You Give Love a Bad Name amp settings — Kawes TG-15
The Bon Jovi guitar tone for “You Give Love a Bad Name”, dialed in for a Kawes TG-15 with a Kawes Superstrat. Lead guitar solo, Slippery When Wet (1986) studio track
Kramer Pacer / Custom Superstrat (bridge humbucker) -> Dunlop Cry Baby Wah / TS9 Boost -> Marshall JCM800 2203 / JMP half-stack + rack chorus/delay
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 8 |
| Bass | 4 |
| Mid | 7 |
| Treble | 7 |
| Master | 6 |
01Dunlop Cry Baby Wah (GCB95)
RECOMMENDED — not currently owned; rock heel-to-toe on vocal bend phrases in the solo
02Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer
RECOMMENDED — not currently owned; tightens low end and boosts lead sustain
The Kawes TG-15 is an entry-level practice solid-state amp, so the drive switch must be engaged with gain at 8 to get enough saturation and sustain for Sambora's solo without external pedals. Treble is pushed to 7 and bass trimmed to 4 to replicate the cutting Marshall top end while keeping the small speaker from flubbing out on bends. If you add a TS-style overdrive pedal later, switch to clean or lower the amp gain to 2-3 to avoid harsh solid-state clipping.
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These settings are for a Kawes TG-15. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
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