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Riff Tone

Anarchy In the U.K.

Sex Pistols

Guitarpunk1970s

Original Gear

Guitar1974 Gibson Les Paul Custom (white, pickup covers removed)

Amp1972 Fender Twin Reverb combo with Fender P.S. 12 (rebranded Gauss 2841) 12-inch speakers

PickupsGibson humbuckers (likely original T-Top humbuckers, bridge position)

Amp Settings

gain8

bass6.5

mid8.5

treble8

reverb0

presence7.5

Effects & Signal Chain

phaserMXR MXR Phase 90

Notes

Studio recording, 1976-1977. Steve Jones used his white Les Paul Custom into a cranked Fender Twin Reverb for the album recording. The amp was set to the Vibrato channel, Input 1, Bright switch ON. No amp reverb or vibrato was used. Effects chain was minimal: only a phaser pedal (MXR Phase 90 or 45) was used for this song's riff section.

Tone Character(10)

violent crunchslashing trebleroaring midrangetight, twangy bassaggressive and unapologeticraw and powerfulextra-clean headroom when not fully overdrivenpure power-amp overdriveno preamp compressionminimal effects coloration

Difficulty

The riff is based on fast, aggressive power chords with a driving punk rhythm. While technically simple, it requires tight timing, stamina, and a strong picking hand to maintain energy and consistency.

Sources

Steve Jones' guitar tone on the Sex Pistols' Anarchy in the UK: secrets behind the sound | Guitar World Sex Pistols – Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols - Gear & Equipment Used on the Album | Equipboard Steve Jones | Equipboard The Making of Sex Pistols' "Never Mind the Bollocks" | Bacon's Archive

This tone has been researched 3 times by the community

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Guitarpunk1970s

Original Gear

Guitar1974 Gibson Les Paul Custom (white, pickup covers removed)

Amp1972 Fender Twin Reverb combo with Fender P.S. 12 (rebranded Gauss 2841) 12-inch speakers

PickupsGibson humbuckers (likely original T-Top humbuckers, bridge position)

Amp Settings

gain8

bass6.5

mid8.5

treble8

reverb0

presence7.5

Effects & Signal Chain

phaserMXR MXR Phase 90

Sources

Steve Jones' guitar tone on the Sex Pistols' Anarchy in the UK: secrets behind the sound | Guitar World Sex Pistols – Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols - Gear & Equipment Used on the Album | Equipboard Steve Jones | Equipboard The Making of Sex Pistols' "Never Mind the Bollocks" | Bacon's Archive

This tone has been researched 3 times by the community

Notes

Studio recording, 1976-1977. Steve Jones used his white Les Paul Custom into a cranked Fender Twin Reverb for the album recording. The amp was set to the Vibrato channel, Input 1, Bright switch ON. No amp reverb or vibrato was used. Effects chain was minimal: only a phaser pedal (MXR Phase 90 or 45) was used for this song's riff section.

Tone Character(10)

violent crunchslashing trebleroaring midrangetight, twangy bassaggressive and unapologeticraw and powerfulextra-clean headroom when not fully overdrivenpure power-amp overdriveno preamp compressionminimal effects coloration

Difficulty

The riff is based on fast, aggressive power chords with a driving punk rhythm. While technically simple, it requires tight timing, stamina, and a strong picking hand to maintain energy and consistency.

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Anarchy In the U.K. by Sex Pistols — Riff Tone Settings | ToneAdapt