Guitar tone · rock, Progressive rock
Yes guitar tone: gear & amp settings
The gear and amp settings behind 7 Yes songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: 1962 Fender Stratocaster with DiMarzio FS-1 bridge pickup into Late-'70s Marshall 2203 JMP MKII 100-watt master volume head.
Guitars Yes used
- 1962 Fender Stratocaster with DiMarzio FS-1 bridge pickup2 songs
- Gibson ES-175D2 songs
- Gibson ES-1752 songs
- Rickenbacker 40011 song
- 1971 Gibson ES-175D1 song
- Rickenbacker 4001 (RM1999)1 song
- Rickenbacker 4001 (specifically RM1999 variant with stereo 'Ric‑O‑Sound' wiring)1 song
- Ovation 12-string acoustic (main riff double-tracked with electric, likely Fender Stratocaster)1 song
Amps Yes used
- Late-'70s Marshall 2203 JMP MKII 100-watt master volume head3 songs
- Marshall guitar amp (likely Super Bass or Plexi, overdriven) blended with possible DI1 song
- Fender Dual Showman1 song
- Fender Twin Reverb (blackface, early 1970s)1 song
- Sunn Coliseum solid-state head with Sunn 6x12 cabs; also bi‑amped with Marshall 100W bass head and Ampeg SVT‑2 Pro1 song
- Marshall 100W Super Lead (JMP/Plexi) for treble; clean bass amp (e.g., Sunn or Marshall bass head) for low-end1 song
- Fender Dual Showman Reverb1 song
- Likely Marshall JCM800 (electric overdub), direct or mic'd acoustic for Ovation1 song
13 Yes tones
| Song | Gain |
|---|---|
| Owner of a Lonely Heart · riff | 7 |
| Owner of a Lonely Heart · solo | 7.5 |
| Owner of a Lonely Heart · riff | 0 |
| Close to the Edge: I. The Solid Time of Change, II. Total Mass Retain, III. I Get Up I Get Down, IV. Seasons of Man · distorted | 5.5 |
| Love Will Find a Way · riff | 0 |
| Roundabout · distorted | 5.5 |
| Roundabout · riff | 4 |
| Roundabout · clean | 0 |
| Siberian Khatru · solo | 5 |
| Siberian Khatru · riff | 6 |
| Starship Trooper: A. Life Seeker, B. Disillusion, C. Würm · riff | 5 |
| Starship Trooper: A. Life Seeker, B. Disillusion, C. Würm · solo | 5 |
| Yours Is No Disgrace · riff | 3 |
Yes songs on popular amps
Exact settings ToneAdapt players use for these songs on their own amps.
Get Yes's tone on your gear
Pick any Yes song and ToneAdapt adapts the original rig to your own guitar, amp, pickups and pedals.
Frequently asked questions
What amp did Yes use?
Across 7 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Late-'70s Marshall 2203 JMP MKII 100-watt master volume head (3 songs), Marshall guitar amp (likely Super Bass or Plexi, overdriven) blended with possible DI (1 song), Fender Dual Showman (1 song), Fender Twin Reverb (blackface, early 1970s) (1 song).
What guitar did Yes use?
Most often: 1962 Fender Stratocaster with DiMarzio FS-1 bridge pickup (2 songs), Gibson ES-175D (2 songs), Gibson ES-175 (2 songs), Rickenbacker 4001 (1 song).
How do I get Yes's tone on my amp?
Open any Yes song below to see the original gear and settings, then use ToneAdapt to adapt them to your own guitar, amp, pickups and pedals.