“With them Marshall 800s? There honestly ain’t a lot to it”: Steve Jones reveals the secrets of his Sex Pistols guitar tone
Steve Jones has shared the secret to his guitar tone for performing as part of the Sex Pistols, and it’s pretty straightforward.
Jones has recently been gigging with fellow Pistols Paul Cook and Glen Matlock as part of a reunion band fronted by Frank Carter (Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes). The band formed in June 2024 for two London shows, and went on to tour the UK across September. They’ll also be heading to next year’s Download festival.
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Part of what made the Sex Pistols seminal punk catalogue so revered was its simplicity – a sentiment echoed in Jones’ rig. Speaking to Classic Rock for its January print edition, he states, “I pretty much plug in. I do have a few pedals – one to make it louder when I do lead, a wah-wah, and a Phase 90 for Anarchy [In The UK] – but that’s it.
“But with them Marshall 800s? There honestly ain’t a lot to it. When I started, my biggest fear was to leave an empty hole when I did lead, so my main focus was on chords, doing eighth notes, and when I did do lead I did Chuck Berry, because you’re hitting three strings at once, and it fills that hole,” he explains.
Earlier in the interview, speaking of the band’s reunion project with Carter, Jones explains, “For me, at 69, if it ain’t fun I ain’t doing it. And with Frank it’s beyond fun. We get to play those songs, Frank ain’t trying to be John [Lydon], and I couldn’t be happier. Who knows how long we’re gonna go on for. We’ll definitely be touring next year, with the same line-up, and maybe add a few more songs.”
Download Festival will take place on 13-15 June 2025. Tickets are on sale now.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
