What amp did Daniel Johns use on Frogstomp?

Johns used a Marshall JCM900 Dual Reverb 100W — his primary amp for the Frogstomp era. He later switched to a Soldano Hot Rod 100 from Freak Show onward.

What guitar did Silverchair use on Frogstomp?

Most likely a Gibson Firebird — confirmed by forum sources stating 'he used a Firebird into a JCM900.' He also acquired a PRS Custom 24 around 1995, but the exact guitar on Shade isn't definitively confirmed.

How to get the Shade tone?

Use a Marshall-style amp. Set the clean channel for warm arpeggios, and switch to a moderate crunch for choruses. Keep the gain relatively low — this isn't a heavily distorted song. Focus on clean-to-crunch dynamics.

Grunge & Alternative1995Frogstomp

Shade Amp Settings

by Silverchair

Shade is a contemplative departure on Silverchair's raw grunge debut Frogstomp — featuring clean arpeggiated verses and moderately distorted choruses through Daniel Johns' Marshall JCM900, produced by Kevin 'Caveman' Shirley with a 'capture the performance' philosophy.

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What Makes This Tone Iconic

Where most of Frogstomp is aggressive grunge assault, Shade reveals the dynamic range of a band that was 15 years old at the time of recording. The tone alternates between warm, slightly overdriven cleans for arpeggiated chord passages and a fuller British midrange grind for the choruses. Kevin Shirley's live-feel production on a Neve 8028 console preserves the song's intimacy while Andy Wallace's mixing adds clarity.

Key Tone Elements

Gibson Firebird or PRS Custom 24 (specific guitar uncertain)
Marshall JCM900 Dual Reverb 100W — clean and overdrive channels
Clean arpeggios in verses, moderate distortion in choruses
Standard tuning, ~71 BPM contemplative tempo
Kevin Shirley's live-feel production at Festival Studios, Sydney

Original Recording Settings

EstimatedResearched tone data for "Shade" by Silverchair

Original Gear

Guitar: Gibson Firebird (black/white, most likely) or PRS Custom 24 (emerald green)
Pickups: If Firebird: stock mini-humbuckers. If PRS Custom 24: PRS HFS (bridge) / Vintage Bass (neck). (bridge (heavy sections), neck (clean arpeggios))
Amplifier: Marshall JCM900 Dual Reverb 100W
Channel: Overdrive (heavy), clean (arpeggios)
Tuning: standard
Pickup Selector: bridge (heavy), neck (clean)
Strings: D'Addario EXL116 (0.011-0.052) documented generally for Johns

Johns' primary Frogstomp-era amp per UberProAudio and Equipboard. Forum: 'he used a Firebird into a JCM900' for Frogstomp. Soldano Hot Rod 100 came later (Freak Show onward). Recorded at Festival Studios, Sydney, produced by Kevin 'Caveman' Shirley. Neve 8028 console, Neve 1081 preamps. Mixed by Andy Wallace. Band members were 15 years old.

Amp Settings

No settings available

Effects Chain

→

Pro Co RAT 2

distortion

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1.Pro Co RAT 2 — Part of Johns' early rig. 'Shade' is cleaner than most Frogstomp tracks — minimal pedal use likely.

Playing Technique

Clean arpeggiated guitar in verses with more distorted sound in choruses. ~71 BPM, contemplative. More melodic and restrained than heavier Frogstomp tracks. Chord-based playing (C, G, Dm, F progressions).

Sources+

Equipboard: Daniel Johns profile — guitar history, pedalboard.
UberProAudio: 'Silverchair — Daniel Johns Guitar Gear Rig and Equipment'.
Fractal Audio Forum: 'Silverchair — Frogstomp/Freak Show' thread — Firebird/JCM900.
Gearspace Forum: Festival Studios signal chain (Neve 8028, 1081s, AKG C12, RCA 44).
Discogs / Wikipedia: Frogstomp credits (Kevin Shirley, Festival Studios).