Tone library / Guns N' Roses / Knockin' On Heaven's Door

Knockin' On Heaven's Door amp settings — Blackstar ID:Core 20 V3

The Guns N' Roses guitar tone for “Knockin' On Heaven's Door”, dialed in for a Blackstar ID:Core 20 V3 with a Epiphone SG Standard. Studio version, Use Your Illusion II (1991) — iconic lead guitar solos

Original rig

1987 Marshall Silver Jubilee 2555 / JCM800 (S.I.R. #34) + 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard replica (Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro neck pickup)

Warm, singing, mid-heavy saturated British crunch lead with rolled-off neck pickup top-end

Amp settings — Blackstar ID:Core 20 V3

CHANNELOD1 voice (set ISF fully clockwise to 10 for British/Marshall curve)

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	7
Reverb	3
Master	6

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Guitar

PICKUPneck TONE4 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Onboard ID:Core Delay Block

Set to Tape/Linear delay with subtle repeats to match Slash's studio ambient spread

Type 1 · Level 3

02Onboard ID:Core Reverb Block

Set to Hall Reverb

Type 2 · Level 3

Why these settings

The Blackstar ID:Core 20 V3 lacks traditional Bass/Mid/Treble knobs on its faceplate, using the ISF control instead—dial the ISF fully clockwise to 10 for Slash's Marshall Silver Jubilee mid-focus. Selecting the OD1 voice provides the saturated tube compression of the original S.I.R. modded head without turning fizzy. The Epiphone SG has slightly hotter, punchier upper-mids than Slash's Les Paul, so rolling the neck tone knob down to 4 is essential to capture the signature 'woman tone' flutey attack. Clean verse: switch amp voice to Crunch and switch to the bridge pickup.

PRO TIPSlash's vocal-like sustain on this solo comes from picking hard directly over the neck pickup while holding notes with wide, slow finger vibrato and letting the rolled-off tone knob round out the pick attack.

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These settings are for a Blackstar ID:Core 20 V3. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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