GuitarCleanRiff80% confidence
Paradise City Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses · 1980s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
1986 Gibson Les Paul Standard (factory second, Kris Derrig replica, used by Slash on Appetite for Destruction sessions)
Pickups
Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro humbuckers
Amp
Marshall JCM800 2203 (modded, rented for Appetite for Destruction studio sessions)
Pickup Position
Neck pickup (likely), possibly middle position (both pickups on Les Paul)
Studio recording, 1986-1987. The clean intro/riff was tracked in the studio with Slash's Les Paul replica and the same Marshall JCM800 used for the album. Chorus effect is clearly audible and cited in multiple sources as likely from an MXR or Boss pedal. No evidence of delay or reverb pedals for the clean intro. Pickup selector likely in the neck or middle position for a warmer, shimmery clean.
Amp Settings
Mids6.5
Bass5.5
Gain0
Reverb2
Treble7
Presence6
Effects Chain
- Chorus pedal (likely MXR Analog Chorus or Boss CH-1, exact model unknown for studio) · chorus
Guitar → Chorus pedal → Marshall JCM800 (with light spring reverb)
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Tone Character
- shimmery and lush
- warm and rounded
- bell-like clarity
- organic chorus modulation
- not overly bright
- slightly compressed
- articulate arpeggios
- classic rock clean
- depth and movement from chorus
- not sterile or digital
Notes & Caveats
- Gain adjusted to 0 for clean tone
- No direct studio documentation of exact chorus pedal model used on the original recording; sources cite MXR Analog Chorus or Boss CH-1 as likely, but only with certainty for live/recent use.
- Amp settings are estimated based on typical Marshall JCM800 clean settings for classic rock and forum discussions; no primary source for exact knob positions on the clean intro.
- Pickup selector is inferred from tone and typical Slash usage; not visually confirmed for this section.
- No evidence of delay or reverb pedals on the clean intro; reverb is likely from the amp or studio room.
- Some forum users dispute chorus use, but multiple reputable sources and the clearly audible effect confirm chorus is present.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Slash's 'Paradise City' riff tone is classic late-80s Marshall crunch with rich mids, moderate gain, and a slightly bright but not harsh top end. The amp is set for punchy, forward mids and tight low end, with subtle reverb for space, matching the Appetite for Destruction production and Slash's Les Paul/Marshall setup.