GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Turn Me Loose Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Loverboy
Loverboy · 1980s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely 1970s or late 1970s/early 1980s, as used by Paul Dean on early Loverboy recordings)
Pickups
Humbucker (Gibson stock or DiMarzio, exact model not confirmed for this track)
Amp
Marshall JMP 2203 (100W, likely late 1970s model, as used by Paul Dean in studio for early Loverboy recordings)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1980/1981. Paul Dean alternated between Hiwatt and Marshall amps for early Loverboy, but the main riff on 'Turn Me Loose' is widely attributed to the Marshall JMP 2203 for its midrange grind and classic rock crunch. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for the studio riff section.
Amp Settings
Mids6.5
Bass6
Gain7
Reverb2.5
Treble7
Presence6
Effects Chain
- Flanger pedal (model unknown) · flanger
Guitar → Flanger pedal (model unknown) → Marshall JMP 2203 (with light spring reverb)
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Tone Character
- midrange grind
- tight and punchy rhythm
- crunchy British amp character
- articulate attack
- full-bodied chords
- slight breakup on hard strums
- bright but not harsh
- dynamic response
- sustaining power chords
- classic 80s rock crunch
Notes & Caveats
- No official studio documentation or direct interview confirming exact pedal models or amp settings for the riff section; settings estimated based on typical Marshall JMP 2203 usage for 80s rock and forum consensus.
- Paul Dean alternated between Hiwatt and Marshall amps in early Loverboy, but sources and tone analysis point to Marshall JMP 2203 for this track's riff.
- No explicit pedalboard or pedal model confirmed for the studio recording; flanger effect is clearly audible but model is not confirmed.
- Pickup model not confirmed for this specific recording; Les Paul Standard with humbuckers is most likely based on era and artist's known gear.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Paul Dean's riff tone on 'Turn Me Loose' is classic early-80s hard rock: crunchy but not saturated, with a tight low end, forward mids, and enough treble/presence to cut through the synths. Production of the era favored clarity and punch, and Dean often used Marshalls or similar British amps set for articulate, aggressive rhythm tones with moderate reverb.