Guitar tone · rock, punk

The Cure guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 28 The Cure songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: Fender Bass VI into Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus.

Guitars The Cure used

Fender Bass VI8 songs
Fender Jazzmaster4 songs
Gibson ES-175 (single pickup, black, as seen in official music video and period photos)3 songs
Nylon string acoustic (exact model unknown, likely studio classical guitar as per session notes and Reverb article)1 song
Unknown (likely Fender Precision, Music Man StingRay, or Gibson Thunderbird)1 song
Fender Telecaster (likely late 1970s, as used by Robert Smith on early Cure recordings)1 song
Fender Precision Bass1 song
Fender Jazzmaster (likely 1970s, as used by Robert Smith on early Cure recordings)1 song

Amps The Cure used

Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus19 songs
Roland Jazz Chorus JC-1203 songs
Direct to console or possibly Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus for electric overdubs (main riff is acoustic, per Reverb and multiple sources)1 song
Likely Ampeg SVT head and cab (or Peavey Megabass head with Peavey 1820 cab live)1 song
Roland JC-1201 song
Peavey Classic 50 (combo, as used on 'Three Imaginary Boys' era recordings)1 song
Roland Jazz Chorus JC-77 (studio, likely for clean tone)1 song
Ampeg SVT (1970s tube head) with 8x10 cab1 song

44 The Cure tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Boys Don't Cry · riff	Riff · clean	Gibson ES-175 (single pickup, black, as seen in official music video and period photos)	Roland Jazz Chorus JC-120	0
Just Like Heaven · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Bass VI	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	0
A Forest · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Jazzmaster (likely 1970s model, as used by Robert Smith in 1979-1980 studio era)	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	0
Boys Don't Cry · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Telecaster (likely late 1970s, as used by Robert Smith on early Cure recordings)	Peavey Classic 50 (combo, as used on 'Three Imaginary Boys' era recordings)	3
I Just Need Myself (PSI Studio Demo 1/78) · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Jazzmaster	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	3.5
I Just Need Myself (PSI Studio Demo 1/78) · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Jazzmaster (likely 1970s model, as used by Robert Smith in early Cure recordings)	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	5
10:15 Saturday Night · riff	Riff · distorted	1978 Fender Telecaster (likely, as used by Robert Smith on early Cure recordings)	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus (likely, based on early Cure era and Robert Smith's known use, but not confirmed for this specific track)	3.5
A Forest · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Jazzmaster	Roland JC-120	2
A Forest · clean	Clean · clean	Fender Precision Bass (likely late 1970s, possibly with flatwound strings)	Ampeg SVT (1970s tube head) with 8x10 cab	0
A Strange Day · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Jazzmaster (likely 1970s/early 1980s, as used by Robert Smith on Pornography album sessions)	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	4.5
Apart · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Bass VI (likely 1960s reissue or vintage, as used by Robert Smith on Disintegration/Wish era recordings)	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	0
Boys Don't Cry · solo	Solo · clean	Fender American Professional II Stratocaster (1979)	Vox AC30 C2	3.5
Boys Don't Cry (Single Version) · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Jazzmaster (likely 1970s, as used by Robert Smith on early Cure recordings)	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	3.5
Boys Don't Cry (Single Version) · riff	Riff · clean	Gibson ES-175 (single pickup, black, as seen in official music video and period photos)	Roland JC-160 Jazz Chorus (likely, based on period-correct live/studio use and signature clean tone)	0
Boys Don't Cry (Single Version) · solo	Solo · clean	Gibson ES-175 (single pickup, black, as seen in official music video and period photos)	Roland Jazz Chorus JC-120	1.5
Boys Don't Cry (Single Version) · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (late 1970s, likely CBS-era, maple neck)	Roland Jazz Chorus JC-120	3.5
Boys Don't Cry (Single Version) · distorted	Distorted · distorted	Fender Precision Bass (late 1970s, likely 1978-79, as used by Simon Gallup in early Cure recordings)	Ampeg SVT (1970s tube head, likely with 8x10 cab; no direct evidence for this session, but period-correct and supported by later interviews and live use)	5.5
Burn · riff	Riff · distorted	Schecter UltraCure VI (Robert Smith signature, likely standard UltraCure for riff section)	Vox AC30 (studio recording, 1993-94 era, based on Robert Smith's known studio amps for this period)	5
Closedown · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Bass VI (likely Japanese reissue or vintage, as used by Robert Smith on Disintegration)	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	0
Fascination Street (2010 Remaster) · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson ES-345	Cornford RK100	5.5
Fascination Street (2010 Remaster) · clean	Clean · clean	Music Man StingRay (4-string, likely 1980s model, active electronics)	Ampeg SVT (tube head, likely 1970s/80s, classic 8x10 cab)	0
Fire In Cairo · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Jazzmaster (likely 1978-1979, as used by Robert Smith on Three Imaginary Boys sessions)	Fender Twin Reverb (Silverface, late 1970s)	2
Friday I'm In Love · riff	Riff · clean	Gretsch Chet Atkins Country Gentleman	Vox AC30	0
In Your House · solo	Solo · clean	Fender Jazzmaster	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	2.5
In Your House · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Bass VI	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	4
It's Not You · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Jazzmaster	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	0
Jumping Someone Else's Train · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Jazzmaster (Olympic White, late 1970s spec)	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	4
Just Like Heaven · clean	Clean · clean	Fender Bass VI	Roland Jazz Chorus JC-120 (studio), possible Peavey or Ampeg SVT live	0
Just Like Heaven · distorted	Distorted · distorted	1966 Guild Starfire Bass (Cherry Red, dual pickups, passive electronics)	Ampeg SVT (likely 1970s/early 80s model, classic tube head)	5.5
Just Like Heaven · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Bass VI	Peavey Bass amp (exact model unknown, likely Peavey Mark III or similar 1980s model)	4.5
Just Like Heaven · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Jazzmaster (1985-1987 Japanese model, likely used by Robert Smith in studio)	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	4
Killing an Arab (Live) · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Telecaster (likely late 1970s model, as used by Robert Smith in early Cure live performances)	Fender Twin Reverb (silverface, late 1970s model, typical for The Cure's early live shows)	0
Lovesong (2010 Remaster) · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Jaguar (late 1980s Japanese model, as used by Robert Smith on Disintegration)	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus (solid state, stereo chorus, used in Disintegration studio sessions)	3
Lovesong (Live) · clean	Clean · clean	Unknown (likely Fender Precision, Music Man StingRay, or Gibson Thunderbird)	Likely Ampeg SVT head and cab (or Peavey Megabass head with Peavey 1820 cab live)	0
Lullaby (2010 Remaster) · riff	Riff · clean	Nylon string acoustic (exact model unknown, likely studio classical guitar as per session notes and Reverb article)	Direct to console or possibly Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus for electric overdubs (main riff is acoustic, per Reverb and multiple sources)	0
One Hundred Years · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Jazzmaster (likely 1970s/early 1980s model)	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	5
Pictures of You · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Bass VI (white, 1980s model)	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	3
Pictures of You · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Bass VI	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	3.5
Pictures of You (2010 Remaster) · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Bass VI	Vox AC30 (studio recording, late '80s Disintegration sessions)	0
Plainsong (2010 Remaster) · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Bass VI	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	4
Play for Today · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Jazzmaster (likely 1970s or late 1970s/early 1980s model)	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	0
Push · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Jazzmaster (likely 1960s model, as used by Robert Smith in mid-1980s studio recordings)	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	3.5
The Lovecats · clean	Clean · clean	Fender Precision Bass	Roland Jazz Chorus JC-77 (studio, likely for clean tone)	0
The Same Deep Water As You (2010 Remaster) · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Bass VI	Roland JC-160	3

The Cure 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 The Cure use?

Across 28 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus (19 songs), Roland Jazz Chorus JC-120 (3 songs), Direct to console or possibly Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus for electric overdubs (main riff is acoustic, per Reverb and multiple sources) (1 song), Likely Ampeg SVT head and cab (or Peavey Megabass head with Peavey 1820 cab live) (1 song).

What guitar did The Cure use?

Most often: Fender Bass VI (8 songs), Fender Jazzmaster (4 songs), Gibson ES-175 (single pickup, black, as seen in official music video and period photos) (3 songs), Nylon string acoustic (exact model unknown, likely studio classical guitar as per session notes and Reverb article) (1 song).

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

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