truerecs
Explore truerecs
Log inFor artists
Independent research by truerecs. Not affiliated with, endorsed or verified by Deftones.Are you Deftones? Claim this page
d
Independent research by truerecs. Not affiliated with, endorsed or verified by Deftones. Every item links to its public source.
13 items · Last checked

What guitar does Deftones play?

Stephen Carpenter has said he can play most Deftones songs on either his ESPs or his Kiesels, and calls his Bogners his preferred amps. He was seen with Bogner Uberschall Uber-Ultra heads and UberKabs, a Fractal Axe-Fx II and a Line 6 Helix that handles all his switching.

Shop the gear
AllTop 5Stephen Carpenter: guitar
In stores now

Shop Deftones's setup.

Top 5

Where to start with Deftones's gear.

01
02
03
04
05

What gear Deftones uses: a sourced gear guide

Independent research by truerecs: every item links to the public source it comes from.

Stephen Carpenter: guitar

13 items
Questions

About Deftones's gear.

What guitar does Stephen Carpenter play?

ESP LTD signature baritones, the SCT-607B 7-string and SC-608 8-string, and Kiesel Vader 8-string baritones. He chooses between them based on how he feels each night.

What amp does Stephen Carpenter use?

KT88-loaded Bogner Uberschall Uber-Ultra heads into Bogner 2x12 and 4x12 UberKabs, plus a Soldano SLO-100 and a Fractal Axe-Fx II in a hybrid rig designed by his tech Greg Dubinovskiy and Dave Friedman.

What pedals does Stephen Carpenter use?

A Line 6 Helix handles all switching, with an Eventide H9, Boss FZ-1W, ZVEX Fuzz Factory, Pigtronix Gatekeeper, Strymon Mobius, BigSky and TimeLine, a TC Electronic 2290 and a DigiTech Whammy Ricochet.

D
Deftones
About this guide · Last checked

Deftones are the Sacramento band of Chino Moreno, Stephen Carpenter, Abe Cunningham and Frank Delgado, behind White Pony and Private Music. This guide covers the band's documented gear, centered on Carpenter's ESP and Kiesel 8-strings, his Bogner and Soldano amps and his Helix-run pedal rig, as shown in his 2025 Rig Rundown.

truerecs put this guide together from public videos, interviews and posts. Each item says how we know and links to the source. Deftones didn't write it or choose anything on it. How we source gear guides.

Report an error or ask for removal. We fix or remove within 72 hours. You don't need to sign up.

Are you Deftones?

Claim this page to make it yours: verify with your Instagram, TikTok or YouTube, keep what's right, drop what isn't, and add your own.

Claim this page
truerecs gear guides are independent research from public sources, not made or approved by the artist. Store buttons on this page may be affiliate links: truerecs may earn a commission when you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Deftones isn't paid for them. Report an error or ask for removal. Full disclosure.