| Beat It · solo | Solo · distorted | Charvel 'Frankie' Strat-style (Eddie Van Halen's custom guitar, likely with Floyd Rose tremolo) | Marshall 1959 Super Lead 100W (Jose Arredondo modded, with Variac) | 8 |
| Beat It · riff | Riff · distorted | Valley Arts Custom Pro (Steve Lukather's main studio guitar, early 1980s, HSS configuration) | Marshall JCM800 2203 head into Marshall 4x12 cab (studio recording, 1982) | 6.5 |
| Billie Jean · riff | Riff · clean | Fender Stratocaster (likely 1970s or early 1980s, session player David Williams) | Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus (most widely cited for the riff section in studio recording) | 0 |
| Dirty Diana · riff | Riff · distorted | Jackson Soloist (late 1980s, likely custom, HSS or HH configuration) | Late '60s Marshall Plexi head into 1980s Marshall 4x12 cab with Celestion V30 speakers | 7 |
| Rock With You · riff | Riff · clean | Fender Stratocaster (likely 1970s model, maple neck, used by session player David Williams) | Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus (most likely, based on era/session standards and clean tone requirements) | 0 |
| Black or White · riff | Riff · distorted | Jackson USA Soloist (likely SL1, as per era and artist's known gear) | Marshall JCM800 2203 (typical for heavy rock tones of the era, no direct source for exact model on this recording) | 6 |
| Human Nature · riff | Riff · clean | Valley Arts Custom Pro (Steve Lukather's main studio guitar, 1982-83, used on Thriller sessions) | Yamaha G100-212 (solid-state combo, used by Lukather on Thriller sessions per multiple interviews) | 0 |
| I Can't Help It · clean | Clean · clean | Music Man StingRay (likely 1970s/early 1980s, 4-string) | Direct Input (DI) with likely minimal amp coloration; possible studio tube preamp (e.g., Universal Audio, Neve, or API) but no evidence of a specific amp used | 0 |
| Dirty Diana · solo | Solo · distorted | Jackson Soloist | Late '60s Marshall Plexi head into 1980s Marshall 4x12 cabinet with Celestion Vintage 30 speakers | 7.5 |
| The Way You Make Me Feel (Single Version) · riff | Riff · clean | Unknown Strat-style guitar (likely Fender or Valley Arts Custom Pro, session-era typical for Dann Huff) | Unknown clean amp (likely Roland JC-120 or Fender Twin Reverb, typical for 1980s LA studio pop/funk sessions) | 3 |
| Bad · clean | Clean · clean | Yamaha BB3000 (Nathan East signature, likely used on 'Bad') | Likely direct (DI) with possible Yamaha or Ampeg studio preamp; no confirmed amp for this track | 0 |
| Bad · riff | Riff · distorted | Charvel San Dimas (custom, likely black finish, as used by Steve Stevens on 'Bad' recording) | Marshall JCM800 2203 (likely, based on Steve Stevens' 1987 studio rig and era-typical choices) | 6 |
| Bad · solo | Solo · distorted | James Tyler Studio Elite (custom, likely early 1980s model, used by Dann Huff) | Marshall JCM800 (most likely, based on Dann Huff's studio work in the 1980s) | 7 |
| Beat It · riff | Riff · clean | Gibson ES-335 | Fender Deluxe (Rivera-modified, early 1980s) | 0 |
| Beat It · clean | Clean · clean | Fender Precision Bass | Ampeg SVT (likely, based on era and LA studio standards) | 0 |
| Beat It · solo | Solo · clean | Valley Arts Custom Pro (Steve Lukather's session guitar, used for clean parts on 'Beat It') | Fender Deluxe Reverb (modded Rivera version, studio recording, 1982) | 0 |
| Billie Jean · solo | Solo · clean | Yamaha SG2000 | Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus | 0 |
| Billie Jean · clean | Clean · clean | Yamaha BB1200 (Louis Johnson, studio recording) | Direct Input (DI) blended with synths; no evidence of specific amp used for bass guitar track | 0 |
| Billie Jean · riff | Riff · distorted | Fender Stratocaster (likely 1970s or early 1980s, session player's instrument) | Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus (likely, based on era/session standards and chorus effect) | 2.5 |
| Black or White · solo | Solo · distorted | Fender Stratocaster (likely American Standard, as used by Bill Bottrell on the studio recording) | Marshall JCM800 (studio recording, as referenced in multiple gear forums and typical for the era and genre) | 6 |
| Black or White · riff | Riff · clean | Kramer American (exact model unspecified, likely a Pacer or Baretta based on era and studio use) | Mesa Boogie Mark Series (exact model unspecified, but confirmed Mesa Boogie amp used in studio recording) | 0 |
| Chicago · riff | Riff · clean | Unknown (likely session musician, possibly Tim Pierce or Paul Jackson Jr.; model not confirmed for this track) | Unknown (likely a clean Fender or Roland Jazz Chorus, but not confirmed for this track) | 0 |
| Chicago · solo | Solo · clean | Unknown session electric guitar (likely Stratocaster or Superstrat style, session player) | Unknown, likely Fender Twin Reverb or Roland Jazz Chorus (studio standard for clean pop/R&B in 2010s) | 0 |
| D.S. · riff | Riff · distorted | Fender Stratocaster (likely 1980s/early 1990s, bridge humbucker mod, Steve Stevens session) | Marshall JCM800 2203 (studio recording, 1994, typical for Steve Stevens and era) | 7 |
| Dirty Diana · riff | Riff · clean | Steve Stevens Signature Hamer SS2 Custom (likely, as used on 'Dirty Diana' studio recording) | Marshall JCM800 2203 (likely, based on Steve Stevens' 1980s studio rig and genre conventions) | 0 |
| Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough · riff | Riff · clean | Gibson Flying V | Unknown (no direct evidence; likely a clean Fender or Roland Jazz Chorus, based on era and tone) | 0 |
| Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough · solo | Solo · clean | Fender Stratocaster (likely late 1970s, session guitar) | Vox amplifier (exact model not specified, likely AC30 or AC50 era-appropriate) | 0 |
| free bird · solo | Solo · clean | — | — | 3.5 |
| Get on the Floor · riff | Riff · clean | Unknown (likely session Stratocaster or similar single-coil guitar, but no direct evidence for exact model on this track) | Unknown (likely Fender Twin Reverb or Fender Deluxe Reverb, typical for Quincy Jones/MJ sessions of this era, but no direct evidence for exact amp on this track) | 3.5 |
| Get On the Floor · clean | Clean · clean | Music Man StingRay (late 1970s, 4-string, active electronics) and Alembic Series I (overdubbed) | Not explicitly documented; likely direct (DI) with possible Ampeg B-15 or similar tube amp for warmth (typical for era and Louis Johnson's studio work) | 0 |
| Give In to Me · solo | Solo · distorted | Gibson Les Paul Standard (Slash's 1987 replica, likely Kris Derrig or Max Baranet build) | Marshall Silver Jubilee 2555 | 7.5 |
| Give In to Me · riff | Riff · distorted | Gibson Les Paul Standard (Slash's 1987 model, likely with Alnico II Pro pickups) | Marshall Silver Jubilee 2555 (studio recording, 1991) | 7 |
| Human Nature · solo | Solo · clean | Unknown (likely Steve Lukather session guitar, possibly Yamaha SG2000 or Valley Arts Custom Pro) | Unknown (likely a studio clean amp, possibly Fender or Roland JC-120, based on era/session context) | 3 |
| Man In the Mirror · riff | Riff · clean | Unknown Strat-style electric guitar (likely Fender Stratocaster or similar, session musician) | Unknown clean amp (likely Fender Twin Reverb or Roland JC-120, based on era/session standards) | 0 |
| Off the Wall · riff | Riff · clean | Gibson ES-335 | Fender Deluxe Reverb (modified, late 1970s/early 1980s studio version) | 0 |
| P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) · riff | Riff · clean | Valley Arts Custom Pro (Paul Jackson Jr.) | Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus | 0 |
| Privacy · solo | Solo · distorted | Dann Huff session guitar (likely Suhr or Valley Arts Custom Pro, HSS or HH configuration, as used by Dann Huff in early 2000s pop/rock sessions) | Marshall JCM800 (studio recording, likely with rack effects for solos) | 7 |
| Rock with You (Single Version) · riff | Riff · clean | Session musician guitar (likely Fender Stratocaster or Gibson ES-335, exact model unconfirmed for riff section) | Studio clean amp (likely Fender Twin Reverb or Roland Jazz Chorus, exact model unconfirmed for this session) | 0 |
| Smooth Criminal · riff | Riff · distorted | Unknown (likely session guitar, possibly Fender Stratocaster or similar, but not confirmed for this recording) | Unknown (no sources confirm amp model for studio recording) | 4.5 |
| Smooth Criminal · solo | Solo · clean | Unknown (no direct source for Michael Jackson's studio guitarist on 'Smooth Criminal' solo section; likely a Fender Stratocaster or similar S-style guitar based on era and genre, but not confirmed) | Unknown (no direct source; likely a clean Fender combo or Roland Jazz Chorus, but not confirmed for this session) | 0 |
| Smooth Criminal (2012 Remaster) · riff | Riff · clean | Fender Stratocaster (exact model unknown, likely late 1970s/early 1980s USA or Japanese model) | Fender Twin Reverb (exact year unknown, likely Silverface or early reissue) | 0 |
| Superfly Sister · solo | Solo · distorted | Unknown (likely session guitarist's Strat-style or Superstrat electric guitar) | Unknown (likely Marshall or similar high-headroom studio amp, model unknown) | 5.5 |
| The Girl Is Mine (with Paul McCartney) · solo | Solo · clean | Fender Stratocaster (Steve Lukather's main studio guitar, 1982 Thriller sessions) | Fender Twin Reverb (commonly used by Steve Lukather for clean studio tones in early 1980s, no evidence of Marshall or high-gain amp for this part) | 0 |
| The Lady in My Life · riff | Riff · clean | Unknown (likely session musician's Strat-style or Superstrat, possibly high-output humbucker bridge pickup) | Unknown (likely clean or edge-of-breakup solid-state or tube combo, possibly Roland JC-120 or Fender Twin Reverb, as commonly used on Thriller sessions) | 0 |
| The Way You Make Me Feel · riff | Riff · clean | Valley Arts Custom Pro (likely, played by Dann Huff on 'Bad' sessions) | Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus (likely, based on era/session and typical MJ studio setup) | 0 |
| Thriller · riff | Riff · distorted | Fender Stratocaster (likely 1970s/early 1980s, session guitar) | Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus | 4 |
| Thriller · riff | Riff · clean | Session guitar (likely Fender Stratocaster or Gibson ES-335, Paul Jackson Jr. credited for rhythm parts on 'Thriller') | Paul Rivera-modded Fender Deluxe Reverb (studio recording, as per Paul Jackson Jr. interview for Thriller sessions) | 0 |
| Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' · riff | Riff · clean | Fender Stratocaster (likely 1970s or early 1980s, session guitar, possibly played by David Williams) | Marshall JCM800 (studio recording, likely combo or head/cab setup) | 0 |
| Whatever Happens · solo | Solo · distorted | PRS Santana II (Carlos Santana signature model, likely used on studio recording) | Mesa/Boogie Mark I (Carlos Santana's typical studio amp for this era, inferred from artist's known recording setup) | 5 |