Tone library / Gary Moore / The Loner

The Loner amp settings — Marshall Code 50

The Gary Moore guitar tone for “The Loner”, dialed in for a Marshall Code 50 with a Ibanez GIO GRG170DX. Studio version, Wild Frontier (1987) — lead guitar

Original rig

1984 PRS Custom / Charvel San Dimas (EMG 81/SA/SA) into 50W Marshall JMP / JTM45 with Boss DS-1 Distortion, Roland SDE-3000 digital delay, and studio reverb

Searing, highly saturated 80s singing lead tone with extreme sustain and subtle nasal midrange
Amp settings — Marshall Code 50
CHANNELJCM800 (Preamp: JCM800, Power Amp: Marshall 100W, Cab: 1960V 4x12)BOOSToff
GAIN 7 BASS 5 MID 7 TREBLE 6 PRESENCE 5 REVERB 5 MASTER 6
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain7
Bass5
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Reverb5
Master6
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Guitar
PICKUPneck TONE8 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01Distortion Block (Guvernor / DS-1 Model)

Onboard Code Stomp block — run in front of the JCM800 preamp for Gary's singing sustain

Drive 6 · Tone 5 · Level 7

02Digital Delay Block

Onboard Code FX block (set to ~380ms dotted 8th / quarter blend)

Time 4 · Feedback 4 · Level 3

03Studio Reverb Block

Onboard Code Reverb block (Hall or Room)

Decay 6 · Level 4
Why these settings

The Code 50's JCM800 model combined with the onboard Guv'nor/distortion block provides the massive cascaded gain and infinite sustain of Gary's boosted Marshall rig. The Ibanez GRG170DX passive neck humbucker yields smooth, flute-like highs; roll its tone back slightly to 8 to mimic the compressed, vocal warmth of EMG pickups. Mids are boosted to 7 to deliver the signature 80s vocal bark that cuts through the mix.

PRO TIPAnchor your vibrato wide and slow from the wrist, and lean into controlled feedback by facing the speaker on sustained notes to replicate Gary's endless natural sustain.

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