Song Rig
Whole Lotta Love
Jimmy Page · Led Zeppelin II · 1969
Tone Overview
What Makes This Sound Unique
Thick, powerful Les Paul tone through a Supro amp — less Marshall-saturated than most assume. The riff's power comes from the interaction between the humbuckers and the small recording amp, not from massive gain.
Signal Chain
- 1Gibson Les Paul Standard (bridge humbucker)
- 2Supro 1690T Coronado recording amp
- 3Vox AC30 (some overdubs)
Amp Settings
The Supro was Page's secret weapon for recording — small amp, high volume creates a specific kind of saturation different from the Marshall stage rig. Very bass-heavy for the riff's physical impact.
Technique
How to Play It
The intro riff uses a subtle bow technique (cello bow on guitar strings) for the theremin-like sustain in the middle section — this cannot be replicated with standard technique.
Budget Alternative
Achievable With
Les Paul (or any humbucker guitar) into a small amp cranked hard — a Blues Junior or Princeton Reverb at volume 7–8 gets closer to the recording than a large Marshall.
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