GuitarDistortedRiff68% confidence
Heartbreaker Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Pat Benatar
Pat Benatar · 1980s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
1970s Gibson Les Paul Standard
Pickups
Gibson PAF-style humbuckers
Amp
Marshall JMP 100-watt head with 4x12 cabinet
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1979. No direct evidence of pedals or effects for the riff section. Gear inferred from era, genre, and Neil Giraldo's known studio setup for the 'In the Heat of the Night' album.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6
Gain6.5
Reverb2
Treble7
Presence5.5
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.
Adapt to MY Gear →7-day free trial · Cancel anytime.
Tone Character
- classic British crunch
- tight and punchy
- articulate midrange
- aggressive attack
- slightly saturated
- clear note separation
- minimal ambience
- focused bridge pickup sound
- dynamic response to picking
- no audible modulation or delay
Notes & Caveats
- No direct source lists exact amp or pedal settings for the riff section of 'Heartbreaker' by Pat Benatar.
- Guitar and amp inferred from era, genre, and Neil Giraldo's known studio rig for the album.
- No evidence of pedals or modulation/time-based effects in the riff section; settings estimated based on typical Marshall JMP rock tones from late 1970s/early 1980s.
- If new evidence emerges (e.g., official rig rundown, session notes), settings should be updated.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Neil Giraldo's riff tone on 'Heartbreaker' is classic late-70s/early-80s hard rock: crunchy but not overly saturated, with pronounced mids and a tight low end. The amp (likely a Marshall JMP or similar) is set for strong midrange punch, moderate gain, and just enough reverb for subtle ambience, matching the era's production and the song's aggressive, forward guitar sound.