Stephen "Steph" Carpenter (/ˈstɛfən/ STEF-ən; born August 3, 1970) is an American musician, known as the co-founder and lead guitarist of the alternative metal band Deftones.

Stephen Carpenter was born on August 3, 1970, in Sacramento, California, to an American father and a Mexican mother.

It was at this point that he began teaching himself guitar by playing along with the records of bands such as Anthrax, Stormtroopers of Death and Metallica.

"[6] Carpenter attended McClatchy High School with future bandmates Chino Moreno and Abe Cunningham.

"[8] While recording Deftones' Diamond Eyes, he claimed that the only artist he listened to was American rapper Tech N9ne.

Carpenter's current rig consists of only a Fractal Audio Axe-FX II running straight into the venue's PA system.

[10] Carpenter is a member of the underground instrumental project Sol Invicto, formed by producer Richie Londres alongside Technical Itch & Dan Foord & Eric Bobo of Cypress Hill.

Carpenter was involved in the rap metal band Kush, featuring Christian Olde Wolbers and Raymond Herrera of Fear Factory and B-Real of Cypress Hill.

"[17]His relationship with Deftones lead singer and bandmate Chino Moreno has been reported to alternate between cordial and hostile at times.

Though their working relationship was known to be friendly at times; the recording of Saturday Night Wrist was protracted due to their supposed "warfare".

[20] Commenting on this in 2021, Moreno suggested this may be related to Carpenter's cannabis smoking or being affected by his attendance of the Bataclan theatre shortly before the November 2015 Paris attacks.