{"id":869819,"date":"2025-01-16T14:30:55","date_gmt":"2025-01-16T13:30:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/?p=869819"},"modified":"2026-04-07T12:39:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T10:39:10","slug":"the-linkin-park-signature-sound-amps-guitars-secrets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/en\/gear\/the-linkin-park-signature-sound-amps-guitars-secrets\/","title":{"rendered":"The Linkin Park Signature Sound: Amps, Guitars & Secrets!"},"content":{"rendered":"

For an entire generation (if not two), the songs by the Californian band Linkin Park are the soundtrack of their youth \u2013 the perfect sonic mirror image of the existential doubts, fears, and emotive sensitivity that characterize this formative phase of life. It is the ideal age to fall in love with an album that will stay with you for the rest of your life. Anyone who was 15 when Hybrid Theory, Meteora, or even The Hunting Party came out will never forget that time.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"son<\/a>
James Minchin III (rights holder), CeriRoberts (Warner Records representative)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Even those who were at U Arena in Nanterre on 3 November 2024, when the reborn Linkin Park made a triumphant comeback, will never forget that day! Our ears are still ringing from that powerful sound.<\/p>\n

To celebrate this successful comeback, we look back at the highlights of the band\u2019s history \u2013 especially the guitarists’ gear. \ud83c\udfb8<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hybrid Theory and the love for PRS<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Mike Shinoda, the band’s creative mastermind, switches effortlessly between keyboard<\/strong>, guitar<\/strong>, and vocals<\/strong>. He usually keeps pretty quiet about his gear preferences. Brad Delson, the iconic guitarist who always wears headphones, is different: his love of Paul Reed Smith’s guitars is no secret.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Custom 24 is my main guitar live and probably the one we\u2019ve had in the rack the longest. It gives us that consistent tone we\u2019re looking for and it\u2019s a really nice looking guitar.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"PRS<\/a>
PRS Custom 24 CH<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Delson has sworn by PRS guitars since the first album Hybrid Theory<\/strong> (2000). Back then, he used a CE24 for the recordings before switching to the Custom 24, which he is still known for today.<\/p>\n

\"PRS<\/a>
PRS CE 24 Fire Red Burst<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The main difference: While the Custom 24 has a set neck, the CE24 has a bolt-on neck. However, both models share the double cut mahogany body with flamed maple top.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Chiragddude, en.wikipedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Delson usually tunes his guitars to Drop D or Drop C#<\/strong>. For the low notes in \u201cWith You,\u201d he used a 7-string Ibanez RG<\/strong><\/a>. But the PRS Custom 24 remains his favorite for a rich, powerful sound. The grey or red Custom models emblazoned with the soldier from the Hybrid Theory cover are particularly noteworthy.<\/p>\n

\"Ibanez<\/a>
Ibanez RG7421EX-BKF<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

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Infinite gain: Amps for the signature sound<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When it comes to amps, Delson is a fan of the Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier<\/strong>. In the music video for \u201cNumb\u201d<\/u><\/strong><\/a>, two of these amps can be seen behind him. They are unmistakable with their metal-reinforced fronts. Since its introduction in 1992, the Dual Rectifier has been a mainstay of the metal sound of the 90s and 2000s<\/strong>. It is cherished for its compressed sound and seemingly limitless gain \u2013 perfect for Delson\u2019s distinctive power chords full of saturation.<\/p>\n

\"Mesa<\/a>
Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier Head<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A 100-watt amp is oversized for many, especially when you consider the price of American-made amps. But the sound of the Dual Rectifier<\/strong> is now also available in most amp simulators, some of which come in pedal form, e.g., the UAFX Knuckles or Walrus ACS1.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Walrus<\/a>
Walrus Audio MAKO ACS1 MK II<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Universal<\/a>
Universal Audio UAFX Knuckles<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On Meteora<\/u><\/strong><\/a>, Delson experimented for the first time with combining different amps: in addition to the Mesa, he added a Marshall Super Lead (the legendary Plexi) to blend their sonic characteristics.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Boss Pedalboard<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Brad<\/a>
Brad Delson at Soundwave 2013 \u2013 rights: Chealse Vo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Delson prefers robust and reliable pedals, especially from Boss<\/strong>. He uses the Noise Gate NS-2<\/strong> (the famous \u201cNoise Suppressor\u201d) to eliminate unwanted background noise from the Dual Rectifier<\/strong>. In addition to two CS-3 compressor pedals with different settings, he sometimes applies distinctive effects such as the CE-5 Chorus, BF-3 Flanger, and Ibanez LF-7. While the latter is out of production, it can be replaced by modern alternatives such as the Source Audio Artifakt. Everything you need to reproduce lo-fi sounds created in the studio.<\/p>\n\n\t\t