Guitar tone · rock, blues

The Black Keys guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 21 The Black Keys songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: Gibson Les Paul Standard into Fender Silverface Twin Reverb.

Guitars The Black Keys used

Gibson Les Paul Standard3 songs
Harmony H783 songs
Harmony H78 (vintage semi-hollow, stock DeArmond gold foil pickups)2 songs
Harmony H78 semi-hollowbody2 songs
1954 Fender Stratocaster2 songs
Ibanez Custom SG (white, 3 humbuckers)1 song
Harmony H78 (vintage, semi-hollow, 3 gold foil pickups, 1960s)1 song
Harmony H78 (vintage semi-hollow, as used by Dan Auerbach on 'Thickfreakness' era recordings)1 song

Amps The Black Keys used

Fender Silverface Twin Reverb2 songs
Fender Twin Reverb2 songs
Unknown tube amp (likely vintage, model not confirmed for studio recording)1 song
Fender Silverface Twin Reverb (early 1970s, studio recording)1 song
Fender Twin Reverb (likely vintage 1970s, as per era and typical Black Keys studio setup)1 song
Fender Quad Reverb (vintage, as used in 'Brothers' sessions at Muscle Shoals)1 song
Fender Tweed Amp (likely Twin or Bassman, exact model not confirmed for studio recording of 'Tighten Up')1 song
Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb (reissue or vintage, studio recording amp for Black Keys in this era)1 song

24 The Black Keys tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Gold On the Ceiling · riff	Riff · distorted	Ibanez Custom SG (white, triple humbucker, late 60s/early 70s model)	Unknown vintage tube amp (likely Fender or Marshall, but not confirmed for this recording)	6
Just Got to Be · riff	Riff · distorted	Harmony H78 (vintage semi-hollow, stock DeArmond gold foil pickups)	Fender Silverface Twin Reverb (1970s, likely studio version)	6
Lo/Hi · riff	Riff · distorted	Harmony H78 semi-hollowbody	Victoria Double Deluxe	6.5
Fever · riff	Riff · distorted	1960s Harmony H78 semi-hollowbody	Danelectro Commando	5.5
Lonely Boy · riff	Riff · distorted	1954 Fender Stratocaster	Marshall JTM45 MkII (50W, through 8x10 cab)	6
Thickfreakness · riff	Riff · distorted	1960s Harmony H78	Fender Silverface Twin Reverb	6
Busted · riff	Riff · distorted	Harmony H78	Ampeg Gemini I G-12	5.5
Dead And Gone · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard	Fender Twin Reverb	6
Gold On the Ceiling · solo	Solo · distorted	Ibanez Custom SG (white, 3 humbuckers)	Unknown tube amp (likely vintage, model not confirmed for studio recording)	6.5
Gold on the Ceiling (2021 Remaster) · riff	Riff · distorted	Ibanez Custom SG (white, triple humbucker, as used by Dan Auerbach for 'Gold on the Ceiling' era)	Vintage small tube combo amp (likely Harmony, Silvertone, or Supro; exact model not confirmed for this recording)	7
Have Love Will Travel · riff	Riff · distorted	Harmony H78 (vintage semi-hollow, as used by Dan Auerbach on 'Thickfreakness' era recordings)	Fender Twin Reverb (likely vintage 1970s, as per era and typical Black Keys studio setup)	6.5
Heavy Soul · riff	Riff · distorted	Harmony H78 (vintage semi-hollow, stock DeArmond gold foil pickups)	Fender Silverface Twin Reverb	6
I Got Mine · riff	Riff · distorted	Harmony H78 (vintage semi-hollow, 3 gold foil pickups, likely 1960s model)	Fender Silverface Twin Reverb (studio recording, 1970s era, cranked for overdrive)	7
Keep Me · riff	Riff · distorted	Harmony H78 (vintage, semi-hollow, 3 gold foil pickups, 1960s)	Fender Silverface Twin Reverb (early 1970s, studio recording)	6.5
Little Black Submarines · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard	Magnatone (model unspecified, likely Twilighter or similar vintage model)	5
Little Black Submarines · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard	Fender Twin Reverb	6.5
Lonely Boy · riff	Riff · clean	1954 Fender Stratocaster	Unknown tube amp (likely vintage Fender or similar, driven to mild breakup)	4
Meet Me In the City · riff	Riff · distorted	Harmony H78	Fender Twin Reverb (blackface, vintage)	5.5
Money Maker (2021 Remaster) · riff	Riff · distorted	Harmony H78 (vintage, semi-hollow, gold foil pickups, likely used on 'Money Maker')	Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb (reissue or vintage, studio recording amp for Black Keys in this era)	6.5
She's Long Gone · riff	Riff · distorted	Harmony H78 (vintage semi-hollow, as used by Dan Auerbach on 'Brothers' sessions)	Fender Quad Reverb (vintage, as used in 'Brothers' sessions at Muscle Shoals)	6.5
The Flame · riff	Riff · distorted	Harmony H78	Fender Twin Reverb (vintage, likely silverface or blackface)	5.5
Tighten Up · riff	Riff · distorted	Supro Martinique	Fender Tweed Amp (likely Twin or Bassman, exact model not confirmed for studio recording of 'Tighten Up')	5.5
Weight of Love · solo	Solo · distorted	Harmony H78 semi-hollowbody	Fender Twin Reverb (likely vintage, blackface era)	6
Your Touch · riff	Riff · distorted	Danelectro '59M NOS+	Fender '57 Custom Deluxe (Tweed Deluxe)	6.5

The Black Keys songs on popular amps

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Frequently asked questions

What amp did The Black Keys use?

Across 21 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Fender Silverface Twin Reverb (2 songs), Fender Twin Reverb (2 songs), Unknown tube amp (likely vintage, model not confirmed for studio recording) (1 song), Fender Silverface Twin Reverb (early 1970s, studio recording) (1 song).

What guitar did The Black Keys use?

Most often: Gibson Les Paul Standard (3 songs), Harmony H78 (3 songs), Harmony H78 (vintage semi-hollow, stock DeArmond gold foil pickups) (2 songs), Harmony H78 semi-hollowbody (2 songs).

How do I get The Black Keys's tone on my amp?

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