GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Mr. Scary (Live in Japan, 1988) Guitar Tone Settings — Dokken
Dokken · 1980s · metal
live
Original Recording
Guitar
ESP Kamikaze (custom, early version, or ESP Tiger)
Pickups
Seymour Duncan Screamin' Demon humbucker (bridge position)
Amp
Marshall 1968/1969 Plexi Super Lead 100-watt (un-modded), likely with Marshall 4x12 cabinet loaded with Celestion speakers
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Live performance, Japan 1988 (Beast from the East). George Lynch is documented using his ESP Tiger or Kamikaze guitars with a Screamin' Demon pickup and a late-60s Marshall Plexi head for this era's live shows. No evidence of studio overdubs or alternate gear for this live riff section.
Amp Settings
Mids6
Bass5.5
Gain8
Reverb1.5
Treble7.5
Presence6.5
Effects Chain
- Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer (or similar overdrive) · overdrive
Guitar → Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer → Marshall Plexi 100W → Marshall 4x12 cabinet
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- aggressive pick attack
- saturated high-gain rhythm
- pronounced midrange chewiness
- articulate note separation
- percussive low end
- cutting upper mids
- minimal ambience
- fast attack, quick decay
- crisp, defined harmonics
Notes & Caveats
- No direct numeric amp settings for this exact live performance found; settings estimated based on era, amp model, and genre.
- Pedalboard details for 1988 live rig are not explicitly documented for this song; Tube Screamer use for rhythm is supported by later interviews but not confirmed for this exact show.
- No evidence of time-based or modulation effects (delay, chorus, flanger, etc.) used during the riff section; only high-gain rhythm tone is clearly audible.
- Guitar model is inferred from multiple sources referencing ESP Tiger/Kamikaze with Screamin' Demon pickup for this era.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. George Lynch in 1988 was using high-gain, Marshall-based tones with a tight low end, scooped mids, and aggressive treble/presence for clarity and cut. The live mix is dry and punchy, with minimal reverb, matching 80s metal conventions and Lynch's signature sound.