Hysteria amp settings — Boss GX-100
The Def Leppard guitar tone for “Hysteria”, dialed in for a Boss GX-100 with a Gibson Firebird. Studio version, Hysteria (1987) — clean arpeggio intro and verse
Tom Scholz Rockman X100 (Clean 2 mode) direct into console, Boss CE-2 Chorus, TC 2290 Digital Delay
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 2 |
| Bass | 4 |
| Mid | 5 |
| Treble | 7 |
| Presence | 6 |
| Reverb | 2 |
| Master | 6 |
01Compressor Block (CS)
In front of amp block — essential for recreating the percussive Rockman studio compression.
02Chorus Block (CE-1/Chorus)
Post-amp block in GX-100 routing to deliver the wide '80s stereo shimmer.
03Digital Delay Block
Post-amp block, set delay time to dotted-eighth subdivisions (around 375ms to 395ms at tempo).
The Firebird's mini-humbuckers are punchier and darker than the Strat single coils tracked for the arpeggios, so the middle position with bright switch engaged adds needed glass and snap. Keep the CLEAN TWIN block gain minimal around 2 to prevent any edge-of-breakup grit, letting the heavy onboard compressor do the sustain work. Treble and presence are pushed to match the hyper-bright direct Rockman signature. For the dirty chorus rhythm: switch amp block to British Stack, gain 7, bypass delay.
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These settings are for a Boss GX-100. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
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