Riff Tone

When She Begins

Social Distortion

Guitarpunk1990s

Original Gear

GuitarGibson Les Paul Standard (likely late 1970s or 1980s, as used by Mike Ness on Social Distortion's 1990s recordings)

AmpFender Bassman (vintage, often modded by Billy Zoom or Fred Taccone for Mike Ness in the studio, through Marshall 1960 cabs with Greenback speakers)

PickupsP-90 single coil (stock on Mike Ness's Les Pauls of this era)

Amp Settings

gain6

bass6

mid7

treble6.5

reverb2

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, 1992 (Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell album). Mike Ness is known to use his Les Paul with P-90s into a vintage Fender Bassman head, often modded, through Marshall cabs. Minimal pedal use in studio; most gain from amp. No evidence of additional effects or pedals for the riff section. Settings estimated based on era, genre, and Ness's typical approach. No explicit pedalboard or effect chain for this song's riff found in sources.

Tone Character(10)

punchy midrange bitetight, percussive attackslightly gritty, open chordsraw punk edgedynamic, responsive to pickingfull-bodied rhythm soundarticulate chord definitionslight amp breakupclassic punk rock driveno audible modulation or delay

Difficulty

The riff requires consistent, aggressive downstroke strumming and tight palm muting at a medium-fast tempo, but uses straightforward chord shapes and rhythm patterns typical of punk rock.

Sources

Dear Guitar Hero: Mike Ness Social Distortion: Punk At The Wheel - Premier Guitar

Create an account to adapt this tone to your gear

Create Free Account