Guitar tone · punk

The Misfits guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 15 The Misfits songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein custom Annihilator (Misfits signature model, likely with DiMarzio X2N humbucker) into Marshall 1970 1960A and 1960B full-stack (likely Marshall JCM800 head, as per era and genre).

Guitars The Misfits used

Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein custom Annihilator (Misfits signature model, likely with DiMarzio X2N humbucker)1 song
Rickenbacker 40011 song
Custom Annihilator (Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein signature, graphite neck-through, single Seymour Duncan Invader pickup)1 song
Gibson Ripper (likely, Jerry Only's main bass in late 1970s/early 1980s Misfits studio recordings)1 song
Gibson Les Paul Custom (late 1970s, likely 1979, as used by Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein on 'Static Age' sessions)1 song
Gibson Les Paul (likely 1970s or early 1980s, as used by Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein during Danzig-era Misfits)1 song
Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein Annihilator (custom-made, likely prototype version for 1999 recording)1 song
Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely 1970s, black finish, as used by Franché Coma on Static Age sessions)1 song

Amps The Misfits used

Marshall 1970 1960A and 1960B full-stack (likely Marshall JCM800 head, as per era and genre)1 song
Ampeg SVT (likely vintage blue-line or SVT Classic)1 song
Ampeg SVT Classic tube bass head into custom Celestion-loaded 4x12 cabinet1 song
Ampeg SVT (classic tube head, era-appropriate and most cited for Misfits studio work)1 song
Univox U-45B (solid state combo, late 70s, as used by The Misfits in studio)1 song
Marshall JCM800 (most likely, based on era, genre, and Doyle's known rig for Danzig-era Misfits studio recordings)1 song
Marshall JCM800 2203 (likely, based on era and Doyle's known studio rig for 'Famous Monsters')1 song
Unidentified late-1970s solid state combo amp (likely Univox or Kustom, as per era and scene; no evidence of tube Marshalls or Fenders on this session)1 song

15 The Misfits tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Helena · riff	Riff · distorted	Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein custom Annihilator	Marshall JCM800 2203 (studio recording, 1999)	7.5
Last Caress · riff	Riff · distorted	Ibanez Iceman (likely IC100, as used by Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein on Static Age era recordings)	Acoustic 150 solid-state amplifier (as used by The Misfits in late 1970s studio recordings)	7.5
Astro Zombies · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (1970s, likely black finish, as used by Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein on 'Walk Among Us')	Acoustic 150 Bass Amp Head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet (as per era and band interviews, see forum discussion on bass amp use)	8
Die, Die My Darling · distorted	Distorted · distorted	Rickenbacker 4001	Ampeg SVT (likely vintage blue-line or SVT Classic)	6.5
Dig Up Her Bones · riff	Riff · distorted	Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein custom Annihilator (Misfits signature model, likely with DiMarzio X2N humbucker)	Marshall 1970 1960A and 1960B full-stack (likely Marshall JCM800 head, as per era and genre)	7.5
Dust to Dust · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul (likely 1970s or early 1980s, as used by Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein during Danzig-era Misfits)	Marshall JCM800 (most likely, based on era, genre, and Doyle's known rig for Danzig-era Misfits studio recordings)	7.5
Forbidden Zone · riff	Riff · distorted	Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein Annihilator (custom-made, likely prototype version for 1999 recording)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (likely, based on era and Doyle's known studio rig for 'Famous Monsters')	7.5
Friday the 13th · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely 1970s or early 1980s, as used by Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein in Misfits Danzig-era recordings)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (100W head, classic punk/metal amp of the era, widely documented for Misfits studio use)	8
Green Hell · riff	Riff · distorted	Ibanez Iceman (custom, early 1980s, likely bolt-on neck, stock or DiMarzio Super Distortion pickup)	Acoustic 150 solid-state head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet (studio, 1986 recording)	7.5
Hybrid Moments · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (late 1970s, likely 1979, as used by Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein on 'Static Age' sessions)	Univox U-45B (solid state combo, late 70s, as used by The Misfits in studio)	8
Hybrid Moments (C.I. Recording 1978) · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely 1970s, black finish, as used by Franché Coma on Static Age sessions)	Unidentified late-1970s solid state combo amp (likely Univox or Kustom, as per era and scene; no evidence of tube Marshalls or Fenders on this session)	7.5
Pumpkinhead · riff	Riff · distorted	Ibanez Iceman Electric Guitar	Ampeg V-4 (likely, based on era and Doyle's known studio rig for Misfits 'American Psycho' album sessions)	8
Saturday Night · riff	Riff · distorted	Custom Annihilator (Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein signature, graphite neck-through, single Seymour Duncan Invader pickup)	Ampeg SVT Classic tube bass head into custom Celestion-loaded 4x12 cabinet	7.5
Scream · riff	Riff · distorted	Ibanez Iceman IC300 (Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein signature, heavily modified with EMG 81 pickup, single volume knob, no tone knob, no pickup selector)	Ampeg SVT Classic (bass amp head) into Ampeg 8x10 cabinet	8.5
Teenagers From Mars · distorted	Distorted · distorted	Gibson Ripper (likely, Jerry Only's main bass in late 1970s/early 1980s Misfits studio recordings)	Ampeg SVT (classic tube head, era-appropriate and most cited for Misfits studio work)	6

The Misfits songs on popular amps

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Frequently asked questions

What amp did The Misfits use?

Across 15 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Marshall 1970 1960A and 1960B full-stack (likely Marshall JCM800 head, as per era and genre) (1 song), Ampeg SVT (likely vintage blue-line or SVT Classic) (1 song), Ampeg SVT Classic tube bass head into custom Celestion-loaded 4x12 cabinet (1 song), Ampeg SVT (classic tube head, era-appropriate and most cited for Misfits studio work) (1 song).

What guitar did The Misfits use?

Most often: Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein custom Annihilator (Misfits signature model, likely with DiMarzio X2N humbucker) (1 song), Rickenbacker 4001 (1 song), Custom Annihilator (Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein signature, graphite neck-through, single Seymour Duncan Invader pickup) (1 song), Gibson Ripper (likely, Jerry Only's main bass in late 1970s/early 1980s Misfits studio recordings) (1 song).

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

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