TonesMatch
Mary Jane's Last Dance — Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers1 / 2
Original RigYour Adaptation
GuitarDistortedSolo80% confidence

Mary Jane's Last Dance Guitar Tone Settings

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers · 1990s · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
Gibson Les Paul Standard (Mike Campbell, studio recording)
Pickups
Humbucker (Gibson PAF-style)
Amp
Vox AC-30 Super Twin Reverb with Top Boost
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording, 1993. Mike Campbell played the solo on 'Mary Jane's Last Dance' using a Gibson Les Paul Standard through a Vox AC-30 with Top Boost. No direct evidence of pedals for the solo, but amp overdrive and possible amp reverb are likely. No evidence of live/touring substitutions for the studio version.

Amp Settings

Mids
6.5
Bass
6
Gain
5
Reverb
3
Treble
6.5
Presence
5.5

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Tone Character

  • singing sustain
  • midrange-forward
  • smooth and slightly compressed
  • touch-sensitive
  • classic British crunch
  • clear note separation
  • warm with bite
  • articulate solo lines
  • vocal-like phrasing
  • not overly saturated

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No direct source lists exact amp knob settings for the studio solo; values estimated based on typical Vox AC-30 Top Boost settings for classic rock in the 1990s.
  • ⚠️No explicit pedal usage for the solo section found in sources; overdrive is likely from amp and/or guitar volume.
  • ⚠️Guitar model confirmed for Mike Campbell in this era; pickup and selector inferred from typical Les Paul solo usage and tone characteristics.
  • ⚠️If alternate gear (e.g., Rickenbacker, Dan Armstrong) is mentioned in sources, it is not tied to the solo section of this song in the studio recording.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. The solo tone is classic Mike Campbell: edge-of-breakup with a Vox AC30 or Fender amp, mid-forward for clarity, moderate bass, and slightly rolled-back treble to avoid harshness. Reverb is subtle, likely from the amp or studio plate, matching early '90s Heartbreakers production.

Sources