lead guitar from “livin' on a prayer” by bon jovi | ToneDB
livin' on a prayer
bon jovi
lead guitar
AI generatedv1.0
Tone Profile
This lead guitar tone is characterized by its bright, sustaining overdrive, which cuts through the mix with clarity and articulation, typical of 80s rock anthems. It offers a blend of saturated gain and a touch of chorus to add dimension.
Gear
- Kramer Barettainstrument
- Reverb$675Sweetwater
- Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+amp
- ReverbSweetwater
- Shure SM57microphone
- ReverbSweetwater
- Boss CE-1processing
- Reverb$747Sweetwater
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The Story
Richie Sambora used a Kramer Baretta guitar through a Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ amp for the lead guitar parts on "Livin' on a Prayer." The track was recorded at Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver with producer Bruce Fairbairn and engineer Bob Rock. A Boss CE-1 chorus pedal was used to add width and dimension to the guitar sound, which was captured with a Shure SM57 microphone positioned close to the amp.
Production Credits
Producer: Bruce Fairbairn
Engineer: Bob Rock
Recorded at: Little Mountain Sound Studios, Vancouver, BC
Signal Chain
Instrument: Kramer Baretta
Amp: Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+
Microphone: Shure SM57
Processing: Boss CE-1
Recreation Tips
- Start with a Kramer-style guitar with a humbucker pickup in the bridge position to capture the essence of Richie Sambora's tone.
- Use a Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ model or similar high-gain amp simulator as the foundation for your sound.
- Dial in a moderate amount of gain on the amp, focusing on a tone that is both saturated and articulate.
- Apply a chorus effect sparingly to enhance the width and dimension of the guitar sound.
- Experiment with different microphone placements to find the sweet spot on the amp, focusing on capturing a balanced and full tone.
Original Gear
- Kramer Baretta(guitar)
- Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+(amp)
- Shure SM57(mic)
- Boss CE-1(pedal)
Substitutions & Recommendations
Alternative to: Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+
Includes accurate Mark series amp modeling with the articulate high-gain character needed for this stadium rock tone
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+
Modern Mesa head with Mark IIC+ voicing that captures the original's saturated yet clear high-gain sound
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Boss CE-1 Chorus
Recreates vintage CE-1 chorus tones with both standard and CE-1 preamp modes for authentic 80s width and shimmer
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Kramer Baretta
Humbucker-equipped guitar with similar output and sustain characteristics to the original Kramer used on the recording
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+
Budget option with Brown panel amp model that approximates the Mark series saturation and clarity for bedroom volumes
ReverbSweetwaterSources
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