TonesMatch
Locomotive (Complicity) — Guns N' Roses1 / 2
Original RigYour Adaptation
GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence

Locomotive (Complicity) Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Guns N' Roses

Guns N' Roses · 1990s · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
Gibson Les Paul Standard (Slash's 1987 replica, likely Kris Derrig or Max Baranet build)
Pickups
Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro humbuckers
Amp
Marshall Silver Jubilee 2555 head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 1990-91)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording for 'Use Your Illusion II' (1990-91). Slash used his main Les Paul replica with Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro pickups into a Marshall Silver Jubilee 2555 head and Marshall 4x12 cab. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for the riff section. Settings and effects are estimated based on era, genre, and typical Slash rig for this album. No direct studio notes found for this specific song/section.

Amp Settings

Mids
7
Bass
6
Gain
7.5
Reverb
1.5
Treble
7
Presence
6

Effects Chain

  • Wah pedal (model unknown, likely Dunlop Cry Baby GCB-95) · wah
  • Overdrive/boost pedal (model unknown, possibly Boss SD-1 or similar) · overdrive

Gibson Les Paul Standard → Wah pedal → Overdrive/boost pedal → Marshall Silver Jubilee 2555 head → Marshall 4x12 cab (spring reverb from amp)

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 articulate
  • aggressive palm muting
  • singing sustain
  • British crunch
  • full-bodied midrange
  • clear note separation
  • slight amp compression
  • percussive attack
  • harmonic overtones
  • focused low end

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No direct studio documentation for 'Locomotive (Complicity)' riff section found; gear and settings inferred from era, genre, and Slash's known Use Your Illusion II rig.
  • ⚠️No explicit pedal or effect model confirmed for this specific recording; pedal choices based on typical Slash setup and audible effects in the recording.
  • ⚠️Amp settings are estimated based on Marshall Silver Jubilee usage in early 1990s GNR studio sessions and forum consensus.
  • ⚠️No evidence of effects loop use or specific pedal order for this song's riff section.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Slash's 'Locomotive' riff tone is saturated but articulate, typical of his late-80s/early-90s Marshall Silver Jubilee setup: high gain for sustain, mids forward for cut, moderate bass for punch without mud, and a touch of presence for clarity. The production is dry with minimal reverb, matching the Use Your Illusion era's hard rock conventions.

Sources