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)
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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