Tone library / Kiss / Detroit Rock City (Remix)

Detroit Rock City (Remix) amp settings — Headrush MX5

The Kiss guitar tone for “Detroit Rock City (Remix)”, dialed in for a Headrush MX5 with a Epiphone Les Paul tribute Plus. 1988 Remix from Smashes, Thrashes & Hits — remixed by Bob Ezrin, original 1976 Destroyer tracking

Original rig

Marshall Super Lead 100W heads (modded by Eddie Kramer), Gibson Les Paul with humbuckers (Ace Frehley), MXR Phase 90, Echoplex tape delay, Electro-Harmonix Big Muff on some tracks — cranked Marshalls into 4x12 cabs, studio room mics blended

Thick, mid-forward crunch with harmonic saturation, punchy low-mids, smooth top-end from cranked power tubes — classic 70s hard rock bark
Amp settings — Headrush MX5
CHANNELBrit Plexi 100 (or closest 70s Marshall model)BRIGHToffBOOSToff
GAIN 6 BASS 5 MID 7 TREBLE 6 PRESENCE 5 REVERB 1 MASTER 7
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain6
Bass5
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Reverb1
Master7
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Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE7 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01Tape Delay (Echoplex-style)

Subtle slapback for depth — keep mix low to avoid washing out the crunch

Mix 2 · Time 4 · Feedback 3 · Wow/Flutter 2

02Phaser (MXR Phase 90 style)

Engage only for the intro sweeps and specific lead sections — bypass during main rhythm

Speed 4 · Depth 5 · Mix 6
Why these settings

The Headrush's Plexi model is brighter and tighter than a real cranked Super Lead — mid 7 compensates for the modeler's tendency to scoop, and gain 6 gets the saturation without fizz. Presence at 5 avoids the harsh digital edge that higher settings introduce. Your Epiphone's Alnico humbuckers are close to Ace's output so no gain compensation needed.

PRO TIPRoll your tone knob to 7 and dig in with the pick near the neck pickup's edge for that fat 70s harmonic bloom — Ace's attack was heavy but not stiff, letting the Marshall's compression do the work.

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These settings are for a Headrush MX5. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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