GuitarDistortedRiff
Diary of a Madman Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne · 1980s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
1974 Gibson Les Paul Custom (cream finish, bridge pickup)
Pickups
Super 74 humbucker (bridge position, stock on 1974 Les Paul Custom)
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
Studio recording, 1981. Randy Rhoads used his 1974 Les Paul Custom for the heavy riff sections of 'Diary of a Madman.' The amp was a rented mid-70s Marshall JMP 1959 Super Lead MKII, driving two 4x12 cabs loaded with Altec 417-8H speakers. Effects were from his pedalboard, not amp-based. Settings are based on studio use, not live.
Amp Settings
Mids6
Bass3.5
Gain6.5
Reverb0.5
Treble7
Presence5.5
Effects Chain
- MXR Distortion + · distortion
- MXR Ten Band EQ · eq
- MXR Analog Delay · delay
Guitar → MXR Distortion + → MXR Ten Band EQ → MXR Analog Delay → Marshall JMP 1959 Super Lead MKII → Marshall 4x12 cabs (Altec 417-8H speakers)
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- aggressive palm muting
- crunchy British overdrive
- midrange boost
- articulate note separation
- singing sustain
- harmonically rich
- high-output humbucker bite
- layered rhythm tracks
- slight amp breakup with pedal-driven distortion