How to Dial In "The Wanton Song" by Led Zeppelin - Guitar Tone Settings
The Gear Behind "The Wanton Song"
Original Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
These numbers are for a Super Lead. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
The riff is a descending octave figure hammered with almost no let-up, and the striking sound in the middle sections is Page running the guitar through a Leslie rotating speaker cabinet — that swirling, phase-shifting quality is a real rotating speaker rather than a phaser, which is the usual mistake when people reproduce it. Standard tuning. Recorded 1974 at Headley Grange with the Rolling Stones Mobile. Keep gain moderate and mids up: the riff is played in unison with the bass and needs to stay tight rather than blooming. The delay entry here stands in for the Leslie, which the catalogue does not carry; a rotary effect is the closer substitute if you have one.
Common Questions About the "The Wanton Song" Tone
What guitar did Led Zeppelin use on "The Wanton Song"?
Led Zeppelin tracked "The Wanton Song" on a Les Paul (released 1975). The Gibson Les Paul Standard '60s named above is a modern equivalent, not the guitar on the record. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "The Wanton Song" need?
On a Super Lead: Gain 6, Bass 5, Mid 6.5, Treble 7, Presence 6.5, Volume 7. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale; match them on your amp first, then nudge to taste. ToneMirror can translate these positions for whatever amp you actually own.
Can I play "The Wanton Song" without a Super Lead?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "The Wanton Song" tone on a Katana, a Helix, a tube combo, or anything else. The translation accounts for EQ curve, gain structure, and pickup type so the result actually sounds like the record, not just the same knob numbers on different gear.
What pedals are on "The Wanton Song"?
The original signal chain for "The Wanton Song" runs through a Memory Man. The Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man named above is a modern equivalent - it came out after the record. Whether you own those exact units or close substitutes, ToneMirror maps the pedal voicings onto the pedalboard you actually have.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "The Wanton Song" by Led Zeppelin are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.