Marshall CODE 25 settings
Black or White settings for Marshall CODE 25
Michael Jackson · adapted 2 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Michael Jackson "Black or White" riff tone on a Marshall CODE 25, select the Brit Crunch preset, then set Gain 6, Bass 5, Mid 5, Treble 7, Presence 6, Reverb 0.5. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 7-8 and volume on 8-9.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Fender Stratocaster · updated 2026-05-19
- Preset / mode
- Brit Crunch
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Marshall CODE 25 knobs
- Gain
- 6
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 5
- Treble
- 7
- Presence
- 6
- Reverb
- 0.5
- Mod depth
- 0
- Mod adjust
- 0
- Delay level
- 0
- Delay adjust
- 0
Built-in effects
- Reverb off
Playing tips
- Use aggressive palm muting to emphasize the tight, percussive attack.
- Focus on articulate power chords for clarity in your riffs.
- Keep your attack bright and cutting for a punchy rhythm.
The original rig
What Michael Jackson used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Marshall CODE 25 actually has.
- Guitar
- Jackson USA Soloist (likely SL1, as per era and artist's known gear)
- Amp
- Marshall JCM800 2203 (typical for heavy rock tones of the era, no direct source for exact model on this recording)
- Gain
- 6
- Bass
- 6
- Mid
- 6
- Treble
- 7
- Presence
- 6
- Reverb
- 2
Different guitar or pedals? Get Black or White 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 Marshall CODE 25 for Black or White?
Start from the Brit Crunch preset, then set Gain 6, Bass 5, Mid 5, Treble 7, Presence 6, Reverb 0.5.
Which pickup should I use for Black or White?
Bridge pickup, with the guitar's tone at 7-8 and volume at 8-9.
What gear did Michael Jackson use on Black or White?
Guitar: Jackson USA Soloist (likely SL1, as per era and artist's known gear). Amp: Marshall JCM800 2203 (typical for heavy rock tones of the era, no direct source for exact model on this recording).
Will these settings work with my guitar?
These settings were adapted for a Fender Stratocaster. Different pickups change how much gain and treble you need. ToneAdapt adapts the tone to your exact guitar, pickups, amp and pedals.
Popular songs on the Marshall CODE 25
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Walk · Pantera
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Back in Black · AC/DC
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- Welcome to the Jungle · Guns N' Roses
- Stairway to Heaven · Led Zeppelin
- Highway to Hell · AC/DC
- Holy Wars · Megadeth
- Raining Blood · Slayer
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.