Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin II (Remaster) album cover

Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin II (Remaster)

Album 1969

The music gear and equipment used by the artists, producers, engineers, and more involved in the making of the 1969 album Led Zeppelin II (Remaster).

Music from Led Zeppelin II (Remaster)

Gear Used On Led Zeppelin II (Remaster)

Explore the instruments, equipment, software, and production tools used in the making of Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin II (Remaster) (1969). Click more on each item to see exactly how it was used.

Amplifiers used by John Paul Jones on Led Zeppelin II (Remaster)

Bass Amplifier Heads

Marshall JMP Model 1992 Super Bass (1967-1975)

Avg price: $2,854.83

While more commonly associated with Acoustic amps, here is a promo shoot of him with Marshalls and there are concert videos from the LZII tour where he played in front of a Marshall.

Keyboards and Synthesizers used by John Paul Jones on Led Zeppelin II (Remaster)

Organs

Hammond C-3

Avg price: $3,100.00

In this photo, Jones's Hammond C-3 organ can be seen on stage during a Led Zeppelin concert. The Keyboards of Led Zeppelin & John Paul Jones website covers Jones's use of the Hammond C-3:

John Paul Jones often recorded with a Hammond C3, and it was a common instrument on many of their early tours. Led Zeppelin's most memorable organ track, "Thank You," was recorded in 1969 at Morgan Studios in London. On this song, Jones's beautiful organ parts are the main support during the verses. His style here reflects his many years playing organ in church as a boy. The organ is restrained, with no vibrato or distortion, and avoids sounding like a blues or jazz instrument. A tape delay, which echoes the organ track in the opposing speaker, creates an echo effect that enhances the "church" mood. At the same studio sessions, "Since I've Been Loving You" was recorded, but it was not released until Led Zeppelin III a year later.

The Hammond was a very common sight on Jones' right side of the stage from 1970 until 1975. The Hammond was always run through a Leslie speaker, which has become the traditional way to amplify a Hammond. The Leslie speaker contains an amplifier and "spinning speaker" system that gives the sound animation and energy. Unfortunately, the Leslie amp was only 45 watts -- certainly not enough to be heard clearly on the loud stages of Led Zeppelin. So, the band would put the Leslie offstage in the dressing room and place microphones near it to send sound to the mixer. This clever arrangement created problems on a few occasions! Jones recalls: "People used to go in to the dressing room and shout things over the microphones. It would come over the PA... (laughs)." By the 1977 tour though, Jones was regretting not taking the Hammond with him, but admitted that there were already too many keyboard instruments covering the stage. There just was not enough room for it.

Bass Guitars used by John Paul Jones on Led Zeppelin II (Remaster)

Electric Basses

Fender Jazz Bass

Avg price: $1,175.62

"Bought for $250 to keep up with his heavy load of work as a session musician, Jones’s sunburst 1962 Jazz Bass was his main axe for his work with Led Zeppelin.

Jones used this bass on almost every Led Zeppelin track live and in the studio up until 1975, where he had to retire the instrument due to issues with the action and electronics.

Later on, JPJ would revive his love affair with the Jazz Bass for his work in the studio with Them Crooked Vultures, and would occasionally bring it out for live appearances."

Source: https://mixdownmag.com.au/features/gear-rundown-john-paul-jones/

Jones confirmed that he used a 1962 Fender Jazz Bass in an interview with Vintage Guitar, stating "I was just never that particular about keeping things original. Even my old Fender bass that I used in Zeppelin has gone through many re-sprays and this and that. I probably shouldn’t have, but it’s a ’62 Jazz Bass which I bought new. I bought it to play, not to hang on the wall; I hate instruments hanging on walls. They’re hanging on all my walls, but I use them all."

Source: https://www.vintageguitar.com/2898/john-paul-jones/

Guitars used by Jimmy Page on Led Zeppelin II (Remaster)

Solid Body Electric Guitars

Gibson Jimmy Page “Number One” Les Paul

Avg price: $11,500.00

Jimmy Page's first Les Paul, a 1959 Gibson Les Paul known as "Number One," was purchased from Joe Walsh. It made its debut on the album "Led Zeppelin II." This is evidenced by a user-uploaded photo.

Steel-string Acoustic Guitars

Gibson B-25

Avg price: $1,299.00

Jimmy Page can be seen playing a 1968 Gibson B-25 acoustic during the recording of Led Zeppelin 2. He most likely used this for the song "Thank You" along with his Vox Phantom VII. It's unknown if he borrowed this guitar for the album recording or if he owned it.

Drum Sets used by John Bonham on Led Zeppelin II (Remaster)

Drum Sets

Ludwig Thermo Gloss Natural Maple Drumkit

John Bonham received the Ludwig Thermo Gloss Natural Maple drumkit after getting his official endorsement from Ludwig. Carmine Appice, drummer for Vanilla Fudge, personally rang up the Ludwig factory after John Bonham had expressed an interest in getting a drumkit like Appice's. The original kit that Ludwig sent to Bonham was had a double kick drum. Jimmy Page told him to take one kick drum out because his drumming was so loud with the extra kicker that he would need more amplifiers and monitors to hear himself play. Bonham played the maple kit at the beginning of Led Zeppelin's first US Tour in December 1968. This was the drumkit used to to record Led Zeppelin II and was used until the end of the Spring 1970 US Tour.