Tone library / Bon Jovi / Livin' On a Prayer

Livin' On a Prayer amp settings — Blackstar ID: CORE v4

The Bon Jovi guitar tone for “Livin' On a Prayer”, dialed in for a Blackstar ID: CORE v4 with a Squier Affinity Stratocaster. Studio version, Slippery When Wet (1986)

Original rig

Marshall JCM800, Gibson Les Paul with bridge humbucker, Heil Talk Box, Boss OD-1, chorus, hall/plate reverb

Crunchy mid-pushed British rock with bite and arena-scale reverb width

Amp settings — Blackstar ID: CORE v4

CHANNELOD1 voice with EL34 responseBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	7
Bass	5
Mid	7
Treble	6
Presence	6
Reverb	4
Master	6

Don’t have a Blackstar ID: CORE v4? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE8 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Blackstar ID:CORE Chorus (built-in)

Use the onboard modulation; subtle thickening, not obvious warble

Depth 5 · Rate 3

02Blackstar ID:CORE Delay (built-in)

Short slapback for width; sits under the reverb

Time 3 · Feedback 2 · Level 3

Why these settings

Your Squier's single-coil bridge is brighter and lower output than Sambora's Les Paul humbucker, so I've pushed mids +1 (to 7) and dropped treble -1 (to 6) versus the original JCM800 settings to compensate for the thinner voicing. The ID:CORE's ISF should sit around 70-80% toward the British (clockwise) side to nail the JCM800 midrange bark. Gain at 7 on OD1/EL34 gets the crunchy-but-not-saturated rhythm tone.

PRO TIPThe iconic Talk Box verse sound is unobtainable without the actual hardware—but for the main rhythm and solo tones, dig in hard with your pick right over the bridge pickup pole pieces for that aggressive Sambora attack; backing off even slightly toward the neck kills the bite this song needs.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Blackstar ID: CORE v4. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

Get ToneAdapt on Google Play

More tones for the Blackstar ID: CORE v4

Hotel CaliforniaEagles Beat ItMichael Jackson You Give Love a Bad NameBon Jovi

Find your amp

Browse

Blackstar ID: CORE v4 settingsALL SONGS FOR THIS AMP Livin' On a Prayer on other ampsSAME SONG, YOUR AMP Bon Jovi tonesALL SONGS Bon Jovi on the Blackstar ID: CORE v4SAME ARTIST, SAME AMP Squier Affinity Stratocaster tonesSAME GUITAR Tone libraryEVERYTHING

Song, artist and gear names are used to identify the tone being matched; ToneAdapt is not affiliated with or endorsed by the artists or manufacturers mentioned. Settings are AI-generated starting points — trust your ears.