GuitarDistortedRiff
Believer (Live from Blizzard of Ozz Tour) Guitar Tone Settings
Ozzy Osbourne · 1980s · metal
live
Original Recording
Guitar
1974 Gibson Les Paul Custom
Pickups
Seymour Duncan SH-4 JB (bridge humbucker, likely swapped in), stock Gibson humbucker (neck)
Amp
Marshall JMP 1959 Super Lead MKII 100-watt head into two Marshall 1960A/B 4x12 cabinets with Altec 417-8H speakers
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Live from Blizzard of Ozz Tour, 1981. Riff section. Randy Rhoads used his Les Paul Custom with the bridge pickup for most heavy rhythm parts. Amp was a rented mid-70s Marshall JMP 1959 Super Lead MKII, not his later white Marshall. Effects from pedalboard, not amp. Settings reflect live rig as used on tour, not studio. No evidence of effects loop.
Amp Settings
Mids6
Bass5
Gain7
Reverb1
Treble7
Presence5.5
Effects Chain
- MXR Distortion + · distortion
- MXR Ten Band EQ · eq
- Dunlop Cry Baby Wah · wah
- Noise Gate (model unknown) · noise_gate
Guitar → MXR Distortion + → MXR 10-Band EQ → (Noise Gate) → Marshall JMP 1959 Super Lead MKII (minimal spring reverb) → 4x12 Altec-loaded cabs
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- aggressive palm muting
- saturated but clear distortion
- cutting upper mids
- slightly scooped low end
- articulate note separation
- fast attack
- minimal ambience
- classic British crunch
- compressed sustain