Tone library / Michael Jackson / Beat It

Beat It amp settings — Kong 10018014

The Michael Jackson guitar tone for “Beat It”, dialed in for a Kong 10018014 with a Epiphone Les Paul Classic. Studio version, Thriller (1982) — Eddie Van Halen solo

Original rig

Frankenstrat (single humbucker) → Echoplex Tape Delay → Hartley-Thompson HT45 combo amp

Bright, aggressive lead tone with lots of sustain, pronounced mids, smooth high end, controlled feedback — sharp attack but not harsh

Amp settings — Kong 10018014

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	7
Bass	5
Mid	6
Treble	7
Presence	6
Reverb	1
Master	7

Don’t have a Kong 10018014? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Delay (tape-style or digital)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. Original used Echoplex tape delay for slapback thickening. Any analog-voiced delay pedal (MXR Carbon Copy, Boss DM-2W, or budget Donner Yellow Fall) gets you 80% there. Single repeat, ~300ms, low in mix.

Level 3 · Feedback 3 · Time 4

Why these settings

The Kong 10018014 is an unverified/generic amp model — I've set neutral mid-forward settings assuming a solid-state practice amp voicing. Your Epiphone Les Paul Classic's Alnico Classic humbuckers are hotter and warmer than EVH's single-pickup Frankenstrat, so gain is dropped -1 from baseline (7 vs 8) and bass reduced to 5 to prevent mud. Push mid +0.5 to retain that cutting lead voice.

PRO TIPEVH's 'brown sound' clarity comes from picking hand position — dig in hard directly over the bridge pickup for that snappy attack, then shift toward the neck for sustained phrases. Roll your guitar volume to 8 momentarily during feedback sections to control runaway sustain.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Kong 10018014. 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.