Riff Tone

Rock Bottom (2025 Remaster)

Kiss

Guitarrock1970s

Original Gear

GuitarGibson Les Paul Standard (mid-1970s, likely tobacco burst, with DiMarzio Super Distortion bridge pickup)

AmpMarshall Superlead 100 (Plexi, early 1970s)

PickupsDiMarzio Super Distortion (bridge humbucker)

Amp Settings

gain7

bass6.5

mid7

treble7

reverb2

presence6.5

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, 1975 original session (remastered 2025). Ace Frehley is documented using a Les Paul with a DiMarzio Super Distortion in the bridge and a Marshall Superlead head, no evidence of pedals for the riff section. Settings estimated based on era, genre, and artist interviews stating 'cranked to 10'.

Tone Character(9)

classic British crunchaggressive bridge pickup attacktight palm-muted chugsbright upper midspunchy power chordsdynamic pick attackopen, uncompressed driveslight amp breakupminimal reverb, dry studio sound

Difficulty

The riff requires fast, accurate alternate picking and tight palm muting at a brisk tempo, but uses straightforward power chords and rock rhythm techniques.

Sources

Ace Frehley's Les Pauls, Guitar Gear & Rig | Equipboard Kiss's Ace Frehley on why 10,000 Volts is the best ... - Guitar World

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