Tone library / Fleetwood Mac / The Chain

The Chain amp settings — Vox AC30C2

The Fleetwood Mac guitar tone for “The Chain”, dialed in for a Vox AC30C2 with a Epiphone Les Paul Studio. Studio version, Rumours (1977) - iconic outro solo/riff

Original rig

1959 Fender Stratocaster (with Alembic Stratoblaster preamp boost maxed) into cranked Hiwatt DR103 / Vox AC30 amps

Aggressive, biting British crunch with focused midrange and high-headroom treble bite
Amp settings — Vox AC30C2
CHANNELTop Boost
GAIN 7 BASS 5 TREBLE 6 REVERB 2 MASTER 6
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain7
Bass5
Treble6
Reverb2
Master6
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Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE8 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01Clean Boost / Overdrive (e.g. MXR Micro Amp or TS9)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned; emulates Lindsey's built-in Alembic Stratoblaster pushing the preamp

Gain 8 · Tone 5 · Level 7
Why these settings

The Vox AC30C2 Top Boost channel has Bass, Treble, Tone Cut, and Master controls (no dedicated Mid or Presence knobs). Lindsey tracked the outro electrics with an Alembic Stratoblaster active boost driving British tube amps into saturation; pushing your Top Boost gain to 7 achieves that gritty edge directly from your humbuckers. Tone Cut should be parked around 4 (counter-clockwise/low cut) to preserve the sharp attack while keeping the Les Paul bridge pickup from getting overly harsh.

PRO TIPDitch the plectrum and play with bare fingers using a snapping clawhammer/hybrid attack—Lindsey Buckingham's percussive, snappy right-hand technique is critical to getting the dynamic pop and bite of the outro solo.

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These settings are for a Vox AC30C2. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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