GuitarDistortedSolo
Rainbow In the Dark Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Dio
Dio · 1980s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
1970s Gibson Les Paul Deluxe (wine red, mini-humbuckers, stock electronics)
Pickups
Gibson mini-humbuckers (stock, likely bridge position for solo)
Amp
Marshall JCM800 2203 head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 1983)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1983. Vivian Campbell used his wine red Les Paul Deluxe and a Marshall JCM800 for the Holy Diver album, including 'Rainbow In the Dark' solo. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for the solo section. Pedal/EQ boost for solos is mentioned, but no specific model confirmed.
Amp Settings
Mids6.5
Bass6
Gain7.5
Reverb1.5
Treble7
Presence6.5
Effects Chain
- Solo boost/EQ pedal (model unknown) · boost
- Delay pedal (model unknown) · delay
Guitar → Solo boost/EQ pedal (model unknown) → Delay pedal (model unknown) → Marshall JCM800 2203 → Marshall 4x12 cab (amp spring reverb low)
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Tone Character
- singing sustain
- aggressive lead attack
- tight and articulate
- cutting upper mids
- rich harmonic overtones
- fast legato runs
- fluid bends and vibrato
- high-gain saturation
- clear note separation
- metallic edge