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Guitar Tone
George uses a variety of Marshall amplifiers from the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, all running through Marshall 4x12 cabinets loaded with 75-watt Celestion speakers. Each amplifier contains different types of tubes and is uniquely configured and calibrated. George prefers very little gain in pursuit of pristine clarity and precise note articulation. As seen in the amplifier settings below, the gain on each amp is deliberately kept very low. A Tube Screamer is sometimes used for rhythm or lead lines, but not always. The following is a detailed examination of George’s favorite amplifiers and their respective settings.
Marshall
MKII 50 Watt Plexi Head
This is a 1976 Marshall MKII 50-watt Plexi head. It first appeared on George’s album Mind Over Matter and has been used extensively on many releases since. The amplifier is loaded with JJ 6550 power tubes and an NOS Raytheon 12AX7A preamp tube in V1. The channels are not jumped, and Input 1 is always used. The capacitors have been replaced, while the original transformer remains.
Amp Settings
Marshall
JCM 800 100 Watt Head
This is a Marshall JCM 800 100-watt head. It first appeared on George’s album The Dawn of Time and has been used on other albums since. The amplifier is loaded with JJ EL34 power tubes, sometimes JJ E34Ls, and JJ ECC83 preamp tubes in V1–V3. The high-sensitivity input is almost always used. The capacitors have been replaced, and the amplifier has not been modified.
Amp Settings
Marshall
JCM 900 100 Watt Head
This is a Marshall JCM 900 100-watt head. It first appeared on George’s album Venomous Fingers and has been used on numerous releases since. The amplifier is loaded with JJ 5881 power tubes, a rare NOS JAN-Philips ECG 8652 12AX7WA preamp tube in V1, and a JJ ECC83 in V3. Channel B is always used for gain, while Channel A is occasionally used for clean tones. The capacitors have been replaced, and the amplifier has not been modified.
Amp Settings
Marshall
1959 Super Lead 100 Watt Plexi Head
This is a Marshall 1959 Super Lead MKII 100-watt Plexi head. It is by far the loudest amplifier in George’s arsenal. This is a non-master-volume amplifier, with its volume set at an ear-blistering four. It represents a slightly higher-gain stage than the 50-watt Plexi; with its 100-watt power section, it breaks up later. The amplifier is loaded with JJ EL34 power tubes and a rare NOS JAN-Philips ECG 8652 12AX7WA preamp tube in V1 and a JJ ECC83 in V3. The channels are not jumped, and Input 1 is primarily used. The amplifier has not been modified.
Amp Settings
Tube Screamers
George uses a variety of Tube Screamers, with the specific unit selected according to the guitar and amplifier combination being used. His collection ranges from stock TS9s to a Keeley-modified Turbo Tube Screamer, as well as boutique Tube Screamers custom-built for George by Nokina Designs.
The custom-built Tube Screamers contain an assortment of rare vintage and modern integrated circuits. These one-of-a-kind instruments were built specifically for George and are not available to the public.
The following are some of the Tube Screamers in The Worldarium.
Low-Gain Philosophy
George deliberately maintains exceptionally low amplifier gain, allowing the articulation, dynamics, and physical execution of each note to remain exposed. Rather than relying on saturation to create sustain or density, the system preserves headroom and responds directly to the player’s touch.
LOW GAIN → HIGH DYNAMIC RESPONSE → NOTE ARTICULATION
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