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Should I Stay or Should I Go — The Clash1 / 2
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Should I Stay or Should I Go Guitar Tone Settings — The Clash

The Clash · 1980s · punk

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
Gibson Les Paul Custom (1959, black finish)
Pickups
Gibson PAF humbuckers
Amp
Mesa/Boogie Mark I (100-watt combo, used as head into Marshall 4x12 cab)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording, 1981-1982 (Combat Rock sessions). Mick Jones used the Les Paul Custom for this era and song. The amp was a Mesa/Boogie Mark I driving a Marshall 4x12. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for the clean riff section.

Amp Settings

Mids
7
Bass
6
Gain
2.5
Reverb
1.5
Treble
7
Presence
5.5

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Tone Character

  • bright and articulate
  • snappy attack
  • tight and percussive
  • clear note separation
  • minimal breakup
  • slight amp reverb for space
  • midrange presence
  • punchy rhythm
  • no audible effects
  • classic punk clarity

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No direct source provides exact amp knob settings for the clean riff; settings are estimated based on typical Mesa/Boogie Mark I clean tone in punk/rock context and era.
  • ⚠️No evidence of pedals or modulation/time-based effects used on the clean riff section; all sources and audio indicate a dry, amp-only clean tone.
  • ⚠️Guitar World and Ultimate Guitar confirm Les Paul Custom and Mesa/Boogie Mark I as primary studio rig for this song/era.
  • ⚠️Pickup choice inferred from the bright, cutting tone and typical punk rhythm approach; bridge pickup is most likely.
  • ⚠️Amp reverb is set low for slight space, as heard in the recording.
  • ⚠️No evidence of effects loop or additional studio processing on the clean riff.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Mick Jones used a Fender Twin Reverb or similar clean British amp, with the tone being bright, punchy, and mid-forward, typical of early 80s punk rock. The riff is edge-of-breakup but mostly clean, with pronounced mids and treble for clarity, minimal reverb, and neutral presence, matching the dry, upfront production style.

Sources