Tone library / Chris Isaak / Wicked Game

Wicked Game amp settings — Blackstar ID:Core 20 V3

The Chris Isaak guitar tone for “Wicked Game”, dialed in for a Blackstar ID:Core 20 V3 with a Cort X300. Studio version, Heart Shaped World (1989) — iconic clean lead guitar by James Calvin Wilsey

Original rig

1962 Fender Stratocaster Reissue (neck pickup) into 1964 Fender Deluxe / Silverface Twin Reverb, Roland SDE-3000 delay, TC Electronic 2290 pre-delay, and Eventide H3000 Rich Chorus

Pristine, atmospheric clean with lush spring reverb, subtle ambient delay, and glassy top-end twang

Amp settings — Blackstar ID:Core 20 V3

CHANNELClean Warm (Voice) — ISF set to 0 (fully counter-clockwise / American Fender voicing)BOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	2
Reverb	8
Master	6

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Guitar

PICKUPneck TONE9 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01ID:Core Onboard Delay (Linear/Tape Delay)

Engage onboard DLY effect block with a medium quarter-note repeat to simulate the Roland SDE-3000

Time 5 · Feedback 3 · Level 4

02ID:Core Onboard Modulation (Chorus)

Engage onboard MOD block set to Chorus to emulate the Eventide H3000 pitch detune/chorus shimmer

Speed 3 · Depth 5 · Level 4

Why these settings

The ID:Core 20 V3 lacks discrete Bass/Treble/Mid knobs and instead features an ISF filter, which must be turned fully counter-clockwise to 0 for a scooped, glassy Fender American clean. Because the Cort X300 humbuckers are hotter and darker than Wilsey's vintage Strat single-coils, keep gain exceptionally low at 2 on Clean Warm to prevent breakup. Use the ID:Core's built-in Hall or Spring Reverb, Delay, and Chorus blocks simultaneously to recreate the multi-rack ambient wash entirely within the amp.

PRO TIPWilsey relied heavily on a vintage Stratocaster tremolo arm, dipping it smoothly on sustained notes rather than using finger vibrato; rest your hand gently on the Cort's Floyd Rose tremolo bar and introduce subtle downward pitch dips at the end of each melodic phrase.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Blackstar ID:Core 20 V3. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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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.