Guitar tone · rock, pop

Toto guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 7 Toto songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: 1970s Gibson Les Paul Deluxe into Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (studio recording, 1986).

Guitars Toto used

1970s Gibson Les Paul Deluxe1 song
Valley Arts Custom Pro (early 80s, EMG pickups, Floyd Rose, HSS configuration)1 song
1977-78 Music Man Sabre I1 song
1983 Music Man Luke prototype (Steve Lukather signature, EMG pickups, likely HSS configuration)1 song
1970s Gibson Les Paul Custom1 song
1977 Valley Arts Custom Pro (Strat-style, EMG pickups, maple neck, alder body)1 song
1970s Valley Arts Custom Strat-style (Steve Lukather's main studio guitar for Toto IV)1 song
Valley Arts Custom Pro (Steve Lukather signature, HSS configuration, EMG active pickups, Floyd Rose bridge)1 song

Amps Toto used

Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (studio recording, 1986)2 songs
Rivera-modded Fender Blackface Deluxe Reverb1 song
Dumble Overdrive Special (studio, 1981-82, as per forum consensus and interviews)1 song
Fender Twin Reverb (Silverface, late 1970s)1 song
Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (studio recording typical for Lukather in 1987)1 song
Marshall Super Lead (Plexi, likely modded for more gain)1 song
Marshall JMP 100-watt head (1970s, likely Super Lead or Master Volume model) with Marshall 4x12 cabinet1 song
Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (studio recording, Toto IV era)1 song

17 Toto tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Hold the Line · riff	Riff · distorted	1974 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe (mini-humbuckers, likely with DiMarzio Super Distortion bridge mod)	Marshall 100W Super Lead (Plexi, late 1970s, likely JMP era, cranked for distortion)	7
Rosanna · solo	Solo · distorted	Valley Arts Custom Pro (early 80s, EMG pickups, Floyd Rose, HSS configuration)	Dumble Overdrive Special (studio, 1981-82, as per forum consensus and interviews)	7
Georgy Porgy · solo	Solo · distorted	1977 Fender Stratocaster	Music Man HD-130 Reverb	4.5
Rosanna · riff	Riff · distorted	1970s Valley Arts Custom Strat-style (Steve Lukather's main studio guitar for Toto IV)	Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (studio recording, Toto IV era)	6
Africa · clean	Clean · clean	Music Man StingRay (late 1970s/early 1980s, 4-string, likely pre-EB/MM, maple neck, single humbucker)	Ampeg SVT (likely blue-line or black-line, classic 1970s/early 1980s model, 8x10 cab typical for era)	0
Child's Anthem · riff	Riff · distorted	1977 Valley Arts Custom Pro (Strat-style, EMG pickups, maple neck, alder body)	Marshall JMP 100-watt head (1970s, likely Super Lead or Master Volume model) with Marshall 4x12 cabinet	5.5
Child's Anthem · solo	Solo · distorted	1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard	Rivera-modded Fender Blackface Deluxe Reverb (1964 or 1965)	6
Georgy Porgy · riff	Riff · distorted	1970s Gibson Les Paul Deluxe	Rivera-modded Fender Blackface Deluxe Reverb	4
Georgy Porgy · riff	Riff · clean	1977-78 Music Man Sabre I	Fender Twin Reverb (Silverface, late 1970s)	2.5
Hold the Line · solo	Solo · distorted	1970s Gibson Les Paul Custom	Marshall Super Lead (Plexi, likely modded for more gain)	6.5
Hold the Line · clean	Clean · clean	Unknown	Unknown	0
I'll Be over You · riff	Riff · distorted	Valley Arts Custom Pro (Steve Lukather signature, HSS configuration, EMG pickups, mid-80s)	Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (studio recording, 1986)	3.5
I'll Be Over You · solo	Solo · distorted	Valley Arts Custom Pro (Steve Lukather signature, HSS configuration, EMG active pickups, Floyd Rose bridge)	Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (studio recording, 1986)	5
I'll Be Over You · clean	Clean · clean	Yamaha BB3000	Ampeg SVT (likely studio rental, classic 1980s choice)	0
Pamela · riff	Riff · distorted	1983 Music Man Luke prototype (Steve Lukather signature, EMG pickups, likely HSS configuration)	Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (studio recording typical for Lukather in 1987)	5.5
Rosanna · riff	Riff · clean	Valley Arts Custom Pro (early 1980s, HSS configuration, EMG pickups, maple neck, rosewood board)	Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (studio recording, 1982)	0
Rosanna · distorted	Distorted · distorted	Fender Precision Bass	Ampeg SVT (likely blue line or blackface era, classic tube head)	5.5

Toto 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 Toto use?

Across 7 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (studio recording, 1986) (2 songs), Rivera-modded Fender Blackface Deluxe Reverb (1 song), Dumble Overdrive Special (studio, 1981-82, as per forum consensus and interviews) (1 song), Fender Twin Reverb (Silverface, late 1970s) (1 song).

What guitar did Toto use?

Most often: 1970s Gibson Les Paul Deluxe (1 song), Valley Arts Custom Pro (early 80s, EMG pickups, Floyd Rose, HSS configuration) (1 song), 1977-78 Music Man Sabre I (1 song), 1983 Music Man Luke prototype (Steve Lukather signature, EMG pickups, likely HSS configuration) (1 song).

How do I get Toto's tone on my amp?

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