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lead guitar from “(i can't get no) satisfaction” by the rolling stones | ToneDB

(i can't get no) satisfaction

the rolling stones

lead guitar

AI generatedv1.0

Tone Profile

Fuzzy, sustained, and aggressive, this tone defines raw rock and roll energy. It's the sound of rebellion and primal guitar riffing.

Gear

Gibson Maestro FZ-1 Fuzz-Toneinstrument
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Vox AC30amp
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The Story

Keith Richards' iconic lead guitar tone on '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction' was created using a Gibson Maestro FZ-1 Fuzz-Tone pedal into a Vox AC30 amplifier. The FZ-1 was one of the first commercially available fuzz pedals, and Richards originally intended the fuzzy guitar riff as a placeholder that would later be replaced by horns. The raw, aggressive sound of the fuzz pedal through the AC30's British tube tone became one of rock's most recognizable riffs.

Production Credits

Producer: Andrew Loog Oldham

Engineer: Glyn Johns

Recorded at: RCA Studios, Hollywood

Signal Chain

Instrument: Gibson Maestro FZ-1 Fuzz-Tone

Amp: Vox AC30

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a guitar equipped with humbucker pickups for a thicker tone.
  • Use a fuzz pedal modeled after the Gibson Maestro FZ-1 Fuzz-Tone. Many modern fuzz pedals can emulate this sound.
  • Pair the fuzz pedal with a Vox AC30 model or similar British-style amplifier known for its bright and chimey tone.
  • Experiment with the fuzz and amp gain settings to find the sweet spot between saturation and clarity.

Original Gear

  • Gibson Maestro FZ-1 Fuzz-Tone(pedal)
  • Vox AC30(amp)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Dunlop Fuzz Face Mini Germanium$180-$200

Alternative to: Gibson Maestro FZ-1 Fuzz-Tone

Germanium transistors provide vintage-style fuzz saturation similar to the FZ-1's aggressive, buzzy character

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Boss FZ-5 Fuzz$100-$130

Alternative to: Gibson Maestro FZ-1 Fuzz-Tone

Budget option with vintage fuzz modes that can approximate the harsh, sustained fuzz tone of the original

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Vox AC30C2X$1400-$1600

Alternative to: Vox AC30

Modern reissue of the original AC30 with the same bright, chimey tube tone that shaped the recording

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Vox AC15C1$600-$700

Alternative to: Vox AC30

Lower-wattage version with similar Vox tube character and EL84 breakup at manageable volumes

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Amplitube 5 Fuzz-Tone + AC30 models$200-$300

Alternative to: Complete signal chain

Digital recreations of both the Maestro Fuzz-Tone and AC30 allow precise tone matching in a DAW

ReverbSweetwater

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

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