Tone library / Michael Jackson / Beat It

Beat It amp settings — Enya Guitar amp

The Michael Jackson guitar tone for “Beat It”, dialed in for a Enya Guitar amp with a Enya Enya inspire. Studio version, Thriller (1982) — Steve Lukather rhythm riff, not the EVH solo

Original rig

Valley Arts Custom Pro (HSS) into Rivera-modded Fender Deluxe Reverb — tight, punchy overdrive with no additional pedals

Tight, punchy palm-muted crunch with controlled low-end and cutting midrange presence
Amp settings — Enya Guitar amp
GAIN 6 BASS 4 MID 7 TREBLE 6 PRESENCE 5 REVERB 1 MASTER 5
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain6
Bass4
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Reverb1
Master5
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Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE8 VOLUME10
Why these settings

The Enya amp is a basic practice amp with limited headroom and a neutral-to-bright voicing. The original Rivera-modded Deluxe had tight, focused overdrive with strong mids. I pushed mid to 7 to compensate for the Enya's thinner midrange, kept bass at 4 to avoid flub on palm mutes, and rolled tone knob to 8 to tame harshness. Without pedals, you're relying entirely on the amp's gain stage — push gain to 6 for adequate crunch but don't expect the same saturation depth as the original tube amp.

PRO TIPThe secret to Lukather's riff tone is extremely tight palm muting right at the bridge saddles — not soft muting near the soundhole. Dig in hard with the pick on the downstrokes and keep your muting hand anchored firmly; the percussive attack defines this riff more than any amp setting.

Get this tone on your amp

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

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