Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page built Led Zeppelin from the ruins of The Yardbirds and created the template for hard rock guitar. His studio production work — recording live rooms with distant microphones, backwards tape effects, violin bows on guitar — was as revolutionary as his playing. His use of acoustic guitar, alternate tunings and Eastern influences gave him a breadth no contemporary matched.
Vintage Les Paul Standard into a Marshall Super Lead — massive, mid-forward rock tone with singing sustain. On acoustic: open tunings and DADGAD for 'Kashmir' and 'Bron-Y-Aur Stomp'. Legendary for crunching up a Vox AC30 on early Zeppelin and Supro amps on the debut album.
Guitars
Gibson Les Paul Standard "Number One"
1969–present1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard — the primary studio guitar from 1969 onwards.
Full specs & buy →Gibson Les Paul Custom "Black Beauty"
1966–19693-pickup 1960 Les Paul Custom — "Whole Lotta Love" era recording guitar.
Full specs & buy →Fender Telecaster (Dragon)
1966–1972Paisley and Dragon-painted Telecasters used in Yardbirds and early Zeppelin.
Gibson EDS-1275 Double-Neck
1972–1975Used for "Stairway to Heaven" live — 6-string and 12-string.
Martin D-28
1969–presentAcoustic for "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp" and "Going to California".
Amplifiers
Marshall Super Lead 100W "Plexi"
1968–1980Primary touring amp. Stacked pairs. Played at full volume — the distortion came from the output stage, not the preamp.
Supro Coronado
1968"Whole Lotta Love" tone — small Supro combo cranked. The first Zeppelin album was recorded with this amp.
Orange OR120
1972–1975Used during the Physical Graffiti-era live recordings alongside Marshalls.
Vox AC30
1966–1967Used on select Yardbirds recordings.
Effects Pedals
Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
Used on "Dazed and Confused" intro and various Zeppelin solos.
Roger Mayer Tone Bender MkII
1966–1969Primary fuzz during Yardbirds and early Zeppelin.
Maestro Echoplex EP-3
1968–1975Tape echo for "Whole Lotta Love" theremin section, "Heartbreaker" solos.
Sola Sound Tone Bender
1966Used on some early recordings.
Key Albums & Tone
Supro amp captured in a stairwell — raw, live blues tone.
Marshalls cranked — "Whole Lotta Love" and "Heartbreaker" are the essential tracks.
"Black Dog", "Rock and Roll" and "Stairway to Heaven" show the full range of his playing and tone.
"Kashmir" — DADGAD tuning and Eastern-influenced tone. Timeless.
Frequently Asked Questions
What guitar does Jimmy Page use?
Gibson Les Paul Standard "Number One" and Gibson Les Paul Custom "Black Beauty". 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard — the primary studio guitar from 1969 onwards.
What amp does Jimmy Page use?
Marshall Super Lead 100W "Plexi" and Supro Coronado. Primary touring amp. Stacked pairs. Played at full volume — the distortion came from the output stage, not the preamp.
What pedals does Jimmy Page use?
Jimmy Page uses Dunlop Cry Baby Wah, Roger Mayer Tone Bender MkII, Maestro Echoplex EP-3 and more.
What is Jimmy Page's signature sound?
Vintage Les Paul Standard into a Marshall Super Lead — massive, mid-forward rock tone with singing sustain. On acoustic: open tunings and DADGAD for 'Kashmir' and 'Bron-Y-Aur Stomp'. Legendary for crunching up a Vox AC30 on early Zeppelin and Supro amps on the debut album.