GuitarDistortedRiff
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, sometimes referred to as 'Appetite Les Paul')
Pickups
Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro humbuckers
Amp
Marshall JCM800 2203 (100W head, likely with Marshall 1960A 4x12 cabinet, Celestion speakers)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, Appetite for Destruction (1987); this is the main rhythm/riff tone, not the solo. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for the riff section. Effects are minimal; chorus is used for the intro/riff only. No evidence of delay or reverb pedals in the riff section.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass5.5
Gain7
Reverb2
Treble7.5
Presence6.5
Effects Chain
- Chorus pedal (model unknown, likely Boss CE-1 or MXR Stereo Chorus) · chorus
Guitar → Chorus pedal → Marshall JCM800 2203 head → Marshall 4x12 cabinet
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Tone Character
- shimmery and spacious (from chorus)
- bright and articulate
- classic British crunch
- tight rhythm attack
- clear note separation
- organic, not overly processed
- warm but present mids
- slight breakup on harder picking
- chorus shimmer adds depth
- not high-gain, edge-of-breakup