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Plush — Stone Temple Pilots1 / 2
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Plush Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Stone Temple Pilots

Stone Temple Pilots · 1990s · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
1978 Gibson Les Paul Standard
Pickups
Gibson PAF-style humbuckers
Amp
VHT Classic (with Demeter TGP-3 preamp) into stereo 4x12 cabs
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording, 1992. Dean DeLeo stated in Guitar World that his main guitar for 'Plush' was a '78 sunburst Gibson Les Paul through his VHT amp and Demeter preamp, run stereo into two 4x12 cabs. No evidence of live/touring substitutions for the solo section on the original recording.

Amp Settings

Mids
7
Bass
6
Gain
6
Reverb
3
Treble
6.5
Presence
6

Effects Chain

  • Chorus pedal (model unknown, likely Boss CE-1 or CE-2) · chorus
  • Delay pedal (model unknown) · delay

Guitar → Chorus pedal → Delay pedal → Demeter TGP-3 preamp → VHT Classic power amp → stereo 4x12 cabs (spring reverb from amp)

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Tone Character

  • singing sustain
  • smooth lead tone
  • slightly compressed
  • clear note separation
  • chimey top end
  • rich midrange
  • open and airy
  • slight stereo spread
  • touch-sensitive dynamics
  • not overly saturated

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No direct numeric amp settings found for the studio recording; settings estimated based on typical VHT/Marshall-style amp use in 1990s alt-rock and Dean DeLeo's described rig.
  • ⚠️No explicit pedal model confirmed for the solo section; chorus effect is clearly audible in the solo and widely discussed in forums, but no studio documentation of exact pedal model.
  • ⚠️Delay is faint but present in the solo, likely from a rack or pedal unit; model not confirmed.
  • ⚠️All gear and effects are for the studio recording of the solo section only; live/touring substitutions are excluded.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Dean DeLeo used a Matchless DC-30 and Vox AC30 for 'Plush,' favoring a mid-forward, crunchy but not overly saturated sound. The solo is warm, articulate, and classic rock-leaning, with moderate gain, strong mids, and subtle reverb, matching early '90s alt-rock production.

Sources