GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Interzone (2019 Digital Master) Guitar Tone Settings
Joy Division · 1970s · punk
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
1977 Gibson SG Special
Pickups
P90 single coil pickups
Amp
Vox AC30 (1970s model, likely Top Boost circuit)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1979 (Unknown Pleasures sessions, used for 'Interzone' riff). No evidence of pedals or effects beyond amp. Gear confirmed for studio era, not live.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6
Gain5.5
Reverb1
Treble7
Presence5
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
- bright and biting
- raw and gritty
- mid-forward punch
- articulate attack
- tight and focused low end
- minimal sustain
- fast note decay
- percussive rhythm
- direct amp sound
- distinct single-coil snap
Notes & Caveats
- No direct source lists exact amp or pedal settings for 'Interzone' riff; settings estimated based on era, genre, and typical Vox AC30 usage.
- No evidence of pedals or effects used on the studio recording; dry amp tone is consistent with audio and historical accounts.
- Guitar and amp model confirmed for studio era via Equipboard and period photos, but not explicitly tied to 'Interzone' in sources.
- All effects settings and signal chain details inferred from genre conventions and critical listening.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Bernard Sumner's guitar on 'Interzone' is classic late-70s British punk/post-punk: mid-forward, crunchy but not high gain, with a dry, direct sound. Likely a Hiwatt or Marshall amp set for punchy mids, moderate bass, and slightly above-average treble, with no reverb as per the raw production style.