Tone library / Michael Jackson / Beat It

Beat It amp settings — Harley benton HB-20R

The Michael Jackson guitar tone for “Beat It”, dialed in for a Harley benton HB-20R with a Harley Benton SC-Custom II. Studio version, Thriller (1982) — Steve Lukather's rhythm riff, not the EVH solo

Original rig

Valley Arts Custom Pro (HSS) → Rivera-modded Fender Deluxe Reverb, no pedals

Tight, punchy crunch with Fender-style clarity and controlled midrange bite

Amp settings — Harley benton HB-20R

CHANNELOverdrive channel (if available) or single channel with gain pushed

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	6
Bass	5
Mid	6
Treble	6
Presence	5
Reverb	1
Master	5

Don’t have a Harley benton HB-20R? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE8 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Overdrive pedal (TS-style or Boss SD-1)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. The HB-20R's gain structure is loose and fizzy at high settings; a TS-style pedal into a cleaner amp setting will give you the tight, focused crunch Lukather had. Without this, push amp gain to 7 and accept a slightly looser tone.

Drive 4 · Tone 6 · Level 7

Why these settings

The HB-20R is a budget solid-state practice amp with a darker, softer voicing than Lukather's modded Fender tube amp. I've pushed mids +0.5 over the original to compensate for the amp's tendency to get muddy, and rolled treble back slightly because small solid-state amps get harsh before they get bright. Your SC-Custom II's humbuckers are hotter than Lukather's HSS bridge single coil, so gain stays moderate to avoid mud.

PRO TIPPalm-mute the low E string aggressively on the riff's chugs — the tone's tightness comes more from Lukather's precise right-hand technique than the gear. Anchor your palm just behind the bridge saddles, not on top of them.

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These settings are for a Harley benton HB-20R. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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Song, artist and gear names are used to identify the tone being matched; ToneAdapt is not affiliated with or endorsed by the artists or manufacturers mentioned. Settings are AI-generated starting points — trust your ears.