Whole Lotta Love

The recording

On "Whole Lotta Love" Jimmy Page recorded the main riff with a 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard, using the bridge humbucker and full volume. The signal ran through a Tone Bender MkII fuzz and into a cranked Vox Super Beatle head, whose natural tube compression gave the thick, mid‑forward crunch heard throughout the track. For the solo, he inserted an Echoplex EP‑3 tape echo, producing the slap‑back delay that sits behind the soaring lead lines. The amp was paired with a Rickenbacker Transonic 4×12 cabinet, adding bright, punchy low‑end and tight bass response while aggressive picking and slight feedback contributed to the riff’s sustain.

Tuning Standard (E A D G B E)

Reported gear

1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard

Guitar

Page used his 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard with the bridge humbucker to drive the main riff.

Tone Bender MkII

Fuzz

A Tone Bender MkII fuzz was placed directly after the guitar, adding the raw, harmonically‑rich distortion that defines the riff.

Echoplex EP‑3

Delay

Page routed the signal through an Echoplex EP‑3 during the solo, creating the slap‑back echo that sits behind his lead lines.

1965 Vox Super Beatle

Amp

He cranked a Vox Super Beatle head, whose natural tube compression shaped the thick, mid‑forward crunch heard throughout the track.

Rickenbacker Transonic 4×12

Cabinet

The amp was paired with a Rickenbacker Transonic 4×12 cabinet, delivering bright, punchy low‑end and tight bass response.

Alternatives

Gibson Les Paul Standard (2020)

Modern equivalent · for the 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard

$2,500 to $3,500

Vox Super Beatle (reissue)

Reissue · for the 1965 Vox Super Beatle

$1,500 to $2,200

Tone Bender MkII (reissue)

Reissue · for the Tone Bender MkII

$90 to $120

Rickenbacker Transonic 4×12 Cabinet

Still made · for the Rickenbacker Transonic 4×12

$1,800 to $2,200

Electro‑Harmonix EchoPlex EP‑3 (new)

Modern equivalent · for the Echoplex EP‑3

$300 to $450

Practical playing approach

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

1. 1.Select the bridge pickup and set the guitar’s volume to full.
2. 2.Crank the Vox Super Beatle’s gain to saturation while keeping the treble moderate.
3. 3.Engage a Tone Bender MkII (or similar fuzz) with the level set high.
4. 4.Add a short slap‑back delay using an Echoplex EP‑3 to emulate the solo’s echo.
5. 5.Attack the strings with a heavy picking style and let the notes ring for maximum sustain.