Tone library / Boston / Hitch a Ride

Hitch a Ride amp settings — Boss GT-1

The Boston guitar tone for “Hitch a Ride”, dialed in for a Boss GT-1 with a Jackson JS22 Dinky. Studio version, Boston (1976) — iconic outro dual lead solo

Original rig

1968 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop (DiMarzio Super Distortion bridge) into custom solid-state distortion/EQ module + cranked Marshall Super Lead, heavy 800Hz-1kHz cocked-wah midrange filter, and analog tape delay

Saturated, singing lead with aggressive 800Hz-1kHz cocked-wah midrange peak, smooth top end, and tape echo
Amp settings — Boss GT-1
CHANNELMS 1959 I+II amp model (4x12 cab)BRIGHTonBOOSToff
GAIN 8 BASS 4 MID 9 TREBLE 5 PRESENCE 4 REVERB 2 MASTER 7
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain8
Bass4
Mid9
Treble5
Presence4
Reverb2
Master7
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Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01FX1 Block: Wah / Fixed Cocked Wah

Set as fixed/parked wah filter to nail Tom Scholz's signature 800Hz-1kHz mid-focus

Position 6 · Peak 8 · Level 7

02OD/DS Block: Booster

Tightens low end and increases sustain before the Plexi model

Drive 4 · Tone 5 · Level 7

03Delay Block: Analog / Tape Echo

Set to roughly 340ms to match the studio outro solo space

E.Level 4 · F.Back 4 · D.Time 5
Why these settings

Tom Scholz achieved his trademark lead sound by pushing a Marshall front-end with heavy fixed-midrange equalization and massive sustain. On the Boss GT-1, pair the MS 1959 (Plexi) model with the internal FX1 parked wah block set around 60% sweep to create that vocal, filtered honk. The Jackson JS22's bridge humbucker matches Scholz's Super Distortion well, so keep treble moderate to avoid high-end harshness. Clean arpeggio interlude: switch amp block to CLEAN TWIN, bypass the wah and boost, and engage the chorus block.

PRO TIPDig in with pinch harmonics on high-register bends; the narrow 1kHz mid-hump creates effortless, vocal-like harmonic feedback even at bedroom volume.

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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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