What guitar did Phil Collen use on Photograph rhythm parts?

Phil Collen used Gibson Les Paul guitars for the rhythm tracks on "Photograph." The Les Paul's humbucker pickups provided the thick, sustaining tone that anchored the song's heavy rhythm sound.

What amp did Def Leppard use to record Photograph?

Def Leppard used Marshall JCM800 amplifiers to record the rhythm guitars on "Photograph." These amps were the cornerstone of their '80s sound, providing the classic British crunch tone that defined much of their Pyromania album.

How to get Def Leppard Photograph guitar tone?

Start with a Les Paul-style guitar through a Marshall JCM800 or similar high-gain British amp. Add chorus and dimension effects for width, then layer multiple rhythm tracks panned slightly left and right to create the signature thick, wide sound.

What effects did Def Leppard use on Photograph guitar?

The key effects were chorus (including Rockman units) and Roland Dimension D for stereo width and movement. These effects were crucial for creating the layered, spacious guitar sound that made the rhythm parts sound massive and wide in the mix.

Why does Def Leppard Photograph guitar sound so wide?

The wide guitar sound comes from layering multiple rhythm guitar tracks with slight panning, combined with chorus and dimension effects. This technique, perfected by producer Mutt Lange, created a wall of sound that became a signature of '80s rock production.

rhythm guitar from "photograph" by def leppard

photograph

def leppard

rhythm guitar

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Tone Profile

A classic '80s hard rock rhythm guitar sound, characterized by its powerful crunch, sustain, and slightly scooped midrange. The tone is thick and layered, providing a solid foundation for the song.

The Story

Def Leppard's "Photograph" rhythm guitar tone was built on Gibson Les Pauls through Marshall JCM800 amplifiers, recorded at Wisseloord Studios with producer Mutt Lange. The signature sound came from layering multiple rhythm guitar tracks and using chorus effects like the Rockman units and Roland Dimension D to create width and thickness. Shure SM57 microphones were used to close-mic the Marshall cabinets, capturing the direct punch of the amps.

Production Credits

Producer: Robert John 'Mutt' Lange

Engineer: Mike Shipley

Recorded at: Wisseloord Studios, Hilversum, Netherlands

Signal Chain

Instrument: Gibson Les Paul

Amp: Marshall JCM800

Microphone: Shure SM57

Processing: Rockman Chorus, Roland Dimension D

Recreation Tips

Start with a Gibson Les Paul and a Marshall JCM800 amplifier.
Use a moderate gain setting on the amp to achieve a balanced crunch.
Add chorus and dimension effects sparingly to avoid excessive modulation.
Experiment with microphone placement to capture the desired cabinet sound.
Layer multiple guitar tracks, panning them slightly to create a wide stereo image.

Original Gear

Substitutions & Recommendations

Marshall Studio Classic SC20H$800-$900

Alternative to: Marshall JCM800

20-watt JCM800 circuit reissue that delivers authentic '80s Marshall crunch at manageable volumes for home recording

Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50s$500-$600

Alternative to: Gibson Les Paul

Budget-friendly Les Paul with humbuckers that captures the thick, sustaining tone of the original Gibson models

Boss CE-2W Waza Craft Chorus$200-$250

Alternative to: Rockman Chorus

Premium chorus pedal with vintage voicing modes that recreates the wide, shimmering chorus effect essential to this layered sound

Boss DM-2W Waza Craft Dimension C$200-$250

Alternative to: Roland Dimension D

Faithful recreation of the Roland Dimension D circuit, providing the subtle stereo width and movement heard on the original recordings

Neural DSP Fortin Nameless Suite$140-$160

Alternative to: Marshall JCM800 + effects chain

High-quality amp modeling plugin with built-in effects that can recreate the layered Marshall crunch and chorus effects digitally

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

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rhythm guitar from “photograph” by def leppard | ToneDB