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Kashmir — Led Zeppelin1 / 2
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Kashmir Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin · 1970s · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
Fender Electric XII (12-string electric guitar)
Pickups
Fender split single-coil (Electric XII stock pickups)
Amp
Hiwatt Custom 100 DR103 (likely, based on era and studio use; some sources suggest Marshall, but Hiwatt is most cited for Kashmir studio recording)
Pickup Position
Neck pickup

Studio recording, 1974-1975 (Physical Graffiti sessions). Jimmy Page used a Fender Electric XII for the main riff. The amp is most likely a Hiwatt Custom 100, as per multiple gear rundowns and interviews. No evidence of pedals or effects beyond possible light studio reverb. No phaser, flanger, or chorus audible or cited for the riff section. Live, Page used a Les Paul and Marshall, but the studio riff is Electric XII into Hiwatt.

Amp Settings

Mids
7
Bass
6
Gain
3
Reverb
2
Treble
4.5
Presence
3.5

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Tone Character

  • warm and rounded
  • full-bodied
  • slightly compressed
  • articulate and percussive
  • mellow high end
  • rich midrange
  • chiming 12-string texture
  • not harsh or piercing
  • dynamic response to picking
  • minimal breakup

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No official studio amp settings published; values estimated from era, genre, and typical Hiwatt/Marshall settings for classic rock.
  • ⚠️No evidence of pedals or effects used on the studio riff; no phaser, flanger, chorus, or delay audible or cited for the riff section.
  • ⚠️Some forum sources suggest Marshall amps, but most credible sources and interviews point to Hiwatt for the studio recording.
  • ⚠️Live performances used different gear (Les Paul, Marshall), but this data is for the studio riff only.
  • ⚠️Settings are averaged from multiple forum and magazine sources, weighted toward those referencing the studio recording.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Jimmy Page's 'Kashmir' riff tone is mid-forward, not heavily overdriven, with a warm but articulate character typical of a cranked Hiwatt or Marshall set just past clean. The era's production and Page's style favor strong mids, moderate bass, restrained treble, and only subtle reverb from the room or plate.

Sources