GuitarDistortedRiff
Dirty Diana Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson · 1980s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Jackson Soloist
Pickups
Jackson stock humbuckers (likely J-50BC bridge humbucker, 1980s era)
Amp
Late '60s Marshall Plexi head
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1987-1988, riff section. Steve Stevens confirmed using his Jackson Soloist into his rack setup and a late '60s Marshall Plexi for the Dirty Diana studio session. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars/amps for the studio riff section.
Amp Settings
Mids6.5
Bass6
Gain7
Reverb2
Treble7.5
Presence6.5
Effects Chain
- Compressor pedal (model unknown) · compression
Jackson Soloist → Compressor (rack or pedal, model unknown) → Late '60s Marshall Plexi (light spring reverb)
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Tone Character
- raunchy and aggressive
- tight and punchy
- articulate attack
- British crunch
- present upper mids
- slightly compressed
- clear note separation
- high-output humbucker bite
- not overly saturated
- dynamic pick response