Tone library / Led Zeppelin / Stairway to Heaven

Stairway to Heaven amp settings — C.Giant M-20

The Led Zeppelin guitar tone for “Stairway to Heaven”, dialed in for a C.Giant M-20 with a Harley Benton SC-Custom II. Studio version solo, Led Zeppelin IV (1971)

Original rig

1959 Fender Telecaster (bridge pickup) into a 1959 Supro 1690T Coronado (1x12 mod)

Cranked small-tube-amp bite with raw upper-mid cut and singing sustain
Amp settings — C.Giant M-20
CHANNELOverdrive / Distortion Switch ONBOOSToff
GAIN 7 BASS 5 MID 7 TREBLE 7 MASTER 6
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain7
Bass5
Mid7
Treble7
Master6
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Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE9 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01Sola Sound Tone Bender MkII / Fuzz

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. To get true vintage fuzz sustain, add a Tone Bender style fuzz into the clean channel.

Attack 6 · Level 7
Why these settings

The C.Giant M-20 is a basic solid-state practice amp with 3-band EQ (no presence or built-in reverb knobs), so engage its onboard Overdrive channel at gain 7 to mimic the cranked Supro's saturation. Because the SC-Custom II has thicker humbuckers compared to Jimmy Page's biting 1959 Telecaster bridge pickup, push treble and mids to 7 while keeping bass moderate to cut through without getting muddy. Adding an external Tone Bender-style fuzz or boost down the road is the ideal upgrade for sustaining the solo's soaring bends.

PRO TIPPick firmly right next to the bridge saddles to recreate the cutting top-end bite and harmonic snap of Jimmy Page's Telecaster on the iconic opening phrase of the solo.

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These settings are for a C.Giant M-20. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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