GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Gods of War Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Def Leppard
Def Leppard · 1980s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Gibson Les Paul Standard (Steve Clark and Phil Collen, 1987 studio recording)
Pickups
Gibson humbuckers (likely stock for 1980s Les Paul Standard)
Amp
Marshall JCM800 (studio recording, Hysteria era)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1987. No direct evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for the riff section. Gear inferred from Def Leppard's known Hysteria-era studio setup and genre conventions. No evidence of non-Les Paul guitars or non-Marshall amps for the main riff.
Amp Settings
Mids5.5
Bass6
Gain7.5
Reverb2.5
Treble7
Presence6.5
Effects Chain
- Chorus pedal (model unknown) · chorus
- Noise gate (model unknown) · noise_gate
Gibson Les Paul Standard → Chorus pedal → Noise gate → Marshall JCM800 (plate reverb in studio mix)
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Tone Character
- tight, compressed rhythm crunch
- high-gain British amp saturation
- thick, harmonically rich power chords
- precise, palm-muted chugs
- layered, multi-tracked guitars
- studio-polished, processed sound
- articulate attack with controlled sustain
- 80s arena rock production
- slightly scooped mids for clarity
- dense, wall-of-sound rhythm texture
Notes & Caveats
- No direct source gives exact amp or pedal settings for 'Gods of War' riff; settings estimated based on 1980s Def Leppard studio practices, genre, and era.
- No explicit pedal or effect model is documented for the riff section; effects inferred from audio and typical Hysteria-era production.
- Guitar and amp models inferred from known Hysteria recording gear and period interviews.
- No evidence found for non-Les Paul or non-Marshall use on this specific riff section.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Def Leppard's 'Gods of War' riff section features a tight, high-gain 80s rock/metal tone with moderate bass, scooped mids, and clear but not harsh treble, typical of Mutt Lange's production and the band's use of Rockman and Marshall amps. Reverb is subtle, as most ambience is added in post-production, and presence is boosted for clarity in the dense mix.