Tone library / Chuck Barry / Johnny B Good

Johnny B Good amp settings — Laney LG35R

The Chuck Barry guitar tone for “Johnny B Good”, dialed in for a Laney LG35R with a Ibanez AZES40. Studio version, Chess Records single (1958)

Original rig

1956-57 Gibson ES-350T (P-90s or early PAFs) → Fender tweed combo (likely Bassman) cranked to edge of breakup, no pedals

Warm, punchy, edge-of-breakup crunch with flatwound string 'thwop' and midrange bark

Amp settings — Laney LG35R

CHANNELClean channel (Reverb channel)

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	3
Bass	4
Mid	7
Treble	6
Reverb	2
Master	7

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE7 VOLUME10

Why these settings

The Laney LG35R is a solid-state practice amp with a darker, more scooped voicing than a tweed Fender. Pushed mids to 7 (vs original 5-6) to compensate for the Laney's mid-scoop and get that Chuck Berry bark. Your AZES40's Essentials single coils are brighter and lower output than Berry's hollowbody humbuckers — rolled tone knob to 7 to warm it up and tame the ice-pick. Gain at 3 adds grit without fizz; the original breakup came from a cranked tube amp, which this solid-state cannot replicate, but this gets you the texture.

PRO TIPChuck Berry's signature snap comes from aggressive downstrokes with the pick angled hard into the strings — almost like you're slapping them. Flatwound strings would get you closer to the authentic 'thwop,' but with roundwounds, rolling your tone to 7 and picking near the bridge helps fake the damped high-end.

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These settings are for a Laney LG35R. 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.