GuitarDistortedRiff
Houses of the Holy Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin · 1970s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Gibson Les Paul Standard (1970s, likely 1959 model)
Pickups
Gibson PAF humbuckers
Amp
Marshall JMP Super Lead (likely 1959 model, cranked for overdrive)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1972-1973. Jimmy Page is widely reported to have used a Les Paul into a Marshall Super Lead for the riff section of 'Houses of the Holy.' Some sources mention Supro amps for earlier Zeppelin, but for this era and this song's heavy riff, the Marshall JMP is most likely. No evidence of fuzz or wah for the riff. Effects are primarily studio processing (delay, phase inversion), not pedals.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass5.5
Gain4.5
Reverb2.5
Treble7.5
Presence6
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Tone Character
- metallic and hollow
- ringing, almost phasey
- distinctive midrange bite
- tight and percussive attack
- British crunch
- not fuzzy, but crunchy
- articulate pick attack
- slightly compressed
- studio-processed spaciousness
- aggressive bridge pickup presence