GuitarDistortedSolo
Hotel California Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Eagles
Eagles · 1970s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
1970s Gibson Les Paul Standard (Joe Walsh) and 1959 Fender Telecaster (Don Felder, double-neck for harmony parts)
Pickups
Gibson Les Paul: humbuckers (likely PAFs); Fender Telecaster: single coils
Amp
Fender 'Black Panel' Champ (Joe Walsh); likely Fender Twin Reverb or Tweed Deluxe (Don Felder)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup (Les Paul for Walsh, Telecaster for Felder)
Studio recording, 1976. Joe Walsh played the first solo and harmonized with Don Felder. Felder used a double-neck Gibson EDS-1275 for live, but in the studio, a Telecaster was used for the solo. Effects were added via pedals and outboard gear, not amp effects.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass5.5
Gain4.5
Reverb3
Treble6.5
Presence6.5
Effects Chain
- MXR Phase 90 · phaser
- Echoplex EP-3 · delay
- Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble · chorus
Guitar → MXR Phase 90 → Echoplex EP-3 → Boss CE-1 Chorus → Fender Champ/Twin Reverb (spring reverb on amp)
Tone Matcher
Match This Tone to Your Gear
Tell us your guitar and amp — we’ll calculate the exact settings translated to your specific rig.
7-day free trial · Cancel anytime.
Tone Character
- singing sustain
- smooth, harmonized leads
- clear, articulate note separation
- slightly compressed attack
- warm upper mids
- crisp, present highs
- modest breakup, not high-gain
- chorus shimmer in harmonies
- subtle tape delay repeats
- touch-sensitive dynamics