Guitar tone · rock
The Who guitar tone: gear & amp settings
The gear and amp settings behind 8 The Who songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: 1959 Gretsch 6120 Chet Atkins into 1959 Fender Bandmaster combo (tweed, 3x10" Jensen P10Q alnico speakers).
Guitars The Who used
- 1959 Gretsch 6120 Chet Atkins2 songs
- Fender Precision Bass2 songs
- Gibson J-200 (1960s, acoustic)1 song
- Gibson J-200 acoustic (for main riff), but for distorted electric parts: Gibson Les Paul Deluxe (likely Pete Townshend's main electric in this era)1 song
- Schecter Telecaster-style (mid-80s 'Dallas-era' Schecter PT, black, as used by Pete Townshend on 'Eminence Front' studio recording)1 song
- Rickenbacker 1997 (Rose Morris export model, semi-hollow, 3-pickup, 6-string, Fireglo finish)1 song
- Rickenbacker 360/121 song
- Gibson ES-335 (likely 1961-1964, block inlays, cherry red, as used by Pete Townshend on 'Who's Next' sessions)1 song
Amps The Who used
- 1959 Fender Bandmaster combo (tweed, 3x10" Jensen P10Q alnico speakers)1 song
- None (recorded acoustically, no amp used on original studio recording)1 song
- Hiwatt DR103 Custom 100 (classic Townshend amp for 1975 studio recordings)1 song
- Hiwatt Custom 100 CP103 Pete Townshend signature head into Mesa/Boogie 4x12 cabinet (studio, 1982)1 song
- Hiwatt DR201 + Marshall Major (studio blend, classic Entwistle rig for 'Who's Next' era)1 song
- 1959 Fender Bandmaster combo (3x10" Jensen P10Q alnico speakers)1 song
- Vox AC30 (early 1960s, non-Top Boost, likely no reverb or tremolo)1 song
- Fender Bassman head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet1 song
11 The Who tones
| Song | Gain |
|---|---|
| Eminence Front · riff | 4.5 |
| Baba O'Riley · riff | 4 |
| I Can't Explain · riff | 5 |
| My generation · riff | 7 |
| Pinball Wizard · riff | 1.5 |
| Squeeze Box · riff | 4.5 |
| Substitute · clean | 0 |
| Won't Get Fooled Again · solo | 7.5 |
| Won't Get Fooled Again · distorted | 5.5 |
| Won't Get Fooled Again · riff | 7.5 |
| Won't Get Fooled Again · clean | 0 |
The Who songs on popular amps
Exact settings ToneAdapt players use for these songs on their own amps.
Get The Who's tone on your gear
Pick any The Who song and ToneAdapt adapts the original rig to your own guitar, amp, pickups and pedals.
Frequently asked questions
What amp did The Who use?
Across 8 researched songs, the amps that come up most are 1959 Fender Bandmaster combo (tweed, 3x10" Jensen P10Q alnico speakers) (1 song), None (recorded acoustically, no amp used on original studio recording) (1 song), Hiwatt DR103 Custom 100 (classic Townshend amp for 1975 studio recordings) (1 song), Hiwatt Custom 100 CP103 Pete Townshend signature head into Mesa/Boogie 4x12 cabinet (studio, 1982) (1 song).
What guitar did The Who use?
Most often: 1959 Gretsch 6120 Chet Atkins (2 songs), Fender Precision Bass (2 songs), Gibson J-200 (1960s, acoustic) (1 song), Gibson J-200 acoustic (for main riff), but for distorted electric parts: Gibson Les Paul Deluxe (likely Pete Townshend's main electric in this era) (1 song).
How do I get The Who's tone on my amp?
Open any The Who song below to see the original gear and settings, then use ToneAdapt to adapt them to your own guitar, amp, pickups and pedals.