Temple of the Dog - Hunger Strike - Guitar Lesson

Fender Telecaster

Stone Gossard wielded the Telecaster for its bright, percussive single-coil attack that cut through Chris Cornell's vocals on Temple of the Dog. The snappy rhythm tone provided the perfect contrast to Mike McCready's thick Les Paul leads, defining the album's dynamic guitar interplay.

Gibson Les Paul Standard

Mike McCready's primary instrument, the Les Paul Standard delivered warm PAF-style humbuckers ideal for expressive bends and singing sustain. Its thick midrange became the sonic backbone of Temple of the Dog's lead guitar sound when pushed through cranked Marshall amplifiers.

Gibson Les Paul Custom

A Les Paul variant McCready favored for its enhanced sustain and tonal warmth, the Custom's humbuckers provided the same vocal midrange that made his leads soar above Cornell's powerful vocals. The instrument's thicker construction reinforced the band's rich, sustain-driven overdrive tone.

Marshall JCM800

McCready's primary amplifier, the JCM800 delivered natural tube saturation when cranked, creating thick, singing overdrive without relying on gain pedals. This head was essential to achieving Temple of the Dog's warm, expressive lead guitar tone that defined the album.

Fender Twin Reverb

Stone Gossard used the Twin Reverb as a clean platform pushed just to breakup, letting his picking dynamics control the grit. The amp's sparkling cleans provided textural contrast to McCready's darker Marshall tones, creating the album's wide tonal spectrum.

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

McCready deployed the Cry Baby wah sparingly for expressive lead accents on Temple of the Dog, using it as a tasteful ornament rather than a dominant effect. The wah enhanced his vocal-like phrasing without overshadowing the album's straightforward, amp-driven approach.