TonesMatch
Should I Stay or Should I Go (Remastered) — The Clash1 / 2
Original RigYour Adaptation
GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence

Should I Stay or Should I Go (Remastered) Guitar Tone Settings

The Clash · 1980s · punk

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
Fender Telecaster (likely 1970s, Joe Strummer's main guitar for this era and song)
Pickups
Single-coil (stock Fender Telecaster pickups, 1970s era)
Amp
Marshall Super Lead 1959 (head, likely into a 4x12 cabinet, as used by Strummer in studio)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording, 1981-1982 for the album 'Combat Rock' (remastered version is from this era). Gear confirmed for this song/era by Equipboard and multiple interviews. No evidence of pedal use for distortion; amp likely cranked for overdrive. No evidence of modulation or time-based effects in riff section.

Amp Settings

Mids
7
Bass
6
Gain
5.5
Reverb
0.5
Treble
7
Presence
5.5

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Tone Character

  • raw and biting
  • bright and cutting
  • tight and percussive
  • aggressive attack
  • slightly gritty overdrive
  • minimal sustain
  • open and uncompressed
  • midrange-focused
  • dynamic response to pick
  • dry, no ambience

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No explicit numeric amp settings found for this song; settings estimated based on Marshall Super Lead typical punk usage and era.
  • ⚠️No evidence of pedals or effects used for the riff section; distortion is amp-driven.
  • ⚠️No evidence of reverb, delay, chorus, or modulation in the riff section; recording is dry.
  • ⚠️Guitar and amp models confirmed for this song/era, but pickup selector position inferred from tone and genre.
  • ⚠️Settings are estimated based on genre, amp, and era, not direct source quotes.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Mick Jones used a Fender Twin Reverb or similar clean British amp with single coils for a bright, punchy, edge-of-breakup tone; the riff is mid-forward and cutting but not overly bright or saturated, with minimal reverb as per early 80s punk production.

Sources