Search and Destroy

The recording

James Williamson recorded the lead guitar on 'Search and Destroy' with his 1969 Gibson Les Paul Custom, fitted with the original Gibson T‑Top humbucker, and drove it through a high‑gain Marshall stack. He attacked the riff with aggressive down‑strokes and a bridge‑pickup position, letting the amp’s natural overdrive and the 4×12 cabinet’s mid‑heavy projection shape the track’s razor‑sharp edge.

Tuning Standard (E A D G B E)

Reported gear

Guitar

1969 Gibson Les Paul Custom ('Leopard Lady')

Guitar

James Williamson recorded 'Search and Destroy' using his 1969 Gibson Les Paul Custom, nicknamed "Leopard Lady," equipped with the original Gibson T‑Top humbucker that powers the song’s ferocious tone.

Marshall Super Lead 100‑watt (1973)

Amp

Attributed to a Marshall 100‑watt Super Lead head, the amp provided the saturated, high‑gain distortion that sits front‑and‑center on 'Search and Destroy'; this is the amp Williamson is commonly cited as using during the Raw Power sessions.

Marshall 4×12 Cabinet (1973)

Cabinet

The Super Lead head was paired with a 4‑by‑12 speaker cabinet, delivering the raw, mid‑heavy crunch that defines the song’s razor‑sharp edge.

Alternatives

Epiphone Les Paul Standard

Modern equivalent · for the 1969 Gibson Les Paul Custom ('Leopard Lady')

$500 to $700

Marshall 1960A 4×12 Cabinet

Modern equivalent · for the Marshall 4×12 Cabinet (1973)

$800 to $1,100

Marshall DSL40C

Modern equivalent · for the Marshall Super Lead 100‑watt (1973)

$1,200 to $1,500

Practical playing approach

Recreation guidance, not a claim about undocumented studio control positions.

1. 1.Use heavy down‑strokes on the bridge pickup for maximum bite
2. 2.Set the amp gain to full to achieve natural overdrive
3. 3.Attack the riff with aggressive picking to emulate Williamson’s relentless rhythm
4. 4.Apply slight palm‑muting on the low strings to tighten the chugging section