Author Topic: Richie Sambora's Amps (Read 8225 times)

Bainzy · « **on:** January 21, 2006, 11:43:23 PM »

What amps did Richie Sambora use in the early Bon Jovi albums? I'm thinking the tone on 7800 Farenheit in particular, I really like that Marshall-on-steroids tone, unlike a lot of higher gain tones its chock full of cutting mids that sounds really cool. I know he uses JCM2000 DSL's now.

I suspect he used modded 1959 SuperLeads or JCM800's, but if they were modded, who by? I've heard he had heads modded by Jose Arrendo, and I've got a schematic for his gain stage mods but haven't yet tried it out. Now that I've got my perfect Plexi finished and am really happy with the tone, I'd love to have a 80s style modded Marshall for tonal variation in studio work. Although I've designed my own 100% switchable gain stage mod, I'd like to try whatever Richie was using back in the 80s.

FELINEGUITARS · « **Reply #1 on:** January 22, 2006, 02:06:30 AM »

I saw him on the 7800 tour and he did have a rack of Marshalls then
Also one of the Japanese mags at the time showed his rig and it had Marshalls even though BJ were sponsored by KMD amps at the time

steve · « **Reply #2 on:** January 22, 2006, 09:22:29 AM »

To my knowledge he used the JCM800 on that tour and up to the "New Jersey" tour.He had loads of outboard preamps/rackgear but most of his tone came from the JCM800.The KMD stuff he used for a short while but only for clean tones.In the early 90's he went to Soldano using the SLO.

On the 7800 album he used a custom made Les Paul style guitar with three high output humbuckers and a Floyd Rose.Great tones and playing on that album,very underrated!

steve · « **Reply #3 on:** January 22, 2006, 09:25:19 AM »

On his current Jovi tour he is using Deisel amps.The model is called the "Herbert",tons of thick fat overdrive.I think its his best tone since the early 90's!Can you tell im a fan?

dave_mc · « **Reply #4 on:** January 22, 2006, 04:53:53 PM »

^herbert? :o

aren't they like mega-high gain metal amps?

I tried a VH4, and it was nice (pricey though), apart from the clean channel, which was kinda bland (for the price).

jimi hendrix · « **Reply #5 on:** January 22, 2006, 04:58:36 PM »

Hi, check this out, http://www.nic.fi/~luckyman/richie/rsgear.html

Bainzy · « **Reply #6 on:** January 22, 2006, 08:59:20 PM »

Cool, thanks guys

keith · « **Reply #7 on:** January 22, 2006, 09:17:48 PM »

Dunno about the early albums but im looking at the 2005 Hughes and Kettner catalogue and there is a pic of Richie using these amps (Duotone page)
cheers
keith

steve · « **Reply #8 on:** January 22, 2006, 10:01:50 PM »

He used the Duotone a little on the 'Bounce' Tour.Before that it was the Marshall DSL head.