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 Donner DST-550. Studio version, Thriller (1982) - main rhythm riff

Original rig

1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard, Rivera-modified Fender Deluxe Reverb II and Marshall JCM/Plexi heads

Tight, punchy, medium-gain rock crunch with defined mid-bite and clear low-end articulation

Amp settings — Harley Benton HB-20R

CHANNELOverdrive select switch engaged

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	6
Bass	5
Mid	7
Treble	6
Reverb	2
Master	4

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

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned; adds the tight studio crunch and mid push missing from practice amp overdrive

Level 7 · Tone 5 · Drive 4

Why these settings

The Harley Benton HB-20R has a small 8-inch speaker and an analog overdrive channel, so pushing the mid control to 7 adds the necessary Marshall-style bark of Steve Lukather's modified rig. Gain is dialed to 6 on the amp's drive channel to provide natural crunch without turning fizzy on the solid-state circuit. If you later add the recommended overdrive pedal, switch the amp to the clean channel with gain dropped to 2.

PRO TIPPick forcefully with a heavy plectrum right over the bridge pickup and mute immediately with the meat of your palm between chugs to nail Lukather's percussive attack.

Get this tone on your amp

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.

Get ToneAdapt on Google Play

More tones for the Harley Benton HB-20R

Ride the lightingMetallica Everytime I DieChildren of Bodom Still Loving YouScorpion Kilby girlBackseat lovers Shepherd of fireAvenged sevenfold Wish You Were HerePink Floyd

Find your amp

Browse

Harley Benton HB-20R settingsALL SONGS FOR THIS AMP Beat it on other ampsSAME SONG, YOUR AMP Michael Jackson tonesALL SONGS Donner DST-550 tonesSAME GUITAR Tone libraryEVERYTHING

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.