Tone library / Def Leppard / Pour Some Sugar On Me

Pour Some Sugar On Me amp settings — Marshall DSL40CR

The Def Leppard guitar tone for “Pour Some Sugar On Me”, dialed in for a Marshall DSL40CR with a Epiphone SG Standard. Studio version, Hysteria (1987) — Rockman preamp layered recording

Original rig

Scholz Rockman preamp, Gibson Les Paul Standard / Jackson PC1 with DiMarzio Super 3 humbucker, TC Electronic 2290 delay, TC 1210 chorus/flanger

Tight, compressed midrange crunch with layered thickness, synth-like sustain, bright but not harsh

Amp settings — Marshall DSL40CR

CHANNELUltra Gain (Green/Crunch mode)BRIGHToffBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	6
Bass	4
Mid	7
Treble	6
Presence	5
Reverb	2
Master	5

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE8 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble (or similar analog chorus)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. The Rockman's built-in chorus is essential to this tone. A TC Electronic Corona or MXR Analog Chorus also works. Run before amp input.

E.Level 5 · Rate 3 · Depth 4 · Lo Filter 3 · Hi Filter 6

02Boss DD-3 Digital Delay

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. Short slapback delay (200-300ms) adds the layered studio depth. Use FX loop if available on your DSL40CR.

E.Level 3 · F.Back 2 · D.Time 4 · Mode 0

Why these settings

The DSL's Ultra Gain channel has more raw gain on tap than the Rockman's compressed saturation, so I kept gain at 6 rather than pushing higher. Mid at 7 compensates for the Rockman's tight midrange focus—the DSL is already mid-forward, but the Hysteria tone leans harder into mids than typical Marshall voicing. Presence dropped to 5 because the DSL gets fizzy fast; the original tone is bright but polished, not sizzly.

PRO TIPThe real secret to this tone is LAYERING—the album stacked 12+ guitar tracks panned across the stereo field. With one guitar and amp, you'll never fully replicate that thickness. Roll your tone knob to 8 to tame the SG's slightly brighter bridge humbucker, and use your picking hand closer to the neck for a fatter attack. If you add the chorus pedal, keep it subtle—it's there for shimmer, not obvious wobble.

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These settings are for a Marshall DSL40CR. 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.