rhythm guitar from “i love rock 'n' roll” by joan jett & the blackhearts | ToneDB
i love rock 'n' roll
joan jett & the blackhearts
rhythm guitar
AI generatedv1.0
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.
Gear
- Gibson Les Paulinstrument
- ReverbSweetwater
- Mesa/Boogie Mark IIamp
- Reverb$1800Sweetwater
- Shure SM57microphone
- ReverbSweetwater
- Pro Co RATprocessing
- ReverbSweetwater
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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 Paul
Amp: Mesa/Boogie Mark II
Microphone: Shure SM57
Processing: Pro Co RAT
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
- Gibson Les Paul(guitar)
- Mesa/Boogie Mark II(amp)
- Shure SM57(mic)
- Pro Co RAT(pedal)
Substitutions & Recommendations
Alternative to: Gibson Les Paul
Provides the essential humbucker tone and sustain of the original Les Paul at a budget-friendly price point
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Mesa/Boogie Mark II
Modern iteration of the Mark series with the same core voicing and gain structure as the Mark II
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Pro Co RAT
Current production version of the classic RAT distortion with identical circuitry to the vintage units
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Mesa/Boogie Mark II
Includes high-gain Mark-style amp modeling that captures the midrange character and saturation of the original
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Pro Co RAT
Premium RAT-inspired pedal with additional tonal flexibility while maintaining the core aggressive character
ReverbSweetwaterFrequently Asked Questions
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