rhythm guitar from “photograph” by def leppard | ToneDB
photograph
def leppard
rhythm guitar
AI generatedv1.0
Tone Profile
A classic '80s hard rock rhythm guitar sound, characterized by its powerful crunch, sustain, and slightly scooped midrange. The tone is thick and layered, providing a solid foundation for the song.
Gear
- Gibson Les Paulinstrument
- ReverbSweetwater
- Marshall JCM800amp
- ReverbSweetwater
- Shure SM57microphone
- ReverbSweetwater
- Rockman Chorusprocessing
- Reverb$310Sweetwater
- Roland Dimension Dprocessing
- ReverbSweetwater
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The Story
Def Leppard's "Photograph" rhythm guitar tone was built on Gibson Les Pauls through Marshall JCM800 amplifiers, recorded at Wisseloord Studios with producer Mutt Lange. The signature sound came from layering multiple rhythm guitar tracks and using chorus effects like the Rockman units and Roland Dimension D to create width and thickness. Shure SM57 microphones were used to close-mic the Marshall cabinets, capturing the direct punch of the amps.
Production Credits
Producer: Robert John 'Mutt' Lange
Engineer: Mike Shipley
Recorded at: Wisseloord Studios, Hilversum, Netherlands
Signal Chain
Instrument: Gibson Les Paul
Amp: Marshall JCM800
Microphone: Shure SM57
Processing: Rockman Chorus, Roland Dimension D
Recreation Tips
- Start with a Gibson Les Paul and a Marshall JCM800 amplifier.
- Use a moderate gain setting on the amp to achieve a balanced crunch.
- Add chorus and dimension effects sparingly to avoid excessive modulation.
- Experiment with microphone placement to capture the desired cabinet sound.
- Layer multiple guitar tracks, panning them slightly to create a wide stereo image.
Original Gear
- Gibson Les Paul(guitar)
- Marshall JCM800(amp)
- Shure SM57(mic)
- Rockman Chorus(pedal)
- Roland Dimension D(pedal)
Substitutions & Recommendations
Alternative to: Marshall JCM800
20-watt JCM800 circuit reissue that delivers authentic '80s Marshall crunch at manageable volumes for home recording
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Gibson Les Paul
Budget-friendly Les Paul with humbuckers that captures the thick, sustaining tone of the original Gibson models
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Rockman Chorus
Premium chorus pedal with vintage voicing modes that recreates the wide, shimmering chorus effect essential to this layered sound
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Roland Dimension D
Faithful recreation of the Roland Dimension D circuit, providing the subtle stereo width and movement heard on the original recordings
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Marshall JCM800 + effects chain
High-quality amp modeling plugin with built-in effects that can recreate the layered Marshall crunch and chorus effects digitally
ReverbSweetwaterFrequently Asked Questions
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