What guitar did Jay Jay French use on We're Not Gonna Take It?

Jay Jay French used a Gibson Les Paul for the lead guitar parts on 'We're Not Gonna Take It'. The Les Paul's humbucking pickups provided the high output needed for the song's aggressive distorted tone.

How to get Twisted Sister guitar tone We're Not Gonna Take It?

Use a humbucker-equipped guitar like a Les Paul through an Ibanez Tube Screamer TS808 into a Marshall JCM800 amplifier. Set the Tube Screamer with moderate overdrive to boost the Marshall's input, creating the signature saturated 80s metal sound.

What amp did Twisted Sister use for We're Not Gonna Take It?

Twisted Sister used Marshall JCM800 amplifiers for 'We're Not Gonna Take It'. The JCM800's high-gain preamp section was essential for achieving the song's aggressive, distorted guitar sound.

Did Twisted Sister use a Tube Screamer on We're Not Gonna Take It?

Yes, an Ibanez Tube Screamer TS808 was used to boost the Marshall JCM800 amplifier. This combination of overdrive pedal and high-gain amp created the thick, saturated distortion heard on the recording.

Who produced We're Not Gonna Take It by Twisted Sister?

Tom Werman produced 'We're Not Gonna Take It' and the entire 'Stay Hungry' album. The recording took place at Record Plant in Los Angeles with Geoff Workman as the engineer.

lead guitar from "we're not gonna take it" by twisted sister

we're not gonna take it

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Tone Profile

This is a classic 80s hard rock guitar tone: aggressive, bright, and saturated with distortion. It has a slightly scooped midrange, allowing it to cut through the mix with power.

Shop This Rig

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Gibson Les Paul(instrument)
Marshall JCM800(amp)
Shure SM57(microphone)
Ibanez Tube Screamer TS808(processing)

The Story

Jay Jay French of Twisted Sister achieved this aggressive 80s metal tone using a Gibson Les Paul through a Marshall JCM800 amplifier, boosted by an Ibanez Tube Screamer TS808. The recording was produced by Tom Werman at Record Plant in Los Angeles, with the guitar sound captured using close-miked techniques typical of the era.

Production Credits

Producer: Tom Werman

Engineer: Geoff Workman

Recorded at: Record Plant, Los Angeles

Signal Chain

Instrument: Gibson Les PaulShop on Reverb

Amp: Marshall JCM800Shop on Reverb

Microphone: Shure SM57Shop on Reverb

Processing: Ibanez Tube Screamer TS808Shop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Start with a Gibson Les Paul or similar humbucker-equipped guitar.
Use an Ibanez Tube Screamer to boost the input of a Marshall JCM800 amplifier.
Position a Shure SM57 close to one of the speakers of the amp cabinet.
Experiment with the gain settings on both the Tube Screamer and the amp to find the sweet spot.
Consider using EQ in post-production to further shape the tone, focusing on scooping out some of the midrange for a classic 80s sound.

Original Gear

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Gibson Les PaulShop on Reverb(guitar)
Marshall JCM800Shop on Reverb(amp)
Shure SM57Shop on Reverb(mic)
Ibanez Tube Screamer TS808Shop on Reverb(pedal)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Marshall Origin 50HShop on Reverb$600-$700

Alternative to: Marshall JCM800

Modern Marshall with classic preamp voicing that captures the JCM800's aggressive midrange character

Ibanez TS808 ReissueShop on Reverb$180-$200

Alternative to: Ibanez Tube Screamer TS808

Exact reissue of the original pedal used on the recording

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

Alternative to: Gibson Les Paul

Budget-friendly option with similar humbucker output and mahogany body construction

Neural DSP Fortin Cali SuitePlugin Boutique$130-$150

Alternative to: Marshall JCM800 + Tube Screamer combination

Digital recreation of boosted Marshall tones with built-in Tube Screamer modeling

Boss SD-1 Super OverdriveShop on Reverb$50-$70

Alternative to: Tube Screamer TS808

Budget alternative that provides similar midrange boost and saturation characteristics

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

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lead guitar from “we're not gonna take it” by twisted sister | ToneDB