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Riff Tone

When the Angels Sing

Social Distortion

Guitarpunk1990s

Original Gear

GuitarGibson Les Paul Standard (likely 1970s/80s, Mike Ness signature P-90s not yet released at time of recording)

AmpFender Bassman (blackface, vintage tube head, likely 1960s, used in studio by Mike Ness for this era)

PickupsP-90 single coil pickups

Amp Settings

gain6

bass6.5

mid7

treble6.5

reverb2.5

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, 1997 album 'White Light, White Heat, White Trash'. Mike Ness is known for using a vintage Gibson Les Paul with P-90s into a Fender Bassman for Social Distortion's 1990s studio tones. No direct evidence of pedals or alternate amps for this specific riff section; most sources and interviews cite this core setup for the era.

Tone Character(10)

warm and shimmeringcrunchy and dynamicfull-bodied midrangeslightly gritty edgearticulate attackopen vintage breakuptight but not compressedpercussive punk rhythmclear note separationtouch-sensitive response

Difficulty

The riff section is straightforward punk rhythm guitar, requiring solid timing and energy but no advanced techniques or complex chord voicings.

Sources

Punk guitarist ke liye koi tips, jo abhi shuru kar rahe hain? : r/Guitar [GEAR] A happy story of how I moved on from my tone marriage to ...

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Guitarpunk1990s

Original Gear

GuitarGibson Les Paul Standard (likely 1970s/80s, Mike Ness signature P-90s not yet released at time of recording)

AmpFender Bassman (blackface, vintage tube head, likely 1960s, used in studio by Mike Ness for this era)

PickupsP-90 single coil pickups

Amp Settings

gain6

bass6.5

mid7

treble6.5

reverb2.5

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Sources

Punk guitarist ke liye koi tips, jo abhi shuru kar rahe hain? : r/Guitar [GEAR] A happy story of how I moved on from my tone marriage to ...

Notes

Studio recording, 1997 album 'White Light, White Heat, White Trash'. Mike Ness is known for using a vintage Gibson Les Paul with P-90s into a Fender Bassman for Social Distortion's 1990s studio tones. No direct evidence of pedals or alternate amps for this specific riff section; most sources and interviews cite this core setup for the era.

Tone Character(10)

warm and shimmeringcrunchy and dynamicfull-bodied midrangeslightly gritty edgearticulate attackopen vintage breakuptight but not compressedpercussive punk rhythmclear note separationtouch-sensitive response

Difficulty

The riff section is straightforward punk rhythm guitar, requiring solid timing and energy but no advanced techniques or complex chord voicings.

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When the Angels Sing settings for your amp

Exact settings ToneAdapt players use on these amps.

When the Angels Sing on Fender Mustang LT50

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When the Angels Sing by Social Distortion — Riff Tone Settings | ToneAdapt