lead guitar from “kashmir” by led zeppelin | ToneDB
kashmir
led zeppelin
lead guitar
Tone Profile
A heavily overdriven and sustained guitar tone with a distinct, almost violin-like quality. The sound is thick and harmonically rich, providing a soaring melodic voice within the song's epic arrangement.
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The Story
Jimmy Page's lead guitar tone on "Kashmir" was achieved using a Gibson Les Paul tuned to DADGAD through a Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face pedal into a Vox AC30 amplifier. The track was recorded at Headley Grange with engineer Eddie Kramer, who captured the sound using a close-miked Neumann U67 microphone on the AC30 cabinet. The distinctive violin-like sustain comes from the combination of the Fuzz Face's compression and the AC30's natural tube overdrive.
Production Credits
Producer: Jimmy Page
Engineer: Eddie Kramer
Recorded at: Headley Grange
Signal Chain
Instrument: Gibson Les PaulShop on Reverb
Microphone: Neumann U67Shop on Reverb
Processing: Dallas Arbiter Fuzz FaceShop on Reverb
Recreation Tips
- Start with a Gibson Les Paul and tune your guitar to DADGAD.
- Use a Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face (or similar fuzz pedal) with the gain set high.
- Dial in a driven tone on a Vox AC30, aiming for a balance between warmth and bite.
- Experiment with microphone placement to capture the amp's character, focusing on a close mic position.
- Layer the guitar parts meticulously to achieve the density of the original recording.
Original Gear
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Substitutions & Recommendations
Alternative to: Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face
Provides similar thick, sustaining fuzz character at a budget price point, excellent for recreating Page's violin-like leads
Alternative to: Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face
Modern recreation of the exact pedal Page used, with authentic germanium or silicon transistor options for true vintage tone
Alternative to: Vox AC30
Current production version of the classic AC30 with the same EL84 tube character and chimey overdrive that defined the original tone
Alternative to: Gibson Les Paul
Budget-friendly alternative with humbucker pickups that deliver the thick, warm tone essential for Kashmir's sustaining lead lines
Alternative to: Vox AC30 and Fuzz Face combination
Includes accurate AC30 modeling and vintage fuzz effects, perfect for home recording the Kashmir lead tone with modern convenience
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