When She Begins — Social Distortion1 / 2
Original RigYour Adaptation
GuitarDistortedSolo

When She Begins Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Social Distortion

Social Distortion · 1990s · punk

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
Gibson Les Paul Deluxe (likely goldtop, mini-humbuckers, as used by Mike Ness in studio in early 1990s)
Pickups
Mini-humbuckers (Gibson stock, late 1970s Les Paul Deluxe)
Amp
Fender Bassman (vintage, likely silverface, cranked, as per studio rig for Social Distortion in early 1990s)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording, 1992 (Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell album). Mike Ness is known for using a late 1970s Gibson Les Paul Deluxe with mini-humbuckers into a cranked vintage Fender Bassman for Social Distortion's studio tones in this era. No evidence of pedal use for the solo, but amp is likely cranked for natural overdrive. No explicit evidence of effects loop or pedalboard for this solo.

Amp Settings

Mids
7
Bass
6
Gain
7
Reverb
2.5
Treble
6.5
Presence
6

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Tone Character

  • thick midrange punch
  • open, dynamic overdrive
  • slightly compressed attack
  • singing sustain
  • vintage amp breakup
  • articulate pick attack
  • warm, harmonically rich lead tone
  • touch-sensitive response
  • classic punk/roots rock solo sound

Sources