AmpliTube 5 MAX settings
Beat It settings for AmpliTube 5 MAX
Michael Jackson · adapted 2 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Michael Jackson "Beat It" solo tone on a AmpliTube 5 MAX, select the British Tube Lead 2 preset, then set Gain 8, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 7, Presence 6, Reverb 0.5. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 10 and volume on 8-9.
Solo settings
Adapted for a Squier Stratocaster · updated 2026-06-19
- Preset / mode
- British Tube Lead 2
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 10 · Volume 8-9
AmpliTube 5 MAX knobs
- Gain
- 8
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 6
- Treble
- 7
- Presence
- 6
- Reverb
- 0.5
Playing tips
- Use your amp's built-in delay set to a moderate level to recreate the spacious feel of the original tone.
- Focus on aggressive pick attack to achieve the tight, percussive sound characteristic of the solo.
- Incorporate fast legato and tapping passages to capture the essence of the original solo.
The original rig
What Michael Jackson used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your AmpliTube 5 MAX actually has.
- Guitar
- Charvel 'Frankie' Strat-style (Eddie Van Halen's custom guitar, likely with Floyd Rose tremolo)
- Amp
- Marshall 1959 Super Lead 100W (Jose Arredondo modded, with Variac)
- Gain
- 8
- Bass
- 6
- Mid
- 5.5
- Treble
- 7.5
- Presence
- 6.5
- Reverb
- 1.5
Different guitar or pedals? Get Beat It adapted to your exact rig
These settings were generated for the gear named above. ToneAdapt adapts Michael Jackson's tone to your own guitar, pickups, amp and pedals in seconds.
Frequently asked questions
What preset should I use on the AmpliTube 5 MAX for Beat It?
Start from the British Tube Lead 2 preset, then set Gain 8, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 7, Presence 6, Reverb 0.5.
Which pickup should I use for Beat It?
Bridge pickup, with the guitar's tone at 10 and volume at 8-9.
What gear did Michael Jackson use on Beat It?
Guitar: Charvel 'Frankie' Strat-style (Eddie Van Halen's custom guitar, likely with Floyd Rose tremolo). Amp: Marshall 1959 Super Lead 100W (Jose Arredondo modded, with Variac).
Will these settings work with my guitar?
These settings were adapted for a Squier Stratocaster. Different pickups change how much gain and treble you need. ToneAdapt adapts the tone to your exact guitar, pickups, amp and pedals.
Beat It on other amps
Popular songs on the AmpliTube 5 MAX
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Walk · Pantera
- Holy Wars · Megadeth
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- Crazy Train · Ozzy Osbourne
- Raining Blood · Slayer
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Back in Black · AC/DC
- Welcome to the Jungle · Guns N' Roses
- Iron Man · Black Sabbath
- Smells Like Teen Spirit · Nirvana
Settings are generated by ToneAdapt's tone adaptation for the gear named on this page and are a starting point — every amp, guitar and room is a little different.