Tone library / Michael Jackson / Beat It

Beat It amp settings — Fender Champion 20

The Michael Jackson guitar tone for “Beat It”, dialed in for a Fender Champion 20 with a Ibanez RG550. Studio version, Thriller (1982) — main rhythm riff by Steve Lukather

Original rig

Valley Arts Custom Pro guitar → Rivera-modded Fender Deluxe Reverb amp, no pedals

Crunchy, mid-forward rhythm with tight low end and controlled saturation

Amp settings — Fender Champion 20

CHANNELOverdrive (Voice switch: position 2 — tighter voicing)

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	7
Bass	4
Mid	6
Treble	5
Presence	0
Reverb	0
Master	6

Don’t have a Fender Champion 20? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE8 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Boss SD-1 Super OverDrive or Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. Would allow dropping amp gain to 4-5 for tighter, more articulate crunch closer to the Rivera-modded tone. Without this pedal, the settings above are your best approximation using amp gain alone.

Drive 3 · Tone 5 · Level 7

Why these settings

The Champion 20's solid-state overdrive channel lacks the sag and compression of Lukather's tube-driven Rivera-modded Deluxe. Your RG550's hot humbuckers will push the front end harder than his Valley Arts, so gain is dropped from the original 6 to 7 range — the amp will clip earlier. Bass cut from 6 to 4 compensates for the Champion's tendency toward flabbiness at higher gain; mid pushed to 6 maintains the punch that defines the riff. Treble dropped to 5 because the RG's bridge humbucker is brighter than a vintage-style pickup.

PRO TIPPalm-mute the low E string riff with your picking hand resting lightly just ahead of the bridge saddles — the original has tight, percussive attack with minimal sustain on muted notes. Dig in hard on the accented open hits to get that dynamic pop.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Fender Champion 20. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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