GuitarDistortedSolo80% confidence
Bakersfield Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Social Distortion
Social Distortion · 2010s+ · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely late 1970s or early 1980s, humbuckers)
Pickups
Humbucker pickups (likely stock Gibson PAF-style, not P-90s per Mike Ness interview)
Amp
Marshall amplifier (exact model not specified, likely JCM800 or JMP, as per era and Ness's known studio choices)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 2010-2011 for 'Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes'. Mike Ness stated he used Les Pauls with humbuckers (not P-90s) and Marshalls for this era. No explicit pedalboard or amp model for this specific song/solo, but consistent with Ness's studio rig for the album. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for the solo.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6
Gain6
Reverb3
Treble7
Presence6
Effects Chain
- Delay pedal (model unknown) · delay
Gibson Les Paul Standard → Delay pedal (model unknown) → Marshall amplifier (with spring reverb)
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Tone Character
- singing sustain
- warm and thick
- mid-gain crunch
- articulate single-note clarity
- touch-sensitive
- slightly compressed
- vintage British amp character
- not overly saturated
- classic rock/punk solo sound
- dynamic response to picking
Notes & Caveats
- No source provides explicit pedal or amp model for the 'Bakersfield' solo; all gear is inferred from era and artist interviews.
- No numeric amp settings found; values estimated based on typical Marshall settings for classic rock/punk in studio.
- No explicit mention of pedals used on this solo; overdrive is likely amp-based.
- No evidence of P-90 pickups for this era; Ness states humbuckers were used.
- No pedalboard or effects loop details for this specific song/solo.
- Delay and reverb are audible in the solo, but no specific pedal or amp model is confirmed.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Mike Ness typically uses a Les Paul through vintage Marshalls or Bassmans with moderate gain for crunchy, rootsy rock tones. The solo on 'Bakersfield' has a classic rock crunch with forward mids, balanced bass, and enough treble/presence to cut, plus a touch of reverb for space, matching his usual settings for this era and style.