Hysteria amp settings — Fender Champion 40

The Def Leppard guitar tone for “Hysteria”, dialed in for a Fender Champion 40 with a Ibanez GIO GRG170DX. Studio version, Hysteria (1987) — iconic clean chorused intro arpeggio figure

Original rig

1978 Fender Stratocaster ('Felix' with bridge humbucker) / Gibson Les Paul into custom modded Tom Scholz Rockman X100 headphone amp direct to desk with Boss CE-2 chorus and studio delay

Pristine, heavily compressed 80s direct clean with lush stereo chorus and ambient delay

Amp settings — Fender Champion 40

CHANNELBlackface Clean (Voice 1 / Tweed off)BOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	2
Bass	5
Treble	7
Reverb	2
Master	5

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Guitar

PICKUPneck+middle TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Boss CH-1 Super Chorus

Essential for the signature Tom Scholz Rockman modulated clean sound

Effect Level 8 · EQ 6 · Rate 4 · Depth 7

02Boss DD-8 Digital Delay

Standard digital delay set to approx. 380ms dotted 8th / quarter blend

E.Level 5 · Feedback 4 · Time 5 · Mode 1

Why these settings

The iconic Hysteria clean was tracked straight to board via a Scholz Rockman, not a traditional tube amp. To replicate this ultra-clean hi-fi platform on the Champion 40, use Voice 1 (Blackface clean) with gain kept at 2 for zero breakup; note the Champion 40 lacks a physical middle EQ knob and presence control. The CH-1 into DD-8 provides the lush 80s stereo chorus and space that defines the intro arpeggio.

PRO TIPSwitch your Ibanez to the neck+middle (split) position and pick lightly with a thin or medium pick near the bridge saddles to get that crystalline, glass-like Mutt Lange transient snap.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Fender Champion 40. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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