Marshall DSL40CR settings
I Believe in a Thing Called Love settings for Marshall DSL40CR
The Darkness · adapted 4 times on ToneAdapt
To get the The Darkness "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" riff tone on a Marshall DSL40CR, set Gain 7.5, Bass 5, Mid 7, Treble 7, Presence 6, Resonance 6. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 7-8 and volume on 8-9.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Fender Player II HSS Stratocaster · updated 2026-07-11
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Marshall DSL40CR knobs
- Gain
- 7.5
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 7
- Treble
- 7
- Presence
- 6
- Resonance
- 6
- Reverb
- 0.5
- Tone shift
- 0
Built-in effects
- Reverb on (spring) · 2
Playing tips
- Use your amp's built-in reverb set to a moderate level to recreate the spacious feel of the original tone.
- Ensure your picking attack is aggressive to match the percussive nature of the riff.
- Maintain a steady rhythm to keep the punchy sound consistent throughout the riff.
Solo settings
Adapted for a Gibson Les Paul Studio · updated 2026-11-09
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Marshall DSL40CR knobs
- Gain
- 7
- Bass
- 6
- Mid
- 7
- Treble
- 7
- Presence
- 6
- Resonance
- 6
- Reverb
- 0.5
- Tone shift
- 1
- Output power
- 1
Built-in effects
- Reverb on · 0.5
Playing tips
- Use your amp's built-in reverb to add depth to the solo.
- Engage the tone shift for a more scooped sound, enhancing the high-gain character.
- Ensure your volume is set high enough to cut through the mix, especially during the solo.
The original rig
What The Darkness used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Marshall DSL40CR actually has.
- Guitar
- Gibson Les Paul Custom (1968, 'The Darkness' model)
- Amp
- Marshall Superlead 1959SLP (Plexi) into Marshall 1960AX/BX 4x12 cabinets
- Gain
- 7.5
- Bass
- 6
- Mid
- 7.5
- Treble
- 7.5
- Presence
- 6.5
- Reverb
- 2.5
Different guitar or pedals? Get I Believe in a Thing Called Love adapted to your exact rig
These settings were generated for the gear named above. ToneAdapt adapts The Darkness's tone to your own guitar, pickups, amp and pedals in seconds.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best Marshall DSL40CR settings for I Believe in a Thing Called Love?
Set Gain 7.5, Bass 5, Mid 7, Treble 7, Presence 6, Resonance 6.
Which pickup should I use for I Believe in a Thing Called Love?
Bridge pickup, with the guitar's tone at 7-8 and volume at 8-9.
What gear did The Darkness use on I Believe in a Thing Called Love?
Guitar: Gibson Les Paul Custom (1968, 'The Darkness' model). Amp: Marshall Superlead 1959SLP (Plexi) into Marshall 1960AX/BX 4x12 cabinets.
Will these settings work with my guitar?
These settings were adapted for a Fender Player II HSS Stratocaster. Different pickups change how much gain and treble you need. ToneAdapt adapts the tone to your exact guitar, pickups, amp and pedals.
I Believe in a Thing Called Love on other amps
Popular songs on the Marshall DSL40CR
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Back in Black · AC/DC
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Crazy Train · Ozzy Osbourne
- Highway to Hell · AC/DC
- Walk · Pantera
- Welcome To The Jungle · Guns N' Roses
- Iron Man · Black Sabbath
- Holy Wars · Megadeth
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.