GuitarDistortedSolo80% confidence
Cold As Ice Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Foreigner
Foreigner · 1970s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
1957 Gibson Les Paul Custom (modded, middle pickup removed, direct-to-output switch)
Pickups
Gibson PAF humbuckers (bridge position, direct to output mod)
Amp
Marshall 100-watt head (likely JMP, late 1970s) into Hiwatt cabinets with Fane speakers
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup (direct to output, bypassing controls)
Studio recording, 1976-1977. Mick Jones states he used his '57 Les Paul Custom with a direct-to-output switch (bypassing volume/tone controls, pickups at full), into 100-watt Marshall heads and Hiwatt cabs with Fane speakers for solo work on Foreigner's debut album, which includes 'Cold As Ice'. No evidence of pedals or additional effects for the solo section; all drive from amp. No evidence of live/touring substitutions for this recording.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6
Gain6
Reverb2.5
Treble6.5
Presence6
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Tone Character
- classic British crunch
- edgy, articulate lead tone
- singing sustain
- tight and immediate attack
- bright but not harsh
- full-bodied midrange
- slightly compressed
- harmonically rich
- punchy dynamics
- minimal ambient effects
Notes & Caveats
- No explicit numeric amp settings found in sources; settings estimated based on typical Marshall JMP usage in 1970s classic rock and Mick Jones' description of 'edgier tone' and direct-to-output mod.
- No evidence of pedals or additional effects used on the solo section; all drive and tone from amp and guitar setup.
- No mention of reverb or time-based effects; low amp reverb setting included for studio ambience, but could be from mixing.
- Pickup selection inferred from direct-to-output mod and typical solo tone; bridge pickup is most likely.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Mick Jones' solo on 'Cold As Ice' (1977) features a classic late-70s British crunch with forward mids and moderate gain, likely from a Marshall or similar amp, with balanced bass and treble for clarity and cut. The production is dry with just a hint of plate reverb, matching the era's rock conventions and the mix's punchy, present guitar sound.