Bakersfield — Social Distortion1 / 2
Original RigYour Adaptation
GuitarDistortedSolo

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

Mids
7
Bass
6
Gain
6
Reverb
3
Treble
7
Presence
6

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

Sources