Guitar tone · rock

The Goo Goo Dolls guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 5 The Goo Goo Dolls songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: Fender Stratocaster (Tom DeLonge style, likely modded, as seen in music video) into Marshall JCM800.

Guitars The Goo Goo Dolls used

Fender Stratocaster (Tom DeLonge style, likely modded, as seen in music video)1 song
Gibson Les Paul1 song
Fender Precision Bass1 song
Guild Songbird (piezo pickup, acoustic-electric)1 song
Takamine EF341SC (acoustic-electric, used for main riff in studio recording)1 song
1972 Fender Telecaster Deluxe1 song
Fender Stratocaster1 song
Gibson J-200 (rented for studio recording of 'Name')1 song

Amps The Goo Goo Dolls used

Marshall JCM8002 songs
Marshall JCM800 2205 50-Watt Amplifier Head2 songs
Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (inferred from era, genre, and forum discussions about Goo Goo Dolls' 90s tones)1 song
Fender Bassman (vintage tube head, likely silverface or blackface era)1 song
Unknown acoustic amp or direct-in; likely DI with possible studio preamp (no evidence of electric amp for riff section)1 song
Marshall JCM800 2205 50-Watt Head1 song
Fender Bassman (rented for studio recording, per interview); possible use of Marshall JMP 50-watt for electric overdubs1 song
Fender Twin Reverb (likely studio amp, clean platform with pedals for drive/effects)1 song

10 The Goo Goo Dolls tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Long Way Down · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (Tom DeLonge style, likely modded, as seen in music video)	Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (inferred from era, genre, and forum discussions about Goo Goo Dolls' 90s tones)	6.5
Slide · riff	Riff · clean	Guild Songbird (piezo pickup, acoustic-electric)	Marshall JCM800 2205 50-Watt Amplifier Head	4
Iris · riff	Riff · clean	Takamine EF341SC (acoustic-electric, used for main riff in studio recording)	Unknown acoustic amp or direct-in; likely DI with possible studio preamp (no evidence of electric amp for riff section)	0
Iris · solo	Solo · distorted	1972 Fender Telecaster Deluxe	Marshall JCM800 2205 50-Watt Head	6.5
Black Balloon · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul	Marshall JCM800	5
Black Balloon · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster	Marshall JCM800	2.5
Iris · clean	Clean · clean	Fender Precision Bass	Fender Bassman (vintage tube head, likely silverface or blackface era)	0
Iris · riff	Riff · distorted	Takamine EF341SC Acoustic-Electric (5-string, high E removed, BDDDD tuning)	Fender Twin Reverb (likely studio amp, clean platform with pedals for drive/effects)	4.5
Name · riff	Riff · clean	Gibson J-200 (rented for studio recording of 'Name')	Fender Bassman (rented for studio recording, per interview); possible use of Marshall JMP 50-watt for electric overdubs	2.5
Slide · riff	Riff · distorted	Guild Songbird	Marshall JCM800 2205 50-Watt Amplifier Head	4.5

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Frequently asked questions

What amp did The Goo Goo Dolls use?

Across 5 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Marshall JCM800 (2 songs), Marshall JCM800 2205 50-Watt Amplifier Head (2 songs), Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (inferred from era, genre, and forum discussions about Goo Goo Dolls' 90s tones) (1 song), Fender Bassman (vintage tube head, likely silverface or blackface era) (1 song).

What guitar did The Goo Goo Dolls use?

Most often: Fender Stratocaster (Tom DeLonge style, likely modded, as seen in music video) (1 song), Gibson Les Paul (1 song), Fender Precision Bass (1 song), Guild Songbird (piezo pickup, acoustic-electric) (1 song).

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

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