GuitarDistortedSolo80% confidence
18 And Life Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Skid Row
Skid Row · 1980s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Jackson Soloist (blue, Scotti Hill's main studio guitar for solo)
Pickups
Jackson J-50BC humbucker (bridge position, high-output ceramic magnet)
Amp
A/DA MP-1 preamp into McIntosh and Groove Tubes power amps, into Marshall 4x12 cabinet
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1988-1989. Scotti Hill used his blue Jackson Soloist with a Floyd Rose for the solo. The A/DA MP-1 preamp was the main source of gain, with outboard power amps and Marshall cabs. Ibanez Tube Screamer and MXR 6-band EQ were sometimes used for shaping, but not confirmed for this solo. No evidence of live rig or other guitars for this section.
Amp Settings
Mids6
Bass6
Gain7.5
Reverb3
Treble7
Presence6.5
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Tone Character
- singing sustain
- smooth and fluid legato
- warm upper mids
- tight and articulate attack
- high-gain saturation
- clear note separation
- melodic 80s lead voice
- moderate reverb ambiance
- slightly compressed feel
- rich harmonic overtones
Notes & Caveats
- Exact amp knob settings not found in sources; estimated based on typical A/DA MP-1 + Marshall setup for 80s melodic rock/metal leads.
- No explicit confirmation of pedal use in the solo section; Tube Screamer and MXR EQ mentioned as part of general studio rig, but not specifically for this solo.
- No evidence of chorus, flanger, or delay pedals in solo; only moderate reverb is audible, likely from studio or amp.
- Pickup model inferred from typical Jackson Soloist specs and era; not directly stated in sources.
- All gear and settings are for studio recording, not live.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Skid Row's '18 And Life' solo features a classic late-80s high-gain Marshall tone—tight, saturated, with balanced mids (not scooped), moderate bass for punch, and enough treble/presence for cut. Reverb is subtle, typical of 80s hard rock production. These settings reflect Dave 'Snake' Sabo's likely JCM800 setup and the era's mix style.