GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
I Fought the Law Riff Guitar Tone Settings — The Clash
The Clash · 1970s · punk
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Gibson Les Paul Standard (late 1970s, likely 1978-79, used by Mick Jones)
Pickups
Humbucker (Gibson PAF-style, stock Les Paul Standard pickups)
Amp
Marshall JMP 1959 Super Lead (100W, late 1970s, likely used in studio)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1978-1979, The Clash's version of 'I Fought the Law' from 'The Cost of Living' EP and US debut album. Gear confirmed for this era and recording by multiple sources. No evidence of pedals or effects used in the riff section; tone is amp-driven. No evidence of live/tour gear being used in the studio.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6
Gain6
Reverb1
Treble7
Presence5.5
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Tone Character
- raucous and aggressive
- anarchic snarl
- tight, punchy rhythm
- staccato attack
- mid-forward British crunch
- raw and unpolished
- percussive chord strikes
- full-bodied humbucker sound
- no audible reverb or delay
- classic late-70s punk drive
Notes & Caveats
- No direct source gives exact amp knob settings; values estimated based on typical Marshall JMP settings for late 1970s punk recordings and the audible tone.
- No evidence of pedals or effects used in the riff section; all distortion is amp-driven.
- No explicit pickup selector position stated, but bridge pickup is strongly inferred from tone and era.
- No evidence of amp reverb or built-in effects; Marshall JMP 1959 Super Lead does not have built-in reverb.
- No evidence of any modulation or time-based effects in the riff section; all effects arrays left empty except for amp-driven distortion.
- If new evidence of pedals or effects emerges, update accordingly.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Mick Jones used a crunchy, mid-forward tone typical of late '70s British punk, likely with a Fender or Marshall amp set to edge-of-breakup/crunch. The tone is punchy, not overly distorted, with pronounced mids and moderate treble, and the production is dry with only subtle room ambience.