GuitarDistortedSolo60% confidence
The Trooper (2015 Remaster) Guitar Tone Settings — Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden · 1980s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Fender Stratocaster (likely 1970s, black, maple neck, DiMarzio Super Distortion bridge pickup for Dave Murray's solo)
Pickups
DiMarzio Super Distortion (bridge humbucker, likely DP100)
Amp
Marshall JCM800 2203 head with 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 1983)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording for 'Piece of Mind' (1983), remastered in 2015. Dave Murray played the first solo on a Stratocaster with a DiMarzio Super Distortion bridge pickup through a Marshall JCM800. No evidence of pedals used in the studio for this solo, only amp distortion. No chorus, flanger, or delay is audibly present in the solo section.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass5.5
Gain7
Reverb1.5
Treble7
Presence6
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Tone Character
- fluid and smooth legato
- singing sustain
- bright and articulate
- tight and percussive attack
- medium-high gain saturation
- slightly compressed
- cutting bridge pickup bite
- classic British crunch
- focused upper mids
- minimal ambience
Notes & Caveats
- No direct source provides exact amp knob settings for the studio recording; values estimated based on typical Marshall JCM800 settings for 1980s Iron Maiden studio tones.
- No evidence of pedals or additional effects used in the solo section; all distortion is from the amp.
- No chorus, delay, flanger, or wah is audible in the solo section.
- Guitar and pickup choice confirmed by multiple sources for Dave Murray's solo era, but not explicitly for the 2015 remaster session.
- Settings are for studio recording, not live performance.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Iron Maiden's 'The Trooper' solo tone is classic 80s British metal: high gain for sustain and bite, tight but not boomy bass, strong mids for Marshall cut, bright but not harsh treble, and moderate presence for clarity. The production is dry with minimal reverb, matching their typical amp settings and studio approach of the era.