Solo Tone

Breaking the Law

Judas Priest

Guitarmetal1980s

Original Gear

GuitarHamer GT Custom (Glenn Tipton's main guitar for British Steel era)

AmpMarshall JMP 2203 (100W, likely with EL34 tubes, as used in studio for British Steel)

PickupsEMG 81 active humbucker (bridge position, as used by Tipton on British Steel)

Amp Settings

gain7

bass5

mid7

treble7

reverb1

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, 1980. Glenn Tipton played the solo on 'Breaking the Law' using his Hamer GT with EMG 81 pickups into a Marshall JMP 2203. No evidence of additional pedals or rack effects for the solo; distortion from amp and possible light overdrive. No delay, chorus, or modulation audible in the solo. All sources point to a dry, direct, high-gain British steel tone.

Tone Character(10)

tight and percussivebright and articulatefocused upper midsscooped low midssinging sustainminimal ambienceaggressive palm mutingclassic British steel crunchdry and directarticulate pick attack

Difficulty

The solo requires intermediate-level technique with fast alternate picking, tight palm muting, and clean execution of pentatonic runs at tempo. Not highly technical, but demands precision and timing.

Sources

K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton brought British steel to the world with Judas Priest – learn the secrets behind the metal gods’ seminal rhythm style | Guitar World [QUESTION] Amp settings for Judas Priest. : r/Guitar Judas Priest Tone - forum topic | Ultimate Guitar Judas Priest: Unleash the Beast - Premier Guitar

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