Kickstart My Heart Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe · 1980s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Studio recording, 1989. Mick Mars used multiple Marshall heads (modded by Jose Arredondo), sometimes blended with Hiwatt and Garnet amps for thickness. Guitar was a Charvel San Dimas with a Seymour Duncan JB in the bridge. No evidence of chorus, delay, or reverb on the riff section; overdrive/distortion from amp and possibly a Boss SD-1 in front. Settings estimated based on era, genre, and typical Marshall modded tones for this album.
Amp Settings
Effects Chain
- Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive · overdrive
Charvel San Dimas (bridge humbucker) → Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive → Marshall Plexi (modded by Jose Arredondo, slight spring reverb)
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
- tight and percussive
- thick, saturated crunch
- aggressive palm muting
- cutting, articulate attack
- high-gain saturation
- big, meaty riffs
- arena-filling presence
- slightly scooped mids
- bright but not harsh
- powerful, muscular sound
Notes & Caveats
- No direct numeric amp settings found for the studio recording; settings estimated based on typical late-80s Marshall modded tones and genre.
- No evidence of chorus, delay, or reverb on the riff section; effects chain is inferred from sources and critical listening.
- Pedal use (Boss SD-1) is widely reported for Mick Mars in this era, but not confirmed specifically for the riff section of this song; included with moderate confidence.
- Multiple amps (Marshall, Hiwatt, Garnet) were blended in the studio for thickness, but the Marshall Plexi modded by Jose Arredondo is the primary tone source.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Mick Mars used a high-gain, mid-scooped Marshall tone typical of late-80s glam metal, with tight bass, bright treble, and boosted presence for cut. The riff is dry and punchy, so reverb is minimal, matching the aggressive, polished production of 'Dr. Feelgood.'