GuitarDistortedSolo80% confidence
Creep Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Stone Temple Pilots
Stone Temple Pilots · 1990s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
1978 Gibson Les Paul Standard (sunburst finish)
Pickups
Gibson PAF-style humbuckers
Amp
VHT Classic power amp with Demeter TGP-3 preamp, stereo into two 4x12 cabinets (Celestion 25-watt speakers)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1992. Dean DeLeo used his '78 Les Paul as the main guitar for the Core album, including 'Creep.' The amp setup was his VHT power amp with Demeter preamp, run in stereo. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for the solo section. Effects are minimal and subtle; no explicit pedal use confirmed for the solo.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6
Gain5.5
Reverb3
Treble6.5
Presence6
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Tone Character
- singing sustain
- smooth and rounded highs
- slightly overdriven edge
- clear note separation
- warm, vintage humbucker sound
- open and expressive
- touch-sensitive dynamics
- not overly compressed
- subtle amp reverb
- articulate lead phrasing
Notes & Caveats
- No explicit pedal or effect model is confirmed for the solo section of 'Creep' in any source; all effects are inferred from audio and typical studio practices.
- Amp and EQ settings are estimated based on typical VHT/Demeter setups for 90s rock and Dean DeLeo's described preferences.
- No evidence of chorus, delay, or modulation effects in the solo; only subtle amp reverb is audible.
- Pickup position is inferred from the solo's tone and Dean DeLeo's known usage of the bridge pickup for leads.
- No explicit studio notes for knob settings; values are estimated from era, genre, and amp type.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Dean DeLeo's solo tone on 'Creep' is classic early-90s rock: crunchy but not saturated, with a warm, mid-forward character typical of his Marshall/Matchless setups. The solo sits in the mix with clarity and some ambience, but avoids excessive brightness or scooped mids.