Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple — Amp Settings & Guitar Tone
Reference tone dialed on a Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster into a Fender Mustang LT25. Settings below are cited from real sources; open the page in a browser for the interactive version, or get this tone dialed for your exact gear.
This setup aims to recreate the iconic tone of 'Smoke on the Water' using a Squier Classic Vibe '60s Stratocaster and a Fender Mustang LT25. The Mustang LT25's modeling capabilities allow us to approximate the Marshall Plexi sound, while the Strat's single-coil pickups provide the bright, articulate edge needed for this classic rock tone.
Signal chain settings
Squier Classic Vibe '60s Stratocaster — Main guitar
| Control | Setting | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup Selector | Neck Pickup | The neck pickup provides the warm, full tone needed for the main riff. |
| Master Volume | 8 | Set to 8 for a balance of output and dynamic control. |
| Tone 1 | 7 | Tone 1 at 7 helps maintain clarity and brightness for the neck pickup. |
| Tone 2 | 10 | Tone wide open — roll it down to soften the high end. |
Fender Mustang LT25 — Main amp
| Control | Setting | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Preset | [04] CLASSIC ROCK | This preset closely matches the Marshall Plexi sound needed for the song's crunchy tone. |
| Gain | 6 | Set the gain to 6 to achieve the saturated tube crunch characteristic of the recording. |
| Volume | 5 | Volume at 5 balances output with the desired crunch. |
| Treble | 6 | Treble at 6 ensures a bright top end without becoming harsh. |
| Bass | 5 | Bass at 5 provides a balanced low end, supporting the mid-forward character. |
| Master | 5 | Master volume at 5 allows for dynamic responsiveness and moderate amp sag. |
| Cabinet build | Not used | Not needed for this tone — leave it off. |
| Amp Models | Not used | Not needed for this tone — leave it off. |
What Deep Purple actually used
Recorded in December 1971 at the Pavilion theater and the Grand Hotel in Montreux, Switzerland, using the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio. The song's iconic riff was played on a 1968 Fender Stratocaster through a Marshall Major 200 amplifier, with a Hornby Skewes Treble Booster to enhance the signal. Echo effects were added using a Revox tape recorder.
- 1968 Fender Stratocaster — main. plucked double-stop fourths, neck pickup
- Hornby Skewes Treble Booster — signal boost
- Marshall Major 200 — main
- Revox Tape Recorder — echo
Tuning: Standard
Sources
- https://www.fender.com/en-US/squier-electric-guitars/stratocaster/classic-vibe-stratocaster-60s/0303010500.html
- https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1547905/Fender-Mustang-Lt25.html
- https://www.fender.com/en-US/guitar-amplifiers/contemporary-digital/mustang-lt25/2311100000.html
- https://www.manualslib.com/manual/3126493/Fender-Mustang-Lt25.html
- https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/classic-tones-smoke-on-the-water-deep-purple
- https://www.fender.com/articles/artists/one-track-mind-theres-no-smoke-on-the-water-without-fire
- https://www.deep-purple.net/features/smoke/smoke-on-the-water.html