Tom DeLonge has been the guitarist and singer in many popular bands, most famous being Blink 182. Tom also did a side project with Travis Barker called Box Car Racer. In 2005 Tom started the band Angels and Airwaves (aka AVA).

Let's look at some of the gear and equipment that has been seen in Tom's guitar rig over the years.

Image by team obama 08. C.C. Attribution 2.0 Generic license

Click the gear images for more info and specs at Musician's Friend

Guitars
- Gibson Tom Delonge signature ES-333 guitars (has a Dirty Fingers pickup in bridge and no neck pickup) There is also an epiphone model, pictured below

- Fender Custom Shop strats (including Tom Delonge signature model)

- Fender Tornado's
- Fender Jagmaster
- Gibson Les Paul Standard (Black)

- Fender Fat Stratocaster (Seymour Duncan Invader Pickup)

- Taylor acoustic guitars (614ce, etc...)





Amps and Cabinets

- Vox AC30 (x2 for dirty)

- Fender Twin Reverb amps (x2 for clean)

- 1x12 Orange combo amp

- Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier
- Marshall JCM900
- Mesa 2x12 and 4x12 cabinets




Effects and More
- Shure UHF wireless systems
- Furman Power Conditioner

- Palmer PGA4 Speaker Simulators
- T.C Electronics G-Force Multi Fx Unit

- Digital Music Corp GCX Switcher/Router

- Marshall JMP1 Midi Pre-Amp
- Mesa Boogie Tri-Axis Midi Preamp
- Mesa Boogie Simulclass 2:90 Preamp
- Marshall EL34 100/100 Power Amp

- Custom Audio Electronics footswitch

In a 2008 interview Tom mentioned he used these pedals in the studio:

- MXR EVH flanger

- MXR phaser

- Boss DD-6 Digital Delay

- Electro-Harmonix Micro Synth guitar pedal

- Line 6 Constrictor

Strings, Picks and More
- Ernie Ball “Skinny Top, Heavy Bottom” .010 - .052 gauged strings

- Dunlop .60mm Tortex Standard picks

- Jim Dunlop Curved Capo C-4 - used on his hollowbody. (Thanks to Ian for the research on this)

Comments

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blake   |2010-08-27 19:49:22 does anyone know the delay time for the intro to the war? Reply 0   0

Sean  - Delay Settings   |2010-08-26 15:31:35 Anyone know the settings he uses on his delay pedal? Reply 0   0

Jimi.G   |2010-09-01 15:18:20 u need to set the delay time rele fast and put the foldback for quite long cuz they're quick delays but they last for ages. If you got a boss DD-3 set ur delay time to a 3rd the way up, set the mode at 800ms and the foldback about midway. he also uses a flange so it sweeps too. Reply 0   0

Sam   |2010-08-13 03:29:15 I see an Orange combo is listed as part of Tom's gear. Anyone know which model, or when he used it? Reply 0   0

Sal  - Orange Combo   |2010-08-25 13:45:10 Tom stated he couldn't recall the exact model but that it was orange's version of the AC30.. so im thinking it's the RK30TC 30W 1x12 Tube amp from orange... he had one sitting in his living room... and when iw as on stage for the past AVA tour... Matt Wachter had one placed under his synths...said he was using it as a monitor for them... could be tom's, but im pretty sure i have the right model. Rock on Reply 0   0

Sal  - Inocrrect   |2010-08-05 12:53:53 Lots of incorrect statements here.. Milo has really been spot on with all of this.. Tom DOES use a distortion pedal in his rack.. the fulltone fulldrive 2 pedal... and the vox amps are not the custom classic as mentioned, but the vox ac30h2 (heritage series) I own both the fender and vox tom uses as well as most of the gear on his rack...let me tell you this shit is unbelievable! Reply 0   0

Art  - Tom Delonge Baritone Guitar   |2010-05-31 19:57:23 I noticed that Tom Delonge Also has a Hollowbody Baritone Guitar done by Baratto Guitars same Gibson Specs (As far as I know) for the Songs, Obvious Adam's Song, and any other low tuned songs Reply 1   0

mike g   |2010-05-17 02:31:40 if you want to further discuss the vox start a forum. but for now....to start, i am a blink fan, there is nothing but love for them and tom. as for the vox, i feel that it has the gain for what you want, but it can be very thin. i feel his tone with the vox is thin and not as full and saturated as it used to be with the mesa/marshall combo. Try some different amps out and find your own sound. hope this helps! i can go in much more detail in a forum. Reply 0   0

simon   |2010-05-11 06:54:39 How does he get so much gain from a Vox? Considering he uses it in Blink-182 now. Reply 0   0

grardnr   |2010-05-11 21:19:39 AC-30's can get pretty damn crunchy... Ever heard Brian May? All Vox tone. Reply 0   0

simon   |2010-05-15 21:47:27 how crunchy? because I really like the vox tone but I play music like black flag, bad brains etc. would I be able to do that with just the vox? Reply 0   1

grardnr   |2010-05-17 06:45:24 i guess, Tom's sound is about as crunchy as you'd want for punk, right? If u use higher output pickups you could do it, maybe, but you'd probably be better off with a higher gain amp for really distorted stuff. Reply 0   0

Phil_93  - New rack   |2010-04-08 06:01:04 Hey guys, does anybody know already what's the new rack from Tom is, which effects or any other things are in there ??? Thanks see you Reply 0   0

Simon  - Strings   |2010-02-07 00:15:01 Tom Delonge actually uses Gibson Brite Wires .10 - .46 http://www.atomik.free.fr/blink-182/en/biography.htm I have seen a couple more refrences also Reply 0   0

uberpro  - Ernie Ball   |2010-02-09 08:07:38 I know a couple personal sites say he's used Gibson strings, but right on the Ernie Ball site, which has been recently updated even, it shows he uses the Skinny Top/Heavy Bottom guitar strings. Check it out: http://www.ernieball.com/artist/618-Blink-182# Reply 0   0

Norman  - Compressor?   |2010-01-10 23:11:45 So, Tom Delonge uses the Line 6 Constrictor for his compression in live concerts or home recording or both? Does he also use the T.C Electronics G-Force Multi Fx Unit for a compressor too? Reply 1   0

uberpro   |2010-01-11 10:13:30 Here's an interview where Tom mentions using the compressor: http://www.guitarworld.com/article/empire_state_of_mind?page=0%2C3 It was when he was talking about I-Empire and the gear used on it. Reply 0   0

Norman  - Compressor?   |2010-01-11 21:49:39 So, Does this mean he uses that for blink 182 because in the interview was when he was in AVA? If so do you suggest and settings for it? Reply 0   0

dominic  - setting   |2009-12-29 13:25:02 what are setting on dial for mesa boogie and marshall i have the set up and wondering wat he has on each channel Reply 0   0

charlie  - strings   |2009-12-29 07:35:22 are you guys sure tom uses the skinny tops heavy bottoms, I thought he used the regular slinkys? Reply 0   0

UberPro   |2010-01-01 14:54:04 He has used the skinny top heavy bottom set of strings in the past (guitargeek says 1999). But maybe he changed to a different set. Find a reference and we'll add it. Reply 0   0

insert name here   |2009-12-04 08:03:55 What effects do Tom use just for Blink 182? Thanks, cos I know his AVA stuff is different. Reply 0   0

dyuvi182   |2009-12-14 04:20:30 For the 2009 Blink-182 tour, Tom just plugged straight into his Vox AC30s and Fender Twins. He might also have had a delay and chorus/flange processor on rack, but I think he was just keeping it simple like he used to do with Blink. Reply 0   0

Anonymous   |2009-11-05 22:14:50 what effects does tom have? and what are his amp settings. Reply 0   0

Milo  - Effects   |2009-11-14 15:30:32 stereo Delay, filter sweeps, flange, compressor, reverb all from the TC-Electronics G Force effects processor. Reply 0   0

Art   |2010-05-31 19:53:20 I notice he had it on the second channel input 1 with Vol @ 8 Bass @ 6 and Mid @ 8 last time I checked. For AVA he uses a Fulltone Distortion, MXR EVH Flanger and a MXR Phase 90 but dont know how this fit into the mix with AVA Reply 0   0

Phil_93  - - Digital Music Corp GCX Switcher/Router   |2009-10-17 07:39:03 Hey Guys, are you sure that Tom DeLonge uses a - Digital Music Corp GCX Switcher/Router , because everywhere stands this is just working with the Voodoo-Lab Ground Control ? Thanks Reply 0   0

Milo  - Digital Music Corp GCX Switcher/Router   |2009-11-14 15:28:10 Yes, positive, i have many photos of his rack gear taken by Doug( his guitar tech) in both AVA and Blink. It is used with the Custom Audio Electronics RS-10 midi foot switch to control switching between the Vox AC30's, Fender Twin Reverbs, and the delay/ reverb/ flange setting on the TC-Electronics G Force effects processor. Reply 0   0

Phil_93  - Digital Music Corp GCX Switcher/Router   |2009-12-02 12:01:02 Thanks man, can you tell me, or do you know how to connect the amp with 6 single stompboxes to the Digital Music Corp GCX Switcher/Router ? And where did you got these photos? Thanks Reply 0   0

Trevor  - Pics   |2010-01-02 02:44:36 Can i get some of these rig pics you mention? I love pics of his guiat and rig, i wanna build it, and i have the guitar. So if you have these of the rig and guitar still can i have them>>>??? Reply 0   0

Kyle  - Choices   |2009-08-11 19:59:27 See. That is experimenting. He didn't go for power what-so-ever. He found a sound that really works, and it sounds soooo good. Reply 1   0

johnny22   |2009-08-05 19:29:11 to the post about mark's twitter: in may 09 when he said the AC30 lost out to the marshall plexi he was refering to the motion city soundtrack record that he was producing at the time. nothing to do with toms rig. Reply 0   0

ianwoody1989   |2009-08-05 06:21:55 Xavier is right, he uses 2 Vox Ac30H2's A/Bd for his distortion, he doesn't use one for backup, he uses them in parallel to beef up their sound as they're are only a three piece. To do this he has a Voodoo Labs GCX switcher/router which he connects his amps and effects to, he can then mix any sound how he likes using his CAE RS-10 midi foot controller. Now, does anyone know what capo he uses? it isn't a G7th, dunlop or schubb...any suggestions? Reply 1   0

CF   |2010-03-11 15:00:41 he did use the C-5 capo Reply 0   0

Allbe   |2009-08-05 04:24:52 i have always known tom to use Mesa Road kings Reply 0   0

Dale   |2009-07-22 22:57:54 Anyone know what distortion pedal he uses? Im guessing its probably a DS-1 or something Reply 0   1

Andrew C   |2009-07-23 08:49:15 Maybe, although you can get a mean (not metal) distortion out of the Vox. A good blink 182 sound. Pop/punk/rock/alternative crunch. But he has been seen using a DS-1, and he does seem to like simple. Anyone else have input? Reply 0   0

Xavier   |2009-07-24 19:10:15 I repeat, Tom Delonge does not use a distortion pedal. He uses his Custom Audio Electronics Footswitch which also is used as a A/B switcher for his Amplifiers. The Vox AC30 is used for distortion whilst his fenders are used for his clean sound. All of his Flanger and other effects are produced by the T.C Electronics G-Force Multi Fx Unit. This is connected to his Custom Audio Electronics Footswitch via MIDI. I know things. Reply 1   0

Anonymous   |2009-07-24 22:50:01 That sounds about right. I just didn't want to tell somebody an educated assumption and be wrong. Reply 0   0

bram  - wtf   |2009-08-06 16:27:37 toms doenst use a distortion pedal just the distortion form the amp Reply 1   0

joshua s  - what pedal board   |2009-06-27 18:12:21 do u know what pedal board he has been using recantly by any chance Reply 0   0

Andrew C   |2009-06-27 22:48:46 Well when i saw him, he had a just a board with about 5 pedals on it. My friend saw him, and said he had a multi-fx board. I will try and get the picture from him. I mainly said that because a lot of people said that he doesn't like to use effects. He must've gotten over that, and is now doing it himself, rather than the sound guy. Reply 0   0

CF   |2010-03-11 15:04:32 when did he use that? I have seen Tom live many many many times and everything goes thru his custom audio footswitch to his amp Reply 0   0

UberPro  - great update   |2009-06-15 15:30:05 Nice update. I just noticed that markoppus said something interesting in a May 09 twitter post: "markhoppus: Wow. the hand-wired Vox ac-30 just lost out to the Marshall plexi. Who'd've thought? " Wonder what he meant by that. Think they are going to use Marshall for something? Reply 0   0

Andrew C   |2009-06-15 16:00:23 Well i believe Tom did use some Marshall Plexi's in Angels and Airwaves, and he has used them on records in the past. What a bunch of useless knowledge stuck in my head Reply 0   2

Trevor  - nahh   |2009-11-29 09:21:04 Mark posted that while he was working and producing with MCS he wasnt talking about tom. Reply 0   0

Andrew C  - Amp Change   |2009-06-15 15:00:03 He now uses a 2 Vox AC30CC's for his dirty (one for back up) and 2 Fender Twin Reverbs for clean (again one for back up). He also recently has been using a pedal board for his effects. Reply 0   0

blake  - bcale   |2009-07-25 23:04:51 actually theyre not for backup but for stereo (as said in a guitar world interview) Reply 0   0

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