Tone library / Guns n roses / Paradise city

Paradise city amp settings — Blackstar ID:Core 20 V3

The Guns n roses guitar tone for “Paradise city”, dialed in for a Blackstar ID:Core 20 V3 with a Fender Player Stratocaster. Studio version, Appetite for Destruction (1987)

Original rig

Kris Derrig 1959 Les Paul replica (PAF humbuckers) → rented 100-watt Marshall half-stack (JCM800/Plexi family)

Crunchy mid-forward rhythm with harmonic bite, cleaning up for the chimey arpeggiated intro
Amp settings — Blackstar ID:Core 20 V3
CHANNELCrunch (ISF at 3 o'clock / British side)BOOSToff
GAIN 6 BASS 4 MID 8 TREBLE 6 PRESENCE 6 REVERB 2 MASTER 5
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain6
Bass4
Mid8
Treble6
Presence6
Reverb2
Master5
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Guitar
PICKUPneck TONE7 VOLUME6
Why these settings

Your Strat's single coils are brighter and lower-output than Slash's PAF humbuckers, so I pushed mids to 8 (vs original ~6-7) to compensate for the Strat's natural scoop and dropped treble to 6 to tame the ice-pick. ISF cranked toward British gets the Marshall-like mid bark. For the intro, roll your guitar volume to 6 and use the neck pickup with tone at 7 for that clean shimmer; for the main riff, switch to bridge pickup and roll volume to 10.

PRO TIPThe intro's magic is Slash cleaning up a dirty amp with his guitar volume—practice rolling your Strat's volume knob from 6 (clean arpeggios) to 10 (full crunch) mid-song to nail the dynamic shift without touching the amp.

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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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