What guitar did Ritchie Blackmore use on Smoke on the Water?

Ritchie Blackmore used a Gibson ES-335 semi-hollow body guitar on 'Smoke on the Water.' This guitar's humbucker pickups and semi-hollow construction contributed to the warm, sustaining tone heard on the recording.

What amp did Deep Purple use for Smoke on the Water?

The guitar tone on 'Smoke on the Water' was achieved using a Marshall Major amplifier. This was a high-wattage tube head that Blackmore cranked to achieve the thick, overdriven sound characteristic of the song.

How to get Ritchie Blackmore's Smoke on the Water tone?

To recreate this tone, you'll need a guitar with humbucker pickups (preferably a semi-hollow like an ES-335) and a Marshall-style amp with plenty of gain. Crank the mids, add moderate treble, and use enough gain to get thick overdrive with natural tube compression.

Where was Smoke on the Water recorded?

'Smoke on the Water' was recorded at the Grand Hotel in Montreux, Switzerland using the Rolling Stones' mobile recording truck. The band had to use this setup after the original recording venue burned down, which is actually what the song is about.

What pickups did Ritchie Blackmore use on Smoke on the Water?

Blackmore's Gibson ES-335 would have been equipped with Gibson humbucker pickups, likely PAF-style pickups that were standard on ES-335s of that era. These pickups provided the warm, thick tone with good sustain heard on the recording.

lead guitar from "smoke on the water" by deep purple

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Tone Profile

The guitar tone is a thick, overdriven sound with a bright top end and a strong midrange presence, characteristic of a cranked tube amp. It's a classic rock sound, perfect for bluesy riffs and solos.

The Story

Ritchie Blackmore's guitar tone on 'Smoke on the Water' was created using his Gibson ES-335 semi-hollow guitar played through a Marshall Major amplifier. The recording took place at the Grand Hotel in Montreux, Switzerland, using the Rolling Stones' mobile recording truck. The thick, overdriven sound comes from the cranked Marshall Major creating natural tube saturation, combined with the warm character of the ES-335's humbucker pickups.

Production Credits

Producer: Deep Purple

Engineer: unknown

Recorded at: Grand Hotel, Montreux, Switzerland

Signal Chain

Instrument: Gibson ES-335

Amp: Marshall Major

Microphone: unknown

Recreation Tips

Start with a Gibson-style guitar with humbucker pickups.
Use an amp simulator plugin or amplifier capable of a British high-gain sound.
Crank the gain to achieve a thick, overdriven tone with plenty of sustain.
Adjust the EQ to emphasize the midrange frequencies for a focused sound.
Add a touch of reverb for ambience, but keep it subtle.

Original Gear

Gibson ES-335(guitar)
Marshall Major(amp)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Epiphone ES-335$500-$700

Alternative to: Gibson ES-335

Offers the same semi-hollow body construction and humbucker pickup configuration as Blackmore's original, delivering that warm sustain at a budget-friendly price

Marshall DSL100H$800-$900

Alternative to: Marshall Major

Modern Marshall with multiple gain stages that can replicate the cranked Major's thick overdrive and British midrange character

Marshall Plexi Super Lead plugin$200-$250

Alternative to: Marshall Major

Accurately models vintage Marshall circuits including the Major era, allowing you to achieve that cranked tube saturation at any volume

Gibson ES-335 Studio$2000-$2500

Alternative to: Gibson ES-335

Authentic Gibson semi-hollow construction with the same tonal characteristics as vintage models, just without the premium appointments

Boss Blues Breaker BB-2$150-$180

Alternative to: Marshall Major overdrive

Can push a clean amp into Marshall-style overdrive territory, adding that midrange focus and tube-like compression

Sources

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