Dont look back amp settings — Boss GT-1
The Boston guitar tone for “Dont look back”, dialed in for a Boss GT-1 with a Jackson JS22 Dinky. Studio album version, Don't Look Back (1978) — signature heavy rhythm/lead guitar tone
1968 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop (DiMarzio Super Distortion bridge) + 100W Marshall Super Lead plexi with custom Power Soak attenuator + custom graphic EQ mid-boost + MXR 6-band EQ + Scholz space echo/chorus
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 7 |
| Bass | 5 |
| Mid | 9 |
| Treble | 6 |
| Presence | 4 |
| Reverb | 2 |
| Master | 6 |
01FX1: Graphic EQ
Set band EQ: push 800Hz and 1.6kHz up +4 to +6dB, cut 400Hz and 4kHz slightly to recreate the signature Scholz midrange curve
02FX2: Chorus (Prime Chorus)
In FX loop / post-amp position for lush studio doubling effect
03Delay: Tape Echo
Subtle slapback (~120ms) to emulate Scholz's custom space echo/tape delay
Tom Scholz achieved his iconic Boston sound using a cranked Marshall plexi focused heavily through an 800Hz-1kHz EQ mid-spike and heavy power-soak compression. On the GT-1, the 'STACK CRUNCH' amp block handles the core Marshall saturation while the Graphic EQ block pushes the narrow midrange honk. Your Jackson JS22 ceramic bridge humbucker is high-output like Scholz's DiMarzio Super Distortion, so gain is kept at 7 to prevent low-end mud. Clean/intro arpeggios: switch to neck pickup and roll guitar volume down to 6 while bypassing the EQ boost block.
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These settings are for a Boss GT-1. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
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