Riff Tone

Dear Lover

Social Distortion

Guitarpunk2000s

Original Gear

Guitar1976 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe (likely with P-90 pickups, as used by Mike Ness in this era and on this album)

AmpFender Bassman (vintage, likely 1959 reissue or original, as used by Mike Ness for studio rhythm tones)

PickupsGibson P-90 single-coil (stock in Les Paul Deluxe, confirmed for Mike Ness's main studio guitar)

Amp Settings

gain6.5

bass6

mid7

treble6.5

reverb2

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, 2004 album 'Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll'. Mike Ness is known to use vintage Les Paul Deluxes with P-90s into a Fender Bassman for main rhythm tracks. No direct evidence of pedals for the riff section; overdrive is likely amp-based. No evidence of live/touring substitutions for the studio recording.

Tone Character(10)

thick and mid-heavywarm vintage crunchtight and punchy attackclear note separationslightly compresseddynamic and openpercussive palm-muted chordsnot overly saturatedamp-driven overdriveclassic punk rhythm sound

Difficulty

The riff requires solid palm muting and tight rhythm playing, but uses straightforward chord shapes and moderate tempo, making it accessible to intermediate players.

Sources

Dear Guitar Hero: Mike Ness | Guitar World Mike Ness Bassman Mods | The Gear Page

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