Boss Katana settings
Billie Jean settings for Boss Katana
Michael Jackson · adapted 4 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Michael Jackson "Billie Jean" solo tone on a Boss Katana, set Gain 1.5, Bass 4, Mid 5, Treble 5.5, Reverb 0, Fx 0. Use the neck + middle pickup with your guitar's tone on 9-10 and volume on 8-9.
Solo settings
updated 2026-11-14
- Pickup
- Neck + Middle
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 9-10 · Volume 8-9
Boss Katana knobs
- Gain
- 1.5
- Bass
- 4
- Mid
- 5
- Treble
- 5.5
- Reverb
- 0
- Fx
- 0
- Bst
- 5
- Power control
- 2
Playing tips
- Use your amp's built-in chorus set to a moderate level to recreate the shimmering effect of the original tone.
- Ensure your playing is tight and percussive to match the articulate single-note lines.
- Focus on clear note separation to maintain the studio-polished clarity of the solo.
The original rig
What Michael Jackson used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Boss Katana actually has.
- Guitar
- Fender Stratocaster (likely 1970s or early 1980s, session player David Williams)
- Amp
- Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus (most widely cited for the riff section in studio recording)
- Gain
- 0
- Bass
- 5.5
- Mid
- 5.5
- Treble
- 7
- Presence
- 5
- Reverb
- 2
Different guitar or pedals? Get Billie Jean 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 are the best Boss Katana settings for Billie Jean?
Set Gain 1.5, Bass 4, Mid 5, Treble 5.5, Reverb 0, Fx 0.
Which pickup should I use for Billie Jean?
Neck + Middle, with the guitar's tone at 9-10 and volume at 8-9.
What gear did Michael Jackson use on Billie Jean?
Guitar: Fender Stratocaster (likely 1970s or early 1980s, session player David Williams). Amp: Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus (most widely cited for the riff section in studio recording).
Will these settings work with my guitar?
Different pickups change how much gain and treble you need. ToneAdapt adapts the tone to your exact guitar, pickups, amp and pedals.
Billie Jean on other amps
Popular songs on the Boss Katana
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Walk · Pantera
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- Holy Wars · Megadeth
- Back in Black · AC/DC
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- Raining Blood · Slayer
- Crazy Train · Ozzy Osbourne
- Welcome to the Jungle · Guns N' Roses
- 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.