GuitarDistortedRiff
No Sleep Till Brooklyn Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys · 1980s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely 1970s/early 1980s, as used by Kerry King for session work)
Pickups
Gibson humbuckers (stock, likely T-Top or Dirty Fingers era)
Amp
Marshall JCM800 2203 head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1986. Rhythm guitar on 'No Sleep Till Brooklyn' was played by Kerry King (Slayer) using his Les Paul and Marshall JCM800, per multiple interviews and Beastie Boys/Slayer history. No evidence of live rig or alternate gear for the studio riff section.
Amp Settings
Mids6
Bass6
Gain7
Reverb1.5
Treble7
Presence6
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Tone Character
- tight, punchy power chord attack
- mid-heavy, aggressive rhythm tone
- slight amp breakup, not high-gain saturation
- percussive, palm-muted chugs
- bright, biting top end
- full-bodied, thick low mids
- minimal reverb, dry studio sound
- no audible modulation or delay
- classic 1980s hard rock/metal rhythm sound