What guitar did Joan Jett use on I Love Rock n Roll?

Joan Jett used a Gibson Les Paul for the rhythm guitar parts on "I Love Rock 'n' Roll." The Les Paul's humbucker pickups provided the thick, sustaining tone that drives the song's aggressive sound.

What amp did Joan Jett use for I Love Rock n Roll tone?

The rhythm guitar was recorded through a Mesa/Boogie Mark II amplifier. This amp was known for its high-gain capabilities and aggressive midrange character that became a staple of early 80s hard rock.

How to get Joan Jett's I Love Rock n Roll guitar tone?

Start with a Les Paul-style guitar with humbuckers, run it through a high-gain amp like a Mesa/Boogie Mark series, and add a RAT distortion pedal for extra crunch. Close-mic the amp with an SM57 and consider double-tracking for thickness.

What distortion pedal did Joan Jett use?

Joan Jett used a Pro Co RAT distortion pedal to achieve the gritty, aggressive tone on "I Love Rock 'n' Roll." The RAT added extra saturation and bite to the already overdriven Mesa/Boogie amplifier.

Was Joan Jett's guitar double tracked on I Love Rock n Roll?

While not definitively confirmed, the thick and wide guitar sound on the recording suggests the rhythm parts were likely double-tracked. This was a common technique used to create the powerful, driving energy heard on the final recording.

rhythm guitar from "i love rock 'n' roll" by joan jett & the blackhearts

i love rock 'n' roll

joan jett & the blackhearts

rhythm guitar

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Tone Profile

Aggressive and raw, this rhythm guitar tone features a gritty distortion with a slightly scooped midrange, providing a powerful and driving energy. It's a classic hard rock sound, perfect for energetic riffs and backing chords.

Shop This Rig

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Gibson Les Paul(instrument)
Mesa/Boogie Mark II(amp)
Shure SM57(microphone)
Pro Co RAT(processing)

The Story

Joan Jett's rhythm guitar tone on "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" was built around a Gibson Les Paul running through a Mesa/Boogie Mark II amplifier, with additional grit provided by a Pro Co RAT distortion pedal. The track was recorded with close-miking techniques, likely using a Shure SM57 positioned near the speaker cone, and may have been double-tracked to create the thick, driving sound that became synonymous with the song.

Production Credits

Producer: Kenny Laguna, Ritchie Cordell

Engineer: Gray Russell

Recorded at: Unknown

Signal Chain

Instrument: Gibson Les PaulShop on Reverb

Amp: Mesa/Boogie Mark IIShop on Reverb

Microphone: Shure SM57Shop on Reverb

Processing: Pro Co RATShop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Start with a Gibson Les Paul or similar humbucker-equipped guitar.
Use a Mesa/Boogie Mark II amplifier and set the gain to achieve a moderately overdriven tone.
Add a Pro Co RAT distortion pedal for extra crunch and sustain.
Place a Shure SM57 microphone close to the speaker cone, slightly off-axis.
Consider double-tracking the guitar part for added thickness and stereo width.

Original Gear

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Substitutions & Recommendations

Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50sShop on Reverb$500-$600

Alternative to: Gibson Les Paul

Provides the essential humbucker tone and sustain of the original Les Paul at a budget-friendly price point

Mesa/Boogie Mark Five 35Shop on Reverb$1,800-$2,000

Alternative to: Mesa/Boogie Mark II

Modern iteration of the Mark series with the same core voicing and gain structure as the Mark II

Pro Co RAT 2Shop on Reverb$70-$90

Alternative to: Pro Co RAT

Current production version of the classic RAT distortion with identical circuitry to the vintage units

Neural DSP Archetype PliniPlugin Boutique$100-$130

Alternative to: Mesa/Boogie Mark II

Includes high-gain Mark-style amp modeling that captures the midrange character and saturation of the original

JHS PacketManShop on Reverb$180-$200