You Give Love a Bad Name amp settings — Marshall DSL20HR
The Bon Jovi guitar tone for “You Give Love a Bad Name”, dialed in for a Marshall DSL20HR with a Gibson Les Paul Classic. Studio version, Slippery When Wet (1986) — main riff & rhythm guitar
Kramer Baretta (Seymour Duncan JB bridge humbucker) -> Ibanez Tube Screamer -> Marshall JCM800 2203 -> 4x12 Celestion G12T-75 cab, Heil Talk Box on intro hook
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 6 |
| Bass | 6 |
| Mid | 7 |
| Treble | 7 |
| Presence | 6 |
| Reverb | 2 |
| Master | 5 |
01Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer
RECOMMENDED — not currently owned; use in front to tighten low-end and add 80s mid cut
Your DSL20HR naturally delivers authentic Marshall crunch, so the Ultra Gain channel set around 6 provides the saturation of Sambora's cranked, boosted JCM800 without needing an overdrive today. Your Les Paul Classic's humbuckers provide the right punch, so keep the mids and treble pushed to 7 to replicate the aggressive upper-mid cut of the original Seymour Duncan JB pickup. If you later add a TS9 boost, drop the DSL gain to 4.5 and run the pedal with low drive and high level to tighten the palm mutes even further.
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These settings are for a Marshall DSL20HR. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
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