Solo Tone

Bakersfield

Social Distortion

Guitarrock2010s+

Original Gear

GuitarGibson Les Paul Standard (likely late 1970s or early 1980s, humbuckers)

AmpMarshall amplifier (exact model not specified, likely JCM800 or JMP, as per era and Ness's known studio choices)

PickupsHumbucker pickups (likely stock Gibson PAF-style, not P-90s per Mike Ness interview)

Amp Settings

gain6

bass6

mid7

treble7

reverb3

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

delayUnknown Delay pedal (model unknown)

Notes

Studio recording, 2010-2011 for 'Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes'. Mike Ness stated he used Les Pauls with humbuckers (not P-90s) and Marshalls for this era. No explicit pedalboard or amp model for this specific song/solo, but consistent with Ness's studio rig for the album. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for the solo.

Tone Character(10)

singing sustainwarm and thickmid-gain cruncharticulate single-note claritytouch-sensitiveslightly compressedvintage British amp characternot overly saturatedclassic rock/punk solo sounddynamic response to picking

Difficulty

The solo is intermediate due to its melodic phrasing, use of bends and vibrato, and dynamic control, but does not require advanced speed or complex techniques.

Sources

Rig Rundown - Social Distortion's Mike Ness & Jonny Wickersham Mike Ness on fighting cancer, selling Gibsons and Social Distortion's ...Dear Guitar Hero: Mike Ness

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