5
Dreams · riff	Riff · distorted	1957 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop	Marshall 50-watt Plexi (model 1987, likely with 4x12 cabinet)	5.5
Dreams · clean	Clean · clean	Modified 1972 Fender Jazz Bass (nicknamed 'The Tractor')	Likely Ampeg flip‑top bass amp (e.g., Ampeg SVT style)	0
Dreams · solo	Solo · distorted	1957 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop	Marshall 50-watt Plexi (model 1987, likely with 4x12 cabinet)	5.5
In Memory of Elizabeth Reed · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard '60s (1970)	Marshall 1959SLP Plexi Super Lead Reissue	4
In Memory of Elizabeth Reed (Live at the Fillmore East, 1971) · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (1959 Cherry Sunburst, Duane Allman) and Gibson SG Standard (Dickey Betts)	Marshall 50-watt Plexi (model 1987, Super Lead) into Marshall 4x12 cabinet (Duane Allman and Dickey Betts)	5
In Memory of Elizabeth Reed (Live at the Fillmore East/1971/First Show) · riff	Riff · distorted	1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard (Cherry Sunburst, PAF pickups, Duane Allman)	Marshall 50-watt Plexi (JTM50 or JMP50, half-open back 4x12 cab, Celestion speakers)	5.5
It's Not My Cross to Bear · solo	Solo · distorted	1961 Gibson Les Paul SG	1968 Marshall JMP 50-watt head with 4x12 cabinet	5
Jessica · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (1970s, Dickey Betts' main guitar for studio recording)	Marshall Plexi (likely 100-watt, studio recording)	4.5
Melissa · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely 1957-1959, used by Dickey Betts)	Marshall 100-watt Super Lead head (Plexi, late 1960s/early 1970s)	3.5
Melissa · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (early 1970s, likely 1957-1959 model or similar reissue)	Marshall 50-watt Plexi (model 1987 or similar, early 1970s studio recording)	4
Melissa · solo	Solo · clean	Gibson ES-335	Fender Twin Reverb (blackface, early 1970s)	2.5
Midnight Rider · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (Duane Allman, slide solo)	Fender Twin Reverb (blackface, 1960s/early 1970s studio model)	4
Midnight Rider · riff	Riff · clean	Gibson J-200 (acoustic, likely with pickup for studio recording)	Vox Super Beatle V1141 / V1142 (as listed for Allman Brothers Band era, but not confirmed for this exact track; acoustic may have been DI or through amp for color)	2.5
Mountain Jam (Live at the Fillmore East: Second Show, Pt. 2, 1971) · solo	Solo · distorted	1957 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop (with PAF humbuckers, likely swapped to cherry sunburst Les Paul by March 1971)	Marshall 50-watt Plexi (model 1987, through Marshall 4x12 cabinet with Celestion speakers)	5.5
One Way Out (Live at the Fillmore East, 1971) · riff	Riff · distorted	1957 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop	1969 Marshall Super Bass (Plexi, 100-watt, through 4x12 cabinet, no master volume)	5.5
One Way Out (Live at the Fillmore East, 1971) · riff	Riff · clean	1961 Gibson SG Standard	Marshall 50-watt Plexi (model 1987) head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet	2.5
Ramblin' Man · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard '60s (1973)	Marshall 1959SLP Plexi Super Lead Reissue	4
Soulshine · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson ES-335 'Huddie' (Warren Haynes signature, used on studio Soulshine solo)	Soldano SLO-100 (modded for more low-mids) into Marshall 4x12 with Celestion speakers	5
Southbound · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard '59 or '60 (PAF pickups)	Marshall 1959SLP Plexi Super Lead	4.5
Statesboro Blues · riff	Riff · distorted	1957 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop (converted to humbuckers, slide setup, open E tuning)	1968 Marshall 50-watt Plexi (model 1987, likely with 4x12 cabinet, no master volume)	5.5
Statesboro Blues (Live at the Fillmore East, 1971) · solo	Solo · distorted	1958 Gibson Les Paul Standard (Tobacco Sunburst, PAF pickups, slide setup, open E tuning)	Marshall 50-watt Plexi Bass Head (model 1986) into Marshall 4x12 cabinet with JBL D120F speakers (half-open back, live rig)	6
Statesboro Blues (Live at the Fillmore East, 1971) · riff	Riff · distorted	1958 Gibson Les Paul Standard (tobacco sunburst, slide setup)	Marshall Plexi 50-watt head with 4x12 Marshall cabinets	5.5
Stormy Monday (Live at the Fillmore East, 1971) · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard	Marshall 50-watt head with 4x12 cabinet	5
Trouble No More · solo	Solo · distorted	1961 Gibson SG (Les Paul SG Standard with Sideways Vibrola)	1969 Marshall Super Bass (100 watt, likely Marshall 1987XL or similar for studio)	6
Whipping Post · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (1957 Goldtop, Duane Allman) or 1958/59 Les Paul Standard (Dickey Betts)	Marshall JMP 50-watt Plexi (model 1987, 1969 era, likely 4x12 cab, Duane Allman); Marshall JMP 50-watt or 100-watt Plexi (Dickey Betts); possible Fender Twin Reverb for some parts	5.5
Whipping Post · solo	Solo · distorted	1958 Gibson Les Paul Standard (tobacco sunburst, Duane Allman's main guitar at Fillmore East)	Marshall Plexi 50-watt head into two Marshall 4x12 cabinets (Celestion speakers likely, possibly JBL-D120 or Cerwin-Vega as per era sources)	6
Whipping Post (Live at the Fillmore East, 1971) · distorted	Distorted · distorted	Fender Jazz Bass ('Tractor Bass' with added Guild pickup)	Ampeg SVT (early 1970s, 300W tube head) with 8x10 cab	5
Whipping Post (Live at the Fillmore East, 1971) · riff	Riff · distorted	1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard	Marshall 50-watt Bass Head (model 1986) through Marshall 4x12 cabinet	6

The Allman Brothers Band songs on popular amps

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Frequently asked questions

What amp did The Allman Brothers Band use?

Across 23 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Marshall 1959SLP Plexi Super Lead Reissue (2 songs), Marshall 50-watt Plexi (model 1987, likely with 4x12 cabinet) (2 songs), 1968 Marshall JMP 50-watt head with 4x12 cabinet (1 song), Marshall 100-watt Super Lead head (Plexi, late 1960s/early 1970s) (1 song).

What guitar did The Allman Brothers Band use?

Most often: 1957 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop (3 songs), 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard Cherry Sunburst (2 songs), 1961 Gibson Les Paul SG (1 song), Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely 1957-1959, used by Dickey Betts) (1 song).

How do I get The Allman Brothers Band's tone on my amp?

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