ToneAdapt

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Riff Tone

Turn Me Loose

Loverboy

Guitarrock1980s

Original Gear

GuitarGibson Les Paul Standard (likely 1970s or late 1970s/early 1980s, as used by Paul Dean on early Loverboy recordings)
AmpMarshall JMP 2203 (100W, likely late 1970s model, as used by Paul Dean in studio for early Loverboy recordings)
PickupsHumbucker (Gibson stock or DiMarzio, exact model not confirmed for this track)

Amp Settings

gain7
bass6
mid6.5
treble7
reverb2.5
presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

flangerUnknown Flanger pedal (model unknown)

Notes

Studio recording, 1980/1981. Paul Dean alternated between Hiwatt and Marshall amps for early Loverboy, but the main riff on 'Turn Me Loose' is widely attributed to the Marshall JMP 2203 for its midrange grind and classic rock crunch. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for the studio riff section.

Tone Character(10)
midrange grindtight and punchy rhythmcrunchy British amp characterarticulate attackfull-bodied chordsslight breakup on hard strumsbright but not harshdynamic responsesustaining power chordsclassic 80s rock crunch

Difficulty

The riff requires tight timing with the flanger sweep, consistent palm muting, and dynamic pick attack, but uses straightforward power chords and moderate tempo, making it accessible to intermediate players.

Sources

Paul Dean | Equipboard[DISCUSSION] What song has your favorite guitar tone in it? - Reddit

This tone has been researched 2 times by the community

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Turn Me Loose settings for your amp

Exact settings ToneAdapt players use on these amps.

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