Guitar tone · rock

The Stone Roses guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 11 The Stone Roses songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: 1960 Fender Stratocaster (pink, likely studio rental) into Fender Twin Reverb.

Guitars The Stone Roses used

1960 Fender Stratocaster (pink, likely studio rental)3 songs
Gretsch Country Gentleman 1964/19652 songs
1960 Fender Stratocaster (Shell Pink)1 song
1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard1 song
1960 Fender Stratocaster (pink, likely studio/hired instrument)1 song
Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely 1970s or 1980s, sunburst finish)1 song
Fender Stratocaster (likely 1960s reissue, Shell Pink finish)1 song
Gibson Les Paul Goldtop1 song

Amps The Stone Roses used

Fender Twin Reverb1 song
Fender Twin Reverb (with JBL speakers)1 song
Unknown (not specified in sources; likely a clean British or American combo amp typical of late 80s indie rock recordings, e.g., Fender Twin Reverb or Roland JC-120, but not confirmed for this track)1 song
Fender 1982 Twin Reverb1 song
Marshall JCM800 head with 4x12 cab1 song
Vox AC30 (1980s/early 1990s model, likely Top Boost)1 song
Fender Twin Reverb (Blackface era, studio recording)1 song
Marshall amplifier (exact model not specified, likely JCM800 or similar era-appropriate model)1 song

18 The Stone Roses tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Made of Stone (Remastered 2009) · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (late 70s/early 80s, sunburst, likely with stock humbuckers)	Marshall JCM800 2203 Head with 4x12 cab (studio recording, 1988/1989 era)	5.5
I Wanna Be Adored (Remastered 2009) · riff	Riff · distorted	1960 Fender Stratocaster (pink, likely studio/hired instrument)	Unknown (not specified in sources; likely a clean British or American combo amp typical of late 80s indie rock recordings, e.g., Fender Twin Reverb or Roland JC-120, but not confirmed for this track)	3.5
Made of Stone (Remastered 2009) · riff	Riff · clean	Gibson Les Paul Goldtop	Fender Twin Reverb (Blackface era, studio recording)	3.5
Waterfall (Remastered 2009) · riff	Riff · distorted	1960 Fender Stratocaster (pink, likely studio guitar for Waterfall riff)	Marshall JCM900 4100 (studio, late 80s era, likely for main riff section)	4
Fools Gold (Remastered 2009) · riff	Riff · distorted	1960 Fender Stratocaster (pink, likely studio rental)	Unknown model (likely Marshall or Fender combo, typical for era and band, but not confirmed for this track)	3.5
I Wanna Be Adored (Remastered 2009) · riff	Riff · clean	1960 Fender Stratocaster (pink, likely studio rental)	Fender Twin Reverb (Silverface, studio recording)	3.5
This Is the One (Remastered 2009) · riff	Riff · distorted	1960 Fender Stratocaster (pink, likely studio-owned or hired for the session)	Marshall amplifier (exact model not specified, likely JCM800 or similar era-appropriate model)	4.5
Waterfall (Remastered 2009) · riff	Riff · clean	1960 Fender Stratocaster (pink, likely studio rental)	Fender Twin Reverb (likely studio amp, classic for jangly clean tones of the era)	3.5
I Am the Resurrection · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely 1970s or 1980s, sunburst finish)	Marshall JCM800 head with 4x12 cab	5.5
I Am the Resurrection · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely Japanese or 1960s reissue, as used by John Squire on debut album sessions)	Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp	5.5
I Am the Resurrection (Remastered 2009) · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Telecaster (likely late 1970s or early 1980s, as used by John Squire on the debut album)	Fender Twin Reverb (with JBL speakers, as confirmed for the debut album studio recording)	6
I Wanna Be Adored · riff	Riff · distorted	1960 Fender Stratocaster (pink, rosewood board)	Fender Twin Reverb (Silverface, late 1970s/early 1980s)	5
I Wanna Be Adored (Remastered 2009) · solo	Solo · distorted	Gretsch Country Gentleman 1964/1965	Fender 1982 Twin Reverb	5.5
Love Spreads · riff	Riff · distorted	1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard	Fender Twin Reverb (with JBL speakers)	6
Made of Stone (Remastered 2009) · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1960s reissue, Shell Pink finish)	Vox AC30 (1980s/early 1990s model, likely Top Boost)	6
Sally Cinnamon (Single Mix) · riff	Riff · clean	1980s Fender Telecaster (likely MIJ or 1970s model, as used by John Squire in this era)	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus (most likely, as used by Squire on early singles and debut album sessions)	0
Sally Cinnamon (Single Mix) · solo	Solo · distorted	Gretsch Country Gentleman 1964/1965	Vox AC30 (likely JMI or early reissue, studio recording)	4
She Bangs the Drums (Remastered 2009) · riff	Riff · distorted	1960 Fender Stratocaster (Shell Pink)	Fender Twin Reverb	4

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Frequently asked questions

What amp did The Stone Roses use?

Across 11 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Fender Twin Reverb (1 song), Fender Twin Reverb (with JBL speakers) (1 song), Unknown (not specified in sources; likely a clean British or American combo amp typical of late 80s indie rock recordings, e.g., Fender Twin Reverb or Roland JC-120, but not confirmed for this track) (1 song), Fender 1982 Twin Reverb (1 song).

What guitar did The Stone Roses use?

Most often: 1960 Fender Stratocaster (pink, likely studio rental) (3 songs), Gretsch Country Gentleman 1964/1965 (2 songs), 1960 Fender Stratocaster (Shell Pink) (1 song), 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard (1 song).

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

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