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lead guitar from “i love rock 'n' roll” by joan jett & the blackhearts | ToneDB

i love rock 'n' roll

joan jett & the blackhearts

lead guitar

75% ai confidence

Tone Profile

A raw and powerful rock and roll guitar tone with a gritty edge, perfect for driving riffs and energetic solos. It's got a biting crunch with a touch of sustain.

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The Story

Joan Jett's lead guitar tone on 'I Love Rock 'n' Roll' was recorded using a Gibson Les Paul through a Mesa/Boogie Mark II amp at Kingdom Sound Studios in Long Island. The signal was captured using a Shure SM57 microphone placed close to the speaker cabinet, slightly off-axis, and blended with a direct signal from the amp. The overdrive came from pushing the preamp section of the Mesa/Boogie amp rather than using external pedals.

Production Credits

Producer: Kenny Laguna

Engineer: Thom Panunzio

Recorded at: Kingdom Sound Studios, Long Island, NY

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a Gibson Les Paul style guitar into a Mesa/Boogie Mark II or similar high-gain amp.
  • Use a Shure SM57 close to the speaker cone, slightly off-axis.
  • Dial in a good amount of gain on the amp's preamp to achieve a crunchy, overdriven sound.
  • Experiment with EQ to shape the tone, focusing on midrange frequencies for a classic rock sound.

Original Gear

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Substitutions & Recommendations

Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50sShop on Reverb$400-$500

Alternative to: Gibson Les Paul

Provides the classic humbucker punch and mahogany sustain of the original Gibson at a budget-friendly price point

Mesa/Boogie Mark Five 25Shop on Reverb$1,200-$1,400

Alternative to: Mesa/Boogie Mark II

Modern version of the Mark series with the same cascading gain structure and midrange bite that defined the original tone

Neural DSP Archetype PetrucciPlugin Boutique$100-$140

Alternative to: Mesa/Boogie Mark II

Accurately models Mesa/Boogie Mark series preamp saturation and can be pushed to achieve similar gritty overdrive

Gibson Les Paul StudioShop on Reverb$1,200-$1,500

Alternative to: Gibson Les Paul

Authentic Gibson construction and pickup configuration without the premium finish costs of higher-end models

Shure SM57Shop on Reverb$90-$110

Alternative to: Shure SM57

Still manufactured and identical to the original - remains the industry standard for capturing aggressive rock guitar tones

Sources

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