GuitarDistortedSolo80% confidence
She's a Beauty Solo Guitar Tone Settings — The Tubes
The Tubes · 1980s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Fender Stratocaster (likely early 1980s, possibly American Standard or similar)
Pickups
Single-coil pickups (stock Fender Stratocaster single coils, likely Alnico V)
Amp
Marshall JCM800 (likely 2203 or 2204 head, as was common for 1980s rock studio recordings)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1983. No direct evidence of alternate guitars or amps for the solo section. No evidence of live rig being used for the studio recording. Pedal/effect details inferred from audio and era. No explicit pedalboard or amp settings found in sources.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6
Gain6
Reverb3
Treble7
Presence5.5
Effects Chain
- Chorus pedal (model unknown) · chorus
- Delay pedal (model unknown) · delay
Fender Stratocaster → Chorus pedal → Delay pedal → Marshall JCM800 (with spring reverb)
Tone Matcher
Match This Tone to Your Gear
Tell us your guitar and amp — we’ll calculate the exact settings translated to your specific rig.
Adapt to MY Gear →7-day free trial · Cancel anytime.
Tone Character
- bright and cutting
- singing sustain
- slightly compressed attack
- clear note separation
- chorus shimmer
- modest reverb tail
- articulate upper mids
- touch of analog delay
- not high-gain, but saturated
- distinct modulation swirl
Notes & Caveats
- No direct source confirms the exact guitar, amp, or pedal models/settings for the solo section of 'She's a Beauty'.
- Gear and settings are estimated based on era, genre, typical studio practices, and audible effects in the recording.
- No explicit pedalboard or amp settings found in any source; settings are inferred from 1980s rock conventions and audio analysis.
- Chorus effect is clearly audible in the solo; model is not confirmed, so listed as 'Chorus pedal (model unknown)'.
- Delay and reverb are present, but specific units are not identified; likely a combination of amp spring reverb and studio delay.
- If further evidence surfaces (e.g., studio notes, interviews), update with exact models/settings.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. The solo tone on 'She's a Beauty' is classic early-80s LA rock: moderately saturated with clear note separation, forward mids, and a bright but not harsh top end. Prairie Prince and Bill Spooner typically used Marshalls or similar amps set for crunchy, articulate leads, with moderate reverb and balanced EQ for radio-friendly clarity.