GuitarDistortedRiff
Breaking the Law Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Judas Priest
Judas Priest · 1980s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Gibson Flying V (K.K. Downing) and Gibson SG (Glenn Tipton)
Pickups
Gibson humbuckers (likely stock for era, passive, not EMG/active for 1980)
Amp
Marshall JCM800 1959 Mk II Super Lead (100W, non-master volume, used with overdrive/boost pedal in front)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1980, British Steel album. Both Downing and Tipton used Gibson guitars into Marshall JCM800 heads for the main riff. No evidence of active pickups or modern digital gear on this recording.
Amp Settings
Mids6.5
Bass5
Gain6.5
Reverb0.5
Treble6.5
Presence6
Tone Matcher
Match This Tone to Your Gear
Tell us your guitar and amp — we’ll calculate the exact settings translated to your specific rig.
7-day free trial · Cancel anytime.
Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- aggressive British crunch
- mid-heavy punch
- articulate attack
- focused, dry sound
- minimal ambience
- classic Marshall saturation
- bridge pickup bite
- no audible modulation or delay
- palm-muted chug