Tone library / Chuck berry / Jhonny b Goode

Jhonny b Goode amp settings — Vox AC15C1

The Chuck berry guitar tone for “Jhonny b Goode”, dialed in for a Vox AC15C1 with a Ibanez GIO GRG170DX. Studio version, Chess Records single (1958)

Original rig

Fender Tweed Deluxe (5E3) cranked, Gibson ES-350T/ES-335 semi-hollow with PAF-style humbuckers, no pedals — all amp breakup

Snappy, articulate crunch with clear double-stop definition, midrange bark, controlled low-end
Amp settings — Vox AC15C1
CHANNELNormal channelBOOSToff
GAIN 0 BASS 4 MID 0 TREBLE 6 PRESENCE 0 REVERB 0 MASTER 7
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain0
Bass4
Mid0
Treble6
Presence0
Reverb0
Master7
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Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE7 VOLUME10
Why these settings

The AC15 has no gain or mid knob — breakup comes entirely from pushing the Master Volume into power tube saturation. The original Fender tweed had prominent mids naturally; the AC15's EQ-less Top Boost character and Class A compression actually gets you close to that pushed tweed bark. Bass at 4 prevents low-end flub on the double-stops. Your Ibanez's humbuckers are hotter than a vintage PAF, so rolling the tone knob to 7 tames the high-frequency harshness and approximates the warmer Gibson output.

PRO TIPChuck's signature tone came from picking right over the neck pickup while using the bridge pickup — try anchoring your picking hand closer to the neck than the bridge for that rounder attack with the bite still intact.

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These settings are for a Vox AC15C1. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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