TonesMatch
When the Angels Sing — Social Distortion1 / 2
Original RigYour Adaptation
GuitarDistortedSolo80% confidence

When the Angels Sing Guitar Tone Settings — Social Distortion

Social Distortion · 1990s · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
Gibson Les Paul Standard (late 1970s/early 1980s, likely humbuckers)
Pickups
Humbucker (likely Gibson stock or Seymour Duncan, not P-90s per interview)
Amp
Marshall amplifier (exact model not specified, likely JCM800 or JMP era combo/head)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording, 1996 (White Light, White Heat, White Trash album). Mike Ness confirms Les Paul with humbuckers and Marshall amps for this era/album. No explicit pedal or effect model confirmed for this solo in sources.

Amp Settings

Mids
7
Bass
6
Gain
6
Reverb
3
Treble
6.5
Presence
6

Effects Chain

  • Delay pedal (model unknown) · delay
  • Reverb pedal (model unknown) · reverb

Gibson Les Paul Standard → Delay pedal (model unknown) → Reverb pedal (model unknown) → Marshall amplifier (spring reverb on)

Tone Matcher

Match This Tone to Your Gear

Tell us your guitar and amp — we’ll calculate the exact settings translated to your specific rig.

Adapt to MY Gear →

7-day free trial · Cancel anytime.

Tone Character

  • singing sustain
  • warm and smooth
  • slightly gritty
  • classic rock crunch
  • midrange-focused
  • articulate single-note clarity
  • dynamic and touch-sensitive
  • melodic phrasing
  • not overly compressed
  • moderate breakup

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No explicit pedal or amp model/settings for this solo found in sources; settings estimated based on era, genre, and typical Social Distortion studio rig.
  • ⚠️No direct evidence of specific pedals or effects used on the solo; effects inferred from audio and genre conventions.
  • ⚠️No pickup selector position specified in sources; bridge pickup inferred from typical solo tone and Ness's style.
  • ⚠️No pedalboard or effect chain photos or interviews for this specific song/solo; all pedal/effect info is inferred from audio and genre.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Mike Ness typically uses a crunchy, mid-forward tone with moderate gain and classic rock EQ, often favoring Marshalls or Bassmans with P-90s. The solo on 'When the Angels Sing' is warm, present, and articulate, with enough gain for sustain but not high-gain saturation, and a touch of reverb for space.

Sources