Riff Tone

Dancing with Myself (7" Version)

Generation X & Billy Idol

Guitarrock1980s

Original Gear

Guitar1978 Gibson Les Paul Custom

AmpMarshall JMP 2203 (100W, EL34, 1978-1981 era)

PickupsGibson humbuckers (likely T-Top or Super Humbucker, stock for late 70s Les Paul Custom)

Amp Settings

gain6.5

bass6

mid7

treble7

reverb2

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, 1980/1981. Steve Stevens played guitar on the original Generation X/Billy Idol 'Dancing with Myself' 7" version. No evidence of pedal use for the main riff; amp-driven crunch. No chorus, delay, or modulation effects audible in the riff. All gear and settings inferred from era, genre, and Steve Stevens' known studio rig at the time. No evidence of live/touring gear or later signature amps used on this recording.

Tone Character(10)

classic British crunchtight and percussive rhythmbright and articulateslightly compressed attackopen, ringing power chordsmedium output humbucker biteminimal reverb, mostly dryaggressive pick attackclear chord definitionno modulation or delay effects

Difficulty

The riff is fast and requires tight, consistent downstrokes and accurate chord changes, but uses basic power chords and no advanced techniques.

Sources

Rig Rundown - Billy Idol's Steve Stevens - Premier Guitar Billy Idol & Billy Idol – Rebel Yell - Gear & Equipment Used on the Album | Equipboard

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