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

Should I Stay or Should I Go Guitar Tone Settings — The Clash

The Clash · 1980s · punk

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely 1970s, used by Mick Jones in studio)
Pickups
Humbuckers (Gibson PAF-style, stock Les Paul Standard)
Amp
Mesa/Boogie Mark I (paired with Marshall 4x12 cab, studio recording)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording, 1981-1982. Mick Jones used a Les Paul Standard for the main riff, plugged into a Mesa/Boogie Mark I head through a Marshall 4x12 cabinet. No evidence of pedals for the riff section; amp provided all gain. No explicit mention of effects loop or pedalboard for this song's riff. Settings estimated based on amp, genre, and era.

Amp Settings

Mids
7
Bass
6
Gain
5
Reverb
1.5
Treble
7.5
Presence
5.5

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Tone Character

  • raw and punchy
  • bright and biting
  • tight and percussive
  • mid-forward
  • slightly overdriven
  • clear note separation
  • minimal sustain
  • fast decay
  • dry, in-your-face
  • no audible modulation or delay

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No direct source for exact amp knob settings; values estimated based on typical Mesa/Boogie Mark I usage for punk/rock in early 1980s.
  • ⚠️No evidence of pedals or effects used on the riff section; all gain and EQ from amp.
  • ⚠️Guitar model confirmed as Les Paul Standard for studio recording, not Les Paul Custom (which was used in videos/live).
  • ⚠️No explicit pickup selector info, but bridge pickup is standard for this tone and era.
  • ⚠️No evidence of effects loop or outboard studio effects on the riff section.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Mick Jones used a Fender Twin Reverb (clean, bright, punchy) with single coils for this riff; the tone is edge-of-breakup, mid-forward, and very bright/cutting with minimal reverb, matching late '70s/early '80s punk production and British rock conventions.

Sources