Slash Gear Guide
A quick-reference guide to Slash's guitars, amplifiers and effects, organized by gear category and musical period.
A Les Paul into a Marshall is the familiar foundation, but specific guitars and amps changed across studio sessions and tours.
Quick overview
| Category | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| Kris Derrig Les Paul copy | The sunburst Les Paul copy is closely associated with Appetite for Destruction and later recordings. | Signature guitar |
| Marshall JCM800 2203 | Classic high-volume British head associated with the Appetite-era sound. | Main amplifier reference |
| Dunlop Cry Baby wah | Foot-controlled filter sweep. | Recognizable effect |
Guitars
| Gear / reference | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| Kris Derrig Les Paul copy | The sunburst Les Paul copy is closely associated with Appetite for Destruction and later recordings. | Late 1980s onward |
| Gibson Les Paul Standards | Multiple Les Pauls with different pickups, finishes and setups. | Guns N' Roses studio and touring |
| Gibson Les Paul Goldtop | P-90-equipped Goldtop used for alternate tones. | Selected recordings and live songs |
| BC Rich Mockingbird | Distinctive alternate guitar used on selected parts. | Studio / stage use varies |
| Guild acoustic guitars | Acoustic instruments used for contrasting arrangements. | Ballads and unplugged performances |
| Signature Gibson / Epiphone Les Pauls | Artist models reflect familiar Slash specifications. | Later touring / backup |
Amplifiers
| Gear / reference | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| Marshall JCM800 2203 | Classic high-volume British head associated with the Appetite-era sound. | Early Guns N' Roses |
| Marshall Silver Jubilee 2555 | 100-watt head famously connected with Slash's stage tone. | Use Your Illusion and later periods |
| Marshall AFD100 | Signature amplifier inspired by the Appetite-era sound. | Later tours and studio work |
| Marshall cabinets | 4×12 cabinets paired with various heads. | Large live rigs |
| Friedman and other amps | Additional modern amplifiers appear in touring and studio setups. | Rig changes by date |
Effects
| Gear / reference | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| Dunlop Cry Baby wah | Foot-controlled filter sweep. | “Sweet Child o' Mine” and many solos |
| MXR / Boss delay | Echo and spatial depth. | Solo endings and live arrangements |
| Chorus / modulation | Adds width or movement to selected parts. | Song-dependent |
| Overdrive / boost | Pushes amplifier input or provides additional gain. | Later pedalboards |
| Direct, amp-driven signal | Many signature rhythm tones rely primarily on guitar and amplifier. | Avoid assuming a large pedal chain |
Era and song guide
| Gear / reference | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| Appetite for Destruction (1987) | Les Paul copy and Marshall JCM800-era amplification. | “Welcome to the Jungle,” “Sweet Child o' Mine” |
| “Sweet Child o' Mine” | Les Paul, Marshall drive and wah in the lead sections. | Live and studio versions differ |
| “Paradise City” | Les Paul and Marshall-style high-gain sound. | Album and stage setups evolved |
| Use Your Illusion era | Les Pauls, Silver Jubilee and expanded stage effects. | “November Rain,” “You Could Be Mine” |
| Slash's Snakepit | Changing guitars and amps beyond the classic GNR rig. | Separate band and album period |
| Velvet Revolver | Les Paul-based sound with later amp choices. | Tour and studio gear varied |
| Solo / later touring | Signature Les Pauls and multiple Marshall models. | Modern rigs include redundancy |